Critical Appraisal
Use this guide to find information resources about critical appraisal including checklists, books and journal articles.
Last updated:
11/02/2025
Key Resources
Bedford D (2018) Anatomy of a journal article.
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This online resource explains the sections commonly used in research articles. Understanding how research articles are organised can make reading and evaluating them easier
Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP)
Centre for Evidence Based Medicine: Critical appraisal tools
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Worksheets for appraising systematic reviews, diagnostics, prognostics and RCTs.
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Cochrane: Evidence essentials
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A free online resource for both healthcare staff and patients; four modules of 30鈥45 minutes provide an introduction to evidence based medicine, clinical trials and Cochrane Evidence.
Hong Q N, Pluye P, Fàbregues S et al. (2018) Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), version 2018.
JBI: Critical appraisal tools
MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow (no date) Understanding Health Research.
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This tool will guide you through a series of questions to help you to review and interpret a published health research paper.
Naicker R (2023) Critically appraising for antiracism tool.
PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis)
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The PRISMA flow diagram depicts the flow of information through the different phases of a literature review. It maps out the number of records identified, included and excluded, and the reasons for exclusions.
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The Equator Network
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A comprehensive database of reporting guidelines. Covers all the main study types.
AMSTAR
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A tool to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews.
Books



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This introductory book includes chapters on evaluating sources and the structure of research articles.





Book subject search
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Journal articles
Buccheri RK and Sharifi C (2017) Critical appraisal tools and reporting guidelines for evidence鈥恇ased practice, Worldviews on Evidence鈥怋ased Nursing, 14(6), pp. 463-472.
Cathala X and Moorley C (2018) How to appraise quantitative research, Evidence-Based Nursing, 21(4), pp. 99鈥101.
Connelly LM (2016) Trustworthiness in qualitative research. (Understanding research), MedSurg Nursing, 25 (6), pp.435-436.
Fineout-Overholt E, Melnyk BM, Stillwell SB and Williamson KM (2010) Critical appraisal of the evidence: part I. An introduction to gathering, evaluating and recording the evidence, American Journal of Nursing, 110 (7), pp.47-52.
Fineout-Overholt E, Melnyk BM, Stillwell, SB and Williamson KM (2010) Critical appraisal of the evidence: part II. Digging deeper鈥攅xamining the "keeper" studies, American Journal of Nursing, 110 (9), pp. 41-48.
Fineout-Overholt E, Melnyk BM, Stillwell SB and Williamson KM (2010) Critical appraisal of the evidence: Part III. The process of synthesis: seeing similarities and differences across the body of evidence, American Journal of Nursing, 110 (11), pp. 43-51.
Heale R and Twycross A (2015) Validity and reliability in quantitative studies, Evidence-Based Nursing, 18 (3), pp.66-67.
Moorley C and Cathala X (2019) How to appraise qualitative research, Evidence-Based Nursing, 22(1), pp. 10–13.
Moorley C and Cathala X (2019) How to appraise mixed methods research, Evidence-Based Nursing, 22(2), pp. 38鈥41.
Myers G and Levin RF (2012) "Can you touch your toes? Using tables of evidence (TOES) to organize your evidence review", Research and Theory for Nursing Practice, 26 (4), pp.238-240.
Noble H and Smith J (2015) Issues of validity and reliability in qualitative research, Evidence-Based Nursing, 18 (2), pp.34-35
Shea BJ and others (2017) AMSTAR 2: a critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews that include randomised or non-randomised studies of healthcare interventions or both, British Medical Journal, 358, p.358.
Smith J and Noble H (2016) Reviewing the literature, Evidence-Based Nursing, 19 (1), pp. 2-3.
Smith J and Noble H (2025) Understanding sources of bias in research, Evidence-Based Nursing, March, n.104231.
Stonehouse D (2016) Evidence-based practice: knowing what's good or bad, British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 10 (4), pp. 199-201.
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