CLR

Assessment type;

Review

Word limit/length;

· An overall max total of 4000 words – This includes the critical review [ ~ 3000 words-see assessment details for breakdown below] and also the revised Method section from assignment 2 [up to 750 words].

· The word count also includes in-text references but not the reference list.You must clearly indicate a word count (excluding the reference list) at the start or end of the paper.

Please convert ALL the method and result diagrams/figures and tables used into images so that they are not included in the word count.

Minimum of 30 references

Overview

Produce a robust, reproducible, comprehensive critique of the literature relevant to your discipline and research interest.

Learning Outcomes

This assessment task is aligned with the following learning outcomes:

1. Analyze, refine and manage results of a systematic literature search

2. Provide an evidence-based rationale for further research or practice change

You aim to produce a robust, reproducible, comprehensive critique of the literature in an appropriate format that includes a discussion justifying future research and/or practice change. A structure for the assignment is provided below. An approximate word count per section is provided but there can be variations.

Title: 20 words

· Provide a succinct, clear, and informative title for your critical review.

Introduction: 750 words – please adopt the information from assignments 1 & 2 as applicable.

· What we already know about the topic - Include your problem statement and background to clarify what is already known on your topic and to define relevant key terms/theories.

· What we do not know about the topic - Give a justification for conducting the review specifying what this review will add to the existing literature. Consider: How? Why? What could happen if this review is not done? Outline who will benefit (e.g., consumers, carers, professionals, policymakers, and community and society as a whole).

· Your research question needs to be included at the end of the introduction.

Method: 750 words – please adopt from assignment 2

· You should incorporate your revised Assignment 2 (the Method section) into this critical literature review. You will have used the feedback provided to make any necessary changes to the method. NO rephrasing is required. It is Ok if the research question is repeated here.

Results: up to 900 words

· Descriptive findings - Present a summary of the final included studies in an integrated way including descriptive findings such as the number of final included studies; countries/settings the studies were conducted; population numbers and their characteristics; study designs.

· Advanced synthesis - Provide critical/advanced synthesis of the information (e.g. different interventions being used in the studies, comparisons between them, different themes, and key issues emerging).

· Data extracted table - Include results table (see Table 2 template Week 4, Page 2). The table of data extraction can vary based on the type of reviews, but generally, it can include a) name of the authors/year of publication or citation; b) the aim of the study; c) method (e.g., research design, sample size, participants, and method of data collection); d) findings; e) limitations. Please do not critically interpret any of the studies in this section (save for Discussion).

Discussion: up to 900 words

· Provide critical interpretation of the key findings while referring to the studies in the results table/s (e.g., Table 2) but do not introduce new results in this section (revise the Results section if you become aware of new results). Identify current issues, concerns, viewpoints, and arguments. Link to the content of the introduction while avoiding repetition; discuss the extent of current knowledge on the topic by referring to background citations.

· Comment on the strengths and weaknesses of your methods, the included study designs, and your key findings.

· Discuss implications for future research and practice change, and justify your recommendations (e.g. possible study designs or strategies to implement).

Conclusion and recommendations: 400

· Summarise the main findings or the highlights of the review, as well as recommendation/s (for individuals, policy, and practice, as applicable). Only include information already presented and discussed in the review; this is a summary in your own words so no in-text citations are required and you should not introduce any new material or ideas (if you think of anything new, go back and add it to the finding section).

References

· Support statements correctly with in-text citations and appropriate referencing. Apply the APA 7th edition style correctly throughout, including a correctly formatted References section.

Please note that in-text citations are included in the word count but reference list citations are not. Please indicate the total word count without the reference list clearly at either the start or end of the paper.

Reason: Reviews necessarily include many papers and therefore many required citations in the reference list. This would eat up too many of your words allocated so just for this assignment the reference list is not included in the word count.

Presentation

· The tone should be directed toward an intelligent, non-expert audience. Avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism by allowing time to check the similarity report on Turnitin and revising, and re-submitting before the due date. Use APA 7th style. Follow conventions for labeling tables (above the table) and graphics (centered above). Write all numbers less than ten in words and never start a sentence with a numeric symbol. For example, “Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria for this literature review. Three of the 11 retrospective studies used a control group.”

· A reminder to to convert your figures and tables into images so that they are not included in the word count. Please follow the below steps to do so: