NURS 328 Understanding Research

Students enrolled in Athabasca University courses are considered responsible scholars and are therefore expected to adhere rigorously to the principles of academic integrity in both assignments and tests. In order to maintain test question security, duplication or sharing of quiz and test questions is not permitted. Please read the Athabasca University Student Academic Misconduct Policy.

Plagiarism is a form of intellectual dishonesty in which another person's work is presented as one's own. Be certain that whenever you use a secondary source in your course work and assignments you reference your source in a consistent and logical manner. All direct quotes (quotations of any number of words from the original) and indirect quotes (paraphrased ideas) must be acknowledged. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism, and as with any form of academic misconduct, it will be penalized. Penalties may take the form of rejection of the submitted work; expulsion from the examination, the course, or the program; or legal action, depending on the specific nature of the infraction.

Dutiful citation of quotes and paraphrased materials does not mean that you can write an essay assignment by stringing together a series of quotes. You should always try to summarize or describe someone else's ideas in your own words. When you present your own ideas or opinions in a paper, provide evidence or arguments to substantiate your position. For information about the reference and citation styles of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, and how to write scholarly papers, visit Athabasca University's Library Help Centre.
All written assignments in this course must

• use correct spelling and grammar;
• adhere to APA format, as outlined in the current Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association;
• be your own work and be free of evidence of plagiarism;
• use Microsoft Word (or Microsoft Word compatible) format; and
• be submitted via the Assignment Drop Box.

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Guidelines

• Go to the AU library homepage. Locate and download an article from a peer-reviewed journal on a topic that interests you. This article needs to be a report of a research study published in the past five years.
• Tip: If this is not clear to you, review Unit 1.
•  When deciding which research study might work well for Assignment 1, look for a study in which you can clearly identify the research question, approach, ethical considerations, design, and findings.
• Tip: Depending on your discipline (e.g., nursing, health administration, dental hygiene, physiotherapy, public health inspection), choose appropriate search terms to narrow the field to discipline-specific research to find an article written by researchers from your discipline.
• Note: Once you have located an article, email your instructor, and include a persistent link to the article, or attach a copy of the article to the email.You are responsible for making sure your tutor has a readable copy of your article. Please do not send URLs from libraries other than AU, because your instructor will not be able to retrieve these.
• Prepare a brief (8–12 slides) PowerPoint presentation to disseminate the details of this research study to your NURS 328 classmates. You might even think about preparing this PowerPoint for your colleagues at your place of work.
• The content of your presentation must include a title slide indicating the title of the presentation, your name, and your credentials. Next, you will include a clearly stated research question, and then accurately identify the research approach (qualitative or quantitative). Ethical considerations such as issues related to consent, research ethics board approval, and treatment of vulnerable populations should be outlined. The details related to the research design need to be described briefly. An important part of this presentation is dissemination of the research findings.  The findings are the answer to the research question. People are usually most interested in the findings, so address these in some detail.  Additionally, use a slide or two to provide your perspective as to the value of the study findings to evidence-based/evidence-informed practice.
• The format of your presentation will also be graded for number of slides (8–12); accuracy, conciseness, readability of slides; design of slides; accuracy of grammar, spelling, and punctuation; and accuracy of APA format on your conclusion slide that cites the article using current APA format.
• Submit using the links in the Assessment section of the course home page. Make sure you also include the persistent link URL or PDF copy of your article. Your assignment will be graded after the tutor has your article.
• After you receive feedback from your tutor on your presentation, revise your work as recommended. You do not need to resubmit Assignment 1 to your tutor following this revision. Post your revised presentation to the Dissemination Forum for others in the class to view.
• Assignment 1 is due after you have completed Unit 4.

Content (10 marks)

Marks will be allocated according to the following template:

• Article is a research study published in the past five years (1 mark)
• Title Slide (1 mark)
• Research Question (1 mark)
• Research Approach (1 mark)
• Ethical Considerations (1 mark)
• Research Design (1 mark)
• Research Findings (2 marks)
• Value of the Research Findings Related to Evidence-based/Evidence-informed Practice) (2 marks)
• Feedback
• Strengths
• Areas for Improvement

Format (5 marks)

Marks will be allocated according to the following template:

• PowerPoint presentation is between 8 and 12 slides (1 mark)
• Content on slides is accurate, concise, and easy to read (1 mark)
• Slides are well-designed (1 mark)
• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation is accurate (1 mark)
• Concluding slide has citation of the article using accurate APA format (1 mark)
• Feedback
• Strengths
• Areas for Improvement

Note: Assignment 2 is a three-part assignment to be submitted toward the end of NURS 328.

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to provide students with an opportunity to work online with another individual or individuals currently in the course (or with a colleague or friend with similar interests). The goal is to

• share knowledge, resources, and skills,
• motivate each other,
• discuss learning activities and assignments, and
• assist each other in meeting individual learning goals and outcomes.

This is the first of a three-part assignment. To receive the 5%, you must

• create a forum post seeking a study buddy (or find one in your own life), and
• write a brief summary at the completion of the course describing your experience finding and working with a study buddy.

