Research Critique Guidelines for Quantitative Studies
Reference of Nursing Research Article from a Nursing Journal (less than 5 years old) (5
points): Maksimovic, J. M., Vlajinac, H. D., Maksimovic, M. Z., Lalic, N. M., Vujcic, I.
S., Pejovic, B. D., … Kavecan, I. I. (2023). Oral contraceptive use, coffee consumption,
and other risk factors of type 2 diabetes in women: a case–control study. Journal of
Substance Use, 29(3), 399–407. https://doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2023.2173090
Please provide a hard copy (with your name on it) or send an electronic copy of this article to your
professor.
Level of Evidence of Research Article (5 points): ___Level 3______
Answer either Yes or No for each item (2.5 points each). If the answer is yes, provide information
asked for.
Step 1: Research Problem & Research Purpose
A. Is the problem clearly and concisely stated? Yes. This article aimed to “estimate risk factors
for type 2 diabetes(T2D) in women,” which I consider a correlation study ( Maksimovic et al.,
p.399). Correlation study “examines the type (positive or negative) and strength of
relationships or associations among variables which is similar to the author examining the
risk factors associated with TTD (Grove & Cipher, 2020; Leedy & Ormrod, 2019)” (Grove &
Gray, n.d., p. 132). An example of this is “the more cigarettes an adult smokes each day, the
greater his or her risk for lung cancer” (Grove & Gray, n.d., p. 132).
B. Is the problem adequately narrowed down into a researchable problem? No
C. Is the problem significant to nursing? Is it interesting? Yes. “In 2004, Wild et al. predicted
that the global prevalence of diabetes would increase to 366 million by 2030,” and by 2017,
“it was estimated that 425 million people had diabetes mellitus,” which shows the
prevalence of this disease ( Maksimovic et al., p.400). Given this fact, I think it is important
for nurses to understand the risk factors “because nursing is a practice profession, research
is essential to develop and refine knowledge that nurses can implement to improve clinical
practice and promote quality outcomes (McMenamin et al., 2019; Moorhead et al., 2018;
Powers, 2020)” (Grove & Gray, n.d., p. 1).
D. Is the relationship of the identified problem to previous research clear? Yes. In the article,
the author referred to previous research, one of which includes the following: “It is well
known that lifestyle factors and genetics are involved in the development of T2DM and its
complications” (Maksimovic et al., p.400).
E. Does the purpose narrow and clarify the focus of the study? No
Step 2: Review of Literature
A. Is the literature review logically organized? Yes. Ex
Logically organized literature review falls under the guideline step “Examine the organization and
presentation of the research report [which ensures that] a well-prepared report is concise, complete,
logically organized, and clearly presented; it does not include excessive jargon that is difficult to read;
the references need to be current, complete, and presented in a consistent format” (Grove & Gray, n.d.,
p. 365). My chosen article was published in 2023 which is current, it is easy to read and clearly
presented despite not being narrowed, there is no excessive use of jargon, and the article was
“organized by the standard areas of background, methods, results, and discussion” (Grove & Gray, n.d.,
p. 405 ).
B. Does the literature review provide a critique of the relevant studies? Yes, in the sense that,
“’the term ‘critical appraisal’ or critique is an examination of the quality of a study to
determine the credibility, meaning, and relevance of the findings for nursing knowledge and
practice”’ (Grove & Gray, n.d., p. 365). The article is peer-reviewed, the authors have
knowledge of their topic based on their scope of practice, and the information is relevant to
nursing knowledge to educate patients on the risk of TTD.
C. Are the gaps in the knowledge about the research problem identified? Yes
D. Are important relevant references omitted? No
Step 3: Study Framework; Theory; or Model
A. If a theoretical framework is used, is it easily linked with the problem or does it seem
forced? No
B. If a conceptual framework is used, are the concepts adequately defined and are
relationships among these concepts clearly identified? No
C. If a model is used, is the model a representation of real phenomena? No
Step 4: Research Objectives, Questions, or Hypotheses
A. Are the objectives, questions, or hypotheses expressed clearly? Yes. Investigators formulate
research objectives (or aims), questions, or hypotheses to bridge the gap between the more
abstractly stated research problem and purpose… they also identify the relationship
between the variables and indicate the population to be studied” (Grove & Gray, n.d., p.46 ).
