Please download the Unit 4 Assignment Worksheet (below) to your computer. Navigate to the Herzing University Library. Follow the directions and answer the questions on the worksheet.

Unit 4 assessment – exploring databases and creating a research

Exploring Databases and Creating a Research Strategy

Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to familiarize the student with different databases that can be used to find relevant research articles, and to develop a research strategy to efficiently and effectively search for articles related to a specific topic.

Instructions:

1. Select a topic related to your field of study or a current issue in your field.
2. Choose three different databases that are relevant to your field of study (e.g. PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, etc.).
3. Conduct a search in each database using keywords related to your topic.
4. Evaluate the search results and select three articles from each database that are relevant to your topic.
5. Write a brief summary of each article, highlighting the key findings and how they relate to your topic.
6. Develop a research strategy outlining the steps you took to search for articles, including the keywords used, the databases searched, and any filters or limits applied.

Evaluation Criteria: The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

1. Selection of Databases: The student should choose three different databases that are relevant to their field of study and explain why they were chosen.
2. Search Strategy: The student should develop a clear and concise research strategy outlining the steps taken to search for articles, including the keywords used, the databases searched, and any filters or limits applied.
3. Article Summary: The student should write a brief summary of each article, highlighting the key findings and how they relate to their topic.
4. Relevance of Articles: The student should select three articles from each database that are relevant to their topic and explain why they were chosen.
5. APA Formatting: The assignment should be formatted according to APA guidelines, including in-text citations and a reference list.

Scoring: The evaluation will be scored using a rubric that assesses each of the criteria listed above. The rubric will use a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the highest score.

0 – Criteria not met 1 – Criteria partially met 2 – Criteria met at a basic level 3 – Criteria met at a good level 4 – Criteria met at a very good level 5 – Criteria met at an excellent level

The total score will be out of 25 points (5 criteria x 5 points each). The evaluation will provide feedback on areas of strength and weakness, and identify opportunities for improvement in searching for and evaluating research articles.