Guidelines

The study buddy approach improves learning through social interaction, which motivates study and promotes a deeper approach to critical inquiry and reasoning in relation to concepts (Madland & Richards, 2016).  You may find it helpful to include in your study buddy request forum post information such as an honest evaluation as to your knowledge of research, preferred language, preferred time to connect (e.g., morning, afternoon, Tuesday, Friday), location, and your time zone, as well as your learning goals for completing NURS 328.

You can have more than one study buddy. However, if you are creating a study buddy group, be careful not to let the group become too large. We recommend the group be no more than five people to be able, with some ease, to set study schedules and times when you will communicate.

Marking Criteria

To receive 5%, complete the following activities:

1. Post your request for a study buddy to the Finding a NURS 328 Study Buddy Forum.

Tip: If you are not able to connect with a study buddy in NURS 328, you may go outside the course to find a study buddy. If your study buddy is not a classmate, please maintain confidentiality in your discussions with your study buddy.

2. Submit a copy of the request with a brief summary addressing the following topics at the end of the course:
1. Describe your experience of finding and working with a study buddy.
2. What were the advantages and challenges of working with a study buddy?
3. What changes would you make when working with a study buddy in the future?
3. Complete all marking criteria. Questions need to be answered in a substantive manner. Written work needs to adhere to accurate grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the most recent edition of APA format for citations and references.

NOTE: Submission of Assignment 2A will be combined with Assignment 2B and 2C and submitted to the Assignment 2 Dropbox at the end of the course.

Read the full article below for further information about the benefits of working with a study buddy.

Madland, C., & Richards, G. (2016). Enhancing student-student online interaction: Exploring the study buddy peer review activity. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 17(3), 157-175. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1102718

Purpose

NURS 328 students accomplish excellent work on a variety of important current topics. Sharing your completed work in a forum is one way to disseminate and expand the knowledge base. This is the second part of a three-part assignment.

Marking Criteria

In Assignment 1 students completed a PowerPoint presentation to facilitate evidence-based/evidence-informed practice. Assignment 2B is designed to further facilitate the dissemination of your work. To receive 5%, complete the following activities:

1. Post your Assignment 1 PowerPoint presentation in the Dissemination Forum.
2. Share your PowerPoint presentation with your study buddy or a colleague. This can be done using FaceTime, Zoom or another method of your choosing.
3. Reflect and write about your experience by answering the following questions:
   1. How did you choose to share your work (e.g., FaceTime, Zoom, or another platform)?
   2. What were the strengths and challenges of your chosen method?
   3. What did you learn when you shared your dissemination project? List three challenges you faced and three areas that you believe went well when you shared your work.
4. All marking criteria must be completed. Questions need to be answered in a substantive manner. Written work needs to adhere to accurate grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the most recent edition of APA format for citations and references.

NOTE: Submission of Assignment 2B will be combined with Assignment 2A and 2C and submitted to the Assignment 2 Dropbox at the end of the course.

Purpose

In NURS 328 study guide units, there are several forum posting options. Students are encouraged to complete all forum posts, because they are designed to enhance your knowledge and enhance course learning outcomes. This is the third part of a three-part assignment.

There are several opportunities to post in the forums in NURS 328. At the minimum choose two units in NURS 328, post in those forum discussions, and respond to posts in those forum discussions.

Guidelines

Forum Content and Format

Forum post and responses to the posts of others will be:

• substantive and original in thoughts and perceptions;
• respectful, open, and reflective;
• related to, and integrating, course content and outcomes;
• scholarly, with at least one accurately cited, peer-reviewed source; and
• accurate in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and demonstrating the most recent edition of APA format for citation(s) and reference(s).

Marking Criteria

On or before the completion of NURS 328, to earn 5%, students will:

1. complete two substantive, original forum posts;
2. respond to two classmates’ forum posts respectfully, openly, and reflectively;
3. use at least one scholarly reference to support your posts; and
4. copy two forum posts of your choosing and two of your responses to others’ posts and add them to your Assignment 2 submission.

NOTE: Submission of Assignment 2C will be combined with Assignment 2A and 2B and submitted to the Assignment 2 Dropbox at the end of the course. Upon completion of Assignment 2A, B, and C, please combine them into a single word document and submit them to the Assignment 2 Dropbox.

