Journal Article Critical Appraisal

This essay critically analyzes, compares and evaluates three journal articles on teen pregnancy in East Devon- England, New Mexico-USA, and Melbourne- Australia. The essay examines the method of research, data analysis and collection, purpose of the study and findings. The strengths and weaknesses of each article are also discussed.

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Journal Article Critical Appraisal
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Introduction
Today, teen pregnancy remains a global concern due to the public health concern of the
issue. Early pregnancy or teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy among females aged below 20
years. The consequences of early pregnancy extend further from health risks to consequences
such as poverty, welfare dependence, domestic violence and academic failure among other
consequences as described by (New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), 2005). According
to Sedgh et al (2014, p. 225), The United States has the highest number of early pregnancies for
teenagers aged between 15-19 years with 57 pregnancies per 1000 women. Bishop (2013, p.1)
States that teen pregnancy in Australia rated at 16 births per 1000 women in 2010. Various
research relating to teen pregnancy have been conducted in different locations. This essay will
critically analyse, compare and evaluate individual article on its method of research, data
analysis and collection, purpose of the study and find. The essay will also find the weakness,
strength, and rigor of the research article. The appraisal will be done on three articles researching
on teen pregnancy in East Devon- England, New Mexico-USA, and Melbourne- Australia.
Article one: East Devon, England
Seamark, C., & Lings, P. (2004, November). Positive experiences of teenage motherhood: a
qualitative study. British Journal of General Practice, 813-818. Retrieved April 11, 2018
The goal of the study was to investigate the experience of teenage mothers and their
expectations about their future, a study carried out in East Devon, England. The research used
purposive sampling to pick a homogeneous group of women who had a pregnancy at their
teenage ages. The research used purposive sampling to gather a sample of the population for the

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study. Purposive sampling technique is one of the most reliable sampling techniques for
qualitative studies needing information-rich cases as well as ensuring maximum use of limited
resources (Palinkas et al, 2013, p.2). The sampling technique entails identifying and selecting
groups or individuals who have experienced or have adequate knowledge about a certain
phenomenon of interest. Bernard (2002) adds that apart from experience and knowledge, the
sampling technique identifies individuals who are also willing and available to participate and
communicate their opinions and experiences in an expressive, articulative and reflective manner.
Seamark and Lings used interviews as the method for the research. Interviews are some
of the most reliable qualitative study research methods which employ semi-structured techniques
to seek the beliefs, perceptions, attitudes, and opinions of people based on their experience and
knowledge (Edwards & Holland, 2013, p.53). The researchers have also considered ethical
guidelines throughout their research as they sought approval from the local research ethics
committee in Exeter. The researchers also asked the interviewees for permission before
interviewing them and promised them assurance of confidentiality.
There are several flaws in this study. The study was only limited to one city (East Devon)
the city is a holiday destination for the rich according to a publishing by Meades (2016). The
researchers ignored the rest of the regions in England and based the conclusion of their study
from findings from a single city. The choice of the area to collect the sample population
questions the rigor of the research. According to Watts et al (2015, P.2), the majority of early
motherhood happen in countries which are developing and amongst teenagers who live in socio-
economically disadvantaged settings if they live in first wolrd countries. These characteristics do
not fit the description of East Devon. The researchers could have done more research in wider
geographical areas to cover a larger population in order to make the outcome of the research

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generalizable. In addition, the outcomes of the study might have lacked significant information
as around 47% of the informants declined to be interviewed. While the study might have done
well in some parts like ethical considerations and use of semi-structured interviews, the
demonstration of rigor was challenging. The study fails to provide the sufficient data sources
across different regions as well as the limited participation of the target population as seen with
the high rejection rate of interviewees (Liamputtong, 2013).
Article Two: Melbourne, Australia (Watts, Liamputtong, & Mcmichael, 2015)
The aim of the study was to determine the encounters that young African Australian who
are refugees in Australia face during their early motherhood (Watts et al, 2015). The study
employed interviews to seek the encounters of the young African-Australian refugees drawing
upon the use of cultural competence and phenomenology frameworks. The use of
Phenomenology was significant for this type of study as the framework is concerned with the
elaboration of what is sensed, perceived and known from one’s experience (Yüksel & Yıldırım,
2015, p.2). The use of the phenomenology framework was critical in giving the researchers the
ability to discover some aspects about a personal life which cannot be revealed through ‘normal’
conversations or those which would not otherwise be revealed judging from individual cultural
or social circles. The choice of using interviews was good as the methodology allows the
respondent to narrate her experiences in a conscience way according to Roberts and Taylor
(2002, p.388).
The choice of the data collection area for the research was good based on the issue under
investigation. As Watts et al (2015, P.2) state, the majority of cases of early motherhood are
prevalent nonaligned nations and amongst youths who live in challenging socio-economical

