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PSYC 1101: INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY
Article Analysis
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is to provide students with an initial exposure to the end product of psychological research—the empirical journal article. Through this assignment, students will develop their research literacy skills as they become familiarized with the key sections that encompass all published research. Students will further develop their higher order thinking skills through the execution of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.
Task: Students are to write a four-page (double-spaced) review/critique/analysis paper in APA style (coversheet, in-text citation, reference page). Each paper needs to be organized around the following headings: (a) Introduction; (b) Method; (c) Results; (d) Discussion; and (e) My Analysis. Be sure to address the following:
Introduction (4 points)
What is the purpose of this study?
What previous research/background information is cited?
How does this study propose to extend previous research?
What hypothesis is the study examining?
Critique: Does the introduction do a good job explaining its purpose? Does the introduction explain how its purpose relates to previous research efforts? Is it clear why conducting this study is a worthwhile endeavor?
Method (3 points)
Describe the sample
What variables were examined?
What instruments were used?
Describe the procedure (i.e., what did the study do?)
Critique: Do you see any weaknesses with the sample, with how the variables were defined/measured, or with the overall procedure (i.e., steps taken to achieve their purpose)?
Results (1 point)
How was the data analyzed?
If quantitative data was collected, what statistical procedures were used?
Discussion (4 points)
What did the study find?
Were findings related to previous research?
Were any limitations discussed?
Critique: Were findings discussed in terms of its broader applicability? (i.e., do these finding matter for the real world?)
My Analysis (2 points)
What, if anything, did you learn from this assignment?
Did this study advance psychological knowledge in a way meaningful way? If so, who could benefit from this new knowledge?
Criteria for Success: The grade on the assignment will reflect how well you addressed each of the sections outlined above. All sections equal 14 points. APA style is worth 1 point.