Research in Practice 1 Nursing Research Critique 2026: Simulation-Based Training Study Using the Ellis Framework

Research in Practice 1: Nursing Research Critique Assignment

In this Research in Practice 1 assignment, Stage 2 nursing students critically review a published qualitative study on the value of simulation-based training for nursing students in primary care. The critique must follow the Ellis (2019) framework, working through background, core research, ethical and qualitative rigour questions.

Assignment

Critically review the article “A Qualitative study of the value of simulation based training for nursing students in primary care” (Bray and Østergaard 2024) using the Ellis (2019) research critique framework.

Instructions

• Word count: 1,500.
• University guidelines on assignment presentation, cover sheet, plagiarism and referencing must be strictly followed.
• Submit to Turnitin on or before Friday 13 November 2026; assignments not submitted to Turnitin will not be graded.

Research Critique Framework (Ellis 2019)

The first section applies to all forms of research; the later section adds questions specific to qualitative research.

Background Issues

• Title: does it identify the people the research applies to, the research question, aims or hypothesis, the methodology or data-collection method, and the main findings?
• Author credentials: can you identify the authors’ qualifications, professional background, current job, experience of similar research and any conflicts of interest?

Core Research Issues

• The question: does the introduction and background identify the need for the research, and can you identify its aim, objective, question or hypothesis?
• Methodology, methods and sampling: do the paradigm and methodology make sense for the question, and are there alternatives? Are the data-collection methods correct, and are there alternatives? Is the recruitment method reasonable or open to bias, is the sample the right size and how was it arrived at, and does it represent the people the study is about?
• Results: is the analysis consistent with the type of data, is it clear how the data were analysed, are the results clear, and do they answer what the researchers set out to answer?
• Discussion: does it reflect the results and purpose, identify practical issues and compromises, make claims only about what the research set out to answer, explain why the results occurred, and avoid adding new results?
• Conclusion: does it stay within the aims, reflect the results and discussion, compare findings with similar research and with existing or potential policy, and suggest future research?

Ethical Issues

• Have the researchers shown the research is necessary, gained ethics approval, and protected confidentiality and anonymity?
• Have they addressed informed consent: freedom from coercion, information giving, freedom of choice, the right to withdraw and extra care for vulnerable participants?
• Have they respected the principles of doing good, avoiding unnecessary harm, respecting autonomy and fairness?

Additional Questions for Qualitative Research

• Rigour: is the research process explained transparently?
• Dependability: was the study carried out consistently, with all researchers using the same procedures?
• Credibility: did the researchers check agreement with their findings and their interpretation with participants or other professionals?
• Confirmability: were the data handled neutrally, and is reflexivity considered?
• Transferability: does other research support the findings, and if not, are the differences explained?

Reference: Ellis, P. (2019) Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing. 4th ed.