After receiving instructor approval for the topic that you submitted in Week 2, you will proceed with your research for this assignment. This assignment is an APA-style literature review. It should be 10-15 pages long, not including title page, abstract, or references page, with a minimum of 10 scholarly resources, 8 of which must be peer-reviewed articles with at least 4 of these articles including empirical research findings. Additional scholarly sources such as books and professional organization or government database websites (such as the APA, DEA, ACA, AMA, SAMHSA, CDC, etc) may also be used, but these should be in addition to the eight peer reviewed articles.
Please be sure to include all the required elements in your paper including the following (these should not be your headings – they are simply breaking it down for you):
Abstract
According to the APA (2020), the abstract for a literature review article should describe the substantive content being reviewed, including: scope of the literature examined in the review, the number of items included in the review, period of time covered in the review, and general conclusions reached in the review (See p 75).
Introduction: Research Question and background information
Provide introductory/background information about the topic.
Clearly state the research question (for example: Should psychotropic medications be used to treat mental illness in children? or is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) the best choice of treatment for depression?)
State your position on the issue (thesis statement).
Explain what will be discussed/presented in the paper.
Explain why this is an important topic worthy of research and why it is important to the field of psychopathology.
Literature Review: The findings of your research – summary and synthesis of sources
Synthesize the information and draw connections between sources.
Cover the topic in your paper from a descriptive standpoint (state the issue) as well as present all sides of the issue (pros and cons).
Provide an ample lit review of at least 10 sources; eight of which must be peer reviewed articles, with at least four of these articles including empirical research findings.
Discuss all findings fully.
Demonstrate in the lit review how the sources relate to your topic.
If you include additional scholarly sources such as books and websites, they should be scholarly sources such as textbooks, non-fiction academic books, and professional organization or government database websites (such as the APA, DEA, ACA, AMA, SAMHSA, CDC, NIDA, etc.)
Cover all aspects of your topic in your lit review.
Demonstrate the importance of your research question to the field.
Discussion/Conclusion: What it means
Explain and discuss, in detail, all statistically significant findings, and all socially significant findings from the studies you cited in your paper.
Concluding/summary comments should relate findings back to previous research cited in your lit review.
Relate the importance of your conclusions to current research, law, policy, cases, or events.
Relate the importance of your conclusions/summary to the field.
At the end of your discussion, present additional empirical questions regarding further research needed in this area based on the literature you reviewed for this paper. In other words, explore what information was not yet available on your research topic that needs to be examined or researched in order to add further to the body of literature currently available on this topic.
APA Style: Include:
Title page
Abstract
In-text parenthetical citations, all of which are included in the reference list
Appropriate headings and/or subheadings
Reference list, in which all references listed are cited in the paper
Format/Structure/Mechanics, etc.
Your paper should flow in a logical way from introduction to conclusion.
Your paragraphs and ideas should flow coherently.
Communicate the ideas in your paper in a way that can be easily understood by the reader.
Explain and/or define field-specific terms in an understandable way.
Use appropriate rules of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure (proofread your paper before submitting).
Your paper should be free of spelling errors and presented in a well written, clear, and concise manner.
At the end of your submission, include a brief Design Statement explaining the process and tools you used to develop your work. Your statement should be about a paragraph or so, in your own words (rather than formally written), and unique to this assignment.
