Understanding and Comparing Written Texts in Midwifery
With Emma and Ethan, Academic Skills Specialist
Key Takeaways
- Because midwifery practice is grounded in evidence, and evidence isn't always consistent.
- Two studies might reach different conclusions.
- You're looking at their arguments, methods, evidence base, and conclusions.
- Do they agree or contradict? Why might they differ — different populations, different time periods, different methodologies?.
- Usually it's in the abstract and the introduction.
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Full Transcript
Emma: Welcome to Understanding and Comparing Written Texts in Midwifery. I'm Emma, and with me is Ethan, our Academic Skills Specialist. Ethan, why is comparing texts such an important skill for midwifery students specifically?
Ethan: Because midwifery practice is grounded in evidence, and evidence isn't always consistent. Two studies might reach different conclusions. Being able to compare them critically is fundamental to evidence-based care.
Emma: What are we actually looking for when we compare two academic texts?
Ethan: You're looking at their arguments, methods, evidence base, and conclusions. Do they agree or contradict? Why might they differ — different populations, different time periods, different methodologies?
Emma: How do you identify the main argument in an academic text? That's not always obvious.
How does and comparing written texts in midwifery work in a healthcare context?
Ethan: Usually it's in the abstract and the introduction. Look for a clear statement of what the authors are claiming and what evidence they use to support it. In a good paper, this is explicit.
Emma: What about tone and language — how does that differ between a journal article, a government report, and a midwifery textbook?
Ethan: Textbooks are explanatory — they're teaching you. Journal articles are argumentative — they're presenting findings and claiming significance. Government reports are often prescriptive — they tell you what should happen in practice.
Emma: Understanding purpose behind writing seems important. Can you say more about that?
Ethan: Every text has a purpose and an audience, and that shapes what's included, what's left out, and how it's framed. A midwife reading a pharmaceutical study needs to consider who funded it and what they were trying to demonstrate.
Why is and comparing written texts in midwifery important in midwifery practice?
Emma: That's really getting into critical reading. How do students develop that sceptical lens without becoming dismissive of everything they read?
Ethan: It's about asking questions rather than rejecting. Is the sample representative? Are the conclusions proportionate to the evidence? Is there bias? Those questions help you evaluate rather than just accept or dismiss.
Emma: In essay writing, students need to synthesise sources rather than just describe them. What does synthesis actually mean?
Ethan: Synthesis means weaving together multiple sources to build your own argument. You're not just saying 'Smith says this and Jones says that' — you're using both to support or challenge a point you're making.
Emma: Can you give an example of how that might look in a midwifery essay?
What are the different types of and comparing written texts in midwifery?
Ethan: If you're writing about waterbirth, you might draw on a Cochrane review for overall evidence, a qualitative study for women's experiences, and NICE guidance for current recommendations — weaving them together to develop your analysis.
Emma: Ethan, what's the single most useful habit students can build to improve their ability to compare and synthesise texts?
Ethan: Reading widely and consistently, a little at a time. The more texts you encounter, the more you start to see patterns — where sources agree, where they diverge, and what that tells you about the state of evidence in midwifery.