Critical Appraisal Assignment Sample illustrates how expert guidance helps students review a nursing research article, assess its methodology and findings, and use structured critique to inform evidence‑based learning and practice.
This paper seeks to give a critical analysis of International Student Nurses’ Use of social media for Learning: A Cross-Sectional Survey by Cathala et al. (2021). In nursing, evidence-based practice implies a process of making clinical decisions that combines client values, nursing judgment, and external support by research findings. Students who look for help with assignment uk often focus on these skills so they can evaluate research more confidently. Critical appraisal enables an evaluation of the validity, reliability as well as relevance of the research being conducted. The ways of organizing structured appraisals can be enumerated by various tools like CASP (Critical Appraisal Skills Programme) and PRISMA. The feasibility of the study, research synopsis, purpose, design, ethics in the study, research rigor, and lastly the findings of the study will be assessed using an adapted checklist.
Synopsis
Title: International Student Nurses' Use of Social Media for Learning
Authors: Xabi Cathala, Oscar Noel Ocho, Paul Nicholas Watts, Calvin Moorley
Abstract: The study investigates social media usage in nursing education across Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the UK. Findings highlight generational and geographical differences.
Keywords: Student nurses, social media, teaching and learning
Research Background, Purpose, and Design
The study aims to partially fill the research void concerning the utilization of social media for educational purposes by nursing students coming from diverse backgrounds. It uses a quantitative cross-sectional survey design with a total participant of 1050 from three countries.
Ethics and Rigour
This study got approval from the respective authorities, participants provided consent, and the responses were anonymized to abide by the data protection laws. Their credibility and reliability were kept intact since the data collection process combined with the statistical analysis.
Findings, Limitations, and Recommendations
Consequently, this work found that WhatsApp® was the most utilized application with a difference in use from year to year and country to country. The study recommends that courses related to nursing ought to include the aspect of social media as from the results, there are limitations in sampling and self-report only.
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Research Synopsis
Title
title of the paper, International Student Nurses ‘ Use of social media for Learning: A Cross-Sectional Surveylet is quite appropriate to indicate the intended target of the study and the method that has been employed.
Authors
The authors which include Cathala, Ocho, Watts, and Moorley are associated with reputed universities in health and biosciences disciplines.
Abstract
The abstract of this study is written and arranged properly, but some more information about the statistical results of the study is missing.
Keywords
The article used student nurses, social media, teaching as well as learning because those are areas of focus in this study.
Research Background
Here, the authors do not have a separate section for the Literature Review or Introduction, rather they have a Background section. The section provides a clear background pointing to the current trend of use of social media in nursing education and this is in line with other similar studies. However, it appears to have given only a nodding reference to previous work done, beginning with prior existing research not a critical review of the existing literature as shall be scienced in the present study. The background links well to the main objective of the study by assessing how international student nurses employ social media for learning. The authors discuss literature touching on the utility of integrated learning among students and specifically the positive effects that can be gotten from social media such as support. They also note possible lateral issues to do with privacy, professionalism, and guidance from institutions. This strengthens the study’s justification(Alamri, 2021). However, there is very little discussion of the possibility of lacking the gaps to some extent in the previous studies, especially when it comes to educational systems and students. Also, while the study reveals generational and geographic factors, the background does not explain the effect type on learning behaviours. One would have benefited from a more focused foundational framework of theoretical concepts or prior research relating to notions and practices of digital learning in nursing.
Research Purpose
The Research Purpose in a study identifies the value orientation in the research endeavour, or the general direction of the research, which influences the methods of researching the problem and the manner or techniques applied in analysing the results. It helps to make sure the study responds effectively to a particular research question and notifies the readers about this. In the paper titled International Student Nurses’ Use of social media for Learning: A Cross-Sectional Survey, the authors seek to explore how student nurses in the United Kingdom, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, engage in learning through social media. It calls for objectives that pertain to usage preferences across the nation and different generations as well as education levels. Although the purpose is clearly defined, it could be tied more closely with a theory to provide more evidentiary support (Almutairi et al., 2022). Lastly, the indicative of the hypothesis or research question is also missing in this study, which would contribute towards rigorous focus and structure.
