Instructions: Major Skill Learned In This Course

Instructionsa Major Skill That Is Learned In This Course Is How To Cr

A major skill that is learned in this course is how to critically read and appraise nursing research articles. The purpose for appraising an article is to evaluate the research process followed by the author(s) of the assigned article. This process involves understanding the research's validity, reliability, and applicability within nursing practice. To demonstrate your skill at appraising an article, you will complete an open-book short answer assignment. You should thoroughly review the assigned research article, especially focusing on sections such as the introduction, literature review, theoretical framework, and methods.

Begin by reading Gray, Grove, & Sutherland (2017) to familiarize yourself with the skills needed. Skim the entire research article posted on Blackboard to get an overall sense of the study. Re-read carefully the introduction, literature review, theoretical framework, and methods sections of the article to gather detailed understanding. Download the Research Article Appraisal, Part One Assignment, and use your readings to answer each question accurately. Some questions may contain unfamiliar terminology, so look up key terms in your textbook, especially in Chapter 18, which discusses critical appraisal of research articles.

Complete the assignment by typing your answers into the provided template, then upload it before the deadline specified in your course schedule. Remember to adhere to APA style only for quotations and citations when necessary; avoid using quotations unless explicitly instructed. If you need clarification, post questions to the Coach Group discussion forum, but do not request or share answers to uphold academic integrity.

The assignment includes questions about the research article's introduction, problem and purpose statements, literature review, theoretical framework, research objectives or hypotheses, variables, research design, and strengths and weaknesses. Careful, critical analysis and accurate quoting are essential to demonstrate your understanding. Your responses should be organized and comprehensive, reflecting a clear understanding of research appraisal principles and the specific article.

Paper For Above instruction

The ability to critically evaluate nursing research articles is a fundamental skill that enhances evidence-based practice, informs clinical decision-making, and fosters scholarly inquiry within nursing. This skill involves systematically examining the research process, from the clarity of the research problem to the rigor of the methodology and the validity of the findings. Accurate appraisal requires familiarity with research terminology, theoretical frameworks, and study designs, which can be cultivated through rigorous study and practice.

In this paper, I will demonstrate the critical appraisal of a selected nursing research article, following the structured questions provided in the assignment. The process begins with understanding the qualifications of the researchers and assessing the clarity and relevance of the study’s title and abstract. The title should clearly indicate the type of study, the variables involved, and the population studied, serving as a concise summary that guides the reader. The abstract should encapsulate the purpose, design, sample, intervention, and key findings in a succinct but comprehensive manner, enabling quick evaluation of the article’s relevance.

Next, I examine the research problem and purpose, ensuring the problem statement is explicitly stated and directly connects to the study’s aims. The purpose statement should outline the intent of the investigation and justify its significance to nursing practice. The significance of the study is evaluated based on its potential to address gaps in knowledge, improve patient outcomes, or contribute to the development of nursing theories or models. Feasibility is also considered in terms of study logistics, such as time, resources, researcher expertise, and ethical considerations, which determine whether the research can realistically be conducted.

The review of literature provides the background and context for the research. It should identify key themes, theories, or models guiding the study, collectively illustrating current knowledge and gaps. How the literature is summarized indicates whether the review is comprehensive and coherent, linking previous findings to the current research problem. Theoretical frameworks, if present, serve to underpin the study’s concepts and hypotheses, drawing explicit or implicit connections among variables.

The framework’s description reflects the logical structure guiding the research. An explicit framework clearly delineates the concepts and their relationships, aiding in understanding how variables are operationalized and measured. Important concepts within the framework should be identifiable, and any diagrams or models must be referenced. The relationships among concepts help clarify hypothesized or assumed links, providing a foundation for data collection and analysis.

The research objectives, questions, or hypotheses articulate what the study aims to investigate. Specific objectives or questions are directly quoted from the article, ensuring clarity about the study’s focus. Variables are then identified, with definitions and classifications (independent, dependent, or research variables). Conceptual definitions derive from the literature, whereas operational definitions specify how variables are measured within the study. Extraneous variables, if any, are recognized as potential confounders that the researchers attempt to control or acknowledge.

The research design is scrutinized to determine whether it is descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental, or experimental, based on how the study’s objectives are addressed. The choice of design should align logically with the research questions or hypotheses, providing a valid means of examination. The presence of an intervention or treatment is noted, including how it is implemented and whether pilot testing informed the main study, ensuring the robustness of the methodology.

Finally, strengths and weaknesses are identified based on established guidelines, considering aspects like sample size, clarity of variables, methodological rigor, ethical considerations, and generalizability. Recognizing these aspects enhances understanding of the study’s credibility and applicability to clinical practice. Throughout this process, meticulous attention to detail, critical thinking, and proper referencing exemplify academic rigor, ultimately fostering professional competence in research appraisal.

References

• Gray, J. R., Grove, S. K., & Sutherland, L. M. (2017). Understanding Nursing Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice. 8th Edition. Elsevier.
• Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice. 10th Edition. Wolters Kluwer.
• Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to best practice. 4th Edition. Wolters Kluwer.
• Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. Sage Publications.
• Holloway, I., & Galvin, K. (2017). Qualitative Research in Nursing and Healthcare. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Shaughnessy, L. W., & Zeitz, K. (2020). Critical Appraisal of Research Evidence. In J. R. T. L. P. G. (Ed.), Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare. Springer.
• Booth, A., Sutton, A., & Papaioannou, D. (2016). Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review. Sage Publications.
• Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2019). Practical Research: Planning and Design. Pearson.
• Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2019). The Practice of Nursing Research: Appraisal, Synthesis, and Generation of Evidence. 8th Edition. Elsevier.
• Rothman, K. J., & Greenland, S. (2018). Modern Epidemiology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.