As with a quantitative study, critical analysis of a qualitative study involves an in-depth review of how each step of the research was undertaken. Qualitative and quantitative studies are, however, fundamentally different approaches to research and therefore need to be considered differently with regard to critiquing. The different philosophical underpinnings of the various qualitative research methods generate discrete ways of reasoning and distinct terminology; however, there are also many similarities within these methods. Because of this and its subjective nature, qualitative research it is often regarded as more difficult to critique. Nevertheless, an evidenced-based profession such as nursing cannot accept research at face value, and nurses need to be able to determine the strengths and limitations of qualitative as well as quantitative research studies when reviewing the available literature on a topic.
Farley A, McLafferty E. Farley A, et al. Prof Nurse. 2003 Nov;19(3):159-63. Prof Nurse. 2003. PMID: 14639906 Review.
Cutcliffe JR, Harder HG. Cutcliffe JR, et al. Int J Nurs Stud. 2009 Oct;46(10):1401-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.05.005. Epub 2009 Jun 11. Int J Nurs Stud. 2009. PMID: 19523627 Review.
Vivar CG, McQueen A, Whyte DA, Armayor NC. Vivar CG, et al. Nurse Res. 2007;14(3):60-73. doi: 10.7748/nr2007.04.14.3.60.c6033. Nurse Res. 2007. PMID: 17494469 Review.
Lee P. Lee P. Nurs Times. 2006 Jul 18-24;102(29):30-2. Nurs Times. 2006. PMID: 16895246Flemming K. Flemming K. Br J Nurs. 2007 May 24-Jun 13;16(10):616-20. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2007.16.10.23510. Br J Nurs. 2007. PMID: 17577168 Review.
Alnamnakani A. Alnamnakani A. Front Sociol. 2024 Apr 17;9:1369188. doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1369188. eCollection 2024. Front Sociol. 2024. PMID: 38694185 Free PMC article.
du Plessis J, Jordaan J. du Plessis J, et al. Heliyon. 2024 Jan 17;10(2):e24831. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24831. eCollection 2024 Jan 30. Heliyon. 2024. PMID: 38312552 Free PMC article. Review.
Velvin G, Johansen H, Østertun-Geirdal A, Bathen T. Velvin G, et al. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2023 May 19;18(1):119. doi: 10.1186/s13023-023-02709-2. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2023. PMID: 37208760 Free PMC article. Review.
Toh SFM, Gonzalez PC, Fong KNK. Toh SFM, et al. Digit Health. 2023 Feb 7;9:20552076231153737. doi: 10.1177/20552076231153737. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec. Digit Health. 2023. PMID: 36776407 Free PMC article.
Neucom ZA, Prandl KJ. Neucom ZA, et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Dec 28;22(1):978. doi: 10.1186/s12884-022-05226-5. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022. PMID: 36577942 Free PMC article.