Tool for critiquing QUALITATIVE research

This tool is used to critique qualitative research. It includes questions related to study purpose, relevance to nursing/midwifery practice, ethics, study methodology, data collection/rigour, participants, research findings, study limitations, and applicability to clinical practice.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Student Name:
Student ID:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assessment template: Tool for critiquing QUALITATIVE research
*Please do not upload the Background section above to learnonline with this template
Tool for critiquing qualitative research is modified based on the Critical Review Form-Qualitative Studies ©Law, M.,
Stewart, D., Pollock, N., Letts, L. Bosch, J., & Westmorland, M.
Instructions:
 Complete all of the questions in the template below in reference to the article that you
have selected. Ensure that you have selected the correct template (quantitative or
qualitative) to match the research method in the article that you have selected.
 Where there is a Yes/No option in the question, delete the option that does not apply.
 Word count of the template = 550
Question 1: Study Purpose/Question
(a) Did the study have a clearly stated purpose/research question? Yes
(b) Explain your response below:
The study has clearly stated the purpose of the research, that is, to explore the perception of the
parents on their children’s vaccination in Singapore, but the research question has not been stated
separately. As pointed out by Garcia (2016), it is important to frame a research question in a study in
order to clearly state the problem statement and inform the readers on the particular topic to be
focused on. However, it has to be mentioned that the introduction of the study has also clearly narrated
the purpose of the study and the importance of undertaking the research.
Question 2: Relevance to nursing/midwifery practice
(a) Explain how this question was relevant to nursing/midwifery practice.
As it has been mentioned in the background of the study that vaccination is a key part of the health care
and nursing and its importance among the children has gained momentum in the recent time. In the
view point of Miller et al. (2015), nurses are considered as trustworthy in delivering health care. Again,
Miller et al. (2015) commented that vaccines are the greatest inventions in the public health history that
has helped to reduce the burden of several diseases. Thus, vaccination to children can easily be
considered to hold greater relevance in nursing practices.
Question 3: Ethics
(a) What were the possible risks of participating in the study?
The foremost risk of participating in a qualitative study is getting the personal information revealed to
the one conducting the study. For this particular study, the parents of infants of pre-school goers were
the participants (Kurup et al. 2017). In such cases the parents who might not support the idea of
vaccination shall not like to participate in the study considering that their name would be revealed. In

addition to this, some personal information of the children or the parents might also be disclosed that
would create a risk among the participants to participate in the study.
(b) Were these risks clearly identified by the authors? Yes
(c) If risks were identified by the authors, how did they propose to minimise risk?
In the given context, the ethical consideration at the time of conducting the study has not been clearly
defined. As commented by Nguyen et al (2014), for any primary research where there is the
involvement of the participants in the study, it is important to consider the safety of the participants in
terms of the data or information shared by them. In order to clearly identify the risks and also to avoid
any kind of issue, it is important to consider a participants’ ethical form where the participants should
give their consent on being a part of the study. Moreover, according to the data collection act, the name
of the participants and other personal information should also be remained private, so that there is no
issue regarding any private information of the participant.
(d) Did the authors state that they had approval from an ethics committee to undertake the study?
Yes
(e) How did the authors obtain informed consent from participants?
Reading the methodology section of the research paper, it has been understood that the participants
were interviewed at a vaccination clinic in Singapore. The study reveals on the consent obtained from
the participants and that an approval form was signed by each participant (Kurup et al. 2017). A semi
structured interview was then conducted among the parents. In addition to this, telephonic interview
was also taken to understand the view point of the parents on the process of vaccination for their
children (Kurup et al. 2017).
(f) Did you identify and potential risks associated with the study that were not identified by the
authors and if so, what were they?
The potential risks of the study could be that the participants might not entertain the enquiry of the researcher
properly and so that the response given by the participants could be considered as manipulative or something that
might not reveal the exact reason of vaccination of the children in Singapore. In addition to this, it has been clearly
identified that few participants did not participate in the study and has ignored the plea of associating with the
research (Kurup et al. 2017). Moreover, it has also been identified that the survey was limited to a particular
vaccination centre, the information obtained from the parents cannot be considered as the ultimate result of the
findings. Moreover, there were few participants who actually withdrew from the study even after giving their
consent. All these situations created a sign of risk in gaining the overall result or the outcome of the study.
Question 4: Study Methodology
(a) What the chosen methodology for this study?
Descriptive qualitative study is the study design that has been selected for this particular study. As pointed out by
Garcia (2016), that in medical or health related studies; the qualitative descriptive study is carried on to
understand the nature of the participants and their point of view on a particular topic. In this particular study as
well, it was important to know the point of view of the parents of Singapore in terms of vaccination of their
children. This is why the descriptive qualitative study was selected and a semi-structured interview was carried on
to determine the outcome of the study.
(b) Was this choice suitable for the given research problem/question? Yes

