1 – Introduction (around 300 words)
In this section, you will introduce the topic area of your choice and explain why you are wanting to focus on this topic.
You will also need to contextualise (put into context) your topic choice and explain to the reader exactly what it is that you are going to be reviewing.
2 – Literature review (around 600 words)
Simply put, a literature review is a review of the established research already out there around your topic area.
Answer the question – “What do people already say (or not) about this topic?” Take your main topic area and select 3 – 4 aspects of that topic area (points). Remember, try to avoid describing the literature you have found. Instead, you should summarise, synthesise, compare, and critique.
The number of paragraphs you have here will depend on the number of ideas you have (3 – 4) – try to keep one point per paragraph.
Think about what current policy, guidance and legislation discusses on your topic area.
3 – Methodology and ethics (around 700 words) (Write in first person)
Start by explaining what ontology means and then state your ontology (Relativism). Complete this first part by explaining what relativism means within the context of your research and include references.
Ontology is basically the study of what exists and how things relate to each other. Imagine it as a map that shows all the things that exist and how they’re connected.
Relativism is the idea that truth and reality are not absolute but are instead relative to individual perspectives, cultures, or contexts. So, what’s true for one person or group might not be true for another. For example: In my research, I explore how different viewpoints shape our understanding of reality and truth. It’s like looking at the world through different lenses and understanding that everyone’s perspective is valid in its own way.
Then, explain what epistemology is and state your epistemology (Social constructivism). Explain what social constructivism means within the context of your research and include references.
Epistemology is the study of knowledge and how we come to know things. It’s like asking how we know what we know.
Social constructivism suggests that knowledge is constructed through social interactions and is influenced by cultural and historical contexts.
So, what we consider to be true or knowable is shaped by the society we live in and the people we interact with. In simpler terms, it’s like saying our understanding of the world is built together with others, like building blocks of knowledge shaped by our social environment.
Possible theorists to support here are Lev Vygotsky and Jean Lave.
Then state that you will be conducting secondary research only, in the form of a systematic literature review. Include what is meant by a systematic literature review and include references. State why you are using already published primary research or data only – think about funding, primary research concerns, ethical approval, the importance of synthesising research.
State what methodology you will be using (what type of information are you going to source – data and numbers or written accounts?). Remember, this part is personal to you – is it Quantitative only? Qualitative only? or both e.g., mixed methods? Give reasons why.
Then, state your methods – talk about your inclusion/exclusion criteria, the use of Boolean searches and the use of PICO. Explore why you need to have these processes in place when conducting a systematic literature review.
Then state that you will be using a critical appraisal tool such as Roe’s (1993) or CASP. Explore why a critical appraisal tool should be used when conducting a systematic literature review.
For example: These tools provide a systematic framework for assessing various aspects of a study, such as its methodology, data analysis, and interpretation of results. By using these tools, researchers can ensure that the studies they include in their systematic literature reviews meet certain standards of rigor and reliability.
You will discuss where you are finding your literature and why you chose this.
For example: Utilising academic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, JStor, Summon and Google Scholar. These databases provide access to a wide range of peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and other scholarly publications, making them valuable resources for conducting a comprehensive literature review.
Consider aspects such as reliability and validity – how will you ensure these in your own research?
For example: To ensure reliability, you will use consistent methods throughout the research process, such as applying the same inclusion criteria for selecting studies and consistently applying the chosen critical appraisal tool. Additionally, you will double-check your data extraction process to minimise errors and ensure consistency in how information is recorded from each study.
Validity will be ensured by critically assessing the quality of the included studies using the selected critical appraisal tool. This involves evaluating aspects such as study design, methodology, and the appropriateness of data analysis techniques. By only including studies that meet certain standards of validity, you can ensure that the findings of your research are based on robust evidence.
Include your ethical considerations for secondary research here too.
For example: secondary research involves analysing existing primary data from published studies, ethical concerns primarily revolve around ensuring the proper use of the data and avoiding any potential harm to participants. Therefore, you will ensure that all data used in your research is appropriately sourced and cited and will be handled with confidentiality and integrity. Talk about transparency and non-bias in reporting your findings.
4 – Results (around 400 words)
For this section, you are going to select between 3 and 5 articles of research to focus in on.
You will complete a critical appraisal of each paper using a critical appraisal tool (use the scoring template provided to you and keep these in the appendix).
This section, you will briefly summarise your critical appraisal of each paper (your findings/results) referring to the appendix. For example, if you are summarising paper 1, save it as appendix 1 and when writing include (see appendix 1).
Section 5 – Discussion and limitations (around 700 words)
This is where you are going to go into much more detail around what you found out. You will be analysing and synthesising the information you gathered in your results to make some form of judgement about your topic area.
You may wish to consider how good the research is around your topic area and whether they have enough information about this topic to inform practice. This is your opportunity to be highly critical! How does this new knowledge impact on working practices? Will it change or enhance working practices?
The other part of your discussion should be around your own limitations. What limits did you face as a researcher? Time? Resources?
For example: Start by assessing the quality of the research you’ve found. Consider factors like the study design, methodology, and the credibility of the sources. Are there enough high-quality studies available to provide a solid foundation for understanding your topic? Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the research to determine its reliability and relevance to informing practice.
Next, reflect on how this new knowledge could impact working practices. Does the research offer valuable insights that could lead to changes or enhancements in how things are done? Consider the implications of the findings for practitioners in the field and whether they provide actionable guidance for improving practice.
In discussing your own limitations as a researcher, be honest about the constraints you faced. Did you encounter challenges related to time, resources, or access to relevant literature? Acknowledging these limitations helps provide context for your findings and demonstrates a thoughtful consideration of the research process.
Reflect on how these limitations may have influenced the scope or depth of your research and consider how they could be addressed in future studies.
Section 6 – Conclusion (around 300 words)
The last section should contain no new information.
This is purely a summary of what you have learnt from going through this process. What do you know now about your topic area that you did not know at the start?
What holes are there still in this research area?
What has not been covered?
What still needs to be looked at?
Section 7 – Reference list
Follow full NCUC Harvard referencing conventions.
Section 8 – Appendix
Include:
completed PICO template
completed inclusion/exclusion template
completed scoring template
Any other additional information
Part 2: Reflection (500 words) LO4
Using a reflective model, provide an account of how you have developed as an independent learner by completing your work-related activity.
Reflect on your learning needs and how you addressed them, the resources you utilised and what helped and challenged your development.
You will also need to evaluate how successful you were and outline how you will continue to develop your ability to learn from this activity experience
Possible reflective models to use:
Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle: Gibbs’ model consists of six stages: Description, Feelings, Evaluation, Analysis, Conclusion, and Action Plan. It encourages individuals to reflect on their experiences by systematically going through each stage, considering what happened, how they felt about it, what they learned, and what actions they can take in the future. It’s widely used in various fields, including healthcare and education, to promote reflective practice.
Borton’s Reflective Model: Borton’s model is simpler and consists of three basic questions: What? So what? Now what? These questions prompt individuals to reflect on their experiences by considering what happened, why it’s important or meaningful, and what actions can be taken moving forward. Borton’s model emphasises critical thinking and problem-solving skills through reflective practice.
Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle: Kolb’s model is based on the idea of experiential learning, where learning occurs through concrete experiences, reflective observation, abstract conceptualisation, and active experimentation. It consists of four stages: Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualisation, and Active Experimentation. Kolb’s model emphasises the importance of reflecting on experiences to gain insights and learn from them, which can then be applied in future situations.
