Critical Appraisal of Research Papers

The given assignment involves critically appraising research papers related to nursing and medicine. The task includes evaluating qualitative and quantitative studies, considering factors that may influence research outcomes, and understanding theoretical frameworks in qualitative research. This assignment is essential for students and researchers to develop critical thinking skills and learn how to evaluate the credibility of research papers.

Critical Appraisal Of Research
Paper

Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Conceptualization of Research Problem..........................................................................................3
DOMAIN 1: RESEARCH TEAM AND REFLEXIVITY..............................................................4
Personal characteristics...............................................................................................................4
Relationships with participants...................................................................................................4
DOMAIN 2: STUDY DESIGN.......................................................................................................4
Participant selection....................................................................................................................5
Setting.........................................................................................................................................5
Data collection:...........................................................................................................................5
DOMAIN 3: ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS...................................................................................6
Data analysis and findings..........................................................................................................6
Reporting themes........................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERNCES...................................................................................................................................9

Introduction
The research paper “What makes registered nurses remain in work? An ethnographic
study” is a qualitative research published by Carina Ahlstedt , Carin Eriksson Lindvall , Inger K.
Holmström and Åsa Muntlin Athlin. The main aim of this paper is to find out various factors
which are affecting nurse’s productivity in a negative way and how it could be resolve. A
qualitative research approach is backed by authors purpose of exploring human behaviour in
personal and social life experiences (Maher & Dertadian, 2018). Whole paper is done on the
basis of COREQ check list i.e., a) research team and reflexivity b) study design c) analysis and
findings. It is best for this type of research as it promotes comprehensive study of qualitative
approach which helps researcher to understand the problem and solutions clearly. (LoBindo-
Wood and et. al.,2013). This essay will outline the overall quality and implication of the paper in
clinical practice and future research.
Conceptualization of Research Problem
Primary research is used in the whole research with the help of different techniques like
interview, questionnaire, observation etc. Meanwhile to collect information from the participants,
participant observation is used because it would help researchers to collect recent data. Four
months of period is decided to collect and analyse information which is collected within this time
period only. More importantly it is also essential for the researcher as their knowledge regarding
their specific topic will get increased to a certain level so that they can solve the problems which
have been affecting society for long period of time. The topic which researcher has chosen for
their research is “What makes registered nurses remain in work? An ethnographic study”.
According to World health organisation report, 40 millions jobs would be vacant globally in
health and social care sector due to shortage of professional and skilful nurses and high turnover
over ratio. For instance, according to the research paper scrutinized, nurses are disappointed and
frustrated from their work due to work related stress, dissatisfaction, burnout etc. This study
would help all the researcher to find out various means through which nurses could be motivated
and importance of motivation in the life of client. Moreover, how people working in different
industries can use techniques to enhance motivation of their employees so that overall efficiency
and productivity level would increase to its fullest (Whitehead, LoBiondo-Wood and Haber,

2012). This topic has wide reach as anyone can use the findings to increase their profitability so
that competitive advantage would gain in a shorter period.
DOMAIN 1: RESEARCH TEAM AND REFLEXIVITY
Personal characteristics
Carina Ahlstedt, Carin Eriksson Lindvall, Inger K. Holmström, Åsa Muntlin Athlin all
the authors of this paper has conceptualised, analysed and wrote the manuscript of data. The
lead author Carina Ahlstedt works at department of public health and caring sciences at Uppsala
University of Sweden and three co-authors one is Carin Eriksson Lindvall is from Sweden works
at department of business studies at Uppsala University, Inger K. Holmström is expert in person
centred care and communication and Åsa Muntlin Athlin is working at department of medical
sciences, clinical epidemiology as an associate professor. All the authors of this paper are female
and besides this everyone is best in their specific field which makes this paper more credentials.
Relationships with participants
Low numbers of sampling will help researcher to identify every factors which they are
looking at and besides chances of errors would also be reduced. But on the other side, due to
limited sample, doubts which will arise in the meantime of study would not be resolve. To study
their responses and activities, live scenario is taken for clients as they have to take care of
patients and find out within 23 hours that are patients ready to go or not. This helps researcher to
make their study credible as it is hard for the clients to fake their actions while doing their work.
The entire interview which was conducted is for 18-42 minutes in which it starts from the normal
questions and ends at the topic related questions. (Hoare, 2012). There was no communication
regarding feedback from the clients though all the themes were identified on the basic of
qualitative data only.
DOMAIN 2: STUDY DESIGN
To conduct this study, qualitative exploration approach has been use with ethnographic
approach, as it would help author to analyse the information in more concrete and concise
manner (Demain and et. al., 2015). Moreover, it also provides various types of insights which
author could not find in other approach like verbal and non verbal communications, sign, body
language, time taken for responses etc.

Participant selection
Participant selections
Total samples of registered nurses are 10 in which 8 were females and remaining were
males but at the time inspection there were also 5 assistant nurses and physicians which should
be taken by the researcher so to get the accurate results. Researcher might think that only
registered nurses are the participants which could be taken while conducting a research.
Moreover 8 females and 2 males were considered without maintaining the sex ratio because at
the time of conducting study there were total of 10 nurses due to which they have to select them
without considering the gender ratio.
Setting
At the time of interview 9 nurses were available because one has not participated in the
study. This specific client has taken for consideration because it was easy for them to access at
hospital and moreover researcher wants to analyse all the responses under the real working
conditions.
Methods of approach
Time taken by the researcher to conduct whole study is 56 hours with 470 different
events because they want to observe every factor which might affect the result of research.
Purpose sampling is used by researcher in which aim of an individual is to focus on a particular
group according to their characteristics as it would be helpful for them to find out answer which
is suitable for their study topic. All the members or participants chosen for the research is
randomly assigned and received intended treatment as then only accurate results of primary
research would be find out.
Data collection:
Techniques which have been used in this study is as follow, face to face interview which
could be formal and informal, panel interviews, by observing the sample size etc. There are
disadvantage of every techniques for instance, while interviewing the respondents, they can
speak lies about the thoughts which are coming in their mind while doing their work and in
observation, there might be some of the actions which is done by respondents which could not be
reported as it is not open for observation etc. (Pitt and et. al., 2012). All the information is
recorded so that chances of evaluating wrong information would decrease to a certain level.

