ADVANCED RESEARCH
AND EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICE
MAY 23, 2014
REBECCA LEE, DNP, CRNA
BARRY UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH
SCIENCES
Chapter Six
Literature Review: Searching and
Writing the Evidence
What is a Literature Review?
• Written analytical summary of
research finding on a topic of interest
• Comprehensive compilation of what is
known about a phenomenon
• Purpose – assess the evidence
• Clear identification of the topic of
interest important
Purpose of the Review
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Identifies a research problem and how it can be studied
Helps clarify and determine the importance
Identifies what is known
Identifies gaps in the knowledge
Provides examples
Provides evidence of the importance of the problem
Identifies theoretical frameworks and conceptual models
Identifies experts in the field
Identifies research designs and methodologies
Provides a context for analysis
The Process
• Happens early in the process
(quantitative)
• Can happen at the end (qualitative)
• Summarization of the literature usually
follows the research problem/question
• Sets the stage for the study
Conducting a Search
• Seek the help of a professional librarian
• Research idea
– Brainstorm about an idea
– Other articles can provide suggestions for the next
step
• Research question
– Helps to be curious about topic
– Reading is great source for ideas
– Does not have to be etched in stone
Database or Search Engine
• Search engines – Google/Yahoo/Bing
– Take you to the information
– Help you retrieve accessible information
• Database i.e.MEDLINE
– Organized body of related information
– Arranged for speed of access and retrieval
– Storage location like a library
– Two types – bibliographic and fulltext
Possible Databases used in
Nursing
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MEDLINE
CINAHL
Cochrane Library
Nursing & Health Sciences
Nursing Journal
PsycINFO
AID search
EBSCOhost
Basics of Searching
• Identify concepts from the research
question to focus the search
• Determine any synonyms for identified
concepts (search terms)
• Combine search strategies
– AND = reduces the number of citations
– OR = less restrictive
Key Information
• Textbooks can be helpful to provide a
foundation
• Determine the gaps in the literature and
authors of major articles
• More precise the search = fewer number
of resources
• More general the search = greater number
of resources
Evaluating the Literature
• Believe that you have analytical skills to
base the evaluation upon
• Look at the discussion section of article to
see the limitations identified for the study
• Driving force is to determine if the study
supports the question identified and if any
gaps are seen
Parts to review
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Purpose of the study
Sample size and selection
Design of the study
Data collection procedures
Analysis of the data
Conclusion
Review areas
• Articles – Author’s credentials, citation
information
• Purpose – Helps to group similar type studies,
organizes the material for later summarizing
• Sample – Selection process, size of the sample
• Method – Implementation of study, inclusion
criteria, instruments or surveys used, data
collection procedures, data analysis
• Major Findings – Gaps noted, limitations, next
step in the research process
Looking through research articles
Creating a table helps with the synthesis of
information and organization of data
Writing the Literature Review
• Not a summary of articles
• Synthesis of information about the topic
• Purpose – convince the reader about the
need to do the study
• Format can vary ()
• Outlines are helpful to manage the amount
of data to be organized
Writing the Literature Review
Understanding what a literature review is…
The purpose is to identify what is known
and what is not known about a topic.
Galvan (2006:72) captures the difference
between an annotated bibliography and a
literature review very well: "...in essence,
like describing trees when you really
should be describing a forest. In the case
of a literature review, you are really
creating a new forest, which you will build
by using the trees you found in the
literature you read."
Double check your writing!
Helpful Hints
• APA Style
• No more than 10
pages
• Don’t be quote
happy
• Synthesize
• Use spell check
• Review guidelines
• Look at the
examples under
unit resources BB
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Summary Points
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Foundation of the research proposal
Begins with a good literature search
Engage a professional librarian to help
Database searches using subject headings yield
more precise information
• Identify what is known and unknown about the
topic
• Identify gaps in the literature
• Gaps in the literature should support the
research question
Chapter Thirteen
The Research Critique Process and the
Evidence-Based Appraisal Process
Definition of Critique
• Critique is defined as a vital appraisal
dealing with examples of art or literature; a
decisive dialogue of a precise topic; the
ability of analysis
• Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary
(2012): a “a careful judgment in which you
give your opinion about the good and bad
parts of something (such as a piece of
writing or a work of art” (p. 1
Rationale for Doing a Research
Critique
• Immediate reaction to seek answers to critical
questions in nursing practice
• Mechanism to provide feedback for
improvement
• Allows for the advancement of the
professional
Elements of a Research Critique
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Purpose of a study
Design of the research
Literature review
Research question
Sample
Data collection process
Results
Recommendations
Process for Doing a Critique
• Read the entire study carefully
• Examine the organization and presentation
• Make a photocopy of the article to allow
highlighting
• Identify terms you don’t understand and look
them up
• Identify the strengths and limitations but be
objective
Critically Assessing Knowledge
for Clinical Decision-making
• Fundamental importance for implementation of
evidence-based practice.
• Research critique should be tempered by clinical
expertise.
• Must be a systematic process to ensure
completeness.
Decisively Evaluating
Quantitative Evidence
• Slightly easier to do since quantitative research
design tends to be more concrete.
• Usual section – introduction, literature review,
hypothesis (es), sampling, research design,
statistical testing, and discussion
• Conceptual framework principle aspect for this
type
Decisively Evaluating Qualitative
Evidence
• Slightly different focus
• Must discuss researcher-participant
relationship
• Ethical consideration
• Data collection and management
• Data analysis which allows for audit of
process
Decisively Evaluating Mixed
Evidence
• Embraces both quantitative and qualitative
aspects
• Rationale for utilization of this method must be
provided
• Quantitative data discussion usually provided
followed by qualitative data but can be in any
order
• Discussion section must bring both data results
together for an integration of the
recommendations.
The Evidence-based Appraisal
• Expert Opinion
– When there is no definitive data available
– May be expressed in books, conferences,
forums, reports or even from expert clinicians
in practice
– Data internal to an organization
– Quality Improvement (QI)/Quality Assurance
(QA)
• Necessary to provide nurses with knowledge to
improve their nursing practice through expert
opinion and internal data
Summary Points
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Essential to Evidence Based practice
Nine different types of critiques
Series of questions guide critiques
Journal articles have restrictions on length, etc
Critique skills developed by repetition
Eight general areas of a research study
Don’t need to be a statistician to do a critique
Quantitative critiques differ from qualitative
critiques
• Evidence-based appraisals may include
evidence from sources other than research