The Art of Critical Appraisal: Navigating the Waters of Evidence for Trustworthy Decisions

Critical Appraisal: The evaluation of the quality and relevance of evidence to determine its trustworthiness.

We’re diving into something that’s as relevant to your workplace as it is to academia, healthcare, and policy-making: Critical Appraisal. Sure, that might sound like something you do at an art auction, but I assure you, it’s much more important than that.

What’s Critical Appraisal, Anyway?

Critical Appraisal is the evaluation of the quality and relevance of evidence to determine its trustworthiness. This isn’t just for scholars or scientists; it’s a life skill. What Owens, Rayner, and Bina from their 2004 paper “New Agendas for Appraisal” emphasize is that appraisal processes may be spaces for “dialogue and learning” when making decisions¹. Are you creating those spaces in your workplace?

Why Does It Matter?

Here’s the kicker. Critical Appraisal isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Katrak and colleagues showed that there’s a lot of variability in the “intent, components, construction and psychometric properties” of appraisal tools². So, here’s the question: Are you relying on a one-trick pony to make your decisions?

How to Step Up Your Game

1. Appraisal methods should be sensitive to both the object and the objective of the decision-making¹. This means tailoring your approach to fit the context.
2. Jones and associates found that teaching critical appraisal skills significantly improved knowledge in “all key skills of critical appraisal”³. How are you educating yourself and your team to elevate your decision-making game?
3. Before you get all cozy with a tool, consider its validity and reliability². Are you using a Swiss Army knife when you need a scalpel?

The Call to Action

It’s time for some introspection. Take a moment today to evaluate how you’re assessing the quality of information, especially in the workplace.

Start conversations with your team about the value of critical appraisal. It’s about equipping yourself to make better decisions, mitigating risks, and seizing opportunities. Create those spaces for dialogue and learning that Owens and his team talked about.

To Trust or Not to Trust

Trust is a currency, but it needs to be backed by something solid. Critical appraisal is that gold standard. As you venture into this, ask yourself: Are you setting the stage for a culture of analysis and trustworthy decision-making in your workplace?

Until next time, go forth and be more discerning with your trust.

References

1. Owens, S., Rayner, T., & Bina, O. (2004). New Agendas for Appraisal: Reflections on Theory, Practice, and Research. Environment and Planning A, 36, 1943 – 1959. https://doi.org/10.1068/a36281. Short summary: The paper argues that appraisal techniques in environmental policy are under-conceptualized and recommends a more nuanced approach that combines technical and deliberative models, while emphasizing the role of appraisal in fostering spaces for dialogue and learning in policy-making.2
2. Katrak, P., Bialocerkowski, A., Massy-Westropp, N., Kumar, V., & Grimmer, K. (2004). A systematic review of the content of critical appraisal tools. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 4, 22 – 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-4-22. Short summary: The paper reveals that there is significant variability and no consensus on the ideal critical appraisal tool for evaluating published research, particularly in allied health fields, highlighting the need for careful consideration of the properties and intent of the chosen appraisal tool.3
3. Jones, S., Crookes, P., & Johnson, K. (2011). Teaching critical appraisal skills for nursing research.. Nurse education in practice, 11 5, 327-32 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2011.03.002. Short summary: The study demonstrates that an innovative educational program significantly improved nursing students’ abilities to critically appraise and understand research, thereby addressing the research-practice gap in nursing through improved skills and use of technology.