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Theoretical Framework and Research Design
A theoretical framework is a clear orientation for research, to relate it to theories that explain the investigated phenomena. It has a role in variable declaration, methodology identification, as well as data analysis. Based on the previous analysis of the work International Student Nurses’ Use of social media for Learning: A Cross-Sectional Survey, it was found that the authors did not articulate any theoretical framework. Despite the study, there is no clear connection with past literature concerning social media in nursing education, no finding that relates strongly to learning theory in a digital context such as Constructivism or Connectivism. This has restricted the degree of theorization of the study findings and weakens a more effective linking of the findings to existing knowledge. A better framework would have benefited the study’s research quality by facilitating a clearer analysis of study findings. It is a guide that is used in conducting a study to get a specified aim or question answered through research. There are several types of research designs, and they include experimental, correlational, longitudinal, and cross-sectional study designs. The authors use cross-sectional surveys, which are suitable for assessing the student nurses’ social media use cross-sectionally at a given time. This design enables one to compare and contrast different generations and geographical locations but not different periods. Hence, there are certain limitations in terms of the outcome measures that are self-reported and therefore use of such measures can bring in issues such as recall bias and social desirability bias (Cathala et al., 2021). Nonetheless, the design is appropriate for the objectives of the study; the addition of qualitative components thus complementary to carrying out a mixed-method approach to eliciting students’ perceptions and reasons for using social media in nursing courses could be beneficial.
Research Methods
This section aims to analyse two aspects based on the research conducted in the study entitled International Student Nurses’ Use of social media for Learning: A Cross-Sectional Survey: Sampling and Data Collection/Data Analysis.
Sampling
Sampling is the process of choosing participants in a study to avoid the requirement of studying an entire population. The two well-known sampling methods include: Probability sampling where every participant in the study has an equal opportunity of being selected and non-probability sampling where participants are selected based on certain parameters. Convenience sampling was deployed in the study; therefore, the participants were selected based on their availability and willingness to participate. This approach helped in data collection across three countries; however, it brought about selection biases reducing the generalizability of the study. The overall sample size was appropriate and sufficient (N=1050) but Jamaica fell short of the targeted sample size which could have an influent in the cross-comparison analysis. Representativeness would have been enhanced had a random or stratified sampling method been taken(De Gagne et al., 2021).
Data Collection
Data collection is the process of acquiring information to respond to the specified research questions. Some of them are surveys, interviews, focus groups, and observations. The technique used in the study was a cross-sectional survey which was completed through a self-administered online questionnaire that comprised 31 questions some of which had a Likert scale, Yes/No answer, and open-ended questions. This was suitable for getting a big population sample resolved and physically widespread in considerable areas. However, self-reported responses involve the following undesired characteristics such as social desirability bias (where respondents are inclined to produce more favourable responses) (Giroux and Moreau, 2022). Moreover, the authors of the study also developed the survey and later piloted it; however, no discussion of the validity measurement somehow implies a potential question about the accuracy of the survey.
Data Analysis
Data analysis involves the evaluation of such data collected for came and assessing their significance. Some of the techniques include descriptive analysis, inferential analysis, thematic analysis, and regression analysis. The converted data results were analysed through descriptive statistics and the comparison of the mean ranks performed by the Kruskal-Wallis H test with Dunn post hoc tests to compare the social media usage of different countries, generations, and education levels. These methods were applicable in situations where the variables fell under the categorical and ordinal levels of measurement. As such, there is a possibility that the multiple linear regression could have given a more comprehensive perspective on the factors that may influence the usage of social media. Also, unlike in many studies, inferential tests were employed, however, the effect sizes were not provided, and, therefore, the findings’ practical importance cannot be determined(Isik and Jallad, 2019).
Research Ethics
Research ethics is Rape the principles that govern the conduct of research so that the participants ’rights are protected, and the research results will hold merit. Some of the ethical considerations include consent, privacy, anonymity of participants, retention of subjects’ data, and freedom of the participants from harm. Some of the common ethical concerns that relate to clinical research include force, privacy and confidentiality, and conflict of interest. Regarding ethical issues, the selected study was done in a very proper way including ethical approval from all concerned institutions and voluntary participation. The method of consent was a survey consent question, while anonymity was given by using a university security-protected server(Isik and Jallad, 2019).
