Research a.)

Develop research skills and engage in scholarship activities in an effort to advance understanding and practice of education in the health professions.

Artifact Reflection:

Article Critique 1/HPTT 830 Research Analysis & Design for Health Professions Education

The first of three article critiques in the Research Analysis & Design course was intended to help develop foundational research and critical analysis skills. For this assignment, I was asked to select a scholarly article related to health professions education and evaluate the author’s research approach. The critique required identifying three strengths of the study as well as three areas where the research could be improved. I selected this artifact because it represents one of my earliest opportunities to engage deeply with academic literature and begin developing the analytical skills necessary for interpreting research.

For this critique, I analyzed the article “Factors Influencing the Rating of Sonographer Students’ Clinical Performance.” The topic immediately caught my attention because it directly relates to my professional role in sonography education. In reviewing the article, I not only gained insight into the author’s research design and methodology, but I also began thinking more critically about how clinical performance is evaluated in educational settings.

Through this process, I learned about several important elements that support strong research studies, including appropriate sample size, thoughtful sampling methods, and ethical considerations in study design. At the same time, I identified some limitations within the study. In particular, the thematic analysis of preceptors’ written comments introduced subjectivity, making some of the conclusions open to interpretation. While the qualitative feedback was valuable, it also highlighted the challenges of drawing clear conclusions from narrative responses.

As a sonography educator and clinical coordinator, I understand that the factors that influence how students are evaluated in clinical settings are especially important to me. I am responsible for assessing student performance each semester, and this critique encouraged me to think more carefully about how those evaluations are conducted. Moving forward, I hope to build on the strengths identified in the research while also considering ways to reduce subjectivity and develop more consistent, evidence-based approaches to evaluating clinical performance.

Artifact Reflection:

Final Research Proposal/HPTT 830 Research Analysis & Design for Health Professions Education

The Final Research Proposal Paper served as the culmination of several components developed throughout the course, including the needs analysis, literature review, problem statement, learning theory, and methodology. The focus of my proposed research was to investigate work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in echocardiography and explore ways to reduce these injuries using surface electromyography (sEMG) technology. Because sonographers frequently experience physical strain due to repetitive movements and sustained scanning positions, this project aimed to contribute to a deeper understanding of ergonomics within the profession and identify strategies that could potentially improve long-term occupational health.

This artifact represents my efforts to advance research and professional practice in diagnostic medical sonography, particularly in the area of ergonomics. Writing this proposal was especially meaningful because it was the first formal research proposal I had ever developed. Throughout the process, I learned a tremendous amount about the structure and expectations of academic research. One of the most helpful aspects of the experience was the guidance provided by Ronald Shope, who shared valuable strategies for constructing a strong literature review. That early structure helped establish a solid foundation for the rest of the proposal and made it easier to build the remaining sections of the project.

One of the biggest challenges I encountered was working through the hypothetical nature of a proposed study rather than conducting the research itself. Because I am passionate about ergonomics in sonography, I found myself wanting to move beyond the proposal stage and actually carry out the study. In fact, at one point I seriously considered purchasing an sEMG device so I could begin collecting data. Now that I work in a university setting with greater access to academic resources, I can see a clearer path toward potentially making this research a reality in the future. This course ultimately helped lay the groundwork for future scholarly work and has been an important step in my professional growth as an educator and researcher.