Evidence-Based Writing, Data Presentation, and Producing Your Report
With Emma and Ethan, Academic Skills Specialist
Key Takeaways
- It means every claim you make is supported by research or authoritative guidance rather than assumption or anecdote.
- In midwifery, that might mean citing a NICE guideline when you assert that continuous fetal monitoring increases caesarean rates.
- Start with databases like PubMed, CINAHL, or the Cochrane Library for peer-reviewed studies.
- For clinical guidelines, NICE and the RCM are authoritative.
- At the top are systematic reviews and meta-analyses, then randomised controlled trials, then cohort studies, expert opinion at the bottom.
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Full Transcript
Emma: This episode is about Evidence-Based Writing, Data Presentation, and Producing Your Report. I'm Emma, and with me is Ethan, our Academic Skills Specialist. Ethan, what does evidence-based writing actually mean in practice?
Ethan: It means every claim you make is supported by research or authoritative guidance rather than assumption or anecdote. In midwifery, that might mean citing a NICE guideline when you assert that continuous fetal monitoring increases caesarean rates.
Emma: How do students find strong evidence for their reports?
Ethan: Start with databases like PubMed, CINAHL, or the Cochrane Library for peer-reviewed studies. For clinical guidelines, NICE and the RCM are authoritative. Google Scholar is useful but you must evaluate the source quality carefully.
Emma: What's the hierarchy of evidence and why does it matter?
What is evidence-based writing, data presentation, and producing your report and why does it matter?
Ethan: At the top are systematic reviews and meta-analyses, then randomised controlled trials, then cohort studies, expert opinion at the bottom. Citing a well-designed RCT carries more academic weight than a single case study.
Emma: When reports include data — statistics, tables, charts — what are the rules for presenting them clearly?
Ethan: Every table and figure needs a title and a source citation. Present data as simply as possible — use a bar chart, not a complex 3D graph. Always interpret the data in your discussion; never leave numbers without explanation.
Emma: How do you integrate evidence into your argument without it reading like a list of quotes?
Ethan: Lead with your point, then bring in the evidence to support it. Say: delayed cord clamping improves neonatal iron stores — supported by a 2019 Cochrane review. The evidence reinforces your argument; it does not replace it.
Why is evidence-based writing, data presentation, and producing your report important in midwifery practice?
Emma: What does critical engagement with evidence look like?
Ethan: Not just citing a study but evaluating it. Was the sample size large enough? Were there confounding variables? Does it apply to a UK setting? Acknowledging limitations shows academic maturity.
Emma: Final thoughts, Ethan?
Ethan: Good reports are built in layers — structure, evidence, argument, then polish. Clarity serves the reader. If something took you ten minutes to write, it should take them ten seconds to understand.