Programme(s) Module Code(s) Curriculum Theme Module Title Assessment Type Type Submission Deadline City University London School of Community & Health Sciences Assessment Specification BSc (Hons) Midwifery (3-year programme) NM3743 Research Literature Review Project (Midwifery) 6000-word Project (Dissertation) Summative Cohort September 2008 Year of Study 3 Level Level HE3 Credits 30 Module Weighting 100% Pass Mark 40% Introduction This assessment will enable you to complete the BSc (Hons) Midwifery. You will need to demonstrate the ability to conduct a literature review in a relevant area of professional midwifery practice. A literature review is a critical summary of what is known about a particular topic. It requires a critique of the methods/ methodologies used to study the topic as well as the conclusions drawn by authors. The following notes are designed to guide you in how to complete your literature review. This literature review is the one opportunity on the course for you to choose for yourself an area of midwifery that you want to investigate in depth and you believe needs further discussion. It also enables you to contribute to the current body of knowledge available to midwives. Format A 6,000 word literature review related to your area of practice. This literature review must be typed. Before you start the literature review: You may wish to submit a literature review proposal to your supervisor, before carrying out the literature review itself, to see if you have understood what is required for carrying out a literature review. A literature review proposal is an action plan which states the area of the proposed investigation and how you will achieve the selection of suitable papers. It is also wise to add a timescale to your plan. Some examples of useful areas to cover are: Why is this topic important? What literature reviews (if any) are already available on the topic? Proposed research question(s). Search strategy how and where do you intend to search? A example of a paper you want to include in the review if you have found any already. Which appraisal tool are you thinking of using and why? Timescale for completion of the review? Choosing the topic The topic should be a midwifery issue you feel is interesting, currently important and relevant. It must also be able to sustain a review of up to 6,000 words. Therefore it must be an area that has been investigated through NM3743 Dissertation (S08 cohort) 1
research. Six to ten peer-reviewed empirical research papers should be included, although more may be added after discussion with your supervisor. You should choose a question that narrows a widely studied area so that the material will not be overwhelming. The focus should be narrowed to a specific aspect of the issue, e.g. not pain assessment, but midwives assessment of pain in labour. Understanding the methods/ methodologies used You need to demonstrate a grasp of the methods/ methodologies used to study the area. There is a basic differentiation to be made between quantitative and qualitative research methods. In quantitative research an example of a methodology is experimental research and a method used would be the randomised control trial. In qualitative research an example of a methodology is grounded theory and a method used would be unstructured interviews with participants. Structure of the literature review The structure of the literature review could look something like the outline below (please note, it is the academic convention to use sub headings in Chapters e.g. 1.1 Purpose of Chapter, 1.2 Background to the study etc ) Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION Purpose of Chapter: Explain what is included in this chapter. Background to Study: Background information on the topic, including definitions of important terms could be included here. Aims and objectives: What do you hope to achieve at the end - whom will it benefit and how? (E.g. the midwifery profession, yourself). This can be a bulleted list. Research question(s): State which question(s) this literature review will help to answer. Rationale: Why this area? Why now? Why you are personally interested in this area. It should give a justification and rationale for the chosen topic. Chapter 2: Method Purpose of Chapter: Explain what is included in this chapter. Method: explain what a literature review is. Explain the critical appraisal tool you are going to use and why you have chosen to use that particular one. Literature Search: explain how you approached the search: searching, locating and recording information including key words used, search filters and databases used. Inclusion and Exclusion criteria: explain selection criteria for articles showing scope and focus of the review and state inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria used. Outcome of the literature search: Give an overview of how many papers were found and how many are left in the literature review after the inclusion and exclusion criteria have been applied. Presentation of data: How will the findings of the literature review be presented in the next chapter? It is suggested that you provide a table summarising the selected papers this can be an appendix to be referred to and therefore does not count in your word limit. The Table might contain the following headings: Authors, year, country, title, method/ methodology, summary of key findings, notes on how it answers the research question(s) Chapter 3: Analysis Purpose of the chapter: Explain what is included in this chapter. Findings: An in-depth critique of the literature what did you find? You should compare and contrast studies and comment on the body of the literature on the topic. Some form of structuring, within this section, is a good idea. You could split this Findings section into sub-sections (themes) with headings around the aspects of care or treatment within the topic being reviewed. This section should not just list one paper after another. You need to draw out from your reading of the papers overarching messages. Make sure that you structure this section in such a way that you clearly address your research question(s). You will need to consider what methods were used to study the area and how rigorously were they applied? E.g. look for bias (was the person doing the research known to the participants) or conflict of interest (was the research carried out on behalf of a drugs company). To do this you will need to use the information obtained from applying the critical appraisal tool to you chosen research papers. NM3743 Dissertation (S08 cohort) 2
