Research Critique in Midwifery
A constructive critique of the research into women’s experiences of becoming a mother after prolonged labour.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) state in their code of conduct state that nursing and midwifery care must be evidence or best practise based. Therefore it is essential that students are able to analyse and critique research papers in order to determine the validity of the study and to apply theories to practise. This essay intends to critique and analyse the research paper, in order to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the research undertaken. Certain questions are required to ensure that the evaluation is assessing the essential components of the research (Holloway& Wheeler, 2002). Therefore Holloway and Wheeler’s (2002) critique framework for qualitative research will be used to critique and evaluate the study. This essay also intends to acknowledge the research limitations and the implications for practise. It also intends to evaluate if the methodology and processes are applicable to the research type. The research paper is a qualitative study concerning women’s experiences following the phenomenon of prolonged labour and an instrumental or caesarean delivery (Nystedt et al., 2008).They were selected from two Swedish hospitals and chosen by the principle researcher after examination of the partograms in their labour documentation. The candidates had given birth between November 2003 and April 2000.
The research title is the first point of contact of the research, and should demonstrate the content of the study (Hicks, 1996). A research title should indicate both the group being studied, and the characteristic being reported, which is key in a qualitative study (Polgar & Thomas, 2000). In this study, the title states prolonged labour and women’s experiences of becoming a mother (Nystedt et al., 2008). It does not mention the type of delivery which is also a criteria of the research. In assessing whether the topic and title are
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) state in their code of conduct state that nursing and midwifery care must be evidence or best practise based. Therefore it is essential that students are able to analyse and critique research papers in order to determine the validity of the study and to apply theories to practise. This essay intends to critique and analyse the research paper, in order to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the research undertaken. Certain questions are required to ensure that the evaluation is assessing the essential components of the research (Holloway& Wheeler, 2002). Therefore Holloway and Wheeler’s (2002) critique framework for qualitative research will be used to critique and evaluate the study. This essay also intends to acknowledge the research limitations and the implications for practise. It also intends to evaluate if the methodology and processes are applicable to the research type. The research paper is a qualitative study concerning women’s experiences following the phenomenon of prolonged labour and an instrumental or caesarean delivery (Nystedt et al., 2008).They were selected from two Swedish hospitals and chosen by the principle researcher after examination of the partograms in their labour documentation. The candidates had given birth between November 2003 and April 2000.
The research title is the first point of contact of the research, and should demonstrate the content of the study (Hicks, 1996). A research title should indicate both the group being studied, and the characteristic being reported, which is key in a qualitative study (Polgar & Thomas, 2000). In this study, the title states prolonged labour and women’s experiences of becoming a mother (Nystedt et al., 2008). It does not mention the type of delivery which is also a criteria of the research. In assessing whether the topic and title are
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