Methods II Preview Assignment (Worth 40 Points Total)
You will read a paper written by an actual Research Methods and Design II student from a prior semester. This paper includes two studies the student conducted, with Study One introducing the main variables and Study Two offering an extension with replication of Study One. Your job is to read the whole paper and then complete your assignment.
In Part One, you will answer a bunch of questions about the paper. Please complete part I on canvas! This is set up as a separate assignment on canvas. Don’t forget to submit part I and part II!
In Part Two, write an abstract for the paper! I suggest you look at the example paper on Canvas to see how this should look! This should be fairly easy, as you can paraphrase the information from Part One. However, this time you need to write it in one short paragraph (150 to 250 word maximum!). Note: there are two studies, and you have to mention both. Yes, this is tough, but authors often summarize (in the same short abstract) papers that they wrote that may include six or seven different studies! My suggestion is to find the overlap between both studies and discuss both simultaneously. For example, “Both studies looked at X, but study two also examined Y.” That