Concept Analysis Assignment
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to provide you an opportunity to (a) analyze a concept using the Walker and Avant method of concept analysis, (b) conduct and document a systematic, computerized literature search, (c) organize, analyze (break it down), and synthesize (put it together in a new way) literature; and (d) write a scholarly paper following APA (6th ed.) style.
Directions:
Pick a concept of interest to you based on your experience, clinical practice, and/or service learning experiences.
Search the literature in 4 LIBRARY DATABASES to find 10 PRIMARY SOURCES related to your concept. Choose articles that help you to gain a sense of what your concept means. In addition to the databases, include other resources like a dictionary or related professional websites in your literature search.
Develop inclusion criteria for the articles in your analysis (e.g., Only articles that meet the following criteria are included in the analysis (a) English language, (b) published in the last 5 years, (c) United States (d) related to [insert concept] – this is where you may limit to a population or disease or setting that is of interest to you if you want and if there is enough literature in your specific area of interest)
You must search CINAHL, PubMed/Medline, and Academic Search Complete as three of your databases. For your fourth database, you may pick any other library database that is relevant to search based on your concept of interest (e.g., PsycInfo if your concept was depression in chronic illness).
At least 5 articles must be reports of original research
At least 2 articles must be from the nursing literature
At least 2 articles must be from outside the nursing literature
Document your search strategy using the “Literature Search Documentation Logs” provided – (I have left an example of how to use the logs in the attachment that you can delete when you document your search)
Read each of your 10 articles critically and organize each RESEARCH article’s content into the literature matrix provided to assist you with critically reading and analyzing the literature for your paper
Analyze your concept using the concept analysis method by Walker and Avant (2011) (Chapter 10)
Write a scholarly paper reporting your concept analysis, in the form of a manuscript for publication in a journal using APA (6th ed.) manuscript formatting guidelines.
Format: Your paper must adhere to APA (6th ed.) format and style and be 8-10 pages of text maximum (excluding title, abstract, and reference pages).
Grading:
I. INTRODUCTION (10 points)
Introduces the concept (from the literature)
Establishes the need for the concept analysis (w/evidence or a gap in the literature)
States the significance of the concept analysis (why is it important to do a concept analysis)
States the purpose of the paper (concept analysis of your concept)
Clearly identifies the method for concept analysis and briefly describes it (Walker and Avant)
Concludes with a preview of the sections of the paper (i.e., lit review, analysis, relevancy/next steps)
II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE (15 points)
Describes the literature search strategy (reflects the literature search documentation logs; described in enough detail for the reader to be able to replicate the search)
Databases searched
Key terms and subject headings used
Number of citations found
How narrowed it down to pick which articles were included in the analysis (inclusion criteria)
Final number of articles included in the analysis
Reports a synthesis of the literature (reflects the literature matrix)
Includes several disciplines including, but not limited to, nursing
Logical organization of synthesized literature (i.e., this is NOT a summary of each article. It is the integration of your findings in the literature organized in such a way that you provide the reader with an understanding of what is known about your concept of interest.)
Includes definitions, if known, of the concept
Includes research related to the concept
Includes theoretical works or other scholarly writing related to the concept
Includes examples from the arts and literature that exemplify the concept
References primary sources when possible
III. CONCEPT ANALYSIS (40 points)
Describes the analysis of the concept following the Walker and Avant method
Defining attributes
Identifies specifically the attributes emergent from the review of literature
Supported the selection of attributes (characteristics of the concept) with examples from the literature
Model Case
Describes an instance of the concept
Referenced, if taken from source other than student experience or imagination
Describes specific attributes in case (embed defining attributes into model case where attributes occur)
Antecedents and Consequences
Identifies circumstances, factors, and forces necessary for instance of concept to occur
Identifies circumstances, factors, and forces present when an instance of the concept occurs
Identifies consequences of the concept occurring
Supports ideas about antecedents and consequences with examples from the literature, if appropriate
Empirical Referents
Identifies ways that the concept can be measured or understood empirically
Includes both quantitative and qualitative methods/referents
Specifies and references instruments or tools used to measure the concept
IV. RELEVANCY OF THE CONCEPT ANALYSIS (10 points)
Discuss how the concept analysis findings are relevant to nursing
Includes recommendations for how to use and build on the concept analysis findings in future nursing practice and research
Includes recommendations for how to use and build on the concept analysis findings in nursing education and administration, if relevant
Briefly discuss how the concept analysis findings are relevant outside of nursing
Includes recommendations for use in community service
Includes recommendations for use in other areas, if relevant
V. PEER REVIEW (10 points)
Provided drafts by specified due dates for peer, instructor, and writing center review
Gave peer thoughtful, adequate, and timely feedback on their paper
Used feedback from peer, instructor, and writing center to revise paper
VI. WRITING QUALITY (15 points)
Demonstrated clarity
Demonstrated logical flow
Demonstrated ability to understand and use conventions of language with regard to spelling, grammar, and writing mechanics
Demonstrated ability to synthesize own ideas and source materials
Used appropriate section headings
Stayed within paper guidelines (e.g., paper length)
Demonstrated consistent use of APA (6th ed.) style
Referenced variety of peer-reviewed scholarly journals as well as other relevant and trustworthy sources like books, professional websites, arts, etc.
Tips and Tools for Scholarly Writing:
LIBRARY RESOURCES (required to use library databases and recommended to use a citation manager for your concept analysis paper)
DePaul Library
Getting Started: HYPERLINK “http://library.depaul.edu/services/resources-for/current-students/Pages/default.aspx” http://library.depaul.edu/services/resources-for/current-students/Pages/default.aspx
Nursing and Medicine Research Guide: HYPERLINK “http://libguides.depaul.edu/nursingandmedicine”http://libguides.depaul.edu/nursingandmedicine
RFU Library: HYPERLINK “http://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/library.aspx”http://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/library.aspx
Citation/Reference Managers (only need one – highly recommended)
EndNote: HYPERLINK “http://offices.depaul.edu/is/services/technology-training/topics/Pages/endnote.aspx”http://offices.depaul.edu/is/services/technology-training/topics/Pages/endnote.aspx
RefWorks: accessed from RFU library page
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