Assessing Research Quality: A Critical Analysis of Journal Article Impact and Methodology

Abstract

Article critique (quant) Article Article quality: Is it a high quality journal? (Hint: check the impact factor online). Does the title identify: The type of people to whom the research is being applied? Who are they? The paradigm/ methodology? The main finding(s) of the study? Can you identify the authors’: Qualifications? Yes/No for all authors? Professional background? Yes/No for all authors? Current job? Yes/No for all authors? Previous similar research? Yes/No for all authors? Conflicts of interest? Yes/No for all authors? Is there an abstract? Does it provide the purpose, method, major findings and conclusion? Is there a literature review? Does the researcher demonstrate insight into the subject under study? Is the search a collection of quotes, or does it critically appraise previous studies? Is the paradigm (qual/quant) identified? Research question: Do the introduction and background identify the need for the study? What is it? Can you identify the purpose of the research (aim, objective, question or hypothesis)? What are they? Have the researchers: Demonstrated the research is necessary? (Unnecessary research is not ethical). How did they demonstrate? Gained ethics approval? Demonstrated concern for confidentiality and anonymity? How? Demonstrated informed consent processes (freedom from coercion, right to withdraw, extra concern for vulnerable participants)? How? Shown concern for ethics principles (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice). How? Does the discussion: Reflect the results? Reflect the purpose of the research? Identify any obstacles? Compare the results with existing literature? Does the conclusion: Reflect the results and discussion? Identify implications? iii)Identify possibilities for future research? Reference list: How many? Are they quality sources? Any low quality sources? Are the majority recent? Overall quality: How highly do you rate this article? (Low, moderate or high). Is it a quality article that you could use to support your own scholarly work?