Chapter 4: Discussion and Implications for Practice Purpose of the chapter: Explain what is included in this chapter. Discussion: What do the findings mean? Evaluate the significance of the similarities and differences found in your comparison and contrast of the articles and make an in-depth interpretation on the themes issues. You can draw on the wider body of literature about your topic area. This is the place to include all the interesting articles that you found which make important points but which did not directly answer your chosen research question. Have you been able to fully answer your research question? If not why not? Implications for future practice, education, management and research Include implications and recommendations for practice, education and management. Could the finding of this literature review be applied to your patients or your practice? If it cannot be applied, why is this? Can you be specific about how your findings can influence the quality of care? For example an education package for midwives, an assessment tool for practice or a set of policy guidelines. You will also need to comment on whether further research should be undertaken and if so how should it be designed? You may want to split this section into sub sections. Conclusion Summarise the main conclusions of the literature review. Do not introduce new information or ideas in your conclusion provide only a summary of what has gone before. General points: Make sure you carefully use the correct Harvard referencing system and find out how to reference web resources. Your reference list will contain many more references than your selected research papers used in the literature review. You will need to reference all areas of this dissertation including the background, method and discussion sections. This is a very academic piece of work and such requires a competent academic style. Do seek help if this is suggested by your supervisor. This piece of work does not require any formal reflection. You may refer to reflection in stating why you have an interest in this topic area. Do make use of the recommended reading to guide you further. Do make use of your supervisor and group tutorials to ensure that you on the right track and to get advice and support. ONE COPY OF THE ASSESSMENT IS REQUIRED NM3743 Dissertation (S08 cohort) 3
Assessment Criteria Your project will be marked using the following criteria, so you must ensure you address these in your work, taking into consideration the percentage each criterion is worth of the overall mark and the grade related criteria that are in your programme handbook. Structure and presentation Neatly presented, within prescribed length and correct use of a recognised referencing system (Harvard). 5% Evidence of wide reading and a competent academic literary style. 5% Content An introduction to the research topic is included. Definitions of important terms included. The research question is developed; aims of the review and rationale are clear. Search strategy is explained, databases are appropriate and comprehensive, inclusion and exclusion criteria are systematically applied. Critical appraisal tool discussed and rationale for use included (refer to handbook for recommended tools). Review demonstrates critical analysis of the study designs and findings, using an appropriate appraisal tool. Well supported conclusions (themes) are drawn about the literature included in the review. 10% 20% 35% Review discusses implications of the findings in relation to other literature. Recommendations for future practice, education, management and research are discussed. 25% NM3743 Dissertation (S08 cohort) 4
Programme(s) Module Code(s) Curriculum Theme Module Title Assessment Type City University London School of Community & Health Sciences Assessment Submission BSc (Hons) Midwifery (3-year programme) NM3743 Research Literature Review Project (Midwifery) 6000-word Project (Dissertation) Summative Level 3 Credits 30 Module Weighting 100% Pass Mark 40% Name of Module Leader Student SURNAME Student FIRST NAME Student Number Word Count Cohort Submission Deadline Attempt (e.g. 1 st, 2 nd, 3 rd ) I certify that the copy of my work I have submitted electronically, is my own unaided work, and that I have read and complied with the guidelines on plagiarism as set out in the student handbook. I understand that the University may make use of plagiarism detection software and that my work may therefore be stored on a database, which is accessible to other users of the same software. Students should be aware that, where plagiarism is suspected, a formal investigation will be carried out, and action may be taken under the University s rules on Academic Misconduct. This might result in penalties ranging from mark deduction to withdrawal from the University. Signature Date For office use only: Please stamp here Assessment Submission Receipt: Please complete the details below prior to submitting your work Student Name: Module Code Theme Assessment NM3743 Research Dissertation For office use only: Please stamp here NM3743 Dissertation (S08 cohort) 5
Programme(s) Module Code(s) Curriculum Theme Module Title Assessment Type City University London School of Community & Health Sciences Marking Record and Feedback to Student BSc (Hons) Midwifery (3-year programme) NM3743 Research Literature Review Project (Midwifery) 6000-word Project (Dissertation) Summative Level 3 Credits 30 Module Weighting 100% Pass Mark 40% Name of Student Cohort Name of Marker Name of Moderator FINAL MARK Pass/Fail STRUCTURE & PRESENTATION (10 MARKS) Criteria Marks available Mark awarded Marker s feedback Neatly presented, within prescribed length and correct use of a recognised referencing system (Harvard). 5 Evidence of wide reading and a competent academic literary style. 5 NM3743 Dissertation (S08 cohort) 6
Overall feedback for section: CONTENT (90 MARKS) Total mark for this section: Criteria Marks available Mark awarded Marker s feedback An introduction to the research topic is included. Definitions of important terms included. The research question is developed; aims of the review and rationale are clear. 10 Search strategy is explained, databases are appropriate and comprehensive, inclusion and exclusion criteria are systematically applied. Critical appraisal tool discussed and rationale for use included (refer to handbook for recommended tools). 20 Review demonstrates critical analysis of the study designs and findings, using an appropriate appraisal tool. Well supported conclusions (themes) are drawn about the literature included in the review. 35 NM3743 Dissertation (S08 cohort) 7
Review discusses implications of the findings in relation to other literature. Recommendations for future practice, education, management and research are discussed. 25 Overall feedback for section: Total mark for this section: Marker s overall feedback (please continue on a separate page if necessary) NM3743 Dissertation (S08 cohort) 8
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