NURS761/2602 Assessment 1 Brief

You will complete both parts of this assessment by selecting one New Zealand relevant nursing question and (A) writing a focused literature review (approx. 500 words) that demonstrates your ability to locate quality evidence, critically appraise it, synthesise it into a coherent argument, and evaluate ethical considerations shaping rangahau and research in Aotearoa (this is not an annotated bibliography or a collection of quotes), then (B) using that literature review as the foundation to write a research methods essay (approx. 1000 words) that critiques qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods options for your question and justifies a research design that fits the question, context, and realities of nursing practice in Aotearoa (you are not writing an ethics application and you are not redoing the literature review), and both Part A and Part B must be attempted.

Learning Outcomes

• LO1 Critique rangahau, qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research methodologies for nursing practice.
• LO2 Critically appraise relevant research literature and evaluate ethical considerations pertaining to rangahau and research

Assessment Details

Part A (500 words)

What you are doing and why

You will write a focused literature review (approx. 500 words) on one New Zealand relevant nursing question. Your job is to show you can find good evidence, critically appraise it, combine into a coherent argument, and evaluate the ethical considerations that shape rangahau and research in Aotearoa. The literature review is not an annotated bibliography, and it is not a copy and paste parade of quotes. Then, using this literature review, you will write a research methods essay (approx. 1000 words) that critiques qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches for your chosen nursing question. You are not being asked to write an ethics application here. You are being asked to think like a researcher and justify a design that fits the question, context, and reality of nursing practice in Aotearoa. Both Parts A and B must be attempted. Choose one question

1. How does nurse led triage in NZ emergency departments affect waiting time equity for Māori and Pacific peoples, and what outcomes should services measure?
2. Which nursing interventions best support medication safety and adherence for older adults in community nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand?
3. What are the impacts of nurse led chronic disease education (diabetes or COPD) in primary care on avoidable hospital admissions in NZ?
4. How do staffing ratios and skill mix on NZ medical wards relate to missed care and patient harm, and what nursing measures are most effective at mitigating harm?
5. How does digital health or telehealth nursing in NZ influence access for rural communities, and what barriers and facilitators should nursing leaders consider, address, and or implement?
6. How do culturally safe communication strategies (plain language, teach-back) influence patient health literacy and complaints in NZ nursing contexts?
7. Compare myocardial infarction diagnosis and mortality statistics by gender. What are some of the causes for disparity in care between genders and what interventions have been implemented to address this in Aotearoa?

Task instructions (what to include)

For the literature review:

• A clear introduction that states your chosen question and why it matters in NZ nursing practice.
• A brief search strategy summary: databases used, key terms, limits (for example last 10 years), and inclusion or exclusion criteria.
• Critical appraisal of the key literature: comment on quality, limitations, and relevance to the NZ context (this does not have to be every source just your key ones, Academic, popular and scholarly).
• Synthesis: group findings into themes or patterns and build an argument, not a list. For instance, consider what these themes and patterns suggest for possible future research, or do they already provide a full picture of your identified problem.
• Ethical considerations for rangahau and research in Aotearoa: include culturally responsive practice, Te Tiriti obligations, and relevant ethics principles such as informed consent, privacy, power, and data stewardship.
• A conclusion that answers: what does the evidence suggest, what is uncertain, and what should nursing practice or future research do next?

Leading on from your conclusion of where future research could lead, focus your essay on one of the following:

• Critique a qualitative approach: proposed design (for example kaupapa Māori, phenomenology, grounded theory), sampling, data collection, and what type of knowledge it produces for nursing practice.
• Critique a quantitative approach: proposed design (for example cross-sectional, cohort, RCT, audit), sampling, measurement, and what it can and cannot claim.
• Critique a mixed methods approach: proposed design (for example explanatory sequential), how integration would occur, and why it might add value.
• Then choose the single best approach for your question and defend it with tight reasoning, using evidence from the research-methods literature.
• Include a brief feasibility section: where in NZ the study could occur, who would be recruited, what data you would realistically obtain, and key risks to validity or trustworthiness.

Minimum evidence expectations

• Use at least 10 sources, with a minimum of 6 peer reviewed research articles and two popular sources.
• At least 3 sources should be clearly relevant to Aotearoa New Zealand or comparable settings (state why comparable if not NZ).
• Use high-quality sources (guidelines, systematic reviews, primary research) and show you can tell the difference between strong evidence and noise.
• You may choose to use any of the high-quality sources you found in your literature review to support your discussion of different forms of research.

Part B: Research Essay (1000 words)

• Word count: 1000 words (plus or minus 10%, excluding reference list)

What you are doing and why

You will write a research methods essay that critiques qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods options for your chosen nursing question. You are not being asked to write an ethics application here and you are not being asked to redo your literature review. You are being asked to think like a researcher and justify a design that fits the question, context, and reality of nursing practice in Aotearoa.

Task instructions (what to include)

• Restate your chosen research question and define the key variables or concepts.
• Critique a qualitative approach: proposed design (for example kaupapa Māori, phenomenology, grounded theory), sampling, data collection, and what type of knowledge it produces for nursing practice.
• Critique a quantitative approach: proposed design (for example cross-sectional, cohort, RCT, audit), sampling, measurement, and what it can and cannot claim.
• Critique a mixed methods approach: proposed design (for example explanatory sequential), how integration would occur, and why it might add value.
• Choose the single best approach for your question and defend it with tight reasoning, using evidence from the research methods literature.
• Brief feasibility section: where in NZ the study could occur, who would be recruited, what data you would realistically obtain, and key risks to validity or trustworthiness.

Minimum evidence expectations

• Use at least 8 scholarly sources, including at least 4 research methods sources (texts or peerreviewed methods papers).
• You may reuse up to 3 high-value sources from your Literature Review, but the argument must be new and methods-focused.
• Avoid generic method descriptions. Show judgement and specificity.

Submission requirements (all assessments)

• Submit as a Word document with a title page including your name, student ID, word count, and chosen question number.
• Use APA 7th referencing. Use headings to make your structure visible.
• Keep within the word count. Over by more than 10% will be penalised according to course policy.
• You are responsible for what you submit. If you upload the wrong file, that is still the file we can mark.

Academic integrity applies follow course rules and cite or acknowledge as required by your programme policy.