NURS2003 Nursing and Lifespan Health Case Study Assessment

Assessment Task:

For this assessment you are required to collect developmental data for a single child, adolescent, or adult closely, and report your findings. By definition, a case study is: “an intensive analysis of an individual unit (as a person or community) stressing developmental factors in relation to environment” (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). The purpose of this project is to consolidate your knowledge and understanding of human development through its specific application to an individual in the context of their family and community. Your challenge is to collect data through a combination of techniques that are currently used in research and produce a written report demonstrating your understanding of biological, psychological, and social processes of development as they apply to a person in the age group you select. You are also expected to demonstrate your ability to use the collected information to formulate reasonable and justifiable predictions about the participant’s future development (n.b. it is best not to use the word “subject” because people find the term demeaning). Keep in mind that the purpose of every piece of assessment is to test your knowledge and understanding of the material presented in the unit you are studying. To get the best possible result you should make yourself familiar with the unit outline, lecture notes, textbook chapters, and articles in the reading list. As this unit focuses on research evidence that comes from a variety of different academic disciplines, such as psychology, neuroscience, and epidemiology, it will be important to demonstrate that you have engaged with this evidence-based literature. Use the marking rubric as a check-list to ensure project expectations are met. It is best to read the instructions very carefully before you begin. However, if you need clarification about any part of this assessment, do not hesitate to speak with your tutor. First, you will select a suitable participant and obtain informed consent from the person or a parent (or guardian) in the case of a child or adolescent. Second, you will collect data. Third, you will write a report in which you will discuss your findings in the context of recent, evidence-based literature. Each of these steps is explained in some detail in the sections below.