Assignment 3: Research Designs, Conceptual/Theoretical Frameworks, and Collection of Data Assignment – Due Sunday, June 16
Overview
As a novice reader of research, it is important to note the quality of studies you read as well as the authority and credibility of the resource for the information. When studies are published in peer-reviewed journals or on authoritative websites, readers can assume that the information was reviewed and/or critiqued by the journal’s editorial board and specialized healthcare reviewers.
Another step in the research process is identifying the theoretical or conceptual framework to guide the study. Every study has a framework, but not every study is based on a theory or model (Polit & Beck, 2018). If the theoretical or conceptual framework was not a major component of the focus of the study, the researchers may not mention the framework that guided the study in the published article. Yet, when critiquing a study, readers need to be able to identify the theory, if addressed by the researchers of the study.
Authors of research studies collect data based on the research design. Quantitative data are collected for experimental and non-experimental research designs. Examples of experimental studies are randomized control trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies. Examples of non-experimental studies are descriptive or correlational designs. Qualitative data are collected for studies based on human experience and have no measurements or statistics, but words are used to describe the themes of findings from the data. Examples of qualitative studies are phenomenological, historical, and ethnographic studies.
A systematic review is a structured and focused review of all research on a specific topic where the researchers search and analyze data from other researchers’ studies. Systematic reviews may be conducted alone or with a meta-analysis where each individual study in the systematic review is considered to be data and statistically analyzed. The sample in a systematic review and meta-analysis is the number of research studies included in the review. Review all resources in this module.
Assignment #3 Directions
Select a new research study focused on your PICO question. If you already identified 3 research studies for your EBP Project, you do not need to select any more studies.
Save a PDF copy of the study in this assignment, upload, and reference the study in the correct APA format.
Remember to follow the grading rubric and answer all questions.
