Assignment 1 invites you to conduct an analysis of a
problematic professional discourse in clinical practice or a health
issue that results in inequity or harm. This assignment will be a
maximum of 10 pages in length, excluding the title page, abstract and
references.
Choose a health-related topic relevant to your practice
setting or community. If you are unsure if your topic is appropriate for
the assignment, discuss with your course instructor in the Assignment
Discussion Forum
Locate 8-10 scholarly research articles that will inform
your analysis of your chosen discourse. Be sure that your references are
peer reviewed research articles rather than opinion/editorial, or review articles (e.g., systematic, literature, discussion).
Next, analyze these articles to show how the assumptions
of the empirical, constructivist and critical paradigms influence the
knowledge that was produced. For example, the assumptions of the
paradigms may influence research questions, research methods, data
analysis, and conclusions. In this way, the paradigms influence what is
known and what can be known from the research studies/articles. Your
analysis will demonstrate your understanding of how the assumptions of
the paradigms influence knowledge production and then how this knowledge
shapes power and culture.
One way to start writing
this section is to create a table where you will identify the dominant
paradigm(s) in each of your chosen papers to ensure that you have at
least two of the paradigms included and then group them together for
your analysis of their impact on the knowledge generated.
Article title
Description of methods used
Empirical
Constructivist
Critical Theory
Other notes
This study used surveys of dialysis healthcare professionals
The
paradigm that represents this method is the constructivist paradigm.
Surveys were administered to healthcare professionals in the USA to
assess their knowledge, perceptions and beliefs about home dialysis
modalities
The conclusions obtained from this article are dependent on the perceptions of the healthcare staff
Here is a sample of one student’s analysis of the impact
of the positivist paradigm in research related to Suicidal Behaviour in
the Canadian Aboriginal Population (used with permission):
The quantitative data
evident in the literature discusses incidence and prevalence of suicidal
behaviour and associated risk factors (Kumar et al., 2012; Elias et
al., 2012). Fraser et al. (2014) quantitatively analyzed risk factors
contributing to suicidal behaviour including substance abuse,
self-reports of low self-esteem, violence exposure and even protective
factors including participation in events and found correlations between
such risk factors and the increase in suicidal behaviour while
protective factors assist in lowering suicidal behaviour.
Additionally, Elias et al.
(2012) empirically examined the link between residential school
attendance and abuse exposure to suicidal behavior in those who attended
residential schooling as well as to the descendants of those who
attended, signifying the concept of intergenerational trauma and its
relation to suicidal beahviour. This fits in with the assumptions of
the positivist research domain that seek to identify cause and effect
relationships. Further supporting the discourse on the biomedical,
positivist model, Bombay, Matheson & Anisman (2014) recommend future
researchers seek to find epigenetic and biologic predispositions in the
Aboriginal populations that would predispose one to negative effects
from intergenerational trauma. However, these authors caution that
involvement from participants by DNA sampling would be unlikely due to
historical disappointments from past research experiences (Bombay,
Matheson, & Anisman, 2014).
Use the following guide and headings to write your analysis of the professional discourse
A. Introduction and Background to the Topic
Provide a brief (less than a page) background to the topic
to establish the context for the paper. You will need all of the
remaining 9 pages to cover the requirements for this paper.
B. Approach to the Literature Search
Provide a brief (one paragraph) description of the methods
used to locate the literature reviewed for the paper. The search terms
and limits you placed on the search strategy influence the types of
articles you located and therefore, your search strategies shape the
discourse.
C. The Paradigms (40%)
Using the assumptions of the paradigms, analyze your
chosen peer reviewed articles to explain how the knowledge in the
articles was produced.
Justify your analysis by referring to the paradigms’
underlying assumptions and specific examples from the articles. Discuss
how the assumptions of the paradigm used by the authors influence the
research questions, purpose of the article, research methods including
analysis and conclusions, or recommendations for practice.
Which paradigm dominates the discourse? Why?
D. Power Relations (25%)
Using the findings from your discourse analysis (not your
practice), describe how the professional literature establishes and
maintains power relations.
A common mistake is to apply your clinical or expert
opinion to describe why the power imbalances exist. Resist this
temptation. Use your chosen literature. You will use your expertise in
the next assignment.
How are the power relations among the differing parties
(patients, health care providers, government) depicted in the discourse
about the topic?
Which parties are more powerful, and which are less powerful?
How does the discourse silence certain perspectives?
What views and voices are not heard?
E. Cultural Issues (15%)
How are cultural variables considered or represented in the discourse?
For instance, how are social class, gender,
race/ethnicity, age, sexual preference, disease or disability,
the culture of health professions/systems, or other cultural variables
represented in the discourse?
F. Conclusion
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