Critical Analysis of Research Methods (3000 words +/- 10%)

Critical Analysis of Research Methods (3000 words +/- 10%)

Contributes 40% of the marks for the course

Assesses Learning Outcomes:

Critique research literature to identify quality research for use in acupuncture practice

Analyse how acupuncture research can be reported within advertising or when discussing acupuncture practice with patients, allied health, and medical colleagues

Evaluate the ethical principles relevant to acupuncture research.

Assessment steps

For assignment 2 there are two parts. The first part is a report produced for professional colleagues. The second part of the assignment is a poster designed to explain acupuncture research to clients.

You will need to do the following steps:

Step 1

Write 1000 words comparing quantitative and qualitative research in the following areas:

Worldviews for quantitative and qualitative research.

Sampling for quantitative and qualitative research.

Sample size for quantitative and qualitative research

Analysis for quantitative and qualitative research.

Step 2

Compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative and qualitative research.

Step 3

Explain why systematic literature reviews are important from the point of view of the TCM profession.

Step 4

Provide a table critiquing the importance of research ethics for acupuncture research for quantitative research (for instance, randomised clinical trials), qualitative research (for instance, clinic case reports), and systematic literature reviews. Use at least one example from the literature for each type of research method.

Step 5

Design a poster to explain the different research methods used in acupuncture research highlighting the main ethical requirements for each type of research.

Use the Vancouver guide at Vancouver - Citing and referencing - Subject guides at Monash UniversityAssignment sections

Use the following sections for the first part of your assignment:

Title page

Abstract

In the abstract summarise the contents of your assignment and provide a summary of your recommendations.

Table of Contents (use the auto Table of Contents in Word).

Introduction.

In the introduction summarise the contents of your assignment. In the second paragraph describe the sequence of the sections in your assignment.

Research methods

Provide a sub-section for each research method.

Strengths and weaknesses

In this section, provide a subsection for both strengths and weaknesses.

Systematic literature review

In this section, you need only one section to discuss he importance of SLRs

Research ethics

Provide one section for the relevance of research ethics for each research method discussed.

Conclusion

References

For your poster, use Powerpoint to produce your poster and then save as pdf. This way the formatting will stay constant.

Report Formatting Instructions

Use report format not essay.

Write in sections that have a title for each section

These sections are:

Absrtact. This is a summary of the contents of the assignment.

Table of Contents (use the automatic TOC feature in Word)

Introduction. This is a summary of the content of the assignment. The last paragraph contains the structure and sequence of the assignment.

Body of the assignment. This is where you discuss the content of the assignment in the sections suggested above.. You may have several subsections here. Remember to provide citations for any references used in writing this section.

Conclusion. This is a summary of what you have done in your assignment and any findings.

References. Use the Vancouver style for your references.

Use Times New Roman 12

Use left-line justification.

Use 1.5 line spacing.

You will be able to access your assignment marks and teachers comments in your Moodle Gradebook within two weeks of the due date.Submission Instructions

This essay is to be submitted electronically in your Moodle classroom.

You are asked to submit your assignment to both the assignment activity and the Turnitin activity that you will find created for you.

With the event of online translation tools and artificial intelligence tools such as Chat GPT, there are concerns about the potential for essays to be automatically generated. Therefore, before your mark is finalized, your teacher will arrange a brief conversation with you, asking you to explain or summarise specific points to confirm that this is your own work.

Turnitin

NZSATCM uses Turnitin software to monitor plagiarism. You are asked to submit your assignment to the Turnitin activity on Moodle that has been created for this essay. The similarity figure created is then placed on your title page

Extensions: Please note the due date set for this essay. NZSATCM has a policy for requesting extensions detailed in your course outline. Essay planning and writing to meet deadlines is a part of your academic learning for this course. It is expected that the planning and drafting of this essay will be occurring several weeks before your final submission and therefore any events where you need to request an extension will be known well before the due date. Any request for an extension needs to follow the NZSATCM requestion for extension policy casual requests to your teacher such as a verbal request or an email will not be accepted. All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis by you teacher.

You will be able to access your essay marks in your Moodle gradebook within two weeks of the due date.

Marking Rubric

PASS = 50%

Total

Introduction

1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 /10

Inadequate/confusing description of the topic. Assignment structure was not outlined.

Limited description of the topic. Structure incomplete. Adequate description of topic and structure Clear and appropriate description of topic and structure. Excellent description of the topic and structure. Research Methods

<15 16-23 24-29 30-34 35-40 /40

Research methods not appropriate for the topic or irrelevant Research methods are simplistic/ incomplete /have limited relevance to topic/ not consistently relevant. Applicable and appropriate research methods to address the topic. Clear and relevant research methods to address the topic. Efforts were made to fully explore the topic. Highly relevant and original research methods to address topic. Strengths and Weaknesses.

1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 /10

Discussion points/arguments not appropriate for the topic or irrelevant Discussion points/arguments are simplistic/ incomplete/have limited relevance to the topic/ not consistently relevant. Applicable and appropriate discussion points/arguments to address the topic. Clear and relevant discussion points/arguments to address the topic. Efforts were made to fully explore the topic. Highly relevant and original discussion points/arguments to address the topic. Systematic Literature Review

1-4 5-9 10-14 15-17 18-20 /20

Inadequate or no summary of relevant points Limited summary of relevant points/arguments Adequate summary of points/arguments Clear and relevant summary of main points/arguments Excellent summary of relevant points/arguments Research Ethics /10

Presentation (Poster, Format, Writing style, Referencing. Grammar, Punctuation)

1-2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 /10

Very confusing to read due to poor grammar and frequent spelling mistakes. No structure to the assignment. Incorrect referencing. Limited readability. Frequent spelling errors and incorrect use of abbreviations. Several structural details of assignment missing. Multiple errors with referencing Communications with some clarity. Use of abbreviations and spelling mostly correct. Most structural details of the assignment are met.

Mostly accurate use of referencing. Clear and coherent readability. Evidence of appropriate paragraph and sentence structure. Minimal spelling & grammar errors. Minimal & appropriate use of abbreviations. All assignment presentation details met.

Accurate use of referencing. Excellent readability demonstrating a high level of coherency, fluency, and vocabulary. Excellent paragraph and sentence structure. Excellent spelling & grammar. Minimal & appropriate use of abbreviations. All presentation details for an assignment are met.

Includes word count, page numbers & student ID

Accurate use of referencing.

TOTAL

/100

Verification report was learners own work. Oral conversation with learner: Markers signature Date

Satisfied marker report was the learners own work. Mark remains unchanged.

Did not satisfy marker report was the learners own work. Follow up required by program lead.

. Declaration

I hereby declare that the attached assignment is my own work, based on my personal study and/or research, and I have accurately acknowledged all sources and materials used by me in the preparation of this assignment and I have not colluded with another learner/konga or person in the preparation of this assignment.

I understand that if I am suspected of plagiarism or other forms of dishonest practice, my work will be referred to the Academic/Research Leader who will undertake an investigation.

Providing this declaration falsely is considered an act of academic dishonesty.

I have retained a copy of this assignment for my own records.

Where this assignment is submitted electronically, sending the assignment constitutes an electronic signature for the purpose of this declaration.

Signature This day of 2023

Please start your assignment on the following page.