Critically Appraising Qualitative Research: Avoiding Quantitative Research Biases While Respecting Methodological Rigor

Qualitative research is typically seen as a poor second to quantitative research. In reality, it has its own strengths and weaknesses, just as quantitative research does. And, if you are able to appraise qualitative research using appropriate standards and tools, you will be able to enhance your contribution to the practice of Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) and boost your value in your workplace.

Sami Kaplan, PhD, who teaches Qualitative Research for the annual Evidence-Based Practice for Health Sciences Librarians workshop and research methods for the University of North Carolina, will be your guide to adding a new skill set to your work with health professionals and to opening you up to a world of valuable research.

You learn how to appraise qualitative research, explain how it fundamentally differs from quantitative research, describe the hallmarks of qualitative research rigor, articulate why many of the appraisal tools for quantitative research simply are not appropriate to qualitative research, and choose and use tools for evaluating, qualitative research evaluation. You’ll learn primarily by applying an overview of core components of rigor in qualitative research and practicing critically appraising articles in the session.

You’ll leave the webinar with new critical appraisal skills that go beyond the traditional EBM pyramid, knowledge of tools to provide qualitative critical appraisal instruction, confidence in your ability to evaluate, select and apply qualitative research to answer clinical questions, and a beginning to conducting your own rigorous qualitative research.

This is a required core course for Level II of the Data Services Specialization.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the webinar, you will be able to:

• Explain fundamental differences between qualitative research and quantitative research designs common to Evidence Based Medicine (EBM)
• Describe hallmarks of qualitative research rigor
• Identify useful qualitative research appraisal tools
• Demonstrate proficiency in critical appraisal of some qualitative research methodologies

Audience

Health sciences and medical librarians at all levels, especially, information professionals engaged in Evidence-Based Medicine critical appraisal activities or research & assessment activities

Presenter

Sami Kaplan, PhD is the Research and Education Liaison Librarian for the Doctor of Medicine program at the Duke School of Medicine. She has authored or co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and is the subject matter expert for MLA’ self-paced course, Introduction to Research for Health Sciences Librarians. She was an Evidence Summary Writer for Evidence-Based Library and Information Practice from 2020 to 2024 and is the incoming chair of the Research & Assessment Committee for MAC/MLA.

Registration Information

• Length: 1.5 hour recorded webinar
• Register, participate, and earn 1.5 MLA continuing education (CE) contact hours.