Discussion Literature Matrix
Discussion Literature Matrix
Question Description
Open the rubric and consult it for guidance. To finish the assignment, use the Literature Matrix template. As you continue to read, you will add to and revise this matrix. That is why this first one is referred to as “preliminary.” Continue to add to it as you go to organize and critique your sources. To write your paper, you will need the matrix. You must use a minimum of eight (8) primary research articles and no more than two (2) secondary sources. Articles should not be older than six years. You can use medical research, but be warned: because they are clinical trials, they are mostly data and numbers. Nursing research should account for at least half of your sources.
For the scholarly synthesis, you must only use primary research articles. A primary research article reports on the authors’ empirical research study. Almost always, it is published in a peer-reviewed journal.
This is the type of article:
posses a research question or presents a hypothesis or hypotheses
Identifies a population for research Describes a particular research method something is tested or measured
There is a section called “method” or “methodology” in this book. This may appear only in the article, not in the abstract. There is a section titled “results.”
Look for words like analysis, study, investigation, examination, and experiment as clues.
Surveys, content analysis, or the number of people or objects analyzed
The following, on the other hand, are not
primary research papers:
Review of the literature
Meta-Analyses (These are studies that draw conclusions based on research from multiple sources).
numerous other studies.)
Editorials
Letters
Books’ chapters
Articles from encyclopedias
Interviews and speeches
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.