Methodology Paper (Signature Assignment) – 300 points
Purpose: To assess the synthesis of key course concepts and the ability to design and implement a statistical
analysis plan (Objectives 1 – 5).
Due date: Sunday of Week 7
Submitted: LiveText
This assignment isthe final assignment in the course. Throughout the course,students should be thinking about
their clinical scholarly projects and how key concepts are generally or specifically related to the project.
Because planning an analysis isfar more difficult than running a statistical test on a computer, this course
emphasizesstatistical thinking,rather than computationalrecipes.
Thisfinal assignment providesstudents with an opportunity to demonstrate in an authentic context what they
have learned in the course. Although limited in scope, this final assignment is a draft of Chapter 3 of the Clinical
Scholarly Project (CSP). The focus of the assignment is on developing a clear vision of (a) what should
be done in a project to analyze and interpret data appropriately and (b) the likely results of the proposed project.
Thus, this assignment should Helpstudentsin completing their final clinical scholarly projectsin an effective
and timely manner and prepare them to complete the methodology chapter of their CSP. This assignment builds
on assignmentsfrom previous courses, particularly DNPU-706 which helped studentsidentify appropriate
outcomes, develop a data collection plan, and obtain formal approval from the CSP Chair on the project plan.
This assignment must be submitted in LiveText by Sunday of Week 7. Students must use the assignment
template provided in LiveText and attach a Microsoft Word document (DOC or DOCX). The assignment must
also be uploaded in Blackboard to the Week 7 Academic Integrity folder for analysis by Turnitin.
Students are expected to use the feedback they got from their instructors on previous assignments asthey
prepare for this assignment. Students are encouraged to work with classmates, instructors, and mentors/chairs
when preparing the assignment. However, each student’sfinal paper should be unique to the student and reflect
his/her background, experience, expertise, integrity, and specific CSP.
The student should prepare an appropriately formatted (APA) manuscript (See APA Handbook Chapter 2),
organized in the format described in the Clinical Scholarly Project Handbook (pp. 20-22). Studentsshould
make sure that the audience will understand what change in practice or phenomenon s/he will be evaluating,
why it is important, why s/he is predicting the results/findings s/he is predicting, and how the results/findings
will impact nursing practice.
From the CSP Handbook:
ChapterIII should include a detailed description of the proposed research methods and procedures, in
essence, the design of the study.It should be sufficiently explanatory and detailed to enable other
researchers to read the proposal, and by referring to it alone, conduct the same research that the
student proposes to undertake. This is known as “replication.” As such, Chapter III must not be an
abstract description, but a complete step-by-step account of what will be done, in what order, how, and
by whom. Whetherthe study will be quantitative, qualitative, or a combination should be clearly stated.
The following sections must be included in the methods chapter. Any additional sections needed to
Updated 8/1/2017
appropriately describe issues associated with the research operations(i.e., transcriptsfrom focus group
interviews) can be included as an appendix (p. 20).
Remember that the Methodology Paper, which will form the basis of Chapter 3, should build logically on the
Background and Significance (Chapter 1) as well as the exhaustive literature review (Chapter 2). Please
carefully review the CSP Handbook for detailed descriptions of each of the following required sections as
well as the APA Handbook for formatting and content tips. Your paper should be structured as follows:
I. Title Page: Your title should be an empirical title (as discussed at immersion) (APA 2.01 and 2.02).
II. Abstract: Your abstract should be a “brief, comprehensive summary” of the paper (APA 2.04 –
empiricalstudy).
III. Overview: A brief introduction to the chapter (APA 2.05). Briefly introduce the problem and
summarize the significance.
a. Purpose Statement: Clear and concise explanation of the purpose of your clinical scholarly
project. Remember that your purpose should use empirical language and address measurable
outcomes. Your research question(s) should be clearly and empirically stated (APA 2.05).
IV. Data
a. Population: This should describe the population addressed in your research question (APA
2.06).
b. Sample: Describe the subset (sample) of the population of interest, the sample size, and the
extent to which results can be generalized (APA 2.06). Also include subject recruitment if
appropriate. A mock APA table of descriptive statistics must be included and referenced in the
narrative (APA 5.10).
c. Instrumentation: Describe the process or rationale used to select or design the data collection
process if appropriate (APA 2.06)
d. Data Collection: Describe the process of data collection in detail (APA 2.06)
e. Variables: Explain, in detail, each of the variables you will be using, what they measure, and
how (APA 2.06).
f. Project design: Describe the design of the project(pre/post, treatment/control, quasi experimental, etc.). If appropriate, describe the intervention used (APA 2.06).
V. Results
a. Analysis: Describe the analysis of the data, the methods used, issues of missing or abnormal
data, and the results (APA 2.07). A mock APA table of results must be included and referenced
in the narrative (APA 5.10).