(c) Explain your response to (b):
The research question focused on the perception of the parents of Singapore on vaccinating their children in order
to prevent them against a few diseases. The descriptive qualitative approach was suitable as it helped to
understand the view point of the participants in details that would have not been possible if a quantitative
approach was undertaken (Kurup et al. 2017). However, if the quantitative approach was taken then few close
ended questions could have been asked and the same could have been interpreted using various analytical tools.
This way, the findings could have been more reliant.
Question 5: Data Collection/Rigour
(a) Describe how the data was collected for this study (interview, observation, etc).
The data was collected by the means of interview by either directly communicating with the parents of the
children or by the means of telephonic semi-structured interview. The sample size of the study was actually
determined by the means of data saturation point. Among the participants 10 were father and the rest 5 were
mother (Kurup et al. 2017). Thus, the sample size was as small as 15. However, effort was made to gain
information from more participants but due to last minute back out from the research, the same could not have
been possible.
(b) Did the researchers provide the participants with the opportunity to check the collected data
or research findings? No
(c) Did the researchers continue recruiting people to the study until data saturation was reached?
Yes
(d) Did the study use multiple data collection methods (eg collect data from more than one source)?
Yes
(e) Explain how the points in (b), (c) and (d) contribute to the trustworthiness of the overall research
findings.
As per the methodology, the data was collected until there was a saturation point. The data was
collected only after taking permission from the respondents. Each of them was asked to give their
consent for the research and then their interview was taken. This created a trustworthiness among the
respondents.
Question 6: Participants
(a) How many participants were included in the study?
19 parents were recruited for carrying out the qualitative research.
(b) What were the inclusion and exclusion criteria?
The parents whose children were between the ages of 1-18 months, the age when vaccines are given to
the children were taken into consideration for the research. In addition to this, the monthly income that
happened to be between $2,000 and $10,000 was another inclusion criterion (Kurup et al. 2017). Any
person who was not a permanent resident of Singapore was not interviewed and did not become a part
of the research because the study was solely based on the situation of Singapore. Moreover, parents of
children more than 18 months were also not interviewed and they actually fell under the exclusion
criteria.

(c) Explain how the participants were recruited.
The participants of the study were recruited from a vaccination clinic in Singapore. The children who were vaccine
were the pre-schoolers and thus, it was expected that the age of their parents would not be more than 40.
However, there were few parents who had more than 2-3 children and so their age was more than the other
participants (Kurup et al. 2017). The idea was to carry out a semi structured interview to understand the view
points of the parents on the vaccination process.
(d) Describe the setting in which the study took place (hospital, community, etc).
The study took place in the community in Singapore. It was not a hospital but it was a clinic where the children are
given vaccination on a routine basis. It was a suitable place for the study to conduct as there was possibility that
the parents would be answerable to the questions asked. If the similar situation would have taken place in a
hospital, then in depth or detailed interview of the parents might not have been possible due to the great rush in
those places.
Question 7: Research Findings (outcomes)
(a) What were the main findings of this study? (provide a dot point summary)
• Healthcare encouragement is one of the main reasons for the people to participate in the
process of vaccination.
• It was also mandatory for the parents to carry out vaccination for their children and so many
children were saved as they were given timely vaccination (Kurup et al. 2017).
• The positive views on the effect of vaccination have helped the parents to be more focused on
the process of vaccination.
• Availability and accessibility is one of the key factors that encourages the parents to vaccinate
their children
Question 8: Study limitations
(a) What were the limitations of this study stated by the author/s?
The limitation included that the study was conducted in a particular site and that resulted in gaining
limited information on the particular topic under consideration. If the same had been conducted in
several other places including a hospital, the result could have been better as it would have considered a
larger area for the detailed investigation (Kurup et al. 2017). Moreover, the age limit of the children who
were taken under consideration was also another limitation and that information of those more than 18
months were not taken into consideration.
(b) Explain why these are study limitations.
These situations created a limitation because the study thus got limited to a particular place and region
and that the findings became much generalised to a particular context only. If the research was done
among a large group of people, the result gained could have been more valuable and would hold greater
relevancy.
(c) Did the researchers disclose any personal ideas, experiences or knowledge (bias) that might
influence the conduct and outcomes of the study? No
(d) Explain why personal ideas, experiences or knowledge (bias) may reduce the validity of the study

