Saint Anthony College of NursingRockford, Illinois

N326 Nursing Research

Research Critique Grid # 1
Comprehension
Analysis
What is the study problem?
Why is the problem significant to nursing?
Childbirth fear is a common event for the majority Stress can cause labor complications for both mom
of women especially adolescents.
and the baby.
Is [are] the researcher[s] qualified? Explain.
Yes because Cheryl Anderson Rn, PhD-has a D
primary
No Mary Gill, RN, BSN- so not qualified not the
primary author

What is the study purpose? Is it clear?

Yes the aim of the study is to explore childbirth
fears and psychological birth trauma in younger
and older age adolescents.

Why is there a need for this study?

The topic is under researched and there are only a
few studies that explore adolescents childbirth fears
and PBT.
How will this study improve nursing practice?
Nurses will know how assess for potential risk
factors capable of fostering a negative birth.

Literature Review:
Is the lit review current? Describe.
Yes because the study was in the last decade,
(2014).

How is the purpose reflected in the title of the

study?
The purpose of the study is in the title childbirth
related fears and psychological birth trauma in
younger and older adolescents.
Are the majority of sources primary or secondary?
The majority are primary sources.
Secondary: CDC

Is the lit review well organized, including an

introduction and a summary?
Are there benchmark publications? How do you
Yes it well organized because the study contains an
know? Yes because background information was
abstract, background information, methods (deign
gathered. Mercer, R. (1979)(1986), Horowitz (1979), and sample), results, discussion section, and
Barrera (1981).
implications of nursing, limitations, conclusion, and
references.

Framework:
Is there a framework or theory to guide the study?
There is no Framework.
What are the concepts of interest?
Prevalence of childbirth fear and risk factors for
developing fear related to childbirth.

How are the relationships among the concepts

described?
How common is fear related to childbirth in
adolescents.

How is the framework linked to the research

purpose?
There is no Framework.

Comprehension
Identify the research objective, question, and/or
hypotheses.
How do overall fear and selected childbirth fear
differ by age group of adolescents
Do outcomes of birth appraisal and IES scores
differ by fear levels after controlling adolescent
age

Analysis
Are they logically linked to the research purpose?
Explain.
Yes the research questions are logically linked to
the research purpose because they the prevalence of
childbirth fears in younger and older adolescents.

Identify the independent and dependent variables.

Which variables are conceptual?

Independent: age, race, birth method, infant

gestation age

Age, childbirth fear, race

Age of adolescents,

Dependent: feelings about childbirth, negative

feelings after childbirth
Which variables are operational?
Feelings about childbirth experience, feelings about
childbirth after the event.

Ethics:
How were subject rights protected?
Yes the study selected random adolescents and
their identity was kept anonymous.
Describe the statement included reflecting IRB
approval of this study.
This IRB approved cross-sectional study provided
information on childbirth fear and PBT.

Is the study ethical? Why or why not?

Yes their identities were kept anonymous and were
not forced to participate in the study and consent
was obtained from parent/guardian for adolescents
under 18.
How are the subjects protected from harm
[physical and/or psychological]?
There was no treatment or interventions provided
since the study just obtained data from a survey.