VI. Discussion
a. Conclusions: Clearly explain your findings and make an explicit statement of support or
nonsupport for your research question(s). If you had no significant findings, provide
explanations. Clearly explain the statistical and clinical significance of your study (APA 2.08).
b. Limitations: Explain the limitations of the study, address alternate explanations, sources of bias,
and external validity of your findings (APA 2.08).
c. Significance and Implications: Present a “reasoned and justifiable commentary on the
importance of your findings” (APA 2.08).
VII. References
VIII. Tables and Figures
Student work will be graded with a rubric and individual feedback from instructors will be provided.
The Methodology Paper will be graded using the rubric below.
Exemplary 4 Proficient 3 Developing 2 Emerging 1 Not Complete 0
Overview
and Purpose
(12)
Clear and concise explanation of the
significance of the problem and the
purpose of the analysis. (AND)
Research questions are empirical,
measurable, and clear.
Problem and significance adequately
explained (OR) purpose of the
analysis is unclear. (OR)Research
questions are not empirical,
measurable, or clear.
Explanation of the significance of
the problem lacks focus, purpose of
research is unclear. (AND)
Research questions are not
empirical, measurable, and clear.
Nature of the problem is not clear,
(AND) purpose of research is
unclear, (OR) research questions are
poorly stated.
Missing overview AND purpose
statement
Data
(17)
Data sections a-f in the instructions
are appropriately addressed with
sufficient detail. (AND) The sample
is clearly defined; the planned data
collection process is clear and
intended variables are fully
described. (AND) The project
design is appropriate and fully
described. (AND) A mock table of
descriptive statistics is included and
used in the paper’s narrative.
Data sections a-f in the instructions
are not fully addressed. (OR) The
population and sample may not be
clearly defined, the variables may be
insufficiently described, or a table of
descriptive statistics may not be
appropriately used.
Data sections a-f are poorly
addressed (OR) 1-2 specific
elements are not included. (OR) The
sample may be inappropriate or not
relate to the population or the project
question. (OR) Variables may be
inappropriate to the sample and/or
project question.
Data sections a-f are very poorly
addressed (OR) 3 or more elements
not included. (OR) The data section
does not connect appropriately to the
project questions.
Missing sections A-F
Results
(17)
Estimated (expected) results are
clearly described. (AND) The
planned analysis uses appropriate
statistical methods, discusses
assumptions, and issues of missing
or atypical data are addressed.
(AND) A mock table of results is
included and is used in the paper’s
narrative.
Estimated (expected) results are
adequately described. (OR) The
planned analysis uses appropriate
statistical methods, but is not
described in sufficient detail or with
appropriate understanding. (OR) A
mock table of resultsis included, but
not appropriately incorporated into
the paper’s narrative.
Estimated (expected) results are not
adequately described. (OR) The
planned analysis uses inappropriate
statistical methods. (OR) A mock
table of results is not included.
Expected results not discussed. Missing results in analysis sections
Discussion
(17)
Conclusions, limitations,
significance, and implications are
clearly discussed. (AND) Both
statistical and clinical significance
are addressed with appropriate
detail. (AND) The discussion of
limitations demonstrates an
understanding of the sample,
population, and methods.
Conclusions, limitations,
significance, and implications are
discussed. Statistical or clinical
significance are not addressed with
appropriate detail. The discussion of
limitations may not demonstrates an
understanding of the sample,
population, and methods.
One to two of the conclusion,
limitation, significance, or
implication sections are not
discussed. Statistical and clinical
significance not both clearly
addressed. The discussion of
limitations does not demonstrate an
understanding of the sample,
population, or methods.
More than two of the conclusion,
limitation, significance, or
implication sections are not
discussed. Statistical OR clinical
significance not addressed. OR
limited or no discussion of
limitations .
Missing discussion sections
A-C
Expression
and Format
(12)
Writing is graduate level and
engaging. (AND) The paper
communicates clearly using
appropriate professional tone,
grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
(AND) There are no errors in APA
format and a title page, abstract,
references, and appendices have
been included.
Writing is graduate level and
engaging. (AND) The paper may not
communicate clearly, use
appropriate professional tone, or
there may be a few errors grammar,
spelling, and punctuation without
detracting from readability. (AND)
There are no more than one error in
APA format per page. (AND) A title
page, abstract, references, and
appendices have been included.
Writing may not be graduate level.
(OR) The paper does not
communicate clearly, use
appropriate professional tone, or
there are several errors grammar,
spelling, and punctuation, detracting
from overall readability. (OR) More
than one error in APA format per
page (OR) is missing a title page,
abstract, references, or appendices.
Poor writing quality, poor
communication and unprofessional
tone. (OR) Extensive errors in
spelling, grammar, or punctuation
that detract from the readability.
(OR) Does not use APA format
appropriately and is missing more
than one required title, abstract,
references, or appendices.
Not submitted as narrative paper

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