Module 3 Information Retrieval

Reponding to the question "How do you anticipate that this [information retrieval] assignment will help you in your graduate coursework?" I'd say that it's invaluable. Even though I'm on a clinical--not a research--track, my ability to sift through research for information relevant to my practice and, more specifically, my DNP project is crucial to its success. If I am to persuade key stakeholders of the merit of my project, I need to be able to point to solid evidence that shows how their participation is likely to produce a good return on their investment of time and resources. Obviously, the best vehicle for that showing will be other previous demonstrations of similar outcomes. To move from abstraction to a concrete illustration, I want to persuade our local senior centers to implement the Strong Women Stay Young program here in Utah. To do that, I'd start with Miriam Nelson's excellent books explaining the program and its underpinnings, but I wouldn't want to stop there; I'd want to go further to find other examples where her theories and methods are demonstated to be in lockstep with current evidence based practice. In other words, I would seek verification linking her version of what might be best for seniors to other researchers' works. To do that, I'll rely on electronic information retrieval to find the best scholarly sources for critical review of Dr. Nelson's work, and I'll also benefit from an information management system so as not to become overwhelmed or disorganized in my collection and synthesis of that mountain of information.