Discussion:Analyzing Primary Research Articles

Locating and Critically Analyzing Primary Research Articles
Locating and Critically Analyzing Primary Research Articles

Developing the proficiency to locate, read, and evaluate research articles is essential to your success in this doctoral program and your career. With this Assignment, you have the opportunity to become familiar with the Walden Library by searching the databases, reviewing resources, and downloading full-text articles. You are asked to think critically as you do this, keeping in mind that as a doctoral candidate you must be able to enhance your profession’s body of knowledge by synthesizing what you have learned into new insights and applying them in meaningful ways within the practice environment (as a DNP-prepared nurse) or engaging in original research (as a PhD-prepared nurse).

To prepare:

Participate in or review an archived version of the following Walden Library Webinars:
Introduction to the Walden Library
Evaluating Online Resources
An Introduction to Evidence-Based Searching
Then search the Walden Library and locate two peer-reviewed primary research articles that pertain to your practice area and are of particular interest to you.
By Day 7

To complete:

By Wednesday 6/21/17, write a 4-paragraph APA-formatted paper with 4 references from the list below addressing the following:

1) Write a 1-paragraph summary of each of the articles you have selected (a total of 2 paragraphs). See Attached PDF for Articles

2) Write 1 paragraph that synthesizes the two articles using a scholarly voice.

3) Write a final paragraph in which you discuss the differences between summarizing and synthesizing research.

P.S. Include an Introduction ending with a purpose statement (e.g. the purpose of this paper is…), and a conclusion.

Required Readings

Walden Library. (2014). Publication Comparison Chart. Retrieved from: http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/peerreviewvsscholarly

This guide discusses three main publication types that you will encounter in the Walden Library: scholarly journals, trade publications, and popular magazines. It contains information about these publication types and a chart comparing their purpose, content, audience, etc.

Eaton, S. E. (2010). Reading strategies: Differences between summarizing and synthesizing [Blog post]. Literacy, Languages and Leadership. Retrieved from http://drsaraheaton.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/reading-strategies-differneces-between-summarizing-and-synthesizing/

The author proposes that critical reading must include using critical thinking to create “new” information and insights from this information.

Institutional Review Board for Ethical Standards in Research: IRB Office Hours and meetings. Retrieved January 15, 2014, from http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/Institutional-Review-Board-for-Ethical-Standards-in-Research.htm

This the Walden online tutorial at the bottom of this page provides information on Walden’s Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). These boards are responsible for ensuring that all Walden research studies meet specific ethical and legal criteria.

Walden University Library. (2014). Webinar archives. Retrieved from http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/library/webinararchives

Introduction to the Walden Library

Evaluating Online Resources

An Introduction to Evidence-Based Searching

The Walden Library webinars provide relevant information on accessing and evaluating scholarly sources. The information on retrieving evidence-based practice sources is especially pertinent to the DNP student.

Walden University. (2011). Student publications: Code of conduct. Retrieved from http://catalog.waldenu.edu/

Select the current version of the “Walden University Student Handbook” from the drop-down menu.

In the left navigation bar, click “University Policies and Code of Conduct.”

Then click “Student Conduct and Responsibilities.”

This link provides you with Student Conduct and Responsibility guidelines to help you develop a better understanding of Walden University’s expectations.

Document: Stages in Critical Reading of Research Articles (PDF) (See attached file)

This chart describes the purpose of and questions for six stages of critically reading research articles. Focus on the many activities and questions that make up the critical-reading process. Begin to consider the journal articles and books you read in terms of these criteria.

Document: Introduction to Scholarly Writing: Plagiarism and Academic Integrity (PDF) (See attached file)

This document supplements the information on plagiarism and academic integrity presented in the related video program.

Discussion:Analyzing Primary Research Articles

Discussion:Analyzing Primary Research Articles

Document: Introduction to Scholarly Writing: Tips for Success (PDF) (See attached file)

This document, which accompanies the video program of the same title, provides resources for improving your scholarly writing and critical-thinking skills.

Document: Common APA Style and Formatting Challenges (PDF) (See attached file)

This document can be used as a quick reference guide for proper APA style and formatting.

Murphy, J. (2011). The nursing informatics workforce: who are they and what do they do?. Nursing Economic$, 29(3), 150-153.

