The APA 3 module aims to develop practical skills in the critical reading of scientific literature, evaluation of source credibility, and bibliographic management, with particular attention to constructing search strings and the correct application of citation rules (using APA as a tool).
Students will acquire operational skills to:
Read, analyze, and synthesize scientific articles
Collaborate effectively in group work
Apply evidence appropriately to nursing practice
Course Prerequisites
Prerequisites
To effectively participate in the course, students must have acquired:
Basic concepts of research and scientific studies: quantitative and qualitative approaches, knowledge of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)
Scientific literature and citations: guided reading of articles and texts, understanding of citations and bibliographic referencing
Data and data collection: basic concepts of variables, questionnaires, and observations
Roles and research teams: knowledge of key roles in healthcare settings and ability to collaborate in a group
Ethics and safety: basic principles of participant protection, informed consent, and data privacy
Basic practical skills: ability to participate in group activities and read simple diagrams or flowcharts
Teaching Methods
Teaching Methods
Interactive lectures with analysis of scientific articles
Group work and role-play on critical appraisal
Practical exercises on citations and reference lists
Guided construction of search strings
Guided discussion and peer review
Assessment Methods
Written and Oral Test: In the required document, students must demonstrate how to conduct a critical appraisal of bibliographic sources, evaluate source credibility to decide which references to include in the background, how to formulate in-text citations and reference lists, and provide some insights into search string construction.
Optional Oral Integration: Clarifications and discussion of the written work.
Peer review, impact factor, recognition of predatory journals
Analysis of authors and affiliations
Bibliographic Research and Search String Construction
Identification of keywords
Boolean operators and filters
Practical exercises using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus
Citations and Reference List
In-text citations, direct and indirect
Reference list according to APA 7th edition
Exercises correction and peer review
Academic Integrity
Intentional and unintentional plagiarism
Proper paraphrasing and responsible use of sourcesTechnical-Professional Competencies
Students will develop the ability to:
Critically analyze scientific articles
Identify and interpret the main sections (IMRAD: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion)
Evaluate objectives, methods, results, and limitations
Assess the credibility of sources
Analyze journals, authors, impact factor, and peer review process
Recognize potential methodological biases and predatory journals
Build and optimize search strings
Translate clinical questions into scientific queries
Use Boolean operators, filters, and databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus)
Apply citation and bibliography rules correctly
In-text citations (direct and indirect, narrative or parenthetical)
Create a coherent and properly formatted reference list according to APA 7th edition
Write and synthesize scientific information
Transform collected data and read articles into critical appraisal sheets
Share results with the group clearly and in a structured manner. Competenze trasversali Competenze cognitive • Lettura e comprensione critica di articoli scientifici • Analisi comparativa di metodologie e risultati • Sintesi e ragionamento critico • Capacità di applicare conoscenze acquisite alla pratica clinica Competenze sociali e relazionali • Collaborazione efficace in gruppo • Condivisione e confronto su valutazioni critiche • Riconoscimento dei ruoli e responsabilità dei membri del team Competenze emotive • Gestione di incertezze e difficoltà nella lettura e interpretazione dei dati • Motivazione e perseveranza nella conduzione di analisi bibliografiche • Sviluppo della resilienza e autoconsapevolezza Competenze educative • Capacità di utilizzare la ricerca per migliorare l’assistenza infermieristica • Collegamento tra evidenze scientifiche e pratica clinico-assistenziale • Promozione dell’apprendimento continuo attraverso la lettura critica e la costruzione di bibliografie corrette
Course Language
English
More information
Evaluation Criteria
Accuracy in critical appraisal
Correctness of citations and reference list
Ability to synthesize and reason critically
Participation and collaboration within the group. Use of primary and secondary literature
Scientific articles, books, guidelines, and other reliable sources for evidence-based nursing practice
Materials provided by the instructor for exercises on critical appraisal, citations, reference lists, and search string construction