- What should be included in an introductory paragraph of the research paper?
- Select an introduction from scholarly, peer-reviewed research, and appraise the introduction to assess whether it includes the necessary elements of an introduction. Why and why not?
- How does PICOT help form a clinical question? Use Box 2.2 in your textbook to discuss population, intervention, comparison intervention, and outcome and how this process helps the student arrive at a quality clinical question.
- An introductory paragraph of a research paper should provide an overview of the topic and context, state the research problem or question, briefly outline the objectives or aims of the study, and provide a rationale for the importance or significance of the research. It may also include a brief summary of the methodology or approach used in the study.
- As an AI text-based model, I don’t have direct access to specific external sources such as scholarly research articles. However, I can guide you on how to appraise an introduction in a scholarly, peer-reviewed research paper. When assessing an introduction, consider the following elements:
a) Background information: Does the introduction provide relevant background information about the topic? This could include the current state of knowledge, previous research findings, or gaps in the existing literature.
b) Research problem or question: Is the research problem clearly stated or the research question explicitly posed? This helps to establish the purpose and focus of the study.
c) Objectives or aims: Are the objectives or aims of the study clearly defined? These should outline the specific goals the researchers aim to achieve through their research.
d) Rationale and significance: Does the introduction provide a clear rationale for why the research is important and significant? This helps to explain why the study is relevant and adds value to the field.
e) Methodology overview: Does the introduction give a brief overview of the methodology or approach used in the study? This can help readers understand the research design and methods employed.
Remember, the specific requirements for an introduction may vary depending on the discipline and journal guidelines. It’s essential to consult the specific guidelines or requirements provided by the target journal for the research paper you’re assessing.
- The PICOT framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Time) is a helpful tool in formulating clinical questions. It provides a structured approach to define the key components of a research question in a clinical context.
Using Box 2.2 in your textbook, let’s break down the elements of PICOT:
a) Population: This refers to the specific group of individuals or patients you are interested in studying. It defines the characteristics of the population, such as age, gender, medical condition, or any other relevant factors.
b) Intervention: This component describes the intervention or treatment you want to investigate. It could be a medication, therapy, surgical procedure, or any other intervention relevant to the clinical question.
c) Comparison intervention: The comparison intervention is the alternative or standard treatment you want to compare with the intervention mentioned above. It helps in evaluating the effectiveness or superiority of the new intervention compared to the existing one.
d) Outcome: The outcome is the result or effect you want to measure or observe. It can be a specific clinical outcome, such as mortality, disease progression, symptom improvement, or any other relevant outcome measure.
By defining each of these components, the PICOT framework helps students clarify their research question and develop a focused and answerable clinical question. For example:
In adult patients with hypertension (Population), does exercise (Intervention) compared to medication therapy alone (Comparison) lead to greater reduction in blood pressure (Outcome) over a period of six months (Time)?
By using the PICOT framework, students can refine their clinical questions and ensure they address a specific patient population, intervention, comparison, and outcome of interest, leading to a more precise and quality-focused research question.