How to Read and Critique Research

Do you find research difficult to read? Do you struggle to get to grips with a research paper?

Understanding, critiquing and using research is a key requirement of students studying nursing and healthcare. This book will equip you with the skills you need to understand research and use it in your practice and academic assignments.

The approach used in this book is unique: each chapter focuses on a published research paper - one you might be asked to read for a seminar or include in your academic work. In clear, straightforward language, the authors take you through each paper step by step, using it as a basis for exploring the underpinning research method or design, and how it has been reported.

Key features:

Focusses on a different research paper in each chapter

Identifies the main skills you need for your course: understanding research methods and critiquing articles

Written specifically for nursing and healthcare students by experienced nursing and health care lecturers

Develops your confidence in understanding research by helping you to apply your knowledge to real research papers.

“This is a practical textbook for students which does exactly what it says in the title -demonstrates how to read and critique research. Using examples, it leads the student through the process and is an essential textbook for any research module.”

This is an ideal text for undergraduate nursing and paramedic students reading and learning to appraise research. This is pitched at the right level and students will find this extremely helpful as they develop these appraisal skills.  -- Dr Audrey Cund
  -- Dr Janette Pow
I am excited for this book release, as I find the work by Helen Aveyard incredibly helpful and aligned to teachers/students′ requirements.
The chapter 3 is very well written, it provides an excellent overview on generic qualitative research. It provides key words, examples and a contemporary approach which will certainly benefit both undergraduate and postgraduate students and lecturers alike.  -- Vanessa Coelho
This book is an ideal introduction to research and methodologies used for undergraduate healthcare students as it provides clear, systematic discussions throughout, building knowledge and understanding. It is also well placed further develop healthcare professionals understanding of research. -- Kirsty Barclay

Dr Helen Aveyard is a Principal Lecturer in the Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery at Oxford Brookes University. After completing her undergraduate nursing degree, combining clinical duties with study, Helen completed her MA in Medical Law and Ethics and PhD. On taking up academic role, Helen has published widely on nursing ethics and education in research methods. Helen is an experienced supervisor for PhD and professional doctorate students and is the author of ′ Doing a literature review in health and social care′ which is in its 4th edition. Other co-authored texts include ‘A postgraduate’s guide to doing a literature review’ and “A beginner’s guide to evidence based practice’ all published by Open University Press. Helen has written previous courses for Epigeum in 2010 and 2017Professor Nancy Preston is a Professor of Supportive and Palliative Care and Associate Dean for Post Graduate Education in the Faculty of Health and Medicine at Lancaster University. She completed her degree in Nursing at King’s College, London and worked as a cancer nurse including time as a research nurse on clinical trials. She completed her PhD at the Institute of Cancer Research, London. With over 30 years of experience in research, her research focusses on palliative care and how best to integrate palliative care into general healthcare systems. She has a strong interest in how people make decisions about their future care including advance care planning and experiences around assisted dying. She has been involved in five European research projects. She has published over 150 research papers. She is an experienced PhD supervisor and examiner. She is the co-author of a ‘Post-Graduate’s Guide to Doing a Literature Review’ and ‘Palliative Nursing’.Professor Morag Farquhar is Professor of Palliative Care Research at University of East Anglia (UEA). An early graduate nurse by background (King’s College London), she holds an MSc in Medical Sociology and PhD (University of London). She has worked in health services research for over 30 years, predominantly in the field of supportive and palliative care, within the universities of London, Manchester, Cambridge and UEA. Her main research areas include person-centred care, informal carers, breathlessness in advanced disease, and developing and testing of interventions using mixed methods. Morag has collaborated and published with colleagues internationally in the field of breathlessness in advanced disease and palliative care methodology. At UEA Morag teaches on research and using evidence in clinical practice across a range undergraduate and postgraduate health care professional programmes, including PhD supervision and examination.

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