Critical Review Form – Qualitative Studies

Critical Review Form – Qualitative Studies  Law, M., Stewart, D., Letts, L., Pollock, N., Bouch, J., & Westmorland, M., 1998 McMaster University

Citation:

Comments STUDY PURPOSE Outline of the purpose of the study. Was the purpose stated clearly?

_____ Yes

_____ No LITERATURE: Describe the justification of the need for this study. Was relevant background literature reviewed:

_____ Yes

_____ No

What area(s) of occupational How does the study apply to professionals and/or to your research therapy were studied? question? _____ self care _____ productivity _____ leisure _____ performance components _____ environmental components _____ occupation STUDY DESIGN: What was the study design? Was the design appropriate for the study question? (e.g, for knowledge level about the issue, ethical issues) What was the design: _____ ethnography _____ grounded theory _____ participatory action research _____ phenomenology _____ other ______

Was theoretical perspective Describe the theoretical perspective for this study. identified?

_____ Yes

_____ No

Note: The words “Occupational Therapist” were changed to “therapist” or “professional” throughout this document for use by the TRIPSCY Evidence-based Journal Club. Method (s) used: Describe the method(s) used to answer the research question. _____ participant observation _____ interviews _____ historical _____ focus groups _____ other ______

SAMPLING: Describe sampling methods used. Was flexibility in the sampling process demonstrated? The process of purposeful selection was described _____ Yes _____ No

Sampling was done until redundancy in data was reached _____ Yes _____ No _____ Not addressed Describe ethics procedure. Was informed consent obtained? _____ Yes _____ No _____ Not addressed

DATA COLLECTION: Describe the context of the study. Was it sufficient for understanding of the “whole” picture? Descriptive Clarity Clear & complete description of site: _____ Y _____ N participants: _____ Y _____ N researcher’s credentials _____ Y _____ N Describe how elements of the study were documented. What was missing? Role of researcher & relationship with participants _____ Y _____ N Identification (bracketing) of assumptions of researcher _____ Y _____ N Describe data collection methods. How were the data representative of Procedural Rigor the “whole” picture? Describe any flexibility in the design & data Procedural rigor was used in the collection methods. data collection strategies:

_____ Yes _____ No _____ Not addressed

Note: The words “Occupational Therapist” were changed to “therapist” or “professional” throughout this document for use by the TRIPSCY Evidence-based Journal Club. DATA ANALYSIS: Describe methods (s) of data analysis. Were the methods appropriate? What alternative explanations were explored? Analytical Preciseness ____Y ____ N ____ Not addressed

Findings were consistent with & reflective of data _____ Y _____ N

Auditability Describe the decisions of the researcher re: transformation of data to Decision trail developed & rules themes/codes. Outline the rationale given for development of themes. reported ___ Y ___ N ___ Not addressed

Process of transforming data into themes/codes was described adequately ___ Y ___ N ___ Not addressed

Theoretical Connections How were concepts under study clarified & refined, and relationships Did a meaningful picture of the made clear? Describe any conceptual frameworks that emerged. phenomenon under study emerge?

_____ Yes _____ No

TRUSTWORTHINESS Describe the strategies used to ensure trustworthiness of the findings.

Triangulation was reported for Sources/data _____ Y _____ N Methods _____ Y _____ N Researchers _____ Y _____ N Theories _____ Y _____ N

Member checking was used to verify findings ___ Y ___ N ___ Not addressed

CONCLUSIONS & What did the study conclude? What were the implications of the findings IMPLICATIONS for occupational therapy (practice & research)? What were the main limitations in the study? Conclusions were appropriate given the findings _____ Y _____ N

The findings contributed to theory development & future therapy practice/research _____ Y _____ N

Note: The words “Occupational Therapist” were changed to “therapist” or “professional” throughout this document for use by the TRIPSCY Evidence-based Journal Club. Note: The words “Occupational Therapist” were changed to “therapist” or “professional” throughout this document for use by the TRIPSCY Evidence-based Journal Club.