4 Evaluating the quality of qualitative research
Worth: 35% of your total mark; see assessment matrix on Blackboard under Assessments.
Due: 11.55pm Mon 22 May
Words: 1750
Objective: This assignment is assessing your ability to apply the material you have learnt during
the course to the evaluation of published qualitative research. Specifically, your ability to evaluate
the quality and contribution to knowledge of published qualitative literature.
Task 1. Read Gabbay J, le May A (2004). Evidence based guidelines or collectively constructed
“mindlines?” Ethnographic study of knowledge management in primary care. BMJ
329(7473):1013-1016
Task 2. Use the CASP questions as headings in an essay evaluating the quality (strengths and
weaknesses) of the Gabbay J & le May paper. You must write full sentences and provide evidence
from the paper to support your claims.
Task 3. Conclude the essay with a section (around 250 words) on the contribution to knowledge of
the Gabbay and le May paper. Ask yourself: Has the paper added anything to our understanding
of the topic of EBM and how doctors use it in practice? Do the study findings change the way we
think about EBM by supporting a previous finding, modifying an existing theory or providing a
new theory? Should practice change as a result of this work?
Tips for maximising your assignment mark: This is an essay so don’t forget an introduction and an
overall judgement of the quality of the paper (e.g. there may have been things that the authors
didn’t do, but how much does that matter for the overall quality?)