Describe your experience with locating and reading weekly research articles. Share an example of an article that has been useful and applicable to your practice. Share an example of an article (or information) that was not helpful. Provide rationale.

How did you find and read the Weekly Research?

Finding and reading research articles every week is essential for professionals across a wide range of fields including healthcare, education, business, social science, and technology. Reading research articles allows you to keep up to date with new theories and findings in your field and apply these to further research or practice.

To locate research articles, you must follow several steps. You need to define the topic or research question. Then, select relevant databases and search engines. Use appropriate keywords and filters. Finally, screen the results using the abstract, title and full text. Google Scholar, PubMed JSTOR and ScienceDirect are some of the most popular databases to find research articles.

It is important to assess the quality of a research article and its relevance for the question being researched or to the practice. The criteria used to evaluate research articles includes the design of the study, the sample size, the data analysis method, the validity and reliability measures, the ethical issues, the reputation and credibility of the journal or authors, as well as the credibility of the article. The research should be evaluated for any biases, limitations or implications on future research and practice.

Mayorga, et. al.’s study is a good example of an article from research that can be applied to the practice. The impact of mindfulness-based interventions on health professionals’ stress levels and wellbeing was studied in 2021. A sample of 90 physicians and nurses in a hospital environment were studied using a randomised controlled trial. The mindfulness intervention reduced stress significantly and increased well-being in comparison to the control groups. This article will be helpful for health professionals who wish to introduce mindfulness-based intervention to improve self-care or reduce burnout in themselves and their co-workers.

Smith et.al. has published a study that is not very helpful. In 2020, a study was conducted on the effect of a brand new energy drink on college student’s mood and performance. The study was a semi-experimental with 30 participants, and self-reported mood and cognitive performance measures were used. There were no significant differences found between the placebo and energy drink conditions. This study has several limitations. These include the fact that there were no objective measures for cognitive performance. It was also short-lived and funded by an energy drink company. It is difficult for professionals to base their decisions on evidence, because this article only provides weak or inconsistent evidence.

Finding and reading research articles every week can be challenging, but also rewarding for professionals that want to remain informed and innovative. It is important to use a systematized search process, evaluate and apply the articles and critically analyze the study’s strengths and weaknesses. Professionals can enhance their skills and knowledge by following a systematic process of search, evaluation, and application. They should also critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of each study.