HSCI 701 Theories and Methods of Health Science Research

Writing is the cornerstone of a doctoral program. Here, the student will practice this foundational skill with an eye on his/her dissertation. The dissertation process for the doctoral student is often something misunderstood at the beginning of his/her course of study. Here, the student will explore successful dissertations and begin readying for this process.

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

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Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Course Overview.

Discussion: Meet Your Classmates

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete one introductory Discussion to get to know his/her peers. For this Discussion, the student will post one thread of at least 200 words. The student must then post 2 replies of at least 100 words. For the thread, the student must create a Professional Bio as his/her original post. At the end of the post, include 2-3 sentences about your goals for learning in this class. A Biblical Perspectives section must be included in his/her initial discussion thread fully integrating Biblical concepts that align with the topic and content. No references are required for this discussion.

Discussion: The Importance of Scholarly Writing: Academic and Professional Literature

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will complete one traditional Discussion in this course. The student will post one thread of at least 300 words. The student must then post 2 replies of at least 200 words. For this thread, the student must support his/her assertions in his/her original post with at least 3 scholarly sources cited in current APA format. A Biblical Perspectives section must be included in his/her initial discussion thread fully integrating Biblical concepts that align with the topic and content. Each reply must incorporate at least 2 scholarly sources in current APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include course materials, relevant outside sources, the textbook, and the Bible. Discussions in this class will be more formal than most discussions since this is a writing course, and the student will still be graded on writing style, mechanics, organization, APA format for source citations, and clarity. (CLO: B, C, D, E; PLO: 1, 2, 3)

Annotated Bibliography Assignments (2)

Annotated Bibliography: Quantitative Research Assignment

For this assignment, the student will investigate 5 scholarly, peer-reviewed, and current research articles (published within the last five years) that report on quantitative research studies. The student will annotate these sources in 150 words (1-2 paragraphs) per article and provide the full current APA-formatted references of each source as his/her APA headings. The student will include an introduction, the 5 annotated sources, a biblical perspectives section, and a conclusion. The student must follow the template document provided within the assignment for the purposes of formatting the paper.

Annotated Bibliography: Qualitative Research Assignment

For this assignment, the student will investigate 5 scholarly, peer-reviewed, and current research articles (published within the last five years) that report on qualitative research studies. The student will annotate these sources in 150 words (1-2 paragraphs) per article and provide the full current APA-formatted references of each source as his/her APA headings. The student will include an introduction, the 5 annotated sources, a biblical perspectives section, and a conclusion. The student must follow the template document provided within the assignment for the purposes of formatting the paper. The paper and sources should conform to current APA format.

Dissertation Review Assignments (2)

Dissertation Review: Quantitative Resources Assignment

The student will select a health sciences quantitative dissertation from the list provided in the assignment resources section in Canvas. The student can select a dissertation, if desired, that covers a topic that relates to the interests of the student’s future dissertation research. For this dissertation review, the student will review the selected dissertation, craft the Research Question (PhD students) or PICO(T) Clinical Question (DHSc students) being addressed by the dissertation, and answer 10 questions. The student will engage with the concepts of theoretical frameworks, study design, population or focus, methods, results, strengths, weaknesses, future directions for investigation of the topic. After answering these questions, the student will write a biblical perspectives section just before his/her conclusion that explains how scripture relates to the chosen topic under investigation. You must use the assignment format found in the template document. The dissertation review must adhere to current APA format. 

Dissertation Review: Qualitative Resources Assignment

The student will select a health sciences qualitative dissertation in the assignment resources section in Canvas. The student can select a dissertation, if desired, that covers a topic that relates to the interests of the student’s future dissertation research. For this dissertation review, the student will review the selected dissertation, craft the Research Question (PhD students) or PICO(T) Clinical Question (DHSc students) being addressed by the dissertation, and answer 10 questions. The student will engage with the concepts of theoretical frameworks, study design, population or focus, methods, results, strengths, weaknesses, future directions for investigation of the topic. After answering these questions, the student will write a biblical perspectives section just before his/her conclusion that explains how scripture relates to the chosen topic under investigation. You must use the assignment format found in the template document. The dissertation review must adhere to current APA format. (CLO: B, C, D, E; PLO: 1, 2, 3)

Literature Review and Grading Research Quality Assignment

The student will write a 3—4-page paper on one selected grading scale that is used for grading literature quality. The student will select one (1) scale for grading literature quality from the Explore items found within the module in which this assignment appears (GRADE, CRAP, or CEBM). The student will discuss methods for grading literature quality when conducting a  literature review using one of the scales by answering the provided questions. In addition to the body of the paper, it must include an introduction, a biblical perspectives section, and a conclusion. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include course materials, relevant outside sources, and the course textbooks. The Bible must also be cited in the biblical perspectives section. The student must follow the provided template document for the purposes of formatting your paper. The paper must include a minimum of 3 scholarly sources and adhere to current APA format.

Dissertation Annotation Assignment

The student will select one (1) dissertation from the field of health sciences from the list in the resources section on the assignment page in Canvas. The student will annotate 5 of the references provided on the dissertation reference page that support the selected dissertation. Each annotation must be at least 150 words (and 1-2 paragraphs) in length. The student will include an introduction, the 5 annotated sources, a biblical perspectives section, and a conclusion. The student must follow the template document provided within the assignment for the purposes of formatting the paper. (CLO: B, C, D, E; PLO: 1, 2, 3)

Publication Draft and Mini-Literature Review Assignment

The student will create an article he/she would like to use as an eventual draft for a potential future publication manuscript. This assignment highlights the 5 new research articles as the student strengthens this writing submission to build it toward a publication-worthy submission. In addition to writing and submitting this assignment, the student will need also to submit the author guidelines for the selected potential peer-reviewed journal that he/she thinks would be interested in a paper like his/hers. The proposed assignment draft must meet the assignment instructions, current APA format and style, and the included template document. Using a PICO(T) (DHSc) or Research Question (Ph.D.) the student has created and 5 newly located peer-reviewed sources (either quantitative or qualitative), write a formal paper with a mini-literature review. The student must include an introduction, a section discussing the PICO(T) or clinical question under investigation, a literature search strategies section, the literature review, a recommendations section, a biblical perspectives section, a conclusion, and a references page. (CLO: A, B; PLO: 2)

Quizzes (8)

The student will complete a quiz on APA readings and writing mechanics each week. Each quiz will have several citations and examples of some of the basics of scholarly writing mechanics and the student will be expected to identify the correctly formatted citations and correctly formatted writing mechanics examples from among a list of options. Topics will include: proper headings and subheadings, proper paraphrasing examples, direct quote citation format with examples, title case examples, paragraph content and structure examples, run on sentence examples, appropriateness of argumentation examples, and bibliographical citation examples. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 10 multiple choice and true/false questions, and have a 30-minute time limit. Each quiz will cover Learn material from the assigned module: week, and each will allow for one attempt. (CLO: B)