NursingResearch paperEpidemiology

DNP 825 Epidemiology Paper Part One: descriptive method

Part one is descriptive and only descriptive. The temptation is to explain why the disease clusters where it does — but that is part two's marks, and spending them here leaves you with nothing to write later.

Aug 15, 2026

Editorial process

Last reviewed · August 15, 2026

Written by

Aaron Bishop

MA, Education

assignment interpretation and research-methods coaching across disciplines

Reviewed by

Dr. Nathan Cole

PhD, Rhetoric & Composition

Argumentation and thesis development

On this page

Interpret the task
Assignment instructions
Deliverables
Proposed outline
Research plan
Reference shortlist
Final review

Descriptive means person, place and time — nothing else yet

The word doing the work in this title is descriptive, and it is a technical term rather than a stylistic one. Descriptive epidemiology answers who, where and when: the distribution of a health condition by person, place and time, expressed in rates that let one population be compared with another. It deliberately stops short of why. Analytic epidemiology — the case-control and cohort designs that test whether an exposure is associated with an outcome — is a different activity, and in this assignment it belongs to part two. Learners who have not internalised that boundary write a causal argument in part one, then arrive at part two with nothing left to say and repeat themselves. Treat the restriction as the assignment's actual difficulty rather than as an arbitrary limit: describing a distribution precisely, with the right denominator and a defensible data source, is harder than gesturing at causes.

Rates are where this paper is won or lost. An incidence rate counts new cases over a population at risk in a defined period; a prevalence proportion counts all existing cases at a point in time. They answer different questions and are not interchangeable, and a paper that reports one while discussing the other reads as though the writer has not understood either. Choose a condition with genuinely available surveillance data — CDC WONDER, BRFSS, a state health department dashboard, an NCHS data brief — because the paper depends on numbers you can cite and reproduce, not on numbers you remember. Say explicitly which population is your denominator and over what period, since an unstated denominator makes every figure that follows uninterpretable. Where you can, give one comparison: the same rate in a second population, or the same population a decade earlier. A single number describes nothing until something sits beside it.

Likely learning objectives

Inferred from the brief — check these against your own rubric.

01
Distinguish descriptive from analytic epidemiology by the question each one answers.
02
Select incidence or prevalence according to what is being claimed.
03
Locate surveillance data adequate to support a rate rather than an impression.
04
Relate descriptive epidemiology to a nursing science audience.

Assignment instructionsQuoted verbatim

Read the full question

Review every instruction before using the planning guidance that follows.

