This week, you explore the Walden Library and consider the differences between peer-reviewed research evidence and non-peer reviewed evidence. In addition, you continue your examination of effective scholarly writing as you analyze writing in terms of its purpose, audience, bias, and quality of evidence.

Looking Ahead: In Week 5 you will develop a Professional Development Plan in which you consider your professional goals. You are advised to look ahead and begin working on that Assignment during this week.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Evaluate research databases in the Walden Library
• Analyze a peer-reviewed article in terms of its purpose, audience, presence of bias, and quality of evidence

Learning Resources

Required Readings

Academic Integrity

Please review the Academic Integrity area located on the Course Information page, particularly the SafeAssign Student Tutorial.

Cornell University Library. (2010). Distinguishing scholarly journals from other periodicals. Retrieved from http://guides.library.cornell.edu/scholarlyjournals

This online article from the Cornell University Library distinguishes scholarly journals from other periodic literature and provides the general criteria that define an academic journal.

Eaton, S. E. (2010). Reading strategies: Differences between summarizing and synthesizing. Retrieved from http://drsaraheaton.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/reading-strategies-differneces-between-summarizing-and-synthesizing/

The author proposes that critical reading must include using critical thinking to create “new” information and insights from this information.

Walden University. (2012g). Walden University: Scholarly writing. Retrieved from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/312.htm

Another excellent resource provided by the Walden Writing Center, this website defines scholarly writing and explains the characteristics of scholarly writing.

Walden University. (2012h). Walden University webinar archives. Retrieved from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/26.htm

Review the following archived webinar:

Walden University Library Links and Resources

The Walden Library webinars provide relevant information on accessing and evaluating scholarly sources. The information on retrieving evidence-based practice sources is especially pertinent to MSN students.

Introduction to the Walden University Library

Searching and Retrieving Materials in the Research Databases

Identifying and Evaluating Online Resources

The Walden Library and Your Total Information Network

Document: Introduction to Scholarly Writing: Finding a Scholarly Voice (PDF)

What does it mean to write with a scholarly voice? This document reinforces the information presented in the media program and provides information about how to find your scholarly voice.

Document: Introduction to Scholarly Writing: Purpose, Audience, and Evidence (PDF)

Purpose, audience, and evidence are three important topics a scholar-practitioner needs to keep in mind when writing. This document will help to reinforce the information presented in the video program and enrich your understanding of scholarly writing.

Document: Introduction to Scholarly Writing: Tips for Success (PDF)

This document, which accompanies the media program of the same title, provides resources for improving your scholarly writing and critical-thinking skills.

Document: Stages in Critical Reading of Research Articles (Word document)

This chart describes the purpose of, and questions for, six stages of critically reading research articles. Focus on the many activities and questions that make up the critical reading process. Begin to consider the journal articles and books you read in terms of these criteria.

Document: APA Basics Checklist: Citations, Reference List, and Style (PDF)

Using the Walden Library

Where can you find evidence to inform your thoughts and scholarly writing? Throughout your degree program, you will use the research literature to explore ideas, guide your thinking, and gain new insights. As you search the research literature, it is important to use resources that are peer-reviewed and from scholarly journals. You may already have some favorite online resources and databases that you use or have found useful in the past. For this Discussion, you explore databases available through the Walden Library.

To prepare:

• Review the information presented in the Learning Resources for using the Walden Library, searching the databases, and evaluating online resources.
• Begin searching for a peer-reviewed article that pertains to your practice area and is of particular interest to you.
• Identify the database that you used to search for a peer-reviewed article in your area of practice and interest.
• Reflect on your experience with searching the database. Did you note any difficulties when searching for an article? What steps/strategies did you find helpful for locating a peer-reviewed article? Would this database be useful to your colleagues? Would you recommend this database?
• Once you have select your peer-reviewed article, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses in terms of scholarly writing, bias, opinion, quality of evidence, and appropriateness to its target audience.

Write a brief summary of your peer-reviewed article, the database you located your article in, your database searching experience, key words utilized in the search, and analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the article.

Support your Discussion assignment with specific resources used in its preparation using APA formatting. You are asked to provide a reference for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.