Nurses use research to answer questions and discover trends in health care
PNUR1257 Research Assignment Rubric
PNUR1257 Reading Research Assignment Guidelines
Nurses use research to answer questions and discover trends in health care. It is essential that nurses are able to locate, review and utilize research to inform their practice.
Course Outcome addressed with this assignment
· Differentiate the attributes of qualitative and quantitative research for use in evidence-informed practice.
Unit Outcomes addressed with this assignment
· Review the link between research, evidence-informed practice and best practice guidelines
· Differentiate between quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches to research and identify the benefits of each in nursing
· Identify peer-reviewed or refereed journals
· Demonstrate effective use of library databases to find research documents
· Develop beginning skills in critically reading nursing research articles
· Identify ways a practical nurse can incorporate research into everyday practice
Paper Style Requirements and General Information
· The essay is worth 20%. The passing grade for this assignment is 65%. Papers exceeding page limit will not receive full credit. The assignment should be 3 page in length ( not including a cover page and reference page). Maximum length = 5 pages. This assignment is to be a scholarly guided reflection written in a paragraph format submitted following guidelines from: APA @ Conestoga. The reflection must be submitted through Turnitin (eConestoga dropbox is formatted with Turnitin) by the due date. If your originality score is >20%, it is your responsibility to lower your score. The submission will not be graded until the score is <20% and/or the teacher is notified with explanation of the issue. Refer to the Academic Integrity policies outlined in the “School of Health and Life Sciences Practical Nursing Program Standards and Procedures Handbook”. Ethical guidelines must be adhered to. Plagiarism is considered unethical behaviour and will be handled following the guidelines in the “Conestoga College Student Procedures Guide and the School of Health Sciences Student Handbook”. Submitting a portion or all of another student’s work will result in a Failure grade and an academic offense. An extension must be granted in advance of the due date to avoid a failure mark as per the Practical Nursing Handbook.
Writing Resources
· Access writing support services through the LRC at https://lib.conestogac.on.ca/writing-services/about
· Format the essay according to current APA@Conestoga 7th edition. A sample paper can be found through the LRC https://lib.conestogac.on.ca/writing-services/about
· All sources must be referenced. Follow APA@Conestoga to write your in-text citations and reference list.
Completing the Essay
The purpose of this assignment is to identify the research method of your chosen article. Explain the benefits of this method and why the authors chose to use it for their research. You will strengthen your argument by finding a second research article on a similar topic and compare it to the first.
Step 1: Select one article from the list below and find it in the LRC databases
A. ‘Effects of a Mixed Media Education Intervention Program on Increasing Knowledge, Attitude and Compliance with Standard Precautions Among Nursing Students.’ by Xiong, Zhang, Wang, Leong, and Hall (2017)
B. ‘Making Sense of Moral Distress Within Cultural Complexity’ by Bressler, Hanna and Smith (2017)
C. ‘Does Simulation Enhance Nurses’ Ability to Assess Deteriorating Patients?’ by Bliss & Aitken (2018)
D. ‘Perspectives of Older Adults on Aging Well: A Focus Group Study’ by Halaweh, Dahlin-Ivanoff, Svantesson, and Willen (2018).
Step 2: Read your chosen study several times to make sure you understand the content
· What question is the study trying to answer?
· What type of research method/design is used? Why did the authors choose this method? Is it appropriate for the research question?
· What results did the authors find? What are the implications for nursing?
Step 3: Locate an additional research article
A. Using the reference list at the back of your chosen article, find one additional, current research article with a similar focus.
B. You will use this additional article to support your views and opinions about your chosen article.
Step 4: Writing the essay
A. You may use ‘I’ as the first person. You are asked to express your view based on theory and knowledge acquired from your readings.
B. INTRODUCTION. An introduction is needed with a clear statement of why you are writing this essay and how the essay will be developed. Include the title of the article you will be discussing. Remember, this is NOT a paper about the subject matter of the chosen article. Rather this is a demonstration of your ability to read, review and critique the article as research. You are expected to support your comments using the additional research article.