DNP 825 Week 2 Epidemiology Paper Part One Descriptive Method DNP 825 Week 2 Epidemiology Paper Part One: Descriptive Method Details: The Epidemiology Paper is a practice immersion assignment designed to be completed in three sections, this is part one of the assignment. Learners are required discuss the role of descriptive epidemiology in nursing science and apply descriptive epidemiology in nursing science. General Guidelines: Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment: This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center. This assignment requires that support your position by referencing at least six to eight scholarly resources. At least three of your supporting references must be from scholarly sources other than the assigned readings. You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center. Directions: Write a 1,250–1,500 word paper discussing the role of descriptive epidemiology in nursing science. Include the following: Define descriptive epidemiology and describe its relationship and role in nursing science today. Provide a contemporary example of how descriptive epidemiology is applied in public health nursing. Identify the epidemiology components used to analyze at-risk populations. Portfolio Practice Hours: Practice immersion assignments are based on your current course objectives, and are intended to be application-based learning using your real-world practice setting. These assignments earn practice immersion hours, and are indicated in the assignment by a Portfolio Practice Hours statement that reminds you, the learner, to enter a corresponding case log in Typhon. Actual clock hours are entered, but the average hours associated with each practice immersion assignment is 10. You are required to complete your assignment using real-world application. Real-world application requires the use of evidence-based data, contemporary theories, and concepts presented in the course. The culmination of your assignment must present a viable application in a current practice setting. For more information on parameters for practice immersion hours, please refer to DNP resources in the DC Network. To earn portfolio practice hours, enter the following after the references section of your paper: Practice Hours Completion Statement DNP-82 DNP 825 Week 2 Epidemiology Paper Part One Descriptive Method I, (INSERT NAME), verify that I have completed (NUMBER OF) clock hours in association with the goals and objectives for this assignment. I have also tracked said practice hours in the Typhon Student Tracking System for verification purposes and will be sure that all approvals are in place from my faculty and practice mentor. Epidemiology Paper Part One: Descriptive Method 1 Unsatisfactory 0.00% 2 Less Than Satisfactory 74.00% 3 Satisfactory 79.00% 4 Good 87.00% 5 Excellent 100.00% 70.0 %Content 20.0 %Demonstrates an Understanding of Descriptive Epidemiology and Its Relationship to Nursing Science and Public Health Nursing Paper does not demonstrate an understanding of descriptive epidemiology or its relationship to nursing science and public health nursing. Paper shows a vague understanding of descriptive epidemiology, but does not demonstrate an understanding of the relationship to nursing science and public health nursing. Paper illustrates a general understanding of descriptive epidemiology, and shows a general relationship to nursing science and public health nursing, but lacks a clear understanding of data collection, conditions, or distribution and determinants in relationship to disease in populations. Paper illustrates a theoretical understanding of descriptive epidemiology through an accurate discussion of distribution and disease determinants in populations. Paper demonstrates the functional relationship between descriptive epidemiology and nursing science and public health nursing. Paper illustrates a theoretical and conceptual understanding of descriptive epidemiology and offers insight into using specific conditions (outcomes of exposure, person, place, etc.) to identify specific patterns. Paper shows the significant relationship between descriptive epidemiology and contemporary nursing science and public health nursing. 20.0 %Uses Contemporary Theories, Concepts, and Examples That Demonstrate an Ability to Identify, Analyze, and Apply Descriptive Epidemiology Paper does not use contemporary theories, concepts, or examples as support or in the analysis of the paper. Paper uses some aspects of contemporary theories and concepts throughout the paper, but no relevant examples are used. Overall, the concepts and theories used are incomplete or inaccurate and do not support the analysis or application of descriptive epidemiology. Paper uses contemporary theories and concepts throughout the paper, and general examples are used for support. Overall, the concepts and theories used are very general and offer only minor support of the analysis or application of descriptive epidemiology presented in the paper. Paper uses contemporary theories and concepts throughout the paper. Accurate and strong examples are used for support. Overall, the concepts and theories provide support of the analysis and application of descriptive epidemiology presented in the paper. Paper uses contemporary theories and concepts throughout the paper. Accurate and strong examples are used for support. Overall, the concepts and theories provide support of the analysis and application of descriptive epidemiology presented in the paper. 20.0 %Demonstrates Knowledge of Health Disparities and the Variables Contributing to Health Disparity or At-Risk Populations Paper does not demonstrate knowledge of health disparities, or of the variables contributing to health disparity or at-risk populations. Paper demonstrates a rudimentary knowledge of the concept of health disparities, but does not demonstrate knowledge of the dimensions of disparity in a realistic setting, or of the variables contributing to the disparity or at-risk populations. Paper demonstrates general knowledge of the dimensions of health disparities that occur in a realistic setting and identifies some general variables contributing to the disparity and the at-risk populations. Paper demonstrates knowledge of the dimensions of health disparities that occur in a realistic setting and identifies specific variables contributing to health disparities and at-risk populations. Paper demonstrates keen knowledge and unbiased insight pertaining to the dimensions of health disparities that occur in a realistic setting. Paper identifies significant variables from a broad spectrum that contribute to health disparities and at-risk populations. 10.0 %Six to Eight Additional Scholarly Research Sources With In-Text Citations None of the required elements (minimum of six topic-related scholarly research sources and six in-text citations) are present. Not all required elements are present. One or more elements are missing and/or included sources are not scholarly research or topic-related. All required elements are present. Scholarly research sources are topic-related, but the source and quality of one or more references is questionable. All required elements are present. Scholarly research sources are topic-related and obtained from reputable, professional sources. All required elements are present. Scholarly research sources are topic-related, and obtained from highly respected, professional, original sources. 20.0 %Organization and Effectiveness 7.0 %Thesis Development and Purpose Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim. Thesis and/or main claim are insufficiently developed and/or vague; purpose is not clear. Thesis and/or main claim are apparent and appropriate to purpose. Thesis and/or main claim are clear and forecast the development of the paper. It is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose. Thesis and/or main claim are comprehensive. The essence of the paper is contained within the thesis. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear. 8.0 %Argument Logic and Construction Statement of purpose is not justified by the conclusion. The conclusion does not support the claim made. Argument is incoherent and uses noncredible sources. Sufficient justification of claims is lacking. Argument lacks consistent unity. There are obvious flaws in the logic. Some sources have questionable credibility. Argument is orderly, but may have a few inconsistencies. The argument presents minimal justification of claims. Argument logically, but not thoroughly, supports the purpose. Sources used are credible. Introduction and conclusion bracket the thesis. Argument shows logical progressions. Techniques of argumentation are evident. There is a smooth progression of claims from introduction to conclusion. Most sources are authoritative. Clear and convincing argument that presents a persuasive claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative. 5.0 %Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use) Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice and/or sentence construction are used. Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register) and/or word choice are present. Sentence structure is correct but not varied. Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct and varied sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are employed. Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. The writer uses a variety of effective sentence structures and figures of speech. Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English. 10.0 %Format 5.0 %Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment) Template is not used appropriately or documentation format is rarely followed correctly. Appropriate template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken. A lack of control with formatting is apparent. Appropriate template is used. Formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present. Appropriate template is fully used. There are virtually no errors in formatting style. All format elements are correct. 5.0 %Research Citations (in-text citations for paraphrasing and direct quotes, and reference page listing and formatting, as appropriate to assignment and style) No reference page is included. No citations are used. Reference page is present. Citations are inconsistently used. Reference page is included and lists sources used in the paper. Sources are appropriately documented, although some errors may be present. Reference page is present and fully inclusive of all cited sources. Documentation is appropriate and citation style is usually correct. In-text citations and a reference page are complete and correct. The documentation of cited sources is free of error. 100 %Total Weightage

