Analyzing Qualitative Articles (Worksheet)
Phillip Olt
Read your assigned qualitative article, and then work through the questions below. If describing something specific from the article, you must identify / quote it with a page number citation (not just “yes”).
Example
Question 4: Describe the participants in this study. How were they selected? Are they appropriate and adequate for addressing the purpose and/or research question(s)?
Answer: There were 14 participants in this study, selected through a convenience sampling strategy (p. 72). They were simply those who agreed to participate, so they were not representative along demographic lines (ex. all identified as women). I think the number of participants was appropriate, but because the participants had such homogeneous demographic characteristics that were not the same in the population, I do not think that the author really was able to answer their research question. Either the author needed more diverse participants, or they needed to modify their research question to be just “among students who identify as women.”
1. Did the author(s) provide an introduction to their article (even if there is no heading labeled “Introduction;” note the abstract is not an introduction)? If so, did it effectively introduce the reader to topic and hook the reader to continue reading? How so, or how not?
[Insert Response Here]
2. Did the author(s) provide a review of the literature (even if it is not named as such in a heading)? If so, was it timely (i.e. majority of citations from within 5 years of publication)? Did it prepare the reader to understand the major topics of the study / findings? How so, or how not?
[Insert Response Here]
3. What methodology did the author(s) use to study their topic? Was a purpose and/or research question(s) clearly presented? Did the methodology align with that purpose and/or research question(s)? How so, or how not?
[Insert Response Here]
4. Describe the participants in this study. How were they selected? Are they appropriate and adequate for addressing the purpose and/or research question(s)? How so, or how not?
[Insert Response Here]
5. What were the methods of data collection, and how did the author(s) use them in this study? How did the author(s) analyze the data?
[Insert Response Here]
6. How did the author(s) address the quality and integrity of the article (exs., reliability, trustworthiness)?
[Insert Response Here]
7. Did the findings / results directly achieve the purpose and/or answer the research question(s)? Were they clearly presented so that you thoroughly understood them? How so, or how not?
[Insert Response Here]
8. Did the discussion / conclusion include applications for theory, research, and/or practice? If so, do you believe they were appropriate? Why, or why not?
[Insert Response Here]
9. What did you learn from the content of the article, and how could that be applied to your current or future desired professional situation?
[Insert Response Here]
10. Rate the author(s)’ methodology as a whole number from 1 (horrible) to 5 (awesome) and explain why.
[Insert Response Here]
