Research Paper Requirements
The rationale of the research paper is to provide students an opportunity to investigate topics in Critical Issues in Health Care at a greater depth than what is covered in the lecture and textbook. The research paper will not be just an assessment of issues in Health Care covered in the lectures or discussed in the textbook. The research paper should contain infinitesimal details. Additionally, the paper provides students an opportunity to develop vital communication skills needed in their professional career. Note: Begin work on your paper early in the semester and maintain a workable pace to allow proper completion.
1) Due date for the paper is important and will be strictly enforced.
2) Students are encouraged to utilize the services of the writing center in preparation of their
paper.
3) General Information. The paper must have the following:
• A cover sheet that contains the title of the term paper, student’s name, and class in which the student is submitting the paper.
• A Table of Contents and an Abstract. The headings within the Table of Contents will be used within the body of the paper.
• Number pages consecutively, beginning with the first page of the paper. Figures and tables will also be consecutively numbered as they appear in the text.
• Figures and tables must be referenced to within the body of the paper.
• All papers shall have an introduction, body, and conclusion with references.

4) Cite all references in full: author, journal, book title, issue, year, source, etc. Citations to
works on the World Wide Web must include the URL (or comparable notation) and
modification date, or if no date is present then note the date the site was accessed. The
paper must contain AT LEAST THREE (3) JOURNAL REFERENCES (less than 5 years
old). References must be used within the paper, not just a list of papers “read” for
background for the paper.
5) Illustrations may be helpful and should be used whenever they clarify the ideas being
presented in the body of the paper. If the material is not original (i.e., Xerox or scanned
copies) the source must be given along with the illustration. Numbering of figures should
be logical (e.g., begin at 1 and increase sequentially).
6) Minimum number of pages, 5 pages double spaced without illustrations.
7) If the information given is derived from the bibliography, it must be referenced at the point
where it is written. Acknowledge your sources when the material is used in the paper.
If the information is taken directly from your sources it must be placed in quotes
PLAGIARIZING IS ILLEGAL.

8) The in-class presentation of the research paper will be in a Power Point or Prezi format.

Preparing a Journal Article Critique

I. What is an article critique?

• A critical analysis of a study published in a peer-reviewed journal.
II. How do I format an article review?

• Format and organization of the critique varies according to the professor’s preference. Review the assignment description in the course syllabus for formatting guidelines.
III. What does an article critique include?

A) A citation of the reviewed article in APA format
Example

Mithaug, D. E. & Mar, D. K. (1980). The relation between choosing and working

prevocational tasks in two severely retarded young adults. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 177-182.

B) A one-paragraph summary of the article
• Fewer than 200 words
• Briefly describe experimental question (1 sentence)
• Provide concise description of the methods used (2-6 sentences)
• Discuss results/findings (2 sentences)
C) A description of the study’s participants
• Include number of participants/sample size/number of groups used
• Provide diagnoses or pertinent characteristics of participants
• Briefly describe participant selection & assignment to condition(s)
D) Identification and description of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables within the study
• Define independent variable(s)
• Define dependent variable(s)
• Discuss if a functional relationship exists between the independent and dependent variables
• Discuss possible confounding variables within the study
E) A description of the research design
• Identify the design as a group- or single-subject study
• Describe the experimental design (e.g., ABA reversal design, alternating treatment design, or multiple baseline design)
F) Article strengths & weaknesses (Helpful questions to ask yourself while evaluating the article’s 4 main sections)
1. Introduction

• Did the researchers identify a socially significant problem as the focus of the study?
• Did the researchers develop potential solutions to the problem after conducting a thorough review of past research?
• Did the proposed study include a thorough, current, and relevant literature review?
• Did the introduction guide the reader to the rationale for the study? Was the rationale justified?
2. Methods

• Did the researchers detail procedures enough for replication?
• Were the participants, setting, observational times, data collection methods, measurement of the independent and dependent variables, and experimental conditions described?
• How did the experimenters monitor possible side effects and adverse effects on participants throughout the study?
• How did the experimenters account for experimenter bias and reactivity?
• Were treatment integrity and inter-observer agreement addressed within the study?
• Were measures taken to reduce possible confounds within the study?
3. Results

• How did the experimenters attempt to demonstrate a functional relationship between the independent and dependent variables? What procedures did the experimenters use to strengthen the correlation between these variables?
• Did the experimenters graph the results? Did the information in the graphs represent the written description of the results?
4. Discussion
• Did the experimenters summarize the results and provide reasonable interpretations of the results based on the data and the experimental design?
• Did the experimenters relate the results back to the Introduction?
• Did the experimenters discuss any implications or limitations of the study or experimental design?
• Did the study provide socially significant results?

