Criteria		Met	Not Met	Comments
Researcher qualifications
	Qualifications included
	Qualifications appropriate
	Funding source identified
	Sponsoring group identified
Title of Research Article
	Clear
	Concise
	Contains population
	Contains major variables
Abstract
	100 to 200 words in length
	Problem/purpose
	Hypothesis(es) or research question(s
	Description of subjects
	Design
	Instruments
	Methods
	Major findings
Introduction
	Study topic explored
	Background information on problem provided
	Study purpose(s) identified
	Reader interest attracted
	Importance to nursing stressed
Problem statement
	Clear
	Single Stated in a declarative or interrogatory sentence form
	Contains population
	Contains major variable(s)
	Empirically testable
	Ethical
	Feasibility of study apparent
	Significance to nursing apparent

	Criteria	Met	Not met	Comments
Review of the Literature
	Comprehensive
	Concise
	Logically organized
	Relevant sources cited
	Current sources included
	Classical sources included
	Varying points of view presented
	Primary sources cited
	Sources critically appraised
	Documentation of sources completed
Theoretical/Conceptual Framework
	Relevant to problem of study
	Concepts defined
	Relationship between concepts presented
Assumptions
	Identified
	Appropriate for study
Hypothesis and Research Questions
	Clear
	Concise
	Written in a declarative sentence
	Contains population
	Contains variables
	Reflects the problem statement
	Based on the theoretical/conceptual framework
	Deductions from theory are logical
	Contains only one prediction
	Empirically testable
Definition of Terms
	Identified conceptually
	Identified operationally
	Reflect the hypothesis(es)
	Based on theoretical/conceptual framework
Research Design
	Identified
	Described
	Appropriate to hypothesis(es) or research questions
	Threats to validity or extraneous variables controlled

		Criteria	Met		Not met		Comments
Setting
	Described
	Appropriate for study
Population and Sample
	Target population identified
	Accessible population identified
	Sampling method listed
	Sampling method described
	Sampling method appropriate
	Sample characteristics listed
	Sample size adequate
	Sample representative of population
	Potential sampling biases identified
	Subject dropout discussed
	Protection of subjects’ rights discussed
Data-collection Methods
	Method appropriate
	Description of What data were collected
	How data were collected
	Who collected the data
	Where data where collected
	When data were collected
Data-collection Instruments
	Identified
	Described
	Appropriate for study
	Reflect variables in hypothesis(es)
	Scoring procedures discussed
	Validity reported and adequate
	Reliability reported and adequate
	Pilot study results reported
Data Analysis
	Presented in text
	Presented in tables
	Data presented for each hypothesis
	What statistics tests were used
	Appropriate statistics presented: Descriptive
	Inferential

	Criteria	Met	Not met	Comments
Discussion of findings
	Placed in context of framework tested
	Findings compared to results in literature
	Statistical significance discussed
	Clinical significance discussed
	Limitations of study recognized
Implications
	Identified
	Take into consideration study limitations
	Consistent with previous research findings
Conclusions
	Clear
	Concise
	Reflect study results
	Appropriate for population and sample
Recommendations
	Identified
	Take into consideration study limitations
	Consistent with previous research findings
Other Considerations
	Format follows the research process
	Appropriate writing style
	Correct grammar and sentence structure
	Limited use of complex and technical words
	Cited references appear in reference list

Adapted from Niesdwiadomy, R.M. (1993). Foundations of Nursing Research (2^nd. Ed.). Norwalk, CT: Appleton & Lange.

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