Standards addressed by this assignment: 1-4.

Learning Objectives:

Identify, evaluate, and use information from diverse sources in order to answer a clinical question and suggested therapy objectives.

Integrate multiple sources of information on a disorder to write a summary and treatment plan to be presented to both peers and clients

IL assignment:

  1. Using your research topic, evaluate reference resources and databases (see the list below) for the variety and quality of information obtained. Choose the two best databases and turn in a summary sheet comparing the information that each of the databases yields. Information that will prove useful for using the databases can be found at www.lib.jmu.edu/communication/default.aspx (or possibly have them meet with Judy for an introduction to searching research databases).

Databases: ComDisDome, ERIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, Cochrane, LEO and CSD web reference resources.

Summary Sheet requirements:

·  a list of common references from the two databases

·  a list of references unique to each database

·  a comparison of the two best databases

·  a comparison of the sources from these databases with the those from a google search of the same topic.

Assessment: Turn in the summary sheet in week three.

  1. Identify and evaluate sources of information about your research top. Sources should be diverse and must include at least one reference from each of those listed below. In addition, at least half of your sources should be from the past five years with at least two sources no older than one year. Other sources could include JMU faculty, SLPs, community organizations, national associations etc (be creative). Each source should be summarized on a single index card (or half sheet of paper) with a short summary on the front and specific points pertinent to your goal on the back.

·  Journal articles

·  Chapters from books

·  Articles from a conference proceedings (may need to be an interlibrary loan)

·  Conversations or e-mails with/from a researcher or practitioner in the topic area.

Assessment:

·  Set up a meeting with me in week 5 to review identified sources. In this meeting we will discuss the quality of your sources and assess whether you have identified sufficient resources to answer the research (clinical) question.

·  Turn in index cards in week 7. Index cards will be assessed based upon:

o  Ability to summarize the source in your own words.

o  Ability to extract the most important contributions the source makes towards your goal (see below).

  1. Write a summary of your disorder with a plan of treatment and clear therapy objectives. The summary should be in three forms:

Written for your peers in APA format

Written for a client and/or parent to educate and inform.

Presentation to the class (or possibly posters).

Assessment:

·  APA paper due the week before the final exam. It will be graded based upon criteria posted on Blackboard (review my guidelines and implement new ideas from workshop). The paper should include an introduction of the disorder, review of recent findings, current best practices, and suggested objectives for therapy that integrates the variety of sources you have found.

·  The client summary should follow the same outline as the APA paper, but should be written in accessible language for those outside CSD. The summary for client will be graded based upon feedback from three people outside of CSD (feedback forms posted on Blackboard).

·  Presentation will be assessed based upon:

o  Organization

o  Clarity and appropriate use of text

o  Effective use of tables and figures

o  Ability to speak effectively and clearly

o  Ability to keep within the specified time