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disadvantaged environment than if they live in first world nations. The researchers chose to
conduct their study in Melbourne. Being one of the most populated cities in Australia the city is
home to people from both economic divide (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). Melbourne is
geographically a huge city with the diverse population. The choice to base the research on the
city increases the reliability of the generalizations of the study. The researchers also paid
attention to ethical considerations as pseudonyms were used for interviewees to ensure
confidentiality. The researchers also sought the recognition of the Victoria University Human
Research Ethics Committee.
The article several has some flaws as it lacks some strategies which are meant to
improve the rigor of the research through ensuring utility and trustworthiness which are
implemented after termination of a study. According to Morse et al (2002, p. 17) argue that
different strategies for ensuring rigor must be developed with the qualitative process per se. the
research does not employ some of the strategies required like methodological coherence,
investigator responsiveness, saturation and active analytic stance would have improved the rigor
of the research.
Article Three: New Mexico, USA

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Osuchowski-Sanchez, M., Tigges, B., Mendelson, C., Lobo, M., & Clark, L. (2012). Teen
pregnancy and parenting: a qualitative study into attitudes and behaviors of teenaged long-term
Hispanics in New Mexico. Journal of Research in Nursing, 18(3), 218-232. doi:
10.1177/1744987112455422
The goal of the research was to describe and discover behaviours and attitudes pertaining
teen pregnancy as well as parenting among teenage Hispanic females emanating from long-term
families in New Mexico. The chosen teens were those English was their primary language and
had experienced motherhood and pregnancy in the 12 months before participation. The
researchers used adopted the ethnography research methodology in sourcing specific information
regarding complex interweaved and socially created behaviours. The use of the methodology
was essential for the study as using a limited population enables collection of huge information
as well as generating sufficient knowledge regarding a certain issue of interest according to
Patton (2002). The research employed ethical considerations by securing the approval of
institutional review Board from a major South-western University. Before the collection of data,
informed consent was made to the teen, guardian or parent. The research analysis was conducted
inductively by crystallization and immersion. According to Stewart (2017, P.9), the use of
crystallization as a step towards inductive research is a move towards attaining truthfulness and
trustworthiness. Truthfulness can be compared to trustworthiness as it strives for authenticity
which improves quality within the crystallization process. The researchers employed different
comparison methods and developed different evidence which reinforced credibility and
trustworthiness as demonstrated by Yin (2011).
Though the researchers made a good choice of using the ethnography research
methodology, they do not give a justification to use the method since the research methodology

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is used for studies with limited time hence need to cover a small geographical area. Sanchez et
al (2012, p.228) state that the researchers had sufficient time of the study with the over two years
were spent in observation alone and one year in the analysis. The triangulation method used by
the research according to Sanchez et al (2012, p. 228) was critical in ensuring dependability,
credibility, and conformability of the study which ensures prevalence of rigor within the article.
Conclusion
All the issues relating to the purpose of each study was answered, incorporating studies
from different countries like the USA, Australia, and England. The studies had different
strengths especially in ethical considerations, provision of theoretical framework, and well-stated
objective of the study as well as well-defined research findings. Other strengths entailed the use
of different reliable data collection techniques which improved the reliability and rigor of the
studies. Amongst the three articles, the Watts, Liamputtong, and McMichael (2015) research can
be considered the best qualitative research. The article covered a wide region carefully analysing
the target population which was selected from a different ethnicity, social setting and from the
different economic background. The study by Seamark and Lings (2004) was well structured
though it lacked reliability as the sample size was limited, the area of study was not suitable for
conducting that type of study hence it lacked reliable and valid generalization. Sanchez et al
(2012) research was well conducted, used reliable methodologies and data analyses techniques.
The adoption of triangulation method in the research improved the rigor of the research. With
different flaws and strengths, the three articles provide sufficient information regarding the issue
of early motherhood or teen pregnancy.

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References
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Bishop, D. (2013). Teenage Pregnancy – An Adolescent Health Issue in Australia. Nuritinga
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pregnancy and parenting: a qualitative study into attitudes and behaviours of teenaged

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long-term Hispanics in New Mexico. Journal of Research in Nursing, 18(3), 218-232.
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