Rigor
Lastly, credibility, reliability, and validity are measures that are taken about rigorous research. In quantitative research, issues of rigor concern valid sampling methods, data collection tools that are reliable or valid, and the statistical analysis used. Hence, the study applied a large sample and conducted statistical analyses (Kruskal-Walli’s test and Dunn’s post-test). However, the issue of survey validation is left out, thus triggering the question of the reliability of the measures. However, self-completed questionnaires present inherent biases, and the paper does not mention ways of addressing response bias. Some improvements regarding the survey validation and reduction of the possible bias would improve the quality of the research(O'Connor et al., 2018).
Research Reports
Researched findings depict the results of the analysis of data that answers specific research questions and concerns regarding the study objectives. Some examples of the research report are descriptive statistics, tables, graphs, and inferential statistical results. In International Student Nurses’ Use of social media for Learning: A Cross-Sectional Survey, data results are described through the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The total sample is 1050, 832 from the UK, 158 from Trinidad and Tobago, and 60 from Jamaica; Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn post-test in the analysis of social media usage. The current study revealed that WhatsApp® in particular was the most used in the current research among the participants; UK: 86.6%; Jamaica: 100%; Trinidad and Tobago: 97.5% of the participants used social media for watching videos and downloading articles and two-thirds of it. In more detail, there were differences in these variables that were statistically significant at p ≤ 0.001; these include country, generation, and year of education(Sarginson and Wendler, 2024). However, Jamaica did not achieve the target sample size which may distort representativeness to some extent. Furthermore, more practical and theoretical implications could have been made possible if the authors had included effect sizes together with statistical results, which are only presented in the study. In addition, there are no explanations of confounding factors that are related to internet connection in particular.
In general, the identified research reports are informative and sound methodical, although expanding suggestions on effect size, sources of bias, and generalizability would make the discussions more profound(Sigma Theta Tau International, 2024).
Research Discussion
The Discussion in a research paper explains the results, relating them to the research goals, previous research, and impacts. This paper underscores methodological findings, their implications, and the latter’s relevance, as well as study limitations(Vizcaya-Moreno and Pérez-Cañaveras, 2020).
The connection to prior work in context to the discussion in International Student Nurses’ Use of social media for Learning: A Cross-Sectional Survey can be stated the following: However, internet access issues and related institutional policies are not thoroughly investigated in the study. The authors have mentioned limitations such as the sample size of the population under study being of Jamaican origin and self-reported study data but they have not considered following survey validation problems. Thus, according to the conclusions made by the present investigation, there is a need to enhance social media use within the nursing curriculum. Nevertheless, there are no practical concepts and implementation strategies regarding the involvement of people with disabilities. It should have offered possible future research limitations and nursing education policy implications briefly while elaborating on the prejudice areas to make a stronger impact(Shorey et al., 2021).
Conclusion
This critical appraisal assessed the article “International Student Nurses’ Use of Social Media for Learning: A Cross-sectional Survey” in aspects of research background, purpose, theoretical framework, research design, method, ethics, rigor, findings, and discussion. The rationale of the study is well addressed as the study focuses on social media usage among nursing students, where the authors used a cross-sectional survey and relevant statistical tests. However, they include sampling bias, lack of theoretical premise, and absence of the effect size in this study. Ethical issues have been properly handled in the study; however, the validation of the survey tool was not covered. Reflecting on the critical appraisal process of the following research article allowed me to be aware of the general approach to such assessments: The need for an appropriate sampling technique, ensuring that data collection tools used in the research studies were valid and reliable, and realizing the significance of performing statistical analysis of the research data. It also helps in the development of my professional competency since it provides skills in the critical appraisal of research for quality practice. It is crucial to know the strengths and limitations of the conducted research to make the right decision regarding the use of digital technologies in nursing education and practice.
References
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