An Ethnography: Understanding Emergency Nursing Practice Belief Systems - Essay Example

 An Ethnography: Understanding Emergency Nursing Practice Belief Systems Abstract This paper will critically appraise the qualitative research paper entitled “An ethnography: understanding emergency nursing practice belief systems”. The assessment of the data provided in the research will be done to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the study as a whole, develop better understanding of the research design and methodologies and to provide evidenced - based implementation of interventions (Goodson & Vassar, 2011). This paper critically appraised the research study provided to come up with the assessment that the study design and methodologies used are appropriate to the research purpose, the ethical considerations are duly met, however, the study presented several limitations such as the sample size is limited and the clinical affiliation of the author may lead to some bias that affected the results of the study and the almost homogenous geographic locations of the study. In that case, the paper is considered as effective in conveying its trustworthiness but inferences can only be made on the same context and not on the general phenomenon. Keywords: critical appraisal, research design and methodology, ethnography, sample size and population. Critical Appraisal of a Qualitative Research Report entitled “An Ethnography: Understanding Emergency Nursing Practice Belief Systems” Critical appraisal is a process that identifies the strengths and weaknesses of a scholarly article. It mainly concerns the evaluation of the design of the study, and methods used and assessed the validity of the study to the stakeholders and the industry it concerns. This evaluation procedure was done to provide evidenced-based decision making (Young & Solomon, 2009). There are several types of research the most common of which are the quantitative and qualitative researches. On this paper, I considered appraising the qualitative research as part of my requirement in the course. Qualitative research involves in depth evaluation of a certain culture, belief, and other social problems which is often participatory in nature and in the long run may lead to the conceptualization of a quantitative research. Contradictory to what it was believed to be, qualitative research provides rich information and evidenced based decision making approach to a certain problem/issue more importantly in the healthcare industry (Goodson & Vassar, 2011). Given the above introduction, this paper will try to critically appraise the qualitative research paper entitled “An ethnography: understanding emergency nursing practice belief systems”. The assessment of the data provided in the research will be done to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the study as a whole, develop better understanding of the research design and methodologies Research Report Title An ethnography: Understanding emergency nursing practice belief system. Sampling & Recruitment The sampling technique used in the study is ethnographic sampling. This method is considered as a grounded science in which the sample size vary depending on the nature of the study, however, it was indicated in the study that qualitative research must at least have 15 respondents to be considered acceptable (Mason, 2010). In the research in question, the sampling technique used was not adequately described, however the sample population was duly characterized as good informants, generally experienced and confident and have willingness to discuss the experience. The setting of the study was also well defined and that provided for one of the methods on which the participants are selected. The authors also provided full description on how they were able to gain access to the site and recruit their participants such that they had obtained the ethical approval from the University of Sydney, Ethics Research Committee and ask for verbal consents of the patients interacting with the Triage nurses. By these, it can be inferred that the design used in the study was appropriate such that it refers to the beliefs and social patterns of the group which is the main purpose of the study (Lets et al.). However, the technique was merely identified and no descriptions was provided, also the sample size is too small only 10 participants and not adhering to the rule of at least 15 participants for the qualitative research, thus it cannot be considered as accurate leaving enough slot for participants before saturation point is achieved. Data Collection The study utilizes appropriate methods of data collection such as participants and non- participants observations and interviews and specifically one on one interview with the nurses. It can also be noted that the study attempted to incorporate data triangulation in the process in such a way that they had used several sources of information as well as in-depth interviews on the matter to increase the accuracy (Guion, Diehl & McDonald, 2011). The recording of data was described in detail including timing of interviews, memo taking, and grouping of stakeholders. Though they try to minimize bias and behavioral distortions by selecting participants from different emergency departments, it can be inferred from the study that the researcher itself may be a source of bias a she is a clinician. There is also no attempt to include in the methodology the appropriateness of the staff that collected the data and whether they received training to that purpose, however it was noted that in the limitations part, a brief background of the researcher is provided. Even with the limitations in this part of the study, it can be noted that the data collected is relevant to