Psychology Research Paper - Interpreting Current Research

 

Task - Announcements of new studies and findings by psychologists appear almost daily in popular newspapers and magazines.  Your task is to select ONE of these recent research studies and interpret its significance.  Find a popular magazine or newspaper article from the past year which describes or discusses recent psychological research.  Conduct additional research on the topic to determine how the new study fits with previous thinking on the topic.  Finally, evaluate the significance of the new findings for psychologists, policy makers and the general population.  An excellent paper will include the following: 

 

            A.  Summary description of your primary research study or studies (Starter Article). 

                        Who?  What?  When?  Where?  How?

B.  Evaluation of research methodology.  What were the strengths and weaknesses of

            the investigators' approach?  Try to cite authoritative opinion to support your

            own analysis.

            C.  Discussion of the context of new research.  Do the new findings support or

                        contradict accepted theories and previous research on the topic?

            D.  Evaluation of significance.  What should psychologists, policy makers or the general

population do with the findings?  Cite authoritative opinion to support your own

analysis.

 

 

Format

- typed in double-spaced 12 point font, 1 inch margins on all sides, body pages numbered

            - title page - title, author's name, class and section, date

            - citations in body of text using MLA format (Fricke 35)

            - Works Cited page using MLA format 

- MINIMUM 5 RESEARCH SOURCES

- encyclopedias and textbooks may be used but do not count as research sources

            - use the conventions of formal style and organization

           

Tentative Schedule

 

MON

TUES

WEDS

THURS

FRI

5 - starter article and lab research

 

6 - lab research

7

8

9

12 - outline and bibliography due

 

13

14

15

16

19 - first draft due

 

20

21

22

23

26 - final draft due

 

27

28

29

30

Finding a Starter Article on Recent Psychology Research:

 

            1.  Leaf through recent newspapers and magazines - our library has an excellent

                        collection available for browsing - try Psychology Today

            2.  Search the library catalog - our librarians index recent articles by topic in the catalog

            3.  Search a magazine database:

                        - Infotrac -  try Subject Search features in the General Reference Center

                        - Facts.com - check the Today's Science database

                        - ProQuest Direct - will allow you to limit search to recent newspapers

                        - Newbank - lets you limit Boston Globe searches to the Health and Science

                                    section over the past year.

            4.  Search an online news outlet - NPR, BBC, CNN and all major news magazines have

searchable websites and regular health and science segments.

 

Turning In Your Topic Choice:

 

            Turn in a paragraph briefly describing the recent research that you intend to investigate. 

            What is the source of your Starter Article?  Also include a sentence or two on your

            current thoughts about the significance of these findings.

 

Finding Additional Sources After You've Selected Your Topic:

 

            1.  Textbook - Always start here.  Will be especially helpful in determining context for

recent research.

 

2.  Periodical Databases - Check for additional articles on your topic or researcher. 

            Remember to use SUBJECT search terms.  Several of our library databases have

            psychology articles:

            - Facts.com - try Today's Science

            - Infotrac - General Reference and  Health and Wellness Resource Center

                                    - ProQuest Direct

 

            3.  Library Resources - Check the catalog for books or videos which might contain some

information on your topic.  Psychology books are located in several areas of the

library, so don't just go directly to the shelves.

 

            4.  Internet Resources - Check for reliable articles or sites about your topic.  Try an

Index Site search (like we looked at for nature/nurture debates) before you spend

time on a general Web search that turns up 640,000 hits.

 

Writing an Outline

Psychology

 

Your outline must be in the formal style. Follow the steps below to create your outline.  Be sure to allow enough time for this task - you need to do some challenging thinking as you develop the best way to put together your ideas and your evidence. 

 

Preliminary Phase -  Thesis

 

            Answer the Question - Who cares?  Why is current research significant?

 

You are presenting an analysis, not a description. Your thesis is the analytical conclusion that serves as a "topic sentence" for the entire paper.  Your paper needs to work towards a clear conclusion and thoughtful evaluation of the evidence.  Your thesis should be supported by analysis and interpretation in the topic sentences of each paragraph.

