Comparative Research on Skeletal and Muscular Systems
Budget: $40 – $100 USD
Source Evaluation and Comparison Assessment Instructions
You will find two different sources related to one of the topics described below. One of the sources should be a primary source, meaning it has been peer-reviewed and is published in an academic, medical, or professional journal (online publication). The second source should be a secondary source, meaning it is an article that summarizes, interprets, analyzes, or provides commentary on a related topic, but is not itself peer-reviewed literature. Both sources should address the same general topic, even if they are not exactly alike, to allow for a reasonable comparison between the two.
Acceptable topics are those that are related to the Course Competencies explored in this Mastery Assessment:
The skeletal system - physical support of the body, support of homeostasis, role in movement, role in protection, role in physiology, hormonal changes that impact the skeletal system's role in any of these topics, or diseases that impact the skeletal system's ability to participate in any of these topics
The muscular system - role in movement, the heart and it's function, the mechanical and/or physiological role the muscular system plays in digestion, dietary- or exercise-related changes that impact the muscular system's role in any of these topics, or diseases that impact the muscular system's ability to function normally in any of these processes
To find a (free!) primary source article, you are welcome to use any means you are familiar with. If you are unsure about your source, ask me! I have highlighted some options below if you are unfamiliar with where to look:
Google ScholarLinks to an external site. - this is like regular Google, but only returns peer-reviewed articles. You can filter by date to find more recent research. Not all the results will be free; usually if you see a {PDF] or {HTML] indication next to the result, however, it's likely you can access it.
Public Library of ScienceLinks to an external site. - the page I've linked to here shows all the free journal options. Click on any journal, then use the search bar to search for research that relates to your topic.
PubMed CentralLinks to an external site.- a free archive of biomedical and life science research maintained by the NIH/NLM.
ScienceGovLinks to an external site. - similar to PubMed except it contains research findings from all genera of science. This one can be a bit more overwhelming with the results it returns.
To find a (free!) secondary source article, well... just look anywhere! And again, if you are unsure, just ask. Some general guidelines below:
Let's start with things that aren't valid sources - Wikis, YouTube, posts on social media or blogs - if it's just some random internet stranger waxing philosophical, it's probably not the sort of source we'll consider for a college science course. Likewise, study websites are not secondary sources and not what we're looking for here. Please keep in mind that websites such as WebMD fall into the Wiki category.
A good way to screen whether a source is a valid secondary source is to determine how it can be cited. Do you see a publication name? Does the article have a title, author name, and date published? Does it have a clear beginning and end, and stick with the same theme throughout the text? If so, it's likely a secondary source!
Next, make sure the source doesn't have any conflicts of interest. Does the website where you found the article belong to the magazine/journal in which the article is published? If not, try going directly to the publication and searching their own archives for an article. Don't rely on third-party websites. Check that the article isn't promoting or selling something, directly or indirectly. If the article states that, for example, bones are super strong and the logical conclusion is that everyone should jump off their home's roof, take a look and make sure the website isn't sponsored by the National Cast & Bandage Corporation.
Here are a few links to secondary source magazines (you can search through them by topic, or just browse to find a topic that interests you) if you need some help getting started: Scientific AmericanLinks to an external site., DiscoverLinks to an external site., SmithsonianLinks to an external site., LiveScienceLinks to an external site., PhysOrgLinks to an external site.
Okay, so now you have a primary source and a secondary source on some relevant topic of interest to you. Check them out! It's okay if you don't understand all the technical details of the primary source; just get comfortable with the format and the major takeaways from the work. Think about the similarities and differences between the primary and secondary sources, both in terms of formatting and formality, and the content.
Construct an essay in which you address the following:
Discuss any difficulty you had in finding either the primary or secondary source, or both - was it easy to identify primary research and distinguish it from secondary sources? Was it easy to identify a valid secondary source and distinguish it from the rest of the crazy internet?
Provide an overview of the topic you selected and how both the primary and secondary source are relevant.
Give a description of the content of both articles. How was the research conducted? What hypothesis was being tested?
Explain what you learned from the primary article in the context of this course - meaning, what did you learn about the skeletal and/or muscular system and it's role in the aforementioned processes?
Did you learn anything new from the secondary article, with regard to the skeletal and/or muscular system and it's role in the aforementioned processes?
Both the primary and secondary articles probably drew some conclusions from the research - which conclusions were more clear and easy to follow?
Do you feel the conclusions in either article were biased or opinionated? How might that impact your understanding of the skeletal and/or muscular system processes discussed?
Would you have drawn the same conclusions from the research as the primary author? Would you have drawn the same conclusions as the secondary author?
How does the information in the primary source fit into your understanding of the skeletal and/or muscular system? How does it apply to everyday life or career?
How does the information in the secondary source fit into your understanding of the skeletal and/or muscular system? How does it apply to everyday life or career?
What did you learn from the research and comparison, and what are the biggest takeaways you will remember?
When searching for topics that impact you, are you more likely to seek out primary or secondary research, and why?
Does completing a source comparison help you feel more comfortable in your own ability to evaluate and analyze how articles are written? Do you feel more skeptical about secondary articles now that you have a better understanding of primary research?
Please note that you MUST cite your sources using appropriate format where you are relaying ideas that are not your own. Please do not directly quote a source, and instead paraphrase the information and place a citation. (Here's a handy guide if you're unfamiliar with how to do this: Owl PurdueLinks to an external site.)
Please post your essay to Canvas in this assignment's submission page.
There is not a specific length requirement. For reference, most students successfully accomplish this assignment with a submission that is about 1.5-2.5 pages (single-spaced, 0.5-1” margins, size 11 font) in length. The essay should be professional and conversational in tone, and should consist of developed paragraphs with well-defined topics. This should not be a bulleted list or abbreviated text.
