Research Proposal Critique of

EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NURSING TRAINING PROGRAMS

Researcher: LOIRENE B. INTONG

Reviewer: ROMIE G. GALLO

A. Introduction

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Nursing Training Programs conducted during Pandemic at Davao Medical
Center is a research project written by Ms. Loirene Intong, MMPA Student of Philippine Christian
University-Manila Campus.

This proposal is an evaluation how effective the nursing training programs implemented by Davao
Regional Medical Center during the Pandemic. Written in 2023, the proposal consists of 18 pages,
including 1 cover page, 1 table of content page, 15 pages of proposal body, and 1 page of references list.
The body is divided into three although not in Chapters : Introduction, Literature Review and Conceptual
Framework, and Research Methodology.

B. Review

1. Title

The proposal title is very well-phrased for it meets the features of a good research proposal title: short
and explanatory. Although it is formed by 7 words only, it effectively indicates information an ideal title
should signify.

2. Table of Contents

The table of contents is quite simple but informative. It effectively locates each section and major
subdivision of the proposal.

3. Background

The background, written in three pages, is very informative and well prepared although the first
five paragraphs are not really strong as backgrounder but speaks more of literature and the
Kirkpatrick model approach that will be used. The discussion should have been more focused on
the presence of a prevailing problem though the title itself is on evaluating effectiveness.
As an addendum, it does not clearly provide proper information about (1) the reasons why the
research is important to conduct; (2) what other studies have been conducted in this area; (3) how
this research will add to knowledge in this area.

4. Research Problem(s)/Question(s)

The research problem to be addressed in this study is clearly stated because the study is focused on
evaluating effectiveness of nursing training programs. On the other hand, it does not provide specific
problem to be addressed after the evaluation study.

5. Research Objectives (Purposes)

The research objectives, which state the intended outcomes from the research to undertake was/were
not specifically provided.

6. Significance of the study

The writers listed only two research results to undertake, i.e. conduct of this study is vital to
DRMC a leading healthcare institution which is also a leading training hospital in its
pursuit to capacitate and provide continuous professional education to the frontliners
and providers of quality healthcare services and to the Filipino people. It could have
been better if the Researcher included the importance of the study to the researcher,
the academe, the local government, community and to future researchers.

7. Scope of the study

The proposal states the research scope in line with the title. It clearly indicates to
evaluate the effectiveness of the training programs conducted to the Nursing
Division Personnel of Davao Regional Medical Center from March 2020 to
December 2022 and that available can be generated by the Professional Education
and Training Unit.

8. Operational Definitions

The following terms mentioned in the study are clearly defined

 Nursing Training Programs

9. Literature Review
The literature review indicates Donald Kirkpatrick authored and proposed the theory of training
effectiveness evaluation which has been widely accepted in literature review particularly in training
evaluation including administrative order no. 2021-0007 or the Guidelines on the
Integrated Learning and Development Management System of the Department of
Health (DOH), all offices/ hospitals under the Department of Health (DOH) .

10. Hypothesis

Please note that only experimental researches, causal-comparative, correlational studies, and
some action researches have hypothesis). How many hypotheses are being stated? How clearly
each one is stated? based on and consistent with the findings reported in the literature review?
Do they match with research purposes? Are the hypotheses a prediction of the expected outcome
of the study?  Would you be able to tell if the outcome doesn’t support the hypotheses?

11. Conceptual Framework

Does the writer show the relationship of the background to the problems and how the present
proposed research could provide solutions to the problems or contribute to the literature in this
section?

12. Methods

Is the research method and design appropriate for achieving the objectives and types of data to be
collected and analyzed?

13. Participants (Population and Sample)

Does this section describes the population accurately and explains what technique to be used to
determine the sample? Does it describe how to recruit the participants?

14. Data Collection Instrument and Technique

Does this section describe how the data will be collected? Does it include the specific technique,
its procedure and the instruments for collecting data?

15. Data Analysis Technique

Is data analysis technique to be used explained? Is it consistent with the research method/design?
What type of statistical analysis is suggested?  Is it appropriate with the obtained data?

16. Validity and reliability (Triangulation)

Does the proposal describe the steps to take to assess the instrument’s validity and reliability? If
the study is a qualitative research and action research, is there any description of triangulation?
17. Research Procedure

Are procedures to follow for conducting the study described effectively? Is it consistent with the
research objectives and method/design?

18. Timetable and Place

Is a detailed timetable and place for performing the project provided?

19. References

All factual material that is not original with you must be accompanied by a reference to its
source. Please use ASCE guideline on reference and citation style.

C. Conclusion

Draw your conclusion based on the whole evaluation you have made. Finally, state whether you
are confident that the project will be able to deliver all that has been promised.

To see how this format is applied, you might be interested to see Research Proposal Critique of
“Use of MT in EFL  Classes” as a sample.

9. Conceptual Framework

The proposal conceptual framework briefly but concisely links the research problems to existing
literature and the research objectives by stating that MT can be helpful in most EFL classroom
activities, and most current research results tend to support the its judicious and well–planned
inclusion. But this issue is not yet been given proper attention in Indonesia. Therefore, carrying
out studies on this issue is of high importance (p. 18). However, a good conceptual framework
should be able to guide (like a map does) researchers’ inquiry. To fulfill this, a conceptual
framework should also contain the research method, instruments, and data analysis, but this
proposal does not include these.

10. Hypothesis

This proposal does not include hypothesis because it is a descriptive research which aims to
investigate secondary schools students and English teachers’ perception towards the use of
Indonesian in English classrooms, not to test hypothesis.

12. Research Method

The research method, qualitative, with explanatory mixed method design, is justified and very
relevant to achieve the objectives.

13. Participants
The participants are properly defined, but the sampling technique is not mentioned.

14. Time and Place

Time of the study is properly stated, but the place deserves more detailed description. It might be
better if the writers explain the numbers or proportion of teachers and students in each region
(Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang, and bekasi) will participate in the study.

15. Data Collection Instrument and Technique

The data collection techniques and instruments are properly described, but the method to test the
of questionnaire’s reliability and validity is not mentioned.

16. Data Analysis Technique

The data analysis technique is properly described, and it is relevant with the type of data to be
collected.

17. References

This section is quite well-prepared. The referential sources are listed using the APA style.
However, some mistyping are found in four entries, such as the word “arabic” and “english” in
the second and fourth item in the list.

18. Others

In addition to the items in the sections reviewed above, the grammar, syntax, typography of this
proposal are worth commenting. In general the sentences in the proposal are effectively and
grammatically constructed. The paragraphs are neatly arranged so that the ideas are easy to
grasp. The diction (syntactical aspect) is properly selected. Finally, the typography is carefully
prepared. Besides the mistyping in the references section, no other mistyping is found in the
proposal.

C. Conclusion

Overall, this proposal is good. However, to make it excellent, it is necessary to include the period
of time in the research scope section; to add the research method, instruments, and data analysis
in the conceptual framework section; to explain the sampling technique in the participants
section; and to describe the method for testing the of questionnaire’s reliability and validity. In
addition, since this study involves qualitative data, explanation about data triangulation should
also be provided at the end of Chapter III.

The reviewed proposal could be accessed from:

This article was written using Research Proposal Critique Format