Assignment: Critiquing Mixed Methods Studies
Assignment: Critiquing Mixed Methods Studies
Question Description
Assignment: Critiquing Quantitative, Qualitative, or Mixed Methods Studies
Examining the validity and robustness of research presented in journal articles lays the groundwork for engaging in evidence-based practice. You investigated quantitative research designs in Weeks 5 and 6. You will look at qualitative and mixed methods research designs in Week 7. You must critique a quantitative and either a qualitative or a mixed methods research study and compare the types of information obtained in each for this Assignment, which is due on Day 7 of Week 7.
To get ready:
Choose a health topic that interests you and is relevant to your current field of practice. The topic could be your Course Portfolio Project or something else entirely.
Locate two articles in scholarly journals dealing with your portfolio topic using the Walden Library: 1) Choose one article with a
quantitative research design and a second article with either a qualitative OR a mixed methods design. These must be single studies rather than systematic or integrative reviews (including meta-analysis and metasynthesis). You may use research articles from your bibliography. If you are unable to locate these two types of research on your portfolio topic, you may choose another.
Find the following documents in this week’s Learning Resources to gain access to the templates that will guide your critique of each article:
Template for Critique of a Qualitative Study
A Quantitative Study Critique Template
Template for Critique of a Mixed-Methods Study
As you read each article, keep the fields in the templates in mind. Begin writing a paper analyzing the two research approaches listed below. Consider the overall worth of quantitative and qualitative research. How would you respond if someone said to you, “Qualitative research is not real science?”
To finish this assignment:
Use the appropriate templates to complete the two critiques.
Write a 2- to 3-page paper addressing the following topics:
Compare and contrast the types of information you learned from studying the two different research approaches in the articles you chose.
Describe the general benefits and drawbacks of the two research approaches discussed in the articles. Assist yourself with examples from the articles.
Create a response to the assertion that qualitative research is not true science. Emphasize the broad insights that quantitative and qualitative studies can offer researchers. Refer to the Learning Resources and other credible sources to back up your response.
Remember to submit your paper to Grammarly and SafeAssign via the Walden Writing Center as you complete this Assignment. Revise your paper as needed based on the Grammarly and SafeAssign reports.
Reminder: All papers submitted to the School of Nursing must include a title page, introduction, summary, and references.
The Walden Writing Center’s School of Nursing Sample Paper (available from the Walden University website found in this week’s Learning Resources) is an example of those required elements. This formatting must be used for all papers submitted.
Combine all three components of this assignment into one Word document, including the critique templates and the narrative with references. Please submit this merged document.
You should proofread your paper. However, do not rely solely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part, and your grade will suffer as a result. Papers with a high number of misspelled words and grammatical errors will be penalized. Before submitting your paper, go over it in silence and then aloud, and make any necessary changes. It is often beneficial to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Uncorrected mistakes are preferable to handwritten corrections.
Use a standard 10 to 12 point typeface (10 to 12 characters per inch). Smaller or compressed type, as well as papers with narrow margins or single spacing, are difficult to read. It is preferable to allow your essay to exceed the recommended number of pages rather than attempting to compress it into fewer pages.
Large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are also unacceptable, waste trees, and will not fool your professor.
The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced, and have a one-inch margin on all four sides of each page. When submitting hard copies, use white paper and print with dark ink. It will be difficult to follow your argument if it is difficult to read your essay.