Assignment 2— written paper (qualitative research appraisal – 1,500 words)
Marking Criteria and Standards
Presentation/Scholarly writing (5 marks)

Organisation and structure of the paper (you must use the criteria supplied below to
structure your paper.)

Academic writing.

Correct use of referencing conventions throughout
Discuss what is meant by the term Qualitative Research (15 marks)
Use the following dot points to guide your discussion (give reasons for your argument and
support with references):

Briefly describe the characteristics of qualitative research and identify nursing
issues/phenomena that lend themselves to a qualitative research approach.

Compare and contrast three different qualitative research methodologies.

Briefly discuss the strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research evidence for
informing nursing practice.
Critique the Qualitative Research Report (supplied in your package) (25 marks)
Use the following headings to guide your critique (in all discussions and explanations give
reasons for your argument and support with references):
The study

Identify the purpose of the study.

Briefly describe the design of the study and explain why you think it is either
appropriate or in-appropriate to meet the purpose.

Identify ethical issues related to the study and how they were/were not addressed.
Sampling

Identify the sampling method and recruitment strategy that was used.

Discuss whether sampling and recruitment were appropriate to the aims of the
research.
Data collection and analysis

Identify the data collection method(s) and discuss whether the method(s) is/are
appropriate to the aims of the study.

Identify how the data was analysed and discuss whether the method(s) of analysis
is/are appropriate to the aims of the study.
Rigor


Identify four (4) criteria by which the rigor of a qualitative project can be judged.
Discuss the rigor of this study using the four criteria.
Findings and limitations

Briefly describe the findings of the study and identify any limitations.

Use the information that you have gained from your critique of the study to discuss
the trustworthiness and applicability of the study. Include in your discussion any
implications for the discipline of nursing.
Assignment 3— written paper (quantitative research appraisal – 1,500 words)
Marking Criteria and Standards
Presentation/Scholarly writing (5 marks)

Organisation and structure of the paper

Academic writing.

Correct use of referencing conventions throughout
Discuss what you understand by the term Quantitative Research (15 marks)
Use the following dot points to guide your discussion (give reasons for your argument and
support with references):

Describe the characteristics of quantitative research.

Identify nursing issues/phenomena that lend themselves to a quantitative research
approach

Differentiate between observational and interventional research designs and also
between experimental and quasi-experimental designs.

Briefly outline the difference between inferential and descriptive statistics and their
relationship to levels of measurement.
Critique the Quantitative Research Report (supplied in your package) (25 marks)
Use the following headings to guide your critique (in all discussions and explanations give
reasons for your argument and support with references):
The study

Identify the purpose and design of the study.

Explain what is meant by ‘blinding’ and ‘randomisation’ and discuss how these were
addressed in the design of the study.

Identify ethical issues related to the study and how they were/were not addressed.
Sampling

Explain the sampling method and recruitment strategy that was used.

Discuss how the sample size was determined – include in your discussion an
explanation of terms used.
Data collection

Briefly outline how the data was collected and identify any data collection
instrument(s).

Define the terms validity and reliability and discuss how the validity & reliability of the
instruments were/were not addressed in this study and why this is important.
Data analysis

Outline how the data were analysed.

Identify the statistics used and the level of measurement of the data described by
each statistical test – include in your discussion an explanation of terms used.
Findings and limitations