Turn the brief into deliverables

01
A named health condition with a stated population and time period.
02
Distribution by person, place and time, each supported by data.
03
Correctly chosen and correctly labelled rates, with denominators stated.
04
An explicit account of what descriptive epidemiology contributes to nursing science.
05
Citations to the surveillance sources the figures came from.

Pick the disease, then describe it without explaining it

Descriptive epidemiology and nursing science

Establish what descriptive epidemiology is for and why a DNP needs it.

The condition and its data source

Name the health condition and the surveillance system the figures come from.

Distribution by person

Characterise who is affected — age, sex, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic position.

Distribution by place and time

Set out geographic variation and trend over a stated period.

What this description sets up

State the questions the description raises that parts two and three will answer.

Where the surveillance numbers actually live

Recommended databases

CDC WONDER
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
CINAHL
Your state health department's data portal

Search sequence

1.
Confirm your condition has a surveillance system reporting it before committing to it.
2.
Pull incidence and prevalence separately and note which the source is actually reporting.
3.
Find one methodological source that defines the rate you are using, so the definition is cited.
4.
Look for a second population or an earlier year to give your headline figure a comparison.

Reference shortlist

These are authoritative starting points, not a ready-made bibliography. A qualified reviewer must confirm that each source fits the assignment and supports the claim beside which it is cited.

Nothing here is cleared for citation until you have read it.

01
Principles of Epidemiology | Lesson 1 - Section 1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2024
The CDC's own self-study text, where the person-place-time framing and the descriptive/analytic boundary are set out authoritatively.
02
Epidemiology Morbidity And Mortality
StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf · 2023
Defines morbidity and mortality measures precisely, which is what stops a paper mislabelling its own rates.
03
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2024
A live surveillance system with retrievable state-level estimates, so the figures in the paper have a citable origin.
04
MMWR Home Page | MMWR
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · 2026
Worked examples of descriptive reporting written to publication standard, useful as a model for how much detail a distribution section needs.

Review before submission

Common mistakes

Writing the causal argument that belongs to part two, leaving part two empty.
Using incidence and prevalence as though they were synonyms.
Reporting a count with no denominator, so the figure cannot be compared with anything.
Choosing a condition for interest rather than for data availability, then citing nothing.
Describing the condition clinically — pathophysiology, treatment — instead of epidemiologically.

Submission checklist

Is every rate labelled as incidence or prevalence, and is that the right one?
Is the denominator population stated for each figure?
Have you kept causal claims out of part one?
Does at least one comparison sit beside your headline number?
Can a reader retrieve every figure from the source you cited?

Use this guide to plan and review your own work. Follow your institution's rules and read our academic-integrity policy.