Scholarly Paper Assignment Guidelines – Fall 2021
Purpose of the Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to assess your understanding of and your ability to implement step three of the Evidence-Informed Decision Making Process (Appraise). You will demonstrate your ability to meet the information and research literacy competency: “is able to assess the credibility and integrity of research evidence”.
Assignment
Select ONE of the assigned articles posted qualitative study
Process:
a) Review the relevant content that was covered on either the qualitative research process and the accompanying in class assignments.
b) Work through the appropriate appraisal worksheet –qualitative (use the ones we used in class assignments listed under the assignment description and articles). Use this worksheet to guide the writing of your scholarly appraisal paper.
c) Summarize the information collected in the appraisal worksheet in a brief, scholarly, APA-style paper of a maximum six pages for body of paper)—excluding the title page, reference list, and headings.
Key objectives-in this paper you will:
a) Demonstrate your ability to critically and efficiently appraise the research source;
b) Provide a well-supported answer (rationale included) to the appraisal question;
o Was there sufficient credibility and integrity in this study that I can trust or be confident in the findings? Why/why not?
c) Based on your answer to the above, the also answer the following.
o Would you consider adapting the findings into practice or education assuming you worked in that setting? Why/Why not?
Format:
The paper must be submitted as a WORD file (Pages or pdf will not be accepted) and include the following:
● Title page (APA-Standard title page format with a strong/unique title [see APA 2.01] to reflect your appraisal conclusions [avoid a title that is the name of the assignment])
● Body of paper (NO abstract required for a paper this short) all done in APA style
○ Introduction: state the purpose of the paper (the question above), and reference the paper you have reviewed. Provide a BRIEF introductory paragraph with a strong thesis statement (the main point or position taken) and a sentence or two to support this thesis statement (the findings that led to the thesis statement)
○ Analysis: each of the following sections should include a strong thesis statement and be supported by evidence collected from your worksheet such as major strengths or limitations. Use well developed paragraphs and APA conventions for grammar and spelling):
-Credibility/Ethics/Scholarliness
-Method/Design/Sample/Data Collection
consider each of the sections of the methods appraisal and appraise the overall summary of the worksheet and include strengths and limitations.
-Results/Rigor/trustworthiness
consider the strengths and weaknesses of results, interpretation, contributions, meaningful coherence and conclusions. From your overall summary of the worksheet, include main findings of relevance and insights.
-EIDM/overall Conclusions
Includes clear, well developed, and supported answers to the two above appraisal questions.
○ References: include a reference page with one entry: the paper you have appraised and include more references only if you used someone else’s information to support your appraisal or argument
