Article: The impact of alcohol use during pregnancy on maternal responses after birth
DOI 10.1007/s00737-012-0305-z
Order Of Paper Format:
1. Introduction
2. Research Problems
– What is the research problem?
– Does the problem build a persuasive argument for the new study?
– Is the problem statement easy to locate?
3. Research Questions and Hypotheses
– What are the research questions and hypothesis?
– Does the hypothesis state a predicted relationship between two or more variables?
4. Methods
5. Ethical Aspects of a Study
– Was the study approved and monitored by an Institutional Review Board, Research Ethics Board or similar committee?
– Were appropriate informed consent procedures used with all participants?
6. Research Design
– Was the design experimental, quasi-experimental, or non-experimental?
– Was the study longitudinal or cross-sectional? What are the threats to the studies internal validity?
7. Sampling
– What type of sampling design was used?
– Are possible sample biases or weaknesses identified?
8. Data Collection
– What methods of data collection were utilized (Self-reports, Scales, Observation, and Rating Scales)? If self-report methods were used, did the researchers make good decisions about specific methods (in-person interviews, mailed questionnaires, etc.)?
– If observational methods were used, did the report adequately describe what the observations entailed?
10. Results
– How are important results presented?
– Do the authors make causal or correlational inferences? Are the inferences justified based on the study design and the results?
11. Statistical Analysis
– Identify the type of analyses undertaken to address each research question or test each hypothesis.
– Were appropriate statistical methods used, given the level of measurement of the variables, number of groups being compared, and so on?
12. Discussion
13. Findings
– What limitations do the authors discuss? What other limitations that may affect internal validity do you find in the study?
– Are the findings the authors present directly related to the results from the data in the study?
14. Clinical Practice
– Did the researchers discuss the study’s implications for clinical practice or future research and if so, were the implications grounded in the study evidence, and in evidence from earlier research?
