Module 04: DiscussionRead the following article, paying close attention to the study design.
Benkouiten, S., Al-Tawfiq, J., Memish, Z. A., Albarrak, A., & Gautret, P. (2019). Clinical respiratory
infections and pneumonia during the hajj pilgrimage: A systematic review. Travel Medicine and Infectious
Disease, 28, 15-26.
Give a brief explanation of the topic of the article. What were the researchers’ aims in conducting the
study? Summary of the main findings? Analyze the study design, including the strengths and
weaknesses. What alternative design would you recommend under the same situation and why? Defend
your answer.
Embed course material concepts, principles, and theories (which require supporting citations) in your
initial response along with at least one scholarly, peer-reviewed journal article. Keep in mind that these
scholarly references can be found in the Saudi Digital Library by conducting an advanced search specific
to scholarly references. Use Saudi Electronic University academic writing standards and APA style
guidelines.
CHAPTER 3
Reviewing the
Literature
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3.1 Informal Sources
▪ Factsheets, brochures, websites, and other informal sources that have not
been peer reviewed are not part of the formal scientific literature and should not
be cited in formal reports and research manuscripts
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▪ A starting point for learning about potential areas of inquiry is to read
nontechnical documents and other files available on the Internet from trusted
sources such as the CDC and WHO
3.2 Statistical Reports
– The World Bank’s World Development Indicators
– UN agency reports (such as WHO’s World Health Statistics)
– Annual reports from groups like the American Cancer Society and Population
Reference Bureau
– Information from state and local health departments
▪ Vital statistics: population-level measurements related to births, deaths, and
other demographic characteristics
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▪ For demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental data, reports from
national governments are often a good source of up-to-date information
3.3 Abstract Databases
▪ Abstract: a one-paragraph summary of an article, chapter, or book
– Abstract databases can be searched with keywords or MeSH terms using Boolean
operators like AND, OR, and NOT
– Limits can be set so that results include only abstracts with particular publication
years, languages, or other selected parameters
– Databases can also be searched by article title, author, and journal title
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▪ Abstract database: a collection of abstracts that allows researchers to search
for articles using keywords or other search terms
Figure 3-1
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3.4 Full-Text Articles
▪ The only way to truly understand a study is to read the full text of the article
– Some articles are freely available online in their entirety as open-access files
– Most university libraries subscribe to thousands of online journals that allow patrons
to access electronic versions of articles
– Contact the author of the article directly and ask for a copy
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▪ How to access full text articles:
3.5 Critical Reading
Initial reading plan:
▪ Look carefully at the tables and figures, which usually display the most
important results
▪ Read the entire text of the article
▪ Review the reference list for any additional sources that should be read
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▪ Re-read the abstract
Figure 3-2
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3.5 Critical Reading: Validity
▪ Internal validity: evidence that a study measured what it intended to measure
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▪ External validity (generalizability): the likelihood that the results of a study
with internal validity can be generalized to other populations, places, and times
3.6 Annotated Bibliographies
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▪ Annotated bibliography: a list of related publications that includes, at
minimum, a full reference for each document being reviewed, a brief summary
of the article or report, and a note about the resource’s potential relevance to
the new study
3.7 What Makes Research Original?
▪ Gaps in the literature: missing pieces of information in the scientific body of
knowledge that a new study could fill
▪ For a research project to be considered original, it needs to have only one
substantive difference from previous work: a new exposure, or a new
disease/outcome, a new population, or a new perspective
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▪ Originality: the aspects of a new research project that are novel and will allow
it to make a unique contribution to the health science literature
Figure 3-3
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3.7 Replicability
▪ Replication studies repeat a study protocol in a new population as part of
attempting to confirm that the original findings were not due to chance
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▪ Replicability means that a study protocol implemented in a new study
population should generate results similar to those of the original study
CHAPTER 36
Citing
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36.1 Referring to the Scientific Literature
▪ Read the full text of every cited article to make sure that the methods and
conclusions are sound
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▪ A typical article in the health sciences refers to about 25 or 30 other articles
published in peer-reviewed journals
36.2 Formal and Informal Sources
▪ In the health sciences, peer-reviewed journal articles are typically the preferred
source of evidentiary support
▪ Books, book chapters, and scientific reports published by trusted governmental
agencies and other organizations are also acceptable formal sources to cite
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▪ Formal sources are scholarly works that were critically reviewed and revised
before being disseminated by a publishing group in a format that includes
details such as author names, the name of the publisher, and the publication
date
Figure 36-1
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36.2 Formal and Informal Sources (Cont.)
▪ Informal sources like webpages, fact sheets, blogs, podcasts, and other types
of information that are not peer reviewed and formally published should almost
never be cited in formal research reports
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▪ A distinguishing feature of a formal report is that it does not change after it is
published
Figure 36-2
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36.3 Writing in One’s Own Words
▪ Almost no scientific articles quote directly from another source word for word
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▪ Paraphrasing does not remove the requirement to cite the original source, it just
means that quotation marks do not have to be used
Figure 36-3
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36.4 Common & Specific Knowledge
– All specific knowledge must be cited when it is mentioned in a scientific paper
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▪ Specific knowledge is information that is specific to a particular study, such as
a particular statistic or a particular laboratory finding
36.4 Common & Specific Knowledge (Cont.)
– Because this information is widely accepted to be true, it does not require citations
and references in a research report
▪ When in doubt about whether a bit of information is common knowledge, err on
the side of providing a citation
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▪ Common knowledge (also called general knowledge) refers to information
that should be familiar to a typical person working in that research area
36.5 Avoiding Plagiarism
▪ Plagiarism is a major violation of scholarly integrity, and it can have a damaging
long-term impact on a professional career
▪ “Unintentional plagiarism” is still plagiarism, and it carries the same penalties
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▪ Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s ideas, words, images, or creative work
without proper attribution
36.6 Citation Styles
– In-text citations where the sources of information are briefly identified in the text
– A reference list at the end of the document that provides full bibliographic
information for each source
▪ Common styles: APA and AMA
▪ Use a consistent citation and reference style throughout the document
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▪ Most of the citation styles used in the health sciences require two types of
notations about each source of information
Figure 36-4
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