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Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare

Discussion Paper: Reviewer’s Form

RELEVANCE

Does the paper discuss, identify, or examine a significant issue of relevance to the midwifery profession?

YES NO

Comment

PRESENTATION AND LOGIC

Is the English of a high scholarly standard?YES NO

Is the writing respectful and/or empowering of women? YES NO

Is text based on the work of others appropriately attributed? YES NO

Is the abstract a well structured summary of the paper? YES NO

Does the title reflect the content? YES NO

Is there an appropriate introduction? YES NO

Is the topic situated in the relevant internationalliterature?YES NO

Is a logical, well structured argument developed? YES NO

Is the paper clear and succinct? YES NO

Is there an appropriate conclusion? YES NO

Comment

CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE

Is the paper an informed contribution? YES NO

Does the author demonstrate a firm grasp of the pertinent issues? YES NO

Are the ideas non-derivative and original in nature? YES NO

Does the work provide fresh insights into the topic? YES NO

IF A THEORETICAL PAPER

Are key concepts well defined? YES NO

Is the theory adequate in addressing the topic? YES NO

Does the theory define clear boundaries on the subject matter? YES NO

Could/should the theory be operationalised by midwives? YES NO

Does the theory reflect the real world?YES NO

Could/should this theory be used as a research framework? YES NO

Comments to Editor

Recommendation: (select one only)

Accept manuscript YES

Accept with Minor Revisions to editor’s satisfaction YES

Minor Revisionto be returned for re-review YES

Major Revisionto be returned for re-review YES

Reject YES

Comments to Author/s

Please provide specific comments that will assist the author/s to make changes to the manuscript. Please be as detailed and specific as possible (eg page number, section heading and exact problems or concerns).

Women and Birth

Qualitative Research Paper

Reviewer’s Form

RELEVANCE

Does the paper discuss, identify, or examine a significant issue of relevance to the midwifery profession?

YES NO

Comments

PRESENTATION AND LOGIC

Is the English of a high scholarly standard?YES NO

Is the writing respectful and/or empowering of women? YES NO

Is the abstract as a research report? YES NO

Does the title reflect the content? YES NO

Is there an appropriate introduction? YES NO

Is the topic situated in the relevant international literature?YES NO

Is a logical, well structured argument developed? YES NO

Is the paper clear and succinct? YES NO

Is there an appropriate conclusion? YES NO

Comments

Criteria for Appraising the Quality of Qualitative Research

# / Question / YES / NO / N/A
1 / Was there are clear and specific research question?
2 / Was the research question or aim situated in the relevant international literature as demonstrated by a critical literature review?
3 / Were rigorous methods sufficiently described and justified?
4 / Was the logic of sampling made explicit?
5 / Was the sampling adequate to address the research question?
6 / Have definition of concepts, issues, condition, experiences, that are core to the study, been included?
7 / Was the study conducted ethically?
8 / Is there a statement that ethics approval was granted?
9 / Were the researchers’ own views identified? (bracketed if appropriate)
10 / Was data analysis appropriate to the research design and methods?
11 / Are the findings representative of an appropriate diversity of potential participants? (Target population)
12 / Was data saturation possible in terms of sufficient numbers of participants and/or sufficient occasions of data collection?
13 / Were alternative view points specifically canvassed and presented?
14. / Are categories or concepts strongly supported from the data? (Data saturation).
15. / Were there explicit and adequate methods for checking validity of data and theoretical interpretations?
16. / Are the findings and interpretations plausible?
17. / Are the discussion and conclusion sections fully supported by the data presented?
18. / Has new knowledge been created that can be transferred to other peoples experiences, midwifery practice, education, administration, policy or politics?

Overall Quality Grade(please answer by bolding and underlining your selected response)

A = Excellent; B = Very Good; C = Good; D = Poor

Comment

Recommendation: (select one only)

Accept manuscript YES

Accept with Minor Revisions to editor’s satisfaction YES

Minor Revision to be returned for re-review YES

Major Revision to be returned for re-review YES

Reject YES

Comments to Author/s

Women and Birth

Quantitative Research Paper

Reviewer’s Form

RELEVANCE

Does the paper discuss, identify, or examine a significant issue of relevance to the midwifery profession?

YES NO

Comment

PRESENTATION AND LOGIC

Is the English of a high scholarly standard?YES NO

Is the writing respectful and/or empowering of women? YES NO

Is the abstract structured as a research report? YES NO

Does the title reflect the content? YES NO

Is there an appropriate introduction? YES NO

Is a logical, well structured argument developed? YES NO

Is the paper clear and succinct YES NO

Is there an appropriate conclusion YES NO

Comment

Criteria for Appraising the Quality of Quantitative Research

# / Question / YES / NO / N/A
1. / Is there a clear research question or hypothesis?
2. / Was the research question situated in the relevant international literature as demonstrated by a critical literature review?
3. / Are there detailed definitions of key variables, including outcome variables?
4. / Is the research design (and associated methods) appropriate for the question/hypothesis?
5. / Was there an adequate sample in relation to the question, the outcomes to be measured and the target population?
6. / Were the measurement instruments reliable and valid?
7. / Have possible confounding variables been adequately addressed in the research design?
8. / Are there low proportions of missing data? (eg: Response rate > 60%; Drop out < 5% and follow up > 80%).
9. / Was the study ethically conducted?
10. / Is there a statement that ethics approval was granted?
11 / Was the statistical analysis appropriate to the research design?
12 / Was the statistical analysis accurate?
13 / Are the discussion and conclusion sections fully supported by the data presented?
14 / Have the authors generalised the results to the correct population?
15 / Are alternative explanations for findings considered?
16 / Have the limitations of the study been addressed?
17 / Has new knowledge been created that is relevant to practice, education, administration, policy or politics?

Overall Quality Grade(please answer by bolding and underlining your selected response)

A = Excellent; B = Very Good; C = Good; D = Poor

Recommendation: (select one only)

Accept manuscript YES

Accept with Minor Revisions to editor’s satisfaction YES

Minor Revision to be returned for re-review YES

Major Revision to be returned for re-review YES

Reject YES