Help with written research assignment

[starstruck1806]

Hiya, I am new to this place and have a question re an assignment I have to write ( hope this is not too long )

I have to write my first ever research critique/ literature review ( for my BSc degree) I have done all the prelim work, read the articles, made a table in Excel etc... We had to pick six peer rev'd articles, six qual and six quant and have to write a critical synthesis (3000 wrds) - but not critiquing the content, only the research.

The remit of the paper is : pick six articles, look for emerging themes (two to three) and use these themes as headings . (i.e. for arguments sake: Title: Pain assessment tools. Theme 1) nurses' knowledge of pain assessment tools is poor. theme 2: nurses attitudes prevent them from using the tool )

Under these headings group your research articles ( ie, 3 quant and 1 qual under one theme and 2 qual under the second theme) and compare and contrast, evaluate, synthesize. Use subheadings such as : Sampling ( ie convenience sampling versus purposive sampling), Data collection (ie questionnaires versus interviews), Data analysis ( descriptive, inferential etc)

So far so clear, but what I don't understand and don't know how to do is : how to actually write the stuff??

For example (names and studies are fictitious,!I don't want anyone to do my work, just nudge/shove me in the right direction!): Under sampling, do I just start off saying... Murphy et al used a convenience sample of 68 nurses from such and such a background of which 47 completed the survey, Kessler et al decided to sample 150 nurses from a general surgical hospital who were invited via letters by their managers and of the 120 nurses who agreed, 87 completed the study. Martin and Sutter 's participants were nurses chosen by the researchers during a seminar. From 300 chosen only 109 completed the study. Murphy et al mention inclusion criteria which justify the small sample size; they also acknowledge the possible limitations.

A non probability convenience sample is a common method of sampling but necessitates cautious interpretation with regard to generalizability. (Polit and Beck, 2007) However, non probability sampling strategy is suitable given the descriptive nature of the design of all three studies.

Am I on the right track??? I don't know what is wrong that I don't know how to write this!!! Can someone help me please??? Thanks in advance (all of the research books give only critique of ONE article... I was told that is not the way to approach it.)

hope this is not too long, thanks in advance from mad nurse in Ireland

starstruck:typing

[loricatus]

it sounds like you are on the right track with your approach. the only thing i would add is to explain your rationale in a way that will show your instructor that you understand the basis of the topic:

" non probability convenience sample is a common method of sampling but necessitates cautious interpretation with regard to generalizability. why? polit and beck, 2007) however, non probability sampling strategy is suitable because?iven the descriptive nature of the design of all three studies."