My chosen article objective is to “estimate risk factors for type 2 diabetes in women” (
Maksimovic et al., p. 399). The objective clearly identifies the population studied and the
variables, which are risk factors.
B. Are the objectives, questions, or hypotheses logically linked to the research purpose and to
the concepts and relationships in the study framework? No
C. If there are hypotheses, is a predicted relationship between two or more variables included
in the hypothesis? No
D. Is the sample included in the hypotheses? No
Step 5: Variables
A. Are the independent and dependent variables clearly defined conceptually and
operationally and based on previous research or theories? Yes
B. Are any extraneous variables identified? No
Step 6: Sampling
A. Is the sample size adequate? Yes. The reading material states, “If the study was designed to
make comparisons and significant differences were found, the sample size, or number of
individuals participating in the study, was probably adequate” (Grove & Gray, n.d., p. 263).
The author considers the sample size “relatively small,” which can mean a large sample size
is normally used. However, there was no recommendation for a larger sample size or errors
noted due to the sample size, so I would consider this sample size adequate ( Maksimovic et
al., p. 405). Also, the sample size for the descriptive study was greater than the 100
participants. “Descriptive (particularly those using survey questionnaires), correlational, and
outcomes studies often require large samples with more than 100 participants” (Grove &
Gray, n.d., p. 264).
B. Is the sample representative of the population? Yes. The author stated that the research,
“comprised all newly diagnosed cases of T2DM (99 cases) in one of the municipal medical
centers in Belgrade” which is a perfect representation of the entire center in Belgrade” (
Maksimovic et al., p. 400).
C. Is the method for selection of the sample appropriate? Yes.
“The Methods section of most published studies includes information about the ethical
selection of study participants and their treatment during the study,” which is then
approved by organizations, including IRB, after the research is considered ethical (Grove &
Gray, n.d., p.100 ). There was a criteria that was used to select participants including “data
on demographic and anthropometric characteristics (i.e age, sex)” ( Maksimovic et al., p.
400).
D. Are the sample criteria for inclusion into the study identified? Yes
Step 7: Research Design/Data Collection Methods
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Is the research design adequately described? Yes.
Is the design appropriate for the research problem? Yes
Are the data collection instruments described adequately? Yes
Are the data collection methods appropriate for the study? Yes
Where was the research conducted? one of the municipal medical centers in Belgrade
Who, what, where, and how of data collection identified? All newly diagnosed cases of
T2DM (99 cases) in women in one of the municipal medical centers in Belgrade. Two
physicians interviewed all participants.
Step 8: Data Analysis
A. Is the results section logically organized? Yes. The author used graphs and tables to
represent findings.
B. Are the tables and figures clearly understandable? Yes. Every table is clearly labeled.
Step 9: Interpretation and Discussion of Findings
A. Are the interpretations based on data obtained? Yes
B. Are the findings discussed in relation to the previous research and conceptual framework?
Yes
C. Are the limitations of the results identified? Yes. “The main limitations of this study are
related to the well-known drawbacks of case…” ( Maksimovic et al., p. 404).
Are implications of the results for clinical nursing practice discussed? Yes. In summary, this study
highlights, in particular, the need to target overweight and obese women who use oral
contraceptives, have never been pregnant, and consume a greater quantity of coffee, with
major stressful life events and a family history of diabetes. These groups are more vulnerable
toT2DM; thus, prevention should focus on these groups.
D. Are recommendations for future research identified? No
E. Are the conclusions justified? Yes. The conclusion reinforces the findings which I considered
justified according to the objective. The author concluded,“The present study emphasizes
the role of oral contraceptive use, a greater quantity of coffee consumed, occupation, never
been pregnant, overweight and obesity, major stressful life events, and family history of
diabetes in the development of type 2 diabetes” ( Maksimovic et al., p. 401).