Homework answers / question archive / PSYC812-Week 5 ARTICLE CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS OVERVIEW This assignment requires you to critically analyze a selected empirical study in a peer-reviewed journal related to Social Cognitive Development

PSYC812-Week 5 ARTICLE CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS OVERVIEW This assignment requires you to critically analyze a selected empirical study in a peer-reviewed journal related to Social Cognitive Development

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PSYC812-Week 5

ARTICLE CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS

OVERVIEW

This assignment requires you to critically analyze a selected empirical study in a peer-reviewed journal related to Social Cognitive Development. Students will complete 3 Article Critiques throughout this course.

 

PURPOSE: These Article Critiques will allow you to apply principles of critical thinking and analyze common errors in logic as they evaluate research literature, which is a key element of the student’s program outcome. Hence, you will learn how to aptly consume and disseminate empirical research. These assignments can serve as a building block to help students explore literature related to their Final Research paper.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

1.            Select an empirical study in a peer-reviewed journal (published in the last 3 years).

2.            Systematically read and challenge the article’s validity. Ask scholarly questions, such as:

a.            What was the purpose of the study?     

b.            What variables were under consideration and how were they measured?

c.             Was it a valid form of measurement, why or why not?  For example, if they used standardized measures did they have good reliability and validity?

d.            What about the method used, was it most appropriate why or why not?

e.            What are some criticisms of the study?  What were some strengths of the study?

f.             What are some threats to internal and external validity?

g.            What group or groups can the findings be generalized to?

h.            What are potential future areas of study?  Identify a gap in the literature!

 

3.            Each Article Critique must be 4 pages, including the following:

a.            Introductory Paragraph: Summarizes the purpose of the research, including the research questions/hypotheses. Explain the overall method, results, and conclusions (in 2–3 sentences).

b.            Body: Provide critique of the article. Noting the below strengths and weaknesses :

i.              Research questions/hypotheses

ii.             Research methodology including design, measures (think about different types of validity, reliability), participants (think about generalizability), procedures, ethics, etc.

iii.            Results including analyses, clarity of findings, tables/graphs/figures.

iv.           Discussion including whether the results validate the author’s conclusions/interpretations/recommendations, the major limitations, and what other alternative explanations for the findings might exist.

c.             Conclusion: Include your judgment on the adequacy of the research, given the preceding scholarly questions and critique.

4.            The instructor will be focusing on the content of this assignment writing and less on proofreading. You are expected to proofread each assignment for clarity, grammar, and spelling. In addition, the Liberty University Online Graduate Writing Center can help with overall writing and flow.

 

FORMAT:

Each Article Critique must be in current APA format and include:

1.            Include a title page, abstract, references page(s), in addition to 4 pages of critique.

2.            Proper APA use of subheadings.

3.            Avoid first and second person pronouns and be sure to use past tense when describing completed research.

 

Reading Summary Assignment Instructions

 

Overview

This assignment requires you to “actively” read (survey, question, read, recite, review) and synthesize all required weekly reading materials (textbooks, articles and presentations) to be submitted weekly (as assigned). You will complete 5 Reading Summaries throughout this course.

 

Purpose: Reading Summaries are a core building block for this course which will promote students’ interaction with the weekly materials and develop their integrative writing skills. These Reading Summaries can cumulatively serve as study guides for both Midterm and Final exams.

 

Instructions

1. Each summary must be at least (1.5 to 2 pages).
2. All Learn materials from each module must be synthesized and include the integration of the key points gained from the Learn material.
3. All required reading sources for each module must be cited in current APA style. The use of outside peer-reviewed sources is optional.
4. Each summary must include:
   1. 1. 1. 1. Integration of the Fiske & Taylor’s text chapter(s), Hamilton’s chapter(s), journal article(s), and presentation as indicated by each Module: Week.
            2. The summary should include 3 Sections:
               1. Introduction: This should be an overall summary of the Learn material (1-2 paragraphs).
               2. Body: Three paragraphs, each with a major theme supported by several of the sources. Incorporate at least 3-5 major points that are related across all sources in the Learn material for the assigned Module: Week. Each of these paragraphs should have a minimum of 2 SOURCES cited in each paragraph.

**This will ensure the integrating of information, rather than an independent summary of each source.

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 3.  Conclusion: This paragraph wraps up and summarizes the major themes introduced in the body of the summary. Avoid introducing new ideas and refrain from redundancy.

Format:

Each summary must be in current APA format and include:

1. Title page, 1.5 to 2 pages of content and reference page(s).
2. Use subheadings (i.e., Introduction, Summary Themes, Conclusion, etc.).        
3. For the body, synthesize the reading into a coherent narrative. Use transition statements as you move from one main theme to the next.
4. Avoid first and second-person pronouns, and be sure to use past tense when describing completed research.