Research and Respiratory Care

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Discuss essential components of the research process.
2. Differentiate application of selected research designs.
3. Discuss the ethical and legal aspects of research.
4. Critique selected research projects.
5.  Demonstrate ability to apply research findings to clinical practice issues.

Unit Assignments:

Unit assignments will be used to aid in student learning. Assignments are located under the assignments tab.  They are designed to guide the student through the research process. Conscientious completion of the activities can be an excellent way to prepare for your final paper. I expect the questioned to be answered fully.  One word answers such as yes or no are not acceptable.  When the assignment is completed, you may submit it for grading.  It must be submitted by the given due date.

Quizzes:

There will be a quiz at the end of each unit. Students are expected to analyze and apply their research knowledge during these quizzes.  Quizzes are located under assessments.  You may use learning resources to help you with the quizzes, however the quizzes are timed.

Class Journals:

The intent of the weekly journal is for you to post your critical comments, assessments, insights or questions on the readings for the week. You may choose to comment on one of the readings, a chapter, or article, or on several. We all will have read the content so this is not a re-statement of the content. What did you learn? How can you apply the information to clinical practice? What do you disagree with and why? You may also post an article you find interesting related to the readings for the week.  Include a summary of the article you are posting. Journals should be at least 500 words. Each student should login and read journals and comment on other postings. Post your journals under Discussion/Journal. Your journal should be posted by midnight each Sunday

Final Paper:

Select a topic of interest to you within (Respiratory Care). The paper should be approximately 6-8 pages (excluding cover sheet and reference page). Include these three aspects of the topic:

• What is known and reported in the literature and research about your topic?
• Given what the literature and research say about your topic, what conclusions can you draw?
• Given these conclusions, what are the implications for the future of respiratory care and clinical practice?

Topics examples (meant only as suggestions)

1. Ventilator associated pneumonia prevention
2. Respiratory Care students attitudes and behaviors towards smoking
3. Interdisciplinary team work. Does it improve patient care?
4. Which asthma drugs work in exercise-induced asthma
5. Optimum peep levels, lung recruitment maneuvers

The final paper will be evaluated in four ways: 

• Adherence to APA format
• Content
• Mechanical and grammatical errors
• Accordance with the research processes and mechanics discussed in the book and within the course. 

Specifics for the paper include:

1. A title page in APA format
2. A reference page(s) listing all sources cited in the paper (minimum number of cited references:  eight (8)
3. A minimum length of six double-spaced typed pages in addition to the cover sheet and reference page(s)
4. Sources used dating no earlier than five (5) years from the current year
5. Adherence to correct research documentation standards:
6. No use of first person by author (“This writer/This researcher”)
7. Cite within the text
8. No statements by the author not substantiated by research. 
9. Credit for text derived from existing research must be credited to the appropriate reference
10. Construct the paper as an integrated product of all existing research.  Summaries of individual referenced articles, one after another, will result in a poor, unprofessional proposal.
11. Produce a paper that identifies a problem or question; incorporates, interweaves, and credits existing literature review research
12. ONLY USE REFEREED, PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS AS PRIMARY REFERENCES
13. ALL TOPICS MUST BE APPROVED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. ALSO, ANY CHANGES IN PROPOSED TOPICS MUST BE APPROVED BY INSTRUCTOR. 

APA format must be followed:  type font no larger than 12 point, standard left and right, and top and bottom margins, and the following sections:  Introduction, Literature Review, and Methodology.

I have divided this class into 4 units. Each unit will have a power-point lecture, reading assignments from the text and supplemental articles, and quizzes.  Much of the work can be done at your own pace, however, be aware of the due dates for assignments and quizzes. All assignments and quizzes are due by Sunday at midnight central time zone! Any late assignments will be counted off by 15% for each day late. 

American Disabilities Act (ADA)

Midwestern State University (MSU) does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s disability and complies with Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act in its admission, accessibility and employment of individuals in programs and activities.

MSU provide academic accommodations and auxiliary aids to individuals with disabilities, as defined by law, who are otherwise qualified to meet academic and employment requirements. For assistance call (940) 397-4618 or 397-4515.

Please see the instructor outside of class to make any arrangements involving special accommodations.

It is the student’s responsibility to declare any disabilities. After declaration, preferably at the beginning of each semester, the student needs to contact individual instructors to determine any reasonable accommodations that may be required