F7034 Research and Information Skills Assignment, HAU, Ireland

Module Outcomes Assessed:

1. Analyse the implications of divergent knowledge infrastructures and intellectual frameworks on the interpretation of information.
2. Critically assess the dominant research ideas and frameworks in their specific discipline or professional area and consider the implications for their future development.
3. Evaluate the trustworthiness, validity and reliability of published works associated with their discipline.
4. Synthesise a coherent argument on a topic of significance to their discipline.
5. Critically examine and assess personal development and peer feedback for the benefit of self-discovery, learning and self-improvement.

Task Outline

Part 1 of this assessment requires you to develop an argument (narrative) on a topic of your choosing (within your field of study), based on a critical review of two academic papers of your choice (core papers to your narrative).

Part 2 of the assessment requires you to reflect on your learning (and any peer/tutor feedback) and your choice of literature in developing your subject specific narrative in this essay.

1). Critical review

The argument must allow you to critically review the two papers and present your findings in an essay, which develops your chosen narrative as a central argument/theme.  In your review you are asked to focus on:

1. The similarities and differences in the research questions of each of the papers, in terms of the research question, the philosophical position and the method of research undertaken
2. The appropriateness of the research question given the nature of the literature upon which the research draws.
3. The appropriateness of the research method chosen.
4. The validity of methods of data selection, collection and analysis (including validity of statistical tests).
5. The appropriateness of the conclusions drawn based on the evidence presented.

Importantly, your critique must draw on other literature (in particular, the other manuscript you have chosen) to support a counter argument that you make.

2). Self-critique and Professional Development

The self-critique allows you to reflect on your skills development during the process of conducting this essay. You should reflect on how you identified the studies, how you used Generative AI technology in your research process (if you used it), and the critical thinking and research skills developed during this process and areas to be improved. You should also consider the appropriateness of your own choice of literature for the development of your essay and the value of this literature to your argument (please note that this refers not only to the second article chosen by you but to all other references chosen to construct your argument).

You must also include a reflection and critical evaluation of how the module, assignment task and any peer and interim feedback has benefitted your professional practice (and how learning will feed forward into your future study/work) and has been used to develop your essay ideas and argument further. Make sure to consider the benefits of your professional development to your current/future employer and/or your clients/patients through changes in your approach to interactions with them following this module learning.