Articles | Health Evidence Bulletins - Wales: Additional questions to assist with the critical appraisal of a qualitative study. | Schoen [25] | Watson [26] | |
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A. What is this paper about? | 1. Is the study relevant to the needs of the project? | Y | Y | |
2. Does the paper address a clearly focussed issue? Are the aims of the investigation clearly stated? | Y | Y | ||
B. Do I trust it? | 3. Is the choice of a qualitative method appropriate? | What was this study exploring (eg behaviour/reasoning/beliefs)? | Y | Y |
Do you think a quantitative approach could have equally/better addressed this issue? | N | N | ||
4. Was the author’s position clearly stated? | Has the researcher described his/her perspective? | Y | N | |
Has the researcher examined his/her role, potential bias and influence? | Y | N | ||
5. Was the sampling strategy clearly described and justified? | Check to see whether: • the method of sampling is stated or described • the investigators sampled the most useful or productive range of individuals and settings relevant to their question • the characteristics of those included in the study are defined (and are comparable to the wider population) | Y | Y | |
6. Was there an adequate description of the method of data collection given? | • Is the method of data collection described and justified? • How the data were collected (eg audiotape/videotape/field notes)? • If interviews were used, were the questions pre-tested? • If observation was used, is the context described and were observations made in a variety of circumstances? | Y | N | |
 | 7. Were the procedures for data analysis / interpretation described and justified? | Check to see whether: • a description is given of how the themes and concepts were identified in the data • the analysis was performed by more than one researcher • negative/discrepant results were taken into account • the data were fed back to the participants for comment | Y | Y |
C. What did they find? | 8. What are the primary findings? | Consider whether the results: • address the research question • are likely to be clinically important | Y | Y |
9. Are the results credible? | Were sequences from the original data presented (eg quotations) and were these fairly selected? • Is it possible to determine the source of the data presented (eg numbering of extracts)? • How much of the information collected is available for independent assessment? • Are the explanations for the results plausible and coherent? • Are the results of the study compared with those from other studies? | N | N | |
D. Are the results relevant locally? | 10. Can the results be applied to the local situation? | Consider differences between the local and study populations (eg cultural, geographical, ethical) which could affect the relevance of the study. | Y | Y |
11. Were all important outcomes/results considered? | Y | Y | ||
12. Accept for further use? | Y | Y |