Briefly outline the findings and identify any limitations of the study

Use the information that you have gained from your critique of the study to briefly
discuss the trustworthiness and applicability of the study. Include in your discussion
an explanation of the term statistical significance and name the tests of statistical
significance used in this study.
Assessment
area
Graduate quality
being assessed.
&
Weighting
BODY OF
KNOWLEDGE:
demonstrates an
understanding of the
application of
important concept,
and strategies of
Nursing Research
Distinction/HD
(75 – 84%)/(85-100)
Higher level/exemplary
competency all
parameters
H.D: PLUS
exemplary competency
on most parameters
Credit
(65 – 74%)
Basic competence all
parameters PLUS
demonstrates higher
level competency on
some parameters
Pass 1
(55 – 64%)
Basic competence all
parameters
Pass 2
(50 – 54%)
Fail 1
(40 – 49%)
Fail 2
(39 – 0%)
Basic competence on
most parameters. Some
requirements for pass
may be reached and
others widely missed.
Insufficient competence
on some parameters
Deficiencies in meeting
Pass requirements
Competence not
demonstrated on most
parameters.
Requirements for Pass
clearly not met
Higher/Exemplary level
of Understanding
indicated by:
All important research
concepts and strategies
identified & understood.
Some more difficult
aspects explained.
Understanding of the
research process well
developed
Good level of
Understanding indicated
by:
Important research
concepts and strategies
correctly identified
Satisfactory level of
Understanding indicated
by:
Important research
concepts and strategies
usually correctly identified
Basic Understanding
indicated by:
Limited Understanding
indicated by:
Minimal Understanding
indicated by:
Some important
research concepts and
strategies not correctly
identified.
Limited number of
important research
concepts, theories and
strategies identified
Most important research
concepts, and strategies
not identified
Adequate understanding
of their application in the
research process.
Some aspects of their
application in the research
process not fully
understood.
Application in the
research process not
fully understood.
Limited understanding
of the research process
Very limited
understanding of the
research process
INFORMATION
LITERACY:
locate, evaluate,
manage and use
information in order
to support argument
GRAD QUALITY # 2
Weighting: 30%
Higher/Exemplary level
of information literacy
indicated by:
Good level of
information literacy
indicated by:
Supporting Ideas are
indicated by:
Minimal supporting
Ideas indicated by:
Lack of supporting
Ideas indicated by:
Minimal supporting
Ideas indicated by:
As for Credit plus:
Integration of references
within the discussion to
develop a more
analytical argument.
Use of references from
readings and text which
are supportive/juxtaposed
to the ideas discussed
Some use of references
to literature which are
supportive/juxtaposed to
the ideas discussed
Limited use of
references to literature
&/or limited relevant and
accurate supporting
evidence provided
Little or no use of
references to literature
to provide supporting
evidence
ANALYSIS AND
SYNTHESIS:
Well developed/
Exemplary Critical
evaluation Indicated by:
Good Critical evaluation
Indicated by:
Satisfactory Critical
evaluation Indicated by:
Basic Critical evaluation
Indicated by:
Undeveloped critical
evaluation Indicated by:
Inadequate critical
evaluation Indicated by:
As for Pass 1 plus:
Argument/discussion
adequately developed but
sometimes not very clear
or well organised
Adequate summaries of
the paper.
Limited but accurate
summaries of the paper.
Limited &/or inaccurate
summaries of the paper.
Limited critical appraisal.
Identifies major limitations
of the research.
Limited rationale for
critical comments.
Does not identify major
limitations of the
research
Does not identify major
limitations of the
research
No rationale for critical
comments.
No rationale for critical
comments.
GRAD QUALITY # 1
Weighting: 30%
The written wok
demonstrates an
ability to gather,
evaluate and deploy
relevant information
GRAD QUALITY # 3
Weighting: 30%
Application of reading
beyond the obvious.
As for Credit Plus:
Issues and limitations of
the studies beyond the
obvious are identified.
Links between different
ideas and opinions are
made in order to
develop a broader
understanding.
Argument presented in a
clear and usually
thoughtful manner
Implications for nursing
practice identified and
discussed
Provides rationale for
critical comments.
Assessment
area
Graduate quality
being assessed.
&
Weighting
COMMUNICATION:
The written work
demonstrates
written literacy as
appropriate to the
discipline and
professional area.
Distinction/HD
(75 – 84%)/(85-100)
Higher level/exemplary
competency all
parameters H.D: PLUS
exemplary competency
on most parameters
Well developed/
Exemplary Written
Literacy indicated by:
As per Credit and:
Sentences/paragraphs
that demonstrate the
evolution of the critique
Credit
(65 – 74%)
Pass 1
(55 – 64%)
Pass 2
(50 – 54%)
Fail 1
(40 – 49%)
Fail 2
(39 – 0%)
Basic competence all
parameters PLUS
demonstrates higher
level competency on
some parameters
Basic competence all
parameters
Basic competence on
most parameters. Some
requirements for pass
may be reached and
others widely missed.
Insufficient competence
on some parameters
Deficiencies in meeting
Pass requirements
Competence not
demonstrated on most
parameters.
Requirements for Pass
clearly not met
Good Written Literacy
indicated by:
Adequate Written Literacy
indicated by:
Basic Written Literacy
indicated by:
Unsatisfactory Written
Literacy indicated by:
As per Pass 1 and:
Sentences/paragraphs that
are constructed so that
they relate to each other.
Sentences/paragraphs
that do not always relate
to each other
Sentences/paragraphs
that occasionally relate
to each other
Consistent and correct use
of spelling, grammar &/or
punctuation.
Sentences/paragraphs
that inconsistently
progress the argument
and / or ideas related to
the topic.
Sentences/paragraphs
that occasionally
progress the argument
and / or ideas related to
the topic.
Occasionally poor use of
spelling, grammar &/or
punctuation.
Limited and inaccurate
use of spelling,
grammar &/or
punctuation.
Sentences/paragraphs
that demonstrate the
progression of the
critique.
GRAD QUALITY # 6
Correct use of Harvard
conventions throughout
Weighting: 10%
Occasional use of
Harvard conventions.
Limited and inaccurate
use of Harvard
conventions
Poor Written Literacy
indicated by:
Sentences/paragraphs
that rarely relate to each
other
Sentences/paragraphs
that rarely progress the
argument and / or ideas
related to the topic.
Little or no use of
spelling, grammar &/or
punctuation.
Limited or inaccurate
use of Harvard
conventions