INSTRUCTIONS
Introduction: This final paper invites you to delve into a specific aspect of lifespan development and analyze its portrayal in popular media, empirical research, and review articles. By comparing and contrasting these sources, you’ll gain insight into the application of developmental theories and their depiction in real-world contexts.
Instructions:
Choose a Topic: Select a focused topic within lifespan development that interests you. For instance, you might explore “Adolescent Identity Formation” or “The Impact of Parenting Styles on Child Behavior.”
Find Articles: Locate: one popular media article, one empirical research article, and one review article related to your chosen topic (3 in total), and your book Bio (chapter), Psychosocial, (chapter), and Cognitive (chatper). Ensure that each article offers comprehensive insights and analysis.
Find one popular media article, one empirical research article, and one review article that all focus on your chosen topic.
Ensure that the empirical research article presents original research findings and includes a clear methodology section.
Summarize and review the 3 chapters related to the developmental time period in your paper. Highlight majoy concepts themes and definitions
The review article should provide a synthesis of existing research and theoretical perspectives related to the chosen topic.
Paper Structure:
Write a paper that includes the following sections:
Introduction
Literature Review (divided into subsections for each article and textbook)
Comparison and Analysis
Real-Life Examples
Conclusion
References
Content Guidelines:
In the literature review section, provide a summary of each article, including the specific developmental time period discussed, methodology used (for the empirical research article), and key findings.
Compare and contrast the findings, conclusions, and theoretical perspectives presented in each article.
Include real-life examples related to the chosen topic and analyze how they align with or diverge from the findings and theories discussed in the literature review.
Formatting Requirements:
Your paper should be written in APA style, including proper citations and a reference list. Review at Purdue Owl or the Writing Center
Use clear and concise language, and ensure that your paper is well-organized and free of grammatical errors.
Comparison:
Content: Summarize the main arguments, findings, and methodologies of each article. Analyze how the topic is addressed and discussed in different contexts.
Theoretical Perspectives: Compare the portrayal of developmental theories in the popular media, empirical research, and review articles. Consider how each source emphasizes theories such as Erikson’s Psychosocial Development, Piaget’s Cognitive Development, or Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory.
Accuracy and Depth: Evaluate the accuracy and depth of information provided in each source. Assess whether the popular media article oversimplifies or misrepresents developmental theories compared to the empirical research and review articles.
Relevance: Determine the relevance and applicability of the information presented in each article to real-life developmental processes and outcomes.
Identify Developmental Time Period: Specify the developmental time period relevant to your topic (e.g., adolescence, early childhood). Highlight major theorists associated with this period and their perspectives on the topic. For example, in exploring adolescent identity formation, discuss Erikson’s theory of Identity vs. Role Confusion, Freud’s Psychosocial Development, and Kohlberg’s Moral Development. Compare and contrast the articles to the theory. Students must compare 3 theories.
Provide Real-Life Examples: Describe real-life examples or scenarios that illustrate the concepts discussed in the articles. Relate these examples to the developmental theories presented, demonstrating how they manifest in everyday experiences.
Conclusion: Summarize your findings, emphasizing the importance of critically analyzing information about developmental processes from various sources. Reflect on the significance of understanding developmental theories and their implications for real-world contexts.
Topic Selection:
Choose a specific topic related to lifespan development. You may select from the provided list of topics or propose your own, subject to approval by the instructor.
Suggested outline:
Introduction
Brief overview of the chosen topic and its significance in lifespan development.
Explanation of the purpose of the paper: to compare and contrast a popular media article, an empirical research article, and a review article on the same topic and your book (bio, psychosocial, and cognitive chapters)
Thesis statement highlighting the importance of integrating findings from different sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
Literature Review
A. Overview of the Popular Media Article
Summary of the main points and findings presented in the popular media article.
Identification of the specific developmental time period discussed in the article.
Discussion of any real-life examples or case studies provided.
Empirical Research Article Analysis
Summary of the selected empirical research article.
Identification of the specific developmental time period studied in the research.
Examination of the research methodology, including sample size, design, and data analysis.
Discussion of the key findings and their implications for lifespan development.
Review Article Analysis
Summary of the chosen review article.
Overview of the developmental theories and perspectives discussed in the review article. GO INDEPTH HERE AND COMPARE TO YOUR MEDIA ARTICLE
Identification of major theorists (e.g., Piaget, Erikson, Vygotsky) and their contributions to understanding the chosen topic.
Discussion of how the review article synthesizes existing research and its implications for understanding lifespan development.
Comparison and Analysis
Comparison of the findings, conclusions, and theoretical perspectives presented in the popular media article, empirical research article, and review article.
Analysis of any discrepancies or similarities between the three sources.
Why do you believe one over the other? What does your book say?
Evaluation of the strengths and limitations of each source in contributing to the understanding of the chosen topic.
Real-Life Examples
Identification, definition, and description of real-life examples related to the chosen topic.
Analysis of how these real-life examples align with or diverge from the findings and theories discussed in the literature review.
Conclusion
Summary of the main findings and arguments presented in the paper.
Reflection on the significance of integrating findings from different sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of lifespan development.
Suggestions for future research directions or implications for practice in the field of developmental psychology.
References
Proper citation of all sources used in the paper, following APA style guidelines.