Research Paper Requirements
The rationale of the research paper is to provide students an opportunity to investigate topics in Critical Issues in Health Care at a greater depth than what is covered in the lecture and textbook. The research paper will not be just an assessment of issues in Health Care covered in the lectures or discussed in the textbook. The research paper should contain infinitesimal details. Additionally, the paper provides students an opportunity to develop vital communication skills needed in their professional career. Note: Begin work on your paper early in the semester and maintain a workable pace to allow proper completion.
1) Due date for the paper is important and will be strictly enforced.
2) Students are encouraged to utilize the services of the writing center in preparation of their
paper.
3) General Information. The paper must have the following:
• A cover sheet that contains the title of the term paper, student’s name, and class in which the student is submitting the paper.
• A Table of Contents and an Abstract. The headings within the Table of Contents will be used within the body of the paper.
• Number pages consecutively, beginning with the first page of the paper. Figures and tables will also be consecutively numbered as they appear in the text.
• Figures and tables must be referenced to within the body of the paper.
• All papers shall have an introduction, body, and conclusion with references.

4) Cite all references in full: author, journal, book title, issue, year, source, etc. Citations to
works on the World Wide Web must include the URL (or comparable notation) and
modification date, or if no date is present then note the date the site was accessed. The
paper must contain AT LEAST THREE (3) JOURNAL REFERENCES (less than 5 years
old). References must be used within the paper, not just a list of papers “read” for
background for the paper.
5) Illustrations may be helpful and should be used whenever they clarify the ideas being
presented in the body of the paper. If the material is not original (i.e., Xerox or scanned
copies) the source must be given along with the illustration. Numbering of figures should
be logical (e.g., begin at 1 and increase sequentially).
6) Minimum number of pages, 5 pages double spaced without illustrations.
7) If the information given is derived from the bibliography, it must be referenced at the point
where it is written. Acknowledge your sources when the material is used in the paper.
If the information is taken directly from your sources it must be placed in quotes
PLAGIARIZING IS ILLEGAL.

8) The in-class presentation of the research paper will be in a Power Point or Prezi format.

Preparing a Journal Article Critique

I. What is an article critique?

• A critical analysis of a study published in a peer-reviewed journal.
II. How do I format an article review?

• Format and organization of the critique varies according to the professor’s preference. Review the assignment description in the course syllabus for formatting guidelines.
III. What does an article critique include?

A) A citation of the reviewed article in APA format
Example

Mithaug, D. E. & Mar, D. K. (1980). The relation between choosing and working

prevocational tasks in two severely retarded young adults. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 177-182.

B) A one-paragraph summary of the article
• Fewer than 200 words
• Briefly describe experimental question (1 sentence)
• Provide concise description of the methods used (2-6 sentences)
• Discuss results/findings (2 sentences)
C) A description of the study’s participants
• Include number of participants/sample size/number of groups used
• Provide diagnoses or pertinent characteristics of participants
• Briefly describe participant selection & assignment to condition(s)
D) Identification and description of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables within the study
• Define independent variable(s)
• Define dependent variable(s)
• Discuss if a functional relationship exists between the independent and dependent variables
• Discuss possible confounding variables within the study
E) A description of the research design
• Identify the design as a group- or single-subject study
• Describe the experimental design (e.g., ABA reversal design, alternating treatment design, or multiple baseline design)
F) Article strengths & weaknesses (Helpful questions to ask yourself while evaluating the article’s 4 main sections)
1. Introduction

• Did the researchers identify a socially significant problem as the focus of the study?
• Did the researchers develop potential solutions to the problem after conducting a thorough review of past research?
• Did the proposed study include a thorough, current, and relevant literature review?
• Did the introduction guide the reader to the rationale for the study? Was the rationale justified?
2. Methods

• Did the researchers detail procedures enough for replication?
• Were the participants, setting, observational times, data collection methods, measurement of the independent and dependent variables, and experimental conditions described?
• How did the experimenters monitor possible side effects and adverse effects on participants throughout the study?
• How did the experimenters account for experimenter bias and reactivity?
• Were treatment integrity and inter-observer agreement addressed within the study?
• Were measures taken to reduce possible confounds within the study?
3. Results

• How did the experimenters attempt to demonstrate a functional relationship between the independent and dependent variables? What procedures did the experimenters use to strengthen the correlation between these variables?
• Did the experimenters graph the results? Did the information in the graphs represent the written description of the results?
4. Discussion
• Did the experimenters summarize the results and provide reasonable interpretations of the results based on the data and the experimental design?
• Did the experimenters relate the results back to the Introduction?
• Did the experimenters discuss any implications or limitations of the study or experimental design?
• Did the study provide socially significant results?