Skip to main content

Critical Appraisal – are there any tools that can help you? (#24)

By
When you are looking at research articles you need to appraise them critically for validity, results and relevance. This means looking at the paper in a systematic way to determine whether it is going to help you to answer your question.

There are a wide range of tools that can help you to develop your skills in doing this. Our etutorial Critical Appraisal Tools will introduce you to some tools that can help. The tools do not necessarily give you a definitive “yes” or “no” but they help you to ask the right questions to assess the paper.

Tools icon - use critical appraisal tools to help you to assess research papers
Tools icon - use critical appraisal tools to help you to assess research papers

 In a similar way that we use the CRAAP tool (see previous blog post) if an item fails your appraisal it does not necessarily mean that it is a rubbish paper, just that it will not help you to answer your question.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Login to Library Search – step-by-step instructions for NHS staff

By
  Library Search is a discovery tool, allowing you to find items within the library collections. You can search Library Search without logging in to view books and ebooks available in our collections. By logging in to your library account on Library Search you can access a range of additional functionality, such as: Viewing details of your library account Submitting a request to hold a book for you Adding items to your e-bookshelf Saving searches Note that for NHS users logging in to Library Search does not give you access to full-text items. As an NHS member of staff you access online resources using your NHS OpenAthens username. Anatomy of a Library Card First let’s take a quick look at the most important components of your library card. Your library card and library card number give you access to print resources as well as library services. They confirm that you are a member of the library. Your name : this will be printed on your card, so you’ll know it’s yours!...
Post a Comment
Read more

Clinical Key - Getting Started

By
Clinical Key has now been purchased for our UHNM users only. Clinical Key offers you: Clinical Specialist Search Engine SmartSearch to find answers quickly Access to ebooks Full-text ejournals Evidence-based topics Images & Videos Watch this short youtube video for a quick overview Athens You will need an NHS Athens username / password to log in to Clinical Key. If you don’t already have an Athens username register online by completing this online form . For more help using Athens see our web page . Login If you link to Clinical Key from the link on the Health Library Healthcare Resources page then you will go straight to the Athens login page. Otherwise from the Clinical Key login page, make sure that you click the OpenAthens login link and enter your Athens username / password when prompted. Screen-shot of the Clinical Key login screen, remember to use the OpenAthens link.   Activate To use many of the really useful features such a...
Post a Comment
Read more

NHS OpenAthens - what's fact or fake?

By
 What do you know about NHS OpenAthens? Are you eligible for an NHS OpenAthens username? What can you access with an NHS OpenAthens username? Do you think an NHS OpenAthens username will help you? Ignore all the rumours and check out what's fact or fake news. Complete our short quiz - NHSOpenAthens - what's fact or fake - to learn more about NHS OpenAthens, whether you are eligible and how you can get your own username to access key resources. Our updated etutorial is free and easy to access. Have a go at the quiz to find out whether you know the facts about NHS OpenAthens. Then complete the online form to register for your username - step-by-step instructions are available. Need more help? Contact the Health Library if you need more help setting up your NHS OpenAthens username. 
Post a Comment
Read more