100 likes | 270 Views
Final paper guidelines. The paper. Nuts and bolts. A critical reading the scientific literature. 2,000 word critical literature review summarizing and synthesizing five or more articles and/or reviews on a topic of your choosing in social and emotional development.
E N D
Final paper guidelines The paper
Nuts and bolts • A critical reading the scientific literature. • 2,000 word critical literature review • summarizing and synthesizing five or more articles and/or reviews on a topic of your choosing in social and emotional development. • It is a good idea to use readings from the class syllabus for your final project, but these do not count for your five readings.) • The basis of this project will be writing summary/critiques of these individual articles/reviews that you will turn in throughout the semester.
Title & Abstract • Title: Your critical question. • What factors predict attachment security? • How does prenatal drug exposure impact later development? • Abstract • In 5 sentences, use what you have read to tell us the answer to your question.
Introduction • Introduce and clearly state the Question • Then tell us how you will answer it. • Give us the order in which you will review your studies • Example: Many think that A is related to B. I will address whether A is related to B by first surveying the literature on A (ref) , then B (ref), then how A is related to B (ref).
Structure of final project • Study by study • This is the most straight-forward and I focus on it here • Though not the most glamorous • Cover the studies in the sequence that works best to address your question • Theme by theme • Alternative (with my permission only) • E.g. Studies with significant results and studies without • More on this in class or come see me.
Study by study • Summarize each study to address your Question • 2-3 paragraphs per study • Indicate how what your are presenting answers your Question • Use your empirical observations insofar as they help you make your point. • Put them in if they help • Leave ‘em out if they don’t help
Guidelines on detail • Focus on the results of each study as they pertain to your question • Give us enough detail so that you and the reader can both evaluate each study: • dependent measures, significant differences, how many subjects, design • But focus on how the results of a study answer your critical question
More guidelines • Carefully review the results (not just the author's conclusions) of each study you are including. • Bring your summarizing skills to bear on these articles. • Use them to answer the question you have selected.
Conclusion/Summary • Repeat the answer to your question • Summarize what you have learned from about your question, having reference to all the studies • Is there something you should read next to finish up your project and make it all fit together?
References • In psychology reference papers, every fact is referenced either at the end of the sentence or by starting a paragraph with a reference indicating you will be referring to that person’s work through-out. • Your paper must contain a list of APA-formatted references after the text.