If personal ideas were expressed among the participants, then the situation could have been influenced
by the view point of the researcher. The respondents might consider the experiences of the researcher
and would give their responses accordingly (Stokley and Szilagyi 2018). This situation at some point
would create a biasness that would hamper the validity of the study.
Question 9: Applicability to clinical practice
(a) According to the Levels of Evidence pyramid, what level of evidence are the reported results from
this paper?
Considering the level of evidence pyramid, it can be said that the study falls under the cohort studies as
it has helped to understand the way of thinking of the parents of Singapore. The immunisation practice
that is carried on in Singapore has been known (Afonso 2014). In addition to this, the importance of
vaccination has also been known after conducting this study.
(b) Overall, should the outcomes of this study be used to inform evidence-based practice?
Yes
(c) Explain your rationale for your responses to questions (a) and (b).
As a few participants, the parents, were involved in the study to gain a proper understanding of the
thinking of the parents on the importance of vaccination to their children, it can be considered as a
cohort study. It was not a systematic review or expert opinion based study (Stokley and Szilagyi 2018).
As the result and the outcome have completely been gained by the means of evidence from the parents,
the study can be easily regarded as an evidence-based research.
Part 2 Reflection (approx. 500 words)
Write a reflection on the learning that you have undertaken in Research Methodology relating to the
questions below. If you use supporting references you should reference as per the UniSA Harvard
referencing system.
This should include:
• Did you have prior ‘knowledge’ about immunisation safety for children/pregnant women prior
to undertaking this assessment? Describe your understanding of this.
• How did you acquire this knowledge (what way/s of knowing/where did the information
come from)?
• Did you have a personal opinion (bias) or concerns about the safety of immunisation for
children/pregnant women prior to undertaking this assessment?
• Has anything that you have learnt in the course changed your opinion (bias)/allayed you
concerns/increased you concerns about the safety of immunisation for children/pregnant
women? If so, why?

According to Giri et al. (2017), the process by which the immune system of an individual is made
fortified against some foreign particles known as the immunogen, is known as the immunization. It has
been known that there remains a possibility of acquiring a disease from the mother in case of the baby
inside the womb and this is why immunization is given in order to prevent the babies from any kind of
disease. In addition to this, during pregnancy this process also helps in becoming a healthy person.
Moreover, the baby also gets the immunity from its mother and so immunization is important. Again,
after birth, there remains the possibility of getting hit by any kind of disease and in order to fight against
such odds the babies are again given vaccinations for different diseases so that the same can be fought
out.
Understanding on the process of vaccination and immunization was clear since the time I
started my career in the health care industry. It is by the means of regular learning and gaining
knowledge on the same that the understanding on these things increased. It is equally important to
carry out a research by reading various books and journals on the topic in order to gain more knowledge
on the same. Different research papers on the topics of vaccination have also help in increasing and
acquiring knowledge. Moreover, by visiting vaccination camps or clinics, more knowledge about the
same can be gained.
If my personal opinion on vaccination is taken into consideration, it has to be said that if there
remains a possible chance of fighting against any kind of disease by taking any kind of precaution, it is
always better because this way a person can be saved from some critical situations. In addition to this,
during pregnancy the mother lost the power to fight against the few diseases and if the mother can be
immunised by the means of any vaccine, it shall bring greater benefits to both mother and the children.
Reading Mohammad and Burkhart (2014), it has been understood that there are many dangerous
diseases that can be easily prevented by the vaccination process. For example, diseases like diphtheria,
typhoid, tetanus and even rubella and chickenpox can be easily prevented by proper vaccination. Prior
to this assessment, the importance of vaccination was known to me, however, this particular study has
helped me further to gain better understanding as well as real life understanding on the importance of
vaccination.
Prior to this assessment, I had an understanding that the inborn immunity is enough for people
to fight against the diseases. In fact, I also used to think that there is no particular possibility of escaping
or stop a person to get harmed by a particular disease. However, after the completion of the
assessment, I have to clear understanding on the benefits of the vaccination and immunisation and that
every pregnant woman and the in-born babies should undertake vaccines in order to stay fit and combat
against some odd diseases.

References:
Afonso, N., Kavanagh, M. and Swanberg, S., 2014. Improvement in attitudes toward influenza
vaccination in medical students following an integrated curricular intervention. Vaccine, 32(4), pp.502-
506.
García, C.L.D.G., 2016. Importance to Vaccination Against Rabies in Travellers to Areas of Risk. J Vaccines
Vaccin, 7(311), p.2.
Giri, M.R., Panda, J.K. and Sahoo, A.K., 2017. Hepatitis B awareness and vaccination status among first
year medical students. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 3(2), pp.530-
532.
Kurup, L., He, H.G., Wang, X., Wang, W. and Shorey, S., 2017. A descriptive qualitative study of
perceptions of parents on their child's vaccination. Journal of clinical nursing.
Miller, E.R., Shimabukuro, T.T., Hibbs, B.F., Moro, P.L., Broder, K.R. and Vellozzi, C., 2015. Vaccine Safety
Resources for Nurses: The CDC supports nurses in promoting vaccination. The American journal of
nursing, 115(8), p.55.
Mohammad, T.F. and Burkhart, C.G., 2014. The importance of vaccination against HPV. Open
Dermatology Journal, 8, pp.1-3.
Nguyen, T.H., Vu, M.H., Nguyen, V.C., Nguyen, L.H., Toda, K., Nguyen, T.N., Dao, S., Wannemuehler, K.A.
and Hennessey, K.A., 2014. A reduction in chronic hepatitis B virus infection prevalence among children
in Vietnam demonstrates the importance of vaccination. Vaccine, 32(2), pp.217-222.
Stokley, S. and Szilagyi, P.G., 2018. Improving Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in the United States:
Executive Summary. Academic pediatrics, 18(2), pp.S1-S2.