The Images of the Nursing Profession - Article Example

QUALITATIVE CRITIQUE ANALYSIS 11 CRITIQUING THE SAMPLING PROCEDURE a) Yes the target population is well identified; nursing have been selected as the targets that are further segregated into two small groups of two different sizes or lots. b) Yes the accessible population is also referred too. The target of 168 nursing students would be selected from the classroom sessions, keeping into considerations the ethical aspects of chosen institute as well. However, the college name in specific is not mentioned from where the sample would be selected. c) Nothing precise about the probability or non probability sampling method has been mentioned in the analysis part. However after analyzing the content, it seems that non probability sampling has been applied. d) No specific sampling method has been named, only the total number of respondents or sampling size is revealed. This is a lacuna that weakens the study and adds uncertainty to the end result. e) As the sampling method has not been featured, it is difficult to comment upon its appropriateness or viability. However, as mentioned above that non probability sampling is more visible in the text, thus is applied the method seems apt for the study. f) Nothing specific about the demographic characteristics have been mentioned, apart from the fact that the profession chosen by respondents is ‘nursing’. No information regarding income, age, gender differentiation as such is provided. g) Yes, the sample size seems to be adequate that is 168 to be precise. However large number would have added amore strength to the end result. h) Yes, the sample is the representative of the population representing the Eurocentric culture that nurses are a part off. Here the population refers to the ‘nurses’ in the current context. i) Yes the potential sampling biases have been identified, segregating the same into different concepts of manifest and latent content. However no exact biasness for selecting particular group of nurses has been mentioned. j) No the study does not feature anything related to the subject dropout. Infact, no such instance has been highlighted. 12 – 1 CRITIQUING THE DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE a) The research clearly defines the kind of data collected from respondents that includes ‘the images of the nursing profession’ and ‘the reasons for choosing nursing as a profession’. The data was collected through respondent’s interaction during classroom session; the respondent himself collected the data at the college level in the classroom. Exact time and date of the data collected is not mentioned though in the study. b) The research is more inclined towards qualitative aspects rather than quantitative, hence a clear measurement of variable is not visible. c) No there is no specific section in the research that describes the data collection instruments nor is the instrument mentioned in the study. d) No the research lacks a detailed description of the research instrument which is highly essential for a study and the people who aim to attract something constructive from a report. e) No details regarding the instrument has been revealed, thus its use in the past studies cannot be justified. f) No use of specific instrument has been clearly mentioned in the analysis, thus the use and testing of its reliability is unjustified. g) There is absolutely no reliability test mentioned or assessed, hence the worth or viability of its efficiency or appropriateness cannot be measured or ranked. h) No use of specific instrument has been clearly mentioned in the analysis, thus the use and testing of its validity is unjustified. i) There is absolutely no validity test mentioned or assessed, hence the worth or viability of its efficiency or appropriateness of validity cannot be measured or ranked. j) No sign of pilot study is visible or mentioned in the research using specific research instruments, the absence of which makes the authenticity of the research contradictory and incongruous. 13 – 1 CRITIQUING THE DATA COLLECTION METHOD General Criteria a) The research lacks a grounded platform as no signs of data collection methods have been indicated. Detailed description of data collection method is not evident from the analysis done, however a slight mention of narrative gathered through respondents is made in the study. b) In this study surely data analysis technique is focused but no details regarding data collection method is cited. The research questions are qualitative in nature, but the testing of the data collection tool, that is whether it is through questionnaire or observation or interview method cannot be defended. c) Certainly a physiological method would have been of great help in this study specifically where narrative strategy is used for data analysis and the author has also attached a self report defining the procedure in which the content analysis was undertaken. d) As such no particular data collection method has been specified; hence the count one or more cannot be confirmed. However the study would have been benefitted if multivariate methods like questionnaire, interview or observational techniques would have been utilized. Questionnaires a) Neither the details have been provided on the total number of questions included or on the total length of the question. However the time allocated to each respondent was 10 minutes. b) No response rate has been mentioned for the return of the questionnaire. c) Directly no sampling biases have been mentioned, however few sections of the research do highlight them indirectly. d) Yes the confidentiality and anonymity was assured to all of the respondents who rendered their consent. Interviews a) As no mention of interview technique is made in the data collection and analysis segment, it is difficult to confirm whether such technique was opted and the duration for which it was carried on. b) No kind of training has been imparted to the interviewers if any; nothing relevant about the method and its details regarding training has been referred to in the entire research. c) Confidentiality and anonymity is assured, but the technique through which the data is collected or for which it is assured is missing. Other Methods a) No reference to any special method used is evident neither in the analysis segment nor in any other section of the research. b) Rationale for the use of data collected method is completely omitted which is vital for any research to impart validity and authenticity to the study. This lack of rationale has weakened the approach altogether. c) No instrument has been mentioned or described in detail. d) No, the use or rationale for utilizing scoring method, if any is again omitted in the research process. 14 – 1 CRITIQUING DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS a) The descriptive statistics include two tables where ‘Table 1’ contains the details regarding the Students Images of the Content in Nursing Profession, which is further categorized into ‘Idealistic’, ‘Realistic’ and ‘Young Seeker’ group. ‘Table 2’ refers to the details regarding the ‘Students Motives for Choosing Nursing as a Career’. b) The descriptive statistics do relate to the basic question that research focuses upon, but no statistical derivations or analysis of various questions is seen. It can be said that descriptive statistics are appropriate but not adequate. c) No, both the measures of central tendency and variability are completely omitted in the analysis of the study. d) No details regarding the demographic status of respondents are revealed in the research. e) Yes, the descriptive statistics are presented in the forms of Tables in the analysis segment which are further clearly bifurcated into three sub categories that is, the Idealistic Helper, the Realistic Developer and the Young Seeker. But the individual demographic details of each respondent are missing. f) Yes, there is a consistency between the text explanation and the details depicted in the form of Tables. 15 – 1 CRITIQUING INFERENTIAL STATISTICS a) No, inferential statistics are presented in the study. As the research is more of a qualitative nature, statistical tools are avoided. b) As already stated above, no statistical tools, tests or other inferential techniques have been applied, hence can’t be pointed out whether they are appropriate. However, use of hypothesis must have been a part of the research to give it more legitimacy. c) No the reader is not provided with values of inferential statistic, degrees of freedom or level of significance as no such calculative deductions are made in the study. d) No, use of parametric or non parametric testing is not found in the research; hence its appropriateness cannot be justified. e) As already stated above, the tests are not included in the research; hence the level of measurement cannot be stated. Though two groups were selected, one of size 72 and the other of 96 but no further deductions are made on them. f) The study does not entail any specific hypothesis testing, it is just a description and analysis of narrations by the respondents, hence no inferential statistics for hypothesis applies in this study. g) No kind of inferential tests are conducted, but yes the inferential text does exist as per the research questions framed. h) Yes, the results are presented both in text as well as in table format. REFERENCE Marie, R. N. Foundations of Nursing Research. (2008). 5th ed. India, ND: Pearson Education Read More