the research question as it provided information on the matter at hand. Ethical considerations The ethical considerations part was well defined in the study. It was described that the authors seek the approval of the University of Sydney, Ethics Research Committee; they had coded all the pertinent data from the site and the participants and even created pseudo names to protect the rights of the participants and maintain confidentiality, trust and privacy. It was also indicated that before the study began, they had acquired the informed consent of the participants. Data Analysis & Findings The data analysis was sufficiently described by delegating a separate discussion on the different beliefs that study aims to understand. The analysis strategy of de-contextualizing and re-contextualizing of the thematic data was adequately described such that it provides systematic study and coherent analysis. Also the strategy used was compatible with the research tradition as it does not only describe but also interprets the data (Fry, 2011). The discussion suggests that the study yielded appropriate results and the analytic procedures are kept at a minimum source of bias. Findings The findings of the study were effectively summarized through in depth analysis of the different beliefs which are the main focus of the study. These were effectively conveyed through the use of excerpts from the interviews and supporting evidences from previous studies. It also provided a reliable inference to the context of the study but will not yield a meaningful picture of the issue at hand since it utilizes only a limited sample size and a somewhat homogenous geographical location. The tables provided in the paper however did not effectively sum up the conceptualizations the study wish to convey but it merely summarizes statistical facts on the study. In looking at the whole picture of the study, the findings somewhat provided logical connections of themes and patterns as it tried to discuss in depth the results of the study and the use of reliable sources of information to form a convincing and integrated whole. Internal and External Validity / Trustworthiness There are several methods used in the study to build the external and internal validity of the data and the analysis. The use of appropriate study design and methods of data collection as well as the data collection and analysis process employed provided evidence for this. The detailed description of models used as discussed earlier and it appropriateness in the conduct of the study as provided by the author also contributed in building the accuracy and validity of the study. However, it should be noted that there are several sources of bias that may decrease the worth of an scholarly article, such sources of bias as discussed by Young & Solomon, was random error which in effect does not deviate the results of the study from the purpose but may affect it precision such as the relative number of sample population and the geography in which the study was conducted or the systematic error that was affecting the direction of the results as it was due to the study design and through the analysis of the researcher (2009). To sum it up, the study design was appropriate as well as the sampling procedure used but there is a limitation on the sample size that can affect the results of the study. The data collection administered was satisfactory given that they used the appropriate methods of data collection for this study. There are several ethical considerations provided in the author satisfied these considerations before the onset of the study. Appraisal on the findings showed that it was effective presented and summarized however, there is a lack in conceptualization of the figures and maps that will provide generalized information’s on the subject. The internal and external validity of the study was extensively discussed such that it provided evidences that the study used appropriate designs and methods to build its accuracy and trustworthiness however, the limitations identified affected the study in such a way that it inferences can only be made if the study is relative to its context and it does not provide the picture of the whole phenomenon. The presence of several sources of bias also provided limitations on the validity of the study. References Fry, M. (2012). An ethnography: Understanding emergency nursing practice belief systems. International Emergency Nursing, 20(3), 120-125. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ienj.2011.09.002 Goodson, L., Vassar, M. (2011). An overview of ethnography in healthcare and medical education research. Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions. doi:  10.3352/jeehp.2011.8.4. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3100516/ Guion, L.A., Diehl, D.C., McDonald, D. (2011). Triangulation: Establishing the Validity of Qualitative Studies. Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Retrieved fromhttps://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fy394 Letts, L., Wilkins, S., Law, M., Stewart, D., Bosch, J., & Westmorland, M. (2007). Guidelines for critical review form: qualitative studies. Version 2. Retrieved from http://www.srs-mcmaster.ca/Portals/20/pdf/ebp/qualguidelines_version2.0.pdf Mason, M. (2010). Sample Size and Saturation in PhD Studies Using Qualitative Interviews. Forum: Qualitative Social Research. 11(3). Retrieved from http://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/1428/3027 Young, J. M., Solomon, M.J. (2009). How to critically appraise an article.Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 6, 82-91doi:10.1038/ncpgasthep1331   Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/nrgastro/journal/v6/n2/full/ncpgasthep1331.html Read More