Collins, S., Po-Yin, Y., Phillips, A., & Kennedy, M. K. (2017). Nursing Informatics Competency Assessment for the Nurse Leader. Journal of Nursing Administration, 47(4), 212-218. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000000467

Required Media

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012b). Introduction to scholarly writing: Finding a scholarly voice[Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.

This media program discusses the importance of writing with a scholarly voice, distinguishing between a voice that is effective and one that is not, and identifying what is needed to develop your own scholarly voice.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012c). Introduction to scholarly writing: Plagiarism and academic integrity [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes.

Scholarly writing requires ethical practice in every phase and form of the process, from the drafting of a course paper to the completion of a capstone project. Academic integrity is foundational to all teaching and learning at Walden University. As a Walden student, you are required to follow the guidelines of academic integrity as set forth in the Walden Catalog. This media program helps you to do so.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012d). Introduction to scholarly writing: Purpose, audience, and evidence [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 5 minutes.

Key concepts related to scholarly writing are introduced in this media program.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2012e). Introduction to scholarly writing: Tips for success [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.

This media program presents tips for becoming a scholarly writer, including how to identify fears related to scholarly writing and connect with resources to improve writing skills.

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CLASS

Discussion Questions (DQ)

Initial responses to the DQ should address all components of the questions asked, include a minimum of one scholarly source, and be at least 250 words.
Successful responses are substantive (i.e., add something new to the discussion, engage others in the discussion, well-developed idea) and include at least one scholarly source.
One or two sentence responses, simple statements of agreement or “good post,” and responses that are off-topic will not count as substantive. Substantive responses should be at least 150 words.
I encourage you to incorporate the readings from the week (as applicable) into your responses.
Weekly Participation

Your initial responses to the mandatory DQ do not count toward participation and are graded separately.
In addition to the DQ responses, you must post at least one reply to peers (or me) on three separate days, for a total of three replies.
Participation posts do not require a scholarly source/citation (unless you cite someone else’s work).
Part of your weekly participation includes viewing the weekly announcement and attesting to watching it in the comments. These announcements are made to ensure you understand everything that is due during the week.
APA Format and Writing Quality

Familiarize yourself with APA format and practice using it correctly. It is used for most writing assignments for your degree. Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for APA paper templates, citation examples, tips, etc. Points will be deducted for poor use of APA format or absence of APA format (if required).
Cite all sources of information! When in doubt, cite the source. Paraphrasing also requires a citation.
I highly recommend using the APA Publication Manual, 6th edition.
Use of Direct Quotes

I discourage overutilization of direct quotes in DQs and assignments at the Masters’ level and deduct points accordingly.
As Masters’ level students, it is important that you be able to critically analyze and interpret information from journal articles and other resources. Simply restating someone else’s words does not demonstrate an understanding of the content or critical analysis of the content.
It is best to paraphrase content and cite your source.
LopesWrite Policy

For assignments that need to be submitted to LopesWrite, please be sure you have received your report and Similarity Index (SI) percentage BEFORE you do a “final submit” to me.
Once you have received your report, please review it. This report will show you grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors that can easily be fixed. Take the extra few minutes to review instead of getting counted off for these mistakes.
Review your similarities. Did you forget to cite something? Did you not paraphrase well enough? Is your paper made up of someone else’s thoughts more than your own?
Visit the Writing Center in the Student Success Center, under the Resources tab in LoudCloud for tips on improving your paper and SI score.
Late Policy

The university’s policy on late assignments is 10% penalty PER DAY LATE. This also applies to late DQ replies.
Please communicate with me if you anticipate having to submit an assignment late. I am happy to be flexible, with advance notice. We may be able to work out an extension based on extenuating circumstances.
If you do not communicate with me before submitting an assignment late, the GCU late policy will be in effect.
I do not accept assignments that are two or more weeks late unless we have worked out an extension.
As per policy, no assignments are accepted after the last day of class. Any assignment submitted after midnight on the last day of class will not be accepted for grading.
Communication

Communication is so very important. There are multiple ways to communicate with me:
Questions to Instructor Forum: This is a great place to ask course content or assignment questions. If you have a question, there is a good chance one of your peers does as well. This is a public forum for the class.
Individual Forum: This is a private forum to ask me questions or send me messages. This will be checked at least once every 24 hours.