Individual interviews are crucial for ethnographic research as proper mapping can be done with
the help of this approach only.
Though it is not mentioned anywhere in the paper that questions which are asked by the
researcher to their client is pre tested or not. Because if it isn't then credibility and validity of
paper would be reduced to a certain level (Hirschi and Selvin, 2017). Moreover, more focus is
given on the clients perspective as that researcher have taken long period for collecting data
through various means. There were many staff (clinical and non clinical jobs) members like
assistant nurses or physicians which author should ask questions regarding their paper topic so to
gain more insight about the work and problem of client. While starting their interview, authors
have tried to build rapport with the clients so that they will get comfortable with them . It is
helpful for research as then only chances of getting wrong results is reduced. Apart from that,
there is no mention about the data saturation point as why authors have stop their data collection.
Real reason behind this is still unknown which makes it more confusing. Moreover, discussion
about transcripts were not mentioned.
DOMAIN 3: ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
Data analysis and findings
 After analysis of information, responses are categories according to the three themes i.e.,
work motivation linked to interpersonal support (the nourishment factor), Work
motivation linked to progress (the progress factor) and Actions that directly facilitate the
work in relation to work motivation (the catalyst factor). Authors have failed to mention
factors which are important for reader to understand the paper easily.
 Thematic analysis has been used by the author to analyse data collected over time as it is
one of the easiest and best way of analysing information through identifying, analyse,
organising, describing and fit according to the pre set themes. Whole data analysis
process is divided into four different parts as data collected was large in number. In the
first step, researchers have cross checked information collected through interview and
observations. It assist them to reduce redundancy and mistakes in study. After that,
coding of data will be done with the help of software named Nvivo 11. It assist professor
to identifies answers which are qualified or unqualified responses (Marsden and Arce,
2017). In the third steps, researchers put down findings of research according to their

pattern of answering. This phase is important for them as chances of getting lost which
assigning responses are high. At last, researcher takes time to analyse the data as they
don't want to commit any mistakes in data analysis.
Reporting themes
There were three themes in which whole responses is considered and distributed. Each and every
theme was explained with the help of example which makes it easy for reader. This approach is
better way of dividing the answers so that complexity and confusion in the mind of authors
would be eliminated.
Theme 1: Motivation linked to nourishment factor
Whole answers is divided into different categories and it also sub category which makes
the research complex or confusing (ReSearCher, 2017). Nourishment refers to the support nurses
are getting from their colleagues at the time of working in a same and different shifts and the
results were astonishing. When individual are cheerful before coming to work or while working
then it will automatically enhance the productivity of work they are doing. It can be concluded
that motivation is directly connected to working potential of clients but the real reason behind
this is not properly explained by the author.
Theme 2: Motivation link with progress
Person would feel motivated at work if they are constantly learning new things with the
knowledge & expertise of others and not getting bored of it (Heyvaert and et. al., 2013). Same
goes with clients as everyone was helping each other while doing their work and besides this,
nurses were doing others work if the assigned person is not present at that time. To authenticate
this theme, author should make a cap or ways through which progress would be measured.
Besides this, there is no mention about it which makes it drawback of research.
Theme 3: Work linked with catalyst factor
Aim of author is to identify various factors like freedom which assist individual to
perform with the maximum potential. Though the study supports the basis of inner work life
theory. Research also shows that clients prefers to work independently as it gave them the
freedom of doing their work accordingly but if an opportunity came for working together then
they won't denied it either. Atmosphere is an essential point while motivating employees at
workplace because it is directly linked with the performance as it gave the opportunities to
nurses to learn from the mistakes so that it won't repeat in the future. At last, goals is an

important factor while performing harder as then they would know that which path to choose so
to achieved the pre set goals and objectives (Hannes and Macaitis, 2012). Author is able to
provided all the justification which makes this theme credible and authentic in nature.
Limitations and strengths of study
Strengths of this research study is using of ethnographic approach as it help authors to
attach with the clients so that first hand experienced would be attain. Besides this researcher can
also find out factors through their verbal and non verbal communication (Hempel and et. al.,
2015). There are many limitation of study like author should also considered or take interview of
assistant nurses and physicians to find out factors which indirectly affects working of registered
nurse. Author also failed to provide concise and specific reason of clients which has not showed
up in the interview sessions. Moreover, in qualitative research, it is hard to identify clear picture
of by taking single sessions of clients so to find out real scenario. But on the other side, author
have taken long time to collect information in the first time which makes the study less credible.
CONCLUSION
Research paper which is mentioned above is critically analysed through research
problem, teams, design, analysis of data and finding of it. Main aim of this study is to find out
factors like technique through which clients would be motivated enough to perform their clinical
practices with full professionalism, essential for creating favourable atmosphere at the
workplace, importance of feedback from the work assigned to the individual etc. Authors has
tried to maintain their research credibility and authenticity by recording every responses
generated from the clients so that unexpected factors will also considered at the time of dividing
responses according to different types of themes though it is hard to identify authenticity of
questionnaire. All the data collected was according to the clients due to which many points have
been neglected which could weight the credibility of research paper. It is not clearly mentioned
about the biasses or favouritism which author might not or might have faced while collecting
data.

REFERNCES
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