C. BODY. The bulk of your essay should include the following.
a) Identify the purpose of the study; what is the research question?
b) Identify the research approach ( method/design) that was used?
c) Define the method and explain some of the benefits of using this method. Identify why you think it was chosen for this particular study.
d) Explain how the review of additional research articles relate to the study and support your comments?
e) Explain the impact this study, as well as reading research in general, will have on your future practice and on nursing practice as a whole?
D. CONCLUSION. Your conclusion should summarize the purpose of your paper and clearly address how you demonstrated your ability to read a research study.
E. REFERENCE LIST. All in-text citations will be in the reference list. Your reference list will include the additional research article you have mentioned in your essay to support your statements. If you did not refer to an article in your essay, it should not be in your reference list.
F. Proficient writing reflects critical thinking, personal insight, and original thoughts supported with evidence.
Criteria
Proficient
Capable
Developing (66.5%)
Needs Improvement
Awareness
FORMAT
Title page, formatting and page limit
Fully matches APA@Conestoga sample template and guidelines
One error in formatting/guidelines
Up to three errors in formatting/guidelines
Four errors in formatting and/or
exceeds page limit
More than four errors in formatting and/or
exceeds page limit
Grammar & Spelling; Sentence structure
Sentence structure, grammar excellent; no spelling errors
Sentence structure, grammar generally strong, occasional spelling error(s)
Some correct use of, but also difficulties in sentence structure, grammar and spelling
Rarely uses proper sentence structure, grammar, and spelling
Significant problems with sentence structure, grammar and spelling.
References & Citations using APA@conestoga
Correct use of APA references and citations
Occasional lapse in APA references and citation
Some difficulties with APA references and citations
Frequently noted difficulties with APA references, citations
Significant problems with APA references and citations.
CONTENT
Introduction to Research Assignment with explanation of purpose of the paper
Complete succinct and scholarly introduction fully reflecting why assignment is written; study to be critiqued has been correctly cited.
Introduction present, reflecting why assignment is written; study to be critiqued has been correctly cited.
Introduction present, with some evidence of why assignment is written; study to be critiqued has been correctly cited.
Introduction present with minimal reference to why assignment is written; study to be critiqued has been incorrectly cited.
Introduction does not reflect why the assignment is written; study to be critiqued has not been cited.
Research approach / design /method used in study
Approach / method / design has been correctly identified with thorough definition
Approach / method / design has been correctly identified with adequate definition
Approach / method / design has been identified with gaps in definition and use
Approach / method / design has been poorly identified and defined
Approach/method / design has not been identified and/or inaccurately defined.
Explanation and understanding of why this approach/method/design was chosen
Clear explanation / critical thinking is present regarding why research method was chosen
Explanation / some personal thought is present regarding why research method was chosen
Explanation is present regarding why research method was chosen
Minimal attempt to explain why research method was chosen
No explanation present regarding why research method was chosen
Literature used to support your statements
Research article plus one other current research article.
Writing is in author’s own words and demonstrates through understanding of the relationship among material obtained from all sources
Research article plus one other current research article.
Writing is mostly in author’s own words and demonstrates a good understanding of the relationship among material obtained from all sources
Research article plus one other research article.
Writing in author’s own words is limited (heavy use of quotes); demonstrates a limited understanding of the relationship among material obtained from all sources
Research plus one other research article (outdated).
Writing does not demonstrate understanding of relationships among material obtained from all sources. Quotations from others outweigh the writer’s own ideas.
Research article and/or supporting research references are not present.
Impact research will have on your future practice and on nursing as a whole
Impact that research and this study will have on future nursing practice and on nursing as a whole, has been identified with extensive personal insight
Impact that research and this study will have on future nursing practice and on nursing as a whole, has been identified with some personal thoughts evident
Impact that research and this study will have on future nursing practice and on nursing as a whole, has been identified.
Impact that research and this study will have on future nursing practice and on nursing as a whole, has barely been addressed.
Impact that research and this study will have on future nursing practice and/or nursing practice as a whole, has not been identified.
Concluding comments
Clear distinct reference to introduction; extensive personal insight evident
Reference to introduction; personal insight evident
Reference to the introduction; some personal thoughts
Little to no reference to the introduction; lacking personal insight
Concluding comments are minimal; no relation to introduction
See eConestoga rubric for weighting and values