 

Rough Draft Outlining: Pulling Things Apart/Putting Things Together

 

Once your thesis has been checked and you are satisfied that it is the best expression of the central ideas you are trying to prove, you are ready to begin your outline.

 

A.  Reread your notes and arrange evidence in groups by topics.  Follow the guidelines

            on the assignment sheet:

 

   describe recent  à  evaluate research  à  present context  à  explain significance

   research                    methods                      and analysis         

 

B.  Arrange the groups in a logical sequence.  What cards contain information that the

            reader will need to know first?  What is the best order for the  major categories of

            your analysis?

 

C.  This is a rough draft of your outline.  Don't be afraid to experiment with new

     combinations of cards.

 

Formal Outline

 

            - Your introduction and conclusion should be written in paragraph form.  Remember

            that your introduction should acquaint the reader with your topic and background

information as well as present your thesis.

            - Underline your thesis sentence.

            - Designate major sections of your paper (topics covered in multiple paragraphs) with

Roman numerals.

            - Designate paragraphs with capital letters.

            - Write a full topic sentence for each paragraph next to the appropriate capital letter.

            - Indent clearly (5 spaces) and write the actual information you will use in each paragraph

in outline form below the topic sentence

            - Write CITE in each place where your think you will need citation or write out the

                        actual citation.

            - Attach a Works Cited page in appropriate MLA format

 

 

 

Example paragraph outline:

 

            C.        Aaronson's famous "Jericho Experiments" established the situational nature of

                        altruism.

1.  seminary students pass unconscious man

2.  available time = independent variable

3.         17% of late group helped

            28% of on time group helped

            32% of early group helped CITE

4.  personality not most important factor in altruistic behavior

 

 

 

 

Outline Checklist

 

                     Do you have a clear thesis? 

 

     Do your topic sentences include analysis, interpretation or evaluation?

 

     Is every topic directly related to the thesis?

 

     Are the topics in logical order?  Will good transitions be easy to make?

 

     Do you address all the core questions from the assignment sheet?

 

     Does your outline contain ALL the actual information you will use?

 

     Did note the places where you will need citation?

 

     Did you attach a Works Cited page?

Rough Draft Guidelines

Psychology

 

1.  Review your assignment sheet.  Have you completed all parts of the assignment?

 

2.  Use your outline as a starting point.  Arrange your note cards in the order that you

plan to use them.

 

3.  Review your thesis.

            Do you answer the question (How significant is your starter research?)

            Is your whole paper arranged to support/explain/prove your thesis?

 

4.  Write your rough draft

            Use a computer - revision will be much easier.  Back up your work frequently.

            Double space your printed copy to allow room for notations. Number the pages.

 

5.  Concentrate on topic sentences

            Topic sentences should provide analysis or interpretation of each topic.  They should help

the reader to understand how each topic connects to or proves the thesis.

 

6.  Support your ideas with evidence

            This is a research paper.  Be sure that your opinions are well supported with specific,

accurate details and examples.  Date your research studies.

 

7.  Create smooth transitions

            Review your transitions between paragraphs and between major sections of your paper. 

A summative conclusion is often necessary in wrapping up a long paragraph.

 

8.  Provide complete and accurate citation.

            Remember to use your citation handout for proper MLA format.

 

            Be sure to cite:

                        A. Quotations

                        B. Other people's opinions (even if you put them in your own words)

                        C.  Information that is not common knowledge

                        D. Controversial information or opinions

 

9.  Remember the conventions of formal style:

  - no contractions or slang

  - avoid personal style - no I  statements, you,  or one, we or us

  - do not start sentences with a conjunction - but, and, or, so

  - no rhetorical questions

  - nouns are our friends, pronouns are suspicious - proofread for they, this, many and

                                                                                      things

  - use power vocabulary - avoid a lot of really certain big bad things seem to have

                                               occurred etc