Appraising Research into Childbirth

Concentrating specifically on research into midwifery and related disciplines, "Appraising Research into Childbirth" is designed to equip midwives and midwifery students with the necessary tools to navigate the maze of evidence-informed practice and the very different kinds of research that are published in midwifery, medical and related journals. The book appraises eight previously published research articles that present both qualitative and quantitative research studies. Each of the various elements is analysed from the methodology through to the interpretation of the results. Each article is annotated with notes and questions, thereby enabling the reader to actively participate in the appraisal. Tips, tools and checklists aid orientation and quick recall of salient advice and a guide to statistics helps to demystify what is generally considered to be a daunting element of most research. Each chapter is pulled together by the ongoing discussion about how we can find out and know by doing research and the advantages, disadvantages, potential for philosophical and methodological bias and political ramifications of such work.