Quality Indicator | Detail |
---|---|
Research question | Is the research question(s) or hypothesis clearly stated? |
Study subjects | Is the subject group appropriate for the study being carried out (number, characteristics, selection, and homogeneity)? |
‘Data’ collection methods | Are the methods used (qualitative or quantitative) reliable and valid for the research question and context? |
Completeness of ‘data’ | Have subjects dropped out? Is the attrition rate less than 50%? For questionnaire based studies, is the response rate acceptable (60% or above)? |
Control for confounding | Have multiple factors/variables been removed or accounted for where possible? |
Analysis of results | Are the statistical or other methods of results analysis used appropriate? |
Conclusion | Is it clear that the data justify the conclusions drawn? |
Reproducibility | Could the study be repeated by other researchers? |
Prospective | Does the study look forwards in time (prospective) rather than backwards (retrospective)? |
Ethical issues | Were all relevant ethical issues addressed? |
Triangulation: | Were results supported by data from more than one source? |