e: Topic 2 DQ 1

Evidence-based practice is the combination of clinical expertise, patient values and their preferences and the most up-to-date research that is available (Dean, Chapter 3: Practice and Competency Development). Michael Scriven and Richard Paul describe critical thinking as “the mental active process and subtle perception, analysis, synthesis and evaluation of information collected or derived from observation, experience, reflection, reasoning or the communication leading to conviction for action” (Papathanasiou, Kleisiaris, Fradelos, Kakou, & Kourkouta, Critical thinking: The development of an essential skill for nursing students 2014). Critical thinking focuses on intuition, problem solving, knowing what information is and isn’t important, what to prioritize, and the advantages and disadvantages off all treatment options.

My personal opinion is that evidence-based practice is nothing without critical thinking. You really need to be able to think critically to be able to successfully perform evidence-based practice. You may walk into a patient or situation and think that they have one thing because that is what the first couple of major problems point to. However, if you think critically and dive deeper into all their problems, labs, medications, subjective and objective data you receive during your assessment you may quickly realize that there is a different problem. They may be presenting with something like hypoglycemia, but the real problem is something like a tumor on the pancreas, hormone deficiencies, dumping syndrome or anorexia.

As a nurse using critical thinking and evidence-based practice are very important. It allows us to treat each patient individually, take into count new and previous information, think outside the box when the current plan of care if not working, be flexible, assess the reliability of all of the data collected, both subjective and objective (Papathanasiou, Kleisiaris, Fradelos, Kakou, & Kourkouta, Critical thinking: The development of an essential skill for nursing students 2014). By using critical thinking and evidence-based practice we can provide a safe, effective and positive patient outcome.

References

Dean, J. K. (n.d.). Chapter 3: Practice and Competency Development. In Dynamics in Nursing: Art & Science of Professional Practice. Retrieved March 2, 2021, from https://lc.gcumedia.com/nrs430v/dynamics-in-nursing-art-and-science-of-professional-practice/v1.1/#/chapter/3

Papathanasiou, I., Kleisiaris, C., Fradelos, E., Kakou, K., & Kourk

 

In order to make decisions about the value of any research study for practice, it is important to understand the general processes involved in analyzing research data. By now, you have examined enough research studies to be aware that there are some common ways that data are reported and summarized in research studies. For example, the sample is often described by numbers of participants and by certain characteristics of those participants that help us determine how representative the sample is of a population. The information about the sample is commonly reported in tables and graphs, making use of frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, and dispersion. Information about the variables (or concepts) of interest when quantified are also reported in similar manner.

Although the actual data analysis takes place after data have been collected, from the initial planning of a research study, the researcher needs to have an awareness of the types of questions that can be answered by particular data analysis techniques.

For this Discussion, review the case study entitled “Social Work Research: Measuring Group Success.” Consider the data analysis described in that case. Recall the information presented in the earlier chapters of your text about formulating research questions to inform a hypotheses or open-ended exploration of an issue.

By Day 3

Post an explanation of the types of descriptive and/or inferential statistics you might use to analyze the data gathered in the case study. Also explain how the statistics you identify can guide you in evaluating the applicability of the study’s findings for your own practice as a social worker. Please use the resources to support your answer.

 

Plummer, S.-B., Makris, S., & Brocksen S. M. (Eds.). (2014). Social work case studies: Foundation year. Baltimore, MD: Laureate International Universities Publishing. [Vital Source e-reader].

• Social Work Research: Measuring Group Success

 

For this assignment, you will use Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” to help you practice the important rhetorical skill of paraphrasing.

Original Document
http://okra.stanford.edu/transcription/document_images/undecided/630416-019.pdf (Links to an external site.)

Audio Recording
http://okra.stanford.edu/transcription/audio/630416001.mp3 (Links to an external site.)

Be sure to address the following:

• State the purpose of the letter. Be sure to paraphrase the speech throughout your analysis.
• Describe one strategy for development of the letter. This should be one that you identify with or think is effective. Base your description on this Module’s readings and the course activities you participated in.
• Remember that your paraphrase should end up being about the same number of words as the original material that you cite. Please note that you are not paraphrasing the entire document but more like a sentence or two. This is similar to what you might do with a quote, but with your own words. A paraphrase is not the same as a summary.
• Explain why you think the strategy is effectively used in the letter.
• Incorporate at least one quote from the speech, and properly cite the quote on the References page.
• Explain how you plan to use the development strategy in your Portfolio Project.

