Part of the role of being a health care professional is not only being a resource of health information, but communicating that information to those in need. Health care professionals need to be able to find health information from credible sources.
Part I: Research Articles
All research articles follow a very similar pattern when it comes to content. Review the Holman and White article from this week's required resources. To locate the article, click on the "Find Articles & More" link in the top navigation bar of the Ashford University Library. Then, select the "Databases A-Z" link, followed by the letter "P" option. Scroll down to the "PubMed Central" database, and enter the article title in the search bar. You will want to review the full-text, PDF version of this article.
Explain all sections of this article by describing the content and purpose of each section. Comprehensively analyze the content by addressing the following guiding questions which have been adapted from your text:
Were the objectives of the study clearly defined?
Was the research question stated?
Did the introduction provide reasoning for asking the research question?
Are the subjects well described? Was the recruitment of the subjects clearly defined?
Was the design of the study described well?
Was the process of data collection clear? Were the data collection instruments described well?
Was validity and reliability data reported for the data collection instruments?
Did the results address the research question?
Did the conclusions align with the results?
Did the authors suggest practical applications of the findings to a population that is similar to the subject population?
Part II: Evaluating the Accuracy of Non-Research-Based Information
When we obtain information from sources other than research articles, we still need to determine whether it is accurate and valid. Explain the criteria used to evaluate non-research based information by addressing each of the following guiding questions:
Discuss each of the questions developed by Cottrell (1997) that are listed in your course text on page 297.
How does each of these questions enhance your search for credibility?
Are there similarities between these requirements and the writing requirements of your assignments?
What are the seven areas to consider when evaluating information from the Internet?
Evaluate the health information found on the internet by examining the information provided on emotional health from one of the following websites: the Center for Young Women's Health, Young Men's Health, or EmpowHER. Provide an example for each area of evaluation with the information from your selected site. Is the information provided on the website credible? Would you use this information to educate an individual? Explain your answers.
Your assignment must be three to four pages in length (excluding title and reference pages), and should include a minimum of three scholarly sources which are cited according to APA guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. At least one of your sources must be from the Ashford University Library.