Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not able to figure out OpenUni assignment

40 replies

ouproblems · 04/06/2021 21:07

Writing for traffic.
I thought I was fairly smart person, but clearly that's not the case. I am struggling with OU 1st assignment. Course is fairly technical. I am from different background. For1st assignment, there is a lot of reading and then I need to critically appraise a complex science paper using a framework in another scientific field.
Is it normal for all OU master's level modules. This is my 1st ever module and within a month, without any guidance and help, how do I assess validity of a research paper authored by an expert when I am complete beginner in field.

I am ok to fail this but dont want to fail without attempting. I have read papers, searched internet for more info but I am still pretty lost.

Can anyone with OU experience give some tips? Thank you

OP posts:
Rolypolybabies · 04/06/2021 21:11

If it is post grad they likely assume you have this ability from undergrad as it is a skill to appraise that you learn. Ask for some help from your tutor.

RunningFromInsanity · 04/06/2021 21:12

No idea on the specifics but when appraising a paper/study you should look at the date, how long the study went on for, the amount of data subjects they used, what techniques they used to ensure unbiased results.

WhenEnoughIsEnough · 04/06/2021 21:15

As you mentioned it's masters level, it would be assumed that you had gained these skills through undergrad study. If you're struggling try contacting your tutor for support or your student support team.

DragonDoor · 04/06/2021 21:20

Could you be over thinking this?

Sounds to me like you have been given the framework to use when appraising the paper. If that’s what you need to apply, you need to demonstrate an understanding of the application of the framework, not be an expert in the field as such.

Cashewsauce · 04/06/2021 21:25

Have you reached out to your tutor or student support? I've always found OU very helpful when I've done that

DrunkenUnicorn · 04/06/2021 21:31

Have a look in the resources section on your module page, or in the library topics.

I’ve just finished my undergrad with OU, social sciences and arts, so not technical but had to do a paper analysis for one of my TMAs.

Could they be asking you to do a PROMT analysis?

www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/documents/advanced-evaluation-using-prompt.pdf

CMOTDibbler · 04/06/2021 21:35

The main thing will be showing you can use the framework, not whether you make the right decisions - and the framework is there because people who write papers do not always use good science to back up their conclusions.
Work through it systematically - was the trial/experiment set up with a clear hypothesis and end point? Was the trial/experiment designed to be blinded/with sufficient controls? How was the number needed to treat/ significant difference determined? How were participants recruited/ the experiments done independently? How were outcomes measured? What was the statistical method used? Did they answer the question they asked? Were numbers at the end sufficient to power the trial (a common issue in clinical trials that many people are lost to followup or the paper reports when a smaller number have reached the end point).
I'm on the first module of a masters (not scientific which is my background) and the first assignment was tough as I had to get my head round a whole new way of doing things, and also thinking that the purpose was not to come out with the 'right' answers, but to show the use of the methods discussed in the module teaching with the task just being something to hang those on

Advic3Pl3as3 · 04/06/2021 21:46

If it’s medical science - How to read a paper by Trisha Greenhalgh.

lottiegarbanzo · 04/06/2021 21:48

Talk to your tutor. It's what they're there for.

Leetepp · 04/06/2021 21:57

Have you been given a frameworj to use appraise such as taupupas?

www.scie.org.uk/publications/researchmindedness/findingresources/assessingresearchquality/

TheBitchOfTheVicar · 04/06/2021 22:00

@lottiegarbanzo

Talk to your tutor. It's what they're there for.
I cannot emphasise this enough. That is their job, and if you end up writing something that isn't what they want, they will wonder why you didn't
Smokeahontas · 04/06/2021 22:02

I absolutely echo @lottiegarbanzo and @TheBitchOfTheVicar. They’re usually very helpful with any queries.

Bananahana · 04/06/2021 22:03

Ask your tutor x

Historytoo · 04/06/2021 22:04

My masters is from the OU. Tutors are usually great, please do contact your tutor for support.

slashlover · 04/06/2021 22:18

Are there tutorials and OU forums at masters level? I've found them very helpful and will often attend a couple of tutorials as they're slightly different (currently postgraduate). Also, big yes to contacting your tutor. If you're on FB then there's probably a group set up for the course, they can be hit or miss but helpful to know you're not the only one panicking.

Hawkins001 · 04/06/2021 22:19

All the best op

Original poster
ouproblems · 04/06/2021 22:27

Thanks everyone.

So framework is from clinical trial but I need to use it to appraise microscopic study of a natural resource. Tutor has specifically asked to not give superficial analysis or description. It has to show deep understanding. In one assignment there are several questions of different type.

@CMOTDibbler There are no participants, or results based on survey. I am new to understanding concept of trials. Samples collected were blinded, taken to lab and studied. (I am new to these terms blinded study, cohort and RCT, control etc and still don't understand well how one is better than another).

It's an open access journal and I need to figure out if it is predatory. I have searched internet to find clues to figure out but I couldn't.

Also I need to tell what publication details tell. And I can't figure out what exactly they what me to evaluate here.

Yes, it is Masters level course. My undergrad is in business related field from another country, and I didn't do this kind of analysis before.

I think I am more of a high level, kind of person who has a lot of superficial knowledge and that has helped me in past. I still want to try my best to learn.

I should've asked tutor for guidance but now I am too close to submission date.

OP posts:
slashlover · 04/06/2021 22:30

I should've asked tutor for guidance but now I am too close to submission date.

Can you ask for an extension? At postgraduate they're automatically agreeing to them (up to three weeks) due to covid. I've used it twice this year.

Original poster
ouproblems · 04/06/2021 22:30

Thank you all. I was too embarrassed to tell tutor I was struggling. I will ask for support after this assignment.

OP posts:
Original poster
ouproblems · 04/06/2021 22:32

@slashlover, I already asked for a week long extension as I relocated few fews ago.

OP posts:
superduster · 04/06/2021 22:36

OU seem happy to take on people at Masters level with no relevant previous study, which probably explains the huge drop out rate from some of their courses. I would agree ask your tutor and double check there is no extra help on the forums.

BillyIsMyBunny · 04/06/2021 22:40

How long until the submission date? It might not be too close to ask for some guidance if you’re really struggling, the worst that will happen is you won’t get a response in time but it might be your tutor is able to help clarify things or you may even be able to get a longer extension of you explain how much you are struggling. If you really don’t understand how to approach this then unless you only have a few days left to write the assignment it seems like it could only be beneficial to reach out to help compared to devoting a lot of time to completing an assignment you don’t understand with the attitude that you’re just getting something in to fail.

MoreHairyThanScary · 04/06/2021 22:42

Do you have any masters level writing videos with your uni or writing cafes?

All I have gather so far is to continually ask myself ...so what? What does that mean and why? And could things be done differently and be better.

if you've been asked to look at studies- what have they fudged, don't assume they are the expert they are someone who is published, your plan is to pick apart what has been overlooked.

slashlover · 04/06/2021 22:45

@ouproblems

Thank you all. I was too embarrassed to tell tutor I was struggling. I will ask for support after this assignment.
Ask for another extension.

I'm in fourth year and have learned that you can't be embarrassed, your tutor wants you to succeed. If it's any help, this year was a good year because I only cried at one of the four TMAs. Have a remote exam next week so fully expecting to have a cry at some point over the three days.

FB groups have been super helpful to discuss tips and swap ideas. I would also see if there are and youtube channels which cover what you are learning, sometimes someone explaining something in the simplest way possible is helpful. (Bloody statistics!!!)

Here's one "How to appraise a clinical trial" I haven't watched it but the comments are positive.