You have been asked to be a peer reviewer for a team of nurse researchers who are conducting a phenomenological study of the experiences of physical abuse during pregnancy. What specific questions would you ask the team during debriefing and what documents would you want the researchers to share? I need at least 2 references including this book: Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2012). Nursing research: generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (Ninth ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
As a peer reviewer for a team of nurse researchers conducting a phenomenological study on the experiences of physical abuse during pregnancy, there are several specific questions that I would ask during the debriefing and documents that I would want the researchers to share. The purpose of these questions and documents would be to gain a deeper understanding of the study design, data collection process, and the validity and reliability of the findings. By addressing these aspects, the overall quality and rigor of the research can be assessed.
Firstly, during the debriefing, I would inquire about the study design adopted by the researchers. It would be important to know whether the research team employed a qualitative phenomenological approach, which is appropriate for exploring subjective experiences in depth. Following this, I would want to understand how the researchers ensured rigor in their study. Specifically, I would ask about steps taken to establish credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability, as outlined by Lincoln and Guba (1985) and Polit and Beck (2012). This would enable me to assess the trustworthiness of the study findings, thus enhancing the validity and reliability of the research.
Next, I would request the researchers to share the research proposal and related documents. The research proposal should provide an overview of the study objectives, research questions, and theoretical framework. It should also outline the study design and methodology, including details of the recruitment process, sample size determination, and data collection methods. Reviewing these documents would allow me to evaluate the alignment between the research objectives and the chosen approach, ensuring that the study design is appropriate for exploring the experiences of physical abuse during pregnancy phenomenologically.
Additionally, I would expect the researchers to provide the interview protocol or guide used to collect data. This document would provide insight into the questions asked during the interviews and the prompts used to elicit detailed descriptions of the participants’ experiences. By reviewing the interview protocol, I can ascertain whether the questions were open-ended, non-directive, and aimed at understanding the personal and unique experiences of each participant. This would demonstrate the researchers’ adherence to the principles of phenomenology and their commitment to capturing the essence of the phenomenon under investigation.
Moreover, I would inquire about the data analysis process employed by the researchers. Phenomenological analysis typically involves a three-step approach, including the identification of significant statements, the clustering of statements into themes, and the development of a comprehensive description or essence of the phenomenon. I would ask the researchers to share the coding system, the resulting thematic framework, and any software used for data management and analysis. This would allow me to evaluate the rigor and consistency of the analysis process, ensuring that the findings are reliable and trustworthy.
Furthermore, I would request the researchers to share a summary of the study findings or a draft of the manuscript for review. Reviewing the findings would enable me to assess the depth and richness of the descriptions provided by the participants, as well as the overall congruence between the findings and the research questions. Additionally, I would examine whether the researchers have incorporated appropriate citations from existing literature to support their findings and interpretations. This would demonstrate their knowledge of the existing evidence base and their ability to contextualize their findings within a broader scholarly context.
In conclusion, as a peer reviewer for a phenomenological study on the experiences of physical abuse during pregnancy, I would ask the research team specific questions related to study design, rigor, data collection, and analysis. Additionally, I would request the team to share the research proposal, interview protocol, data analysis documents, and a summary of the study findings. By addressing these aspects and reviewing the provided documents, I can assess the overall quality and rigor of the research, enhancing its validity and reliability.