Requirements:                                                                                                                       

• Your written paper should be two to three pages in length, not counting the title and reference pages, which you must include.
• You must accurately insert a quote and paraphrase in your analysis to provide in-text evidence from the essay or article you selected, and you must comment on the quote to demonstrate you are thinking in a critical manner.
• Your paper must be formatted according to the CSU Global Writing Center. (Links to an external site.)

Paraphrase Activity – Student Selection

For this activity, you will select a professional essay or article of your choosing with instructor approval.

Then, based on the content and focus of the essay or article, you will compose a persuasive essay in which you effectively paraphrase and incorporate quotes from that essay or article to help support your discussion and analysis.

Be sure to address the following:

• State the purpose of the essay. Be sure to paraphrase the essay throughout your analysis.
• Describe one strategy for development of the essay. This should be one that you identify with or think is effective and should reflect the course activities you participated in.
• Remember that your paraphrase should end up being about the same number of words as the original material that you cite. Please note that you are not paraphrasing the entire document but more like a sentence or two. This is similar to what you might do with a quote, but with your own words. A paraphrase is not the same as a summary.
• Explain why you think the strategy is effectively used in the essay.
• Incorporate at least one quote from the essay, and properly cite the quote on the References page.
• Explain how you plan to use the development strategy in your Portfolio Project.

Requirements:

• Your written paper should be two to three pages in length, not counting the title and reference pages, which you must include.
• You must accurately insert a quote and paraphrase in your analysis to provide in-text evidence from the essay or article you selected, and you must comment on the quote and paraphrase to demonstrate you are thinking in a critical manner.
• Your paper must be formatted according to the CSU Global Writing Center.

Assignment Outline – with detail/summary on the entries

APA Format

Need it by April 26, 2018

Identify strategies for improving individual performance.

Assignment:

Senior leadership at Matrix has requested a progress update from you regarding the research that you have conducted thus far on a new performance appraisal system for the organization. It must be in an outline format but detailed enough to ensure that senior leadership is satisfied with your knowledge base thus far. Think critically about all that you have learned over the past 3 weeks, and develop what will be called the Outline of your Key Assignment first draft. 

Please use the following information to do the outline.

You have completed the outline for your Key Assignment (KA) and have received important feedback. You have done a great job on this outline, but you know that you need to integrate this feedback into a formal document requested by senior leadership at Matrix. Your supervisor, Annalise, has told you that this document will be your Key Assignment first draft.

The first guidance that she provides you with is to critically evaluate the feedback that you received and address issues such as the following:

—  Address any considerations or feedback regarding your outline for your KA. For example, were there any critical components that were missed in the outline? 

—  Make grammatical and formatting corrections and address any APA issues. 

—  Ensure that there are numerous scholarly references. 

The second guidance that she provides you with is to ensure that you include information from the past 3 weeks/assignments regarding performance appraisal processes, performance appraisal types, and training needs into your Key Assignment first draft.

The third guidance that she provides you with is to continue with your research and within the Key Assignment first draft to also include the following newly researched information:

—  Compare and contrast different motivational theories. 

—  Explain why motivation is a main concern during the performance appraisal process and how motivational levels can be impacted by this process. 

—  Evaluate correlations between motivation and the ability to perform. 

—  Identify strategies that can be used at Matrix for improving individual performance and how can these strategies reduce negative reactions to the performance appraisal process.

Paper 1

Paper 1

Look at some of the paintings in the Chapter 4 READ section.

• If you were going to purchase one of these paintings, which one would it be and why?
• Explain from your personal preference, but also explain using one or two elements of paintings described in both READ and ATTEND sections (Chapter 4).
• Next, name a public sculpture that you have witnessed in your lifetime that you have grown fond of. Explain what the sculpture means to you.

Paper 2 

We see many shows on TV with singers, musicians, and dancers being evaluated by panels of judges. Have you ever wondered exactly what is involved in properly evaluating a performer?

Though we’d like to think the process is objective, many judges rely on their own artistic experience, basing their judgments on how they feel about the performer or the performer’s popularity. However, as we see in chapters 9 & 10 of your READ section, there are many elements to be considered beyond commercial success.

• Select your favorite artist in music or dance. 
• Explain why they are your favorite. 
• What unique qualities set them apart from other artists? Make sure you use some of the terms and techniques highlighted in your READ and ATTEND sections to defend your position.