Guidelines

• Go to the AU library homepage.  Locate and download either a quantitative or a qualitative research study that is of interest to you from a peer-reviewed journal. This article needs to be a report of a research study published in the past five years.
• Tip 1: If this is not clear to you, review Unit 1: The Value of Research and Evidence-Based Practice. There you will find details as to how to access the AU Library.
• Tip 2: Ensure that the study you select is a research study reporting on original research (i.e., it is not a literature review or summary of previously completed research).
• Complete the learning activities and readings in Unit 11: Critiquing Research Reports. Read and think about the guidelines and questions used to critique research reports. In addition, if you have access to Woo (2019) Canadian Essentials of Nursing Research, review critiques of two research articles that appear in Appendix C and D.
• If you are accessing Sociological Inquiry Principles: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods, go to Chapter 14, "Reading and Understanding Research" and carefully review Table 14.2, Questions Worth Asking While Reading Research Reports.
• If you are accessing Canadian Essentials of Nursing Research, review Table 4.1, Guide to a Focused Critique of Evidence Quality in a Quantitative Research Report, or Table 4.2 Guide to a Focused Critique of Evidence Quality in a Qualitative Research Report. The second columns of Tables 4.1 and 4.2 list some key critiquing questions, while the third column cross-references more detailed guidelines in various chapters throughout the book.
• Prepare a paper of 8–10 pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages), double-spaced, using 12-point Arial or Times New Roman font and the most current edition of APA format.
• Related to content, include the following sections:
• Tip 1: Use these sections as headings and subheadings to organize your paper and your thoughts. These headings and subheadings will cue the reader (your tutor) to the specific subtopic you are addressing.
• Introduction
• Research Problem and its Significance
• Literature Review
• Research Question and Subquestions
• Methods
• Research Approach (Qualitative or Quantitative)
• Research Design
• Ethics
• Sample/Sampling
• Data Collection
• Results
• Data Analysis
• Findings
• Validity (for quantitative research studies only)
• Trustworthiness (for qualitative research studies only)
• Discussion
• Implications
• Conclusion
• Presentation
• Clearly written
• No or minimal use of jargon
• Well-organized
• Use specific examples from the research study for each section and each bullet point. 
• Work towards accuracy as well as a "critique-like" tone to demonstrate evidence of critical thinking.
• Suggest realistic alternatives to improve and enhance the quality of the research.
• Related to the format, include the following:
• Title page
• Introductory paragraph
• Headings and subheadings
• Concluding paragraph
• References list
• In-text reference citations
• Paper is 8–10 pages in length, excluding title page and references list
• Content is accurate and critique-like
• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are accurate
• Accurate APA format
• Note: APA format is to align with the most current edition of the APA manual.

Content (25 marks)

Marks will be allocated according to the following template:

• Strengths and limitations are included (3 marks):
• Specific examples are used (3 marks):
• Realistic alternatives to improve and enhance research are included (3 marks):
• Introduction (3 marks)
• One mark for each of the following:
• Research Problem and its Significance:
• Literature Review:
• Research Question and Subquestions:
• Methods (5 marks)
• One mark for each of the following:
• Research Approach (Qualitative or Quantitative):
• Research Design:
• Ethics:
• Sample/Sampling:
• Data Collection:
• Results (5 marks)
• One mark for each of the following:
• Data Analysis:
• Findings:
• Validity or Trustworthiness:
• Discussion and Implications:
• Conclusion:
• Presentation (3 marks)
• One mark for each of the following:
• Clearly written:
• No or minimal use of jargon:
• Well-organized:

Total Mark: /25

Summary feedback for content:

• Strengths
• Areas for Improvement

Format (10 marks)

Marks will be allocated according to the following template with one mark for each element. 

• Title page
• Introductory paragraph
• Headings and subheadings
• Concluding paragraph
• References list aligns with current edition of APA format
• In-text reference citations align with current edition of APA format
• Paper is 8–10 pages in length, excluding title page and references list
• Content is accurate and critique-like
• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation are accurate
• APA format (current edition) is displayed accurately throughout the paper

Total Mark: /10

Summary feedback for format

• Strengths
• Areas for Improvement

Quiz 1 and 2 are closed book invigilated quizzes. 

• Quiz 1 is a 30-question quiz that will cover Units 1–6 (15%)
• Quiz 2 is a 40-question quiz that will cover Units 7–11 (20%)

Both your first attempt and any optional supplemental quizzes must be written before the final assignment is submitted and prior to your course end date (as required by the course contract).

Planning for a ProctorU Invigilated Quiz

The quizzes are located within Moodle and must be invigilated. The quiz is not booked through the myAU or the Exam Center; instead, it is written at a location of your choosing, while an invigilator from ProctorU supervises you remotely through a Webcam. This link will walk you through the process of requesting invigilation using ProctorU. https://www.proctoru.com/resources/test-takers/live/

Be sure to check the ProctorU booking times as you need to book your quiz well in advance.

Ensure that you meet all technical requirements to use ProctorU online invigilation.

• When booking with ProctorU, indicate whether you will be writing NURS 328 Quiz 1 or NURS 328 Quiz 2. Please disregard the popup window that will appear titled "Terms of Service" as this message is for booking of the exam only, not the quiz. Students are responsible for the cost of the invigilation. Please note that the quiz invigilation must be booked in advance.

• You can arrange to write your quiz at any time during the date that you choose, keeping in mind that help desk availability hours are on weekdays during the daytime hours. Please keep the email confirming your ProctorU session as you may be required to submit it during the course. To write the quiz, log into ProctorU at the scheduled time, and the invigilator will supervise you logging into the course to access the quiz.

The quiz is accessed on the NURS 328 homepage in Moodle. The quiz is closed book.

Students are permitted two quiz attempts. Follow the same process as above to book your second quiz attempt (if necessary) with ProctorU invigilation.

The quiz will be marked automatically online. You can access your marks for this assignment by clicking on the Student Data icon on the course homepage.