You will find two different sources related to one of the topics described below. One of the sources should be a primary source, meaning it has been peer-reviewed and is published in an academic, medical, or professional journal (online publication). The second source should be a secondary source, meaning it is an article that summarizes, interprets, analyzes, or provides commentary on a related topic, but is not itself peer-reviewed literature. Both sources should address the same general topic, even if they are not exactly alike, to allow for a reasonable comparison between the two.
Acceptable topics are those that are related to the Course Competencies explored in this Mastery Assessment:
The skeletal system - physical support of the body, support of homeostasis, role in movement, role in protection, role in physiology, hormonal changes that impact the skeletal system's role in any of these topics, or diseases that impact the skeletal system's ability to participate in any of these topics
The muscular system - role in movement, the heart and it's function, the mechanical and/or physiological role the muscular system plays in digestion, dietary- or exercise-related changes that impact the muscular system's role in any of these topics, or diseases that impact the muscular system's ability to function normally in any of these processes
To find a (free!) primary source article, you are welcome to use any means you are familiar with. If you are unsure about your source, ask me! I have highlighted some options below if you are unfamiliar with where to look:
Google ScholarLinks to an external site. - this is like regular Google, but only returns peer-reviewed articles. You can filter by date to find more recent research. Not all the results will be free; usually if you see a {PDF] or {HTML] indication next to the result, however, it's likely you can access it.
Public Library of ScienceLinks to an external site. - the page I've linked to here shows all the free journal options. Click on any journal, then use the search bar to search for research that relates to your topic.
PubMed CentralLinks to an external site.- a free archive of biomedical and life science research maintained by the NIH/NLM.
ScienceGovLinks to an external site. - similar to PubMed except it contains research findings from all genera of science. This one can be a bit more overwhelming with the results it returns.
To find a (free!) secondary source article, well... just look anywhere! And again, if you are unsure, just ask. Some general guidelines below:
Let's start with things that aren't valid sources - Wikis, YouTube, posts on social media or blogs - if it's just some random internet stranger waxing philosophical, it's probably not the sort of source we'll consider for a college science course. Likewise, study websites are not secondary sources and not what we're looking for here. Please keep in mind that websites such as WebMD fall into the Wiki category.
A good way to screen whether a source is a valid secondary source is to determine how it can be cited. Do you see a publication name? Does the article have a title, author name, and date published? Does it have a clear beginning and end, and stick with the same theme throughout the text? If so, it's likely a secondary source!
Next, make sure the source doesn't have any conflicts of interest. Does the website where you found the article belong to the magazine/journal in which the article is published? If not, try going directly to the publication and searching their own archives for an article. Don't rely on third-party websites. Check that the article isn't promoting or selling something, directly or indirectly. If the article states that, for example, bones are super strong and the logical conclusion is that everyone should jump off their home's roof, take a look and make sure the website isn't sponsored by the National Cast & Bandage Corporation.
Here are a few links to secondary source magazines (you can search through them by topic, or just browse to find a topic that interests you) if you need some help getting started: Scientific AmericanLinks to an external site., DiscoverLinks to an external site., SmithsonianLinks to an external site., LiveScienceLinks to an external site., PhysOrgLinks to an external site.
Okay, so now you have a primary source and a secondary source on some relevant topic of interest to you. Check them out! It's okay if you don't understand all the technical details of the primary source; just get comfortable with the format and the major takeaways from the work. Think about the similarities and differences between the primary and secondary sources, both in terms of formatting and formality, and the content.
Construct an essay in which you address the following:
Discuss any difficulty you had in finding either the primary or secondary source, or both - was it easy to identify primary research and distinguish it from secondary sources? Was it easy to identify a valid secondary source and distinguish it from the rest of the crazy internet?
Provide an overview of the topic you selected and how both the primary and secondary source are relevant.
Give a description of the content of both articles. How was the research conducted? What hypothesis was being tested?
Explain what you learned from the primary article in the context of this course - meaning, what did you learn about the skeletal and/or muscular system and it's role in the aforementioned processes?
Did you learn anything new from the secondary article, with regard to the skeletal and/or muscular system and it's role in the aforementioned processes?
Both the primary and secondary articles probably drew some conclusions from the research - which conclusions were more clear and easy to follow?
Do you feel the conclusions in either article were biased or opinionated? How might that impact your understanding of the skeletal and/or muscular system processes discussed?
Would you have drawn the same conclusions from the research as the primary author? Would you have drawn the same conclusions as the secondary author?
How does the information in the primary source fit into your understanding of the skeletal and/or muscular system? How does it apply to everyday life or career?
How does the information in the secondary source fit into your understanding of the skeletal and/or muscular system? How does it apply to everyday life or career?
What did you learn from the research and comparison, and what are the biggest takeaways you will remember?
When searching for topics that impact you, are you more likely to seek out primary or secondary research, and why?
Does completing a source comparison help you feel more comfortable in your own ability to evaluate and analyze how articles are written? Do you feel more skeptical about secondary articles now that you have a better understanding of primary research?
Please note that you MUST cite your sources using appropriate format where you are relaying ideas that are not your own. Please do not directly quote a source, and instead paraphrase the information and place a citation. (Here's a handy guide if you're unfamiliar with how to do this: Owl PurdueLinks to an external site.)
Please post your essay to Canvas in this assignment's submission page.
There is not a specific length requirement. For reference, most students successfully accomplish this assignment with a submission that is about 1.5-2.5 pages (single-spaced, 0.5-1” margins, size 11 font) in length. The essay should be professional and conversational in tone, and should consist of developed paragraphs with well-defined topics. This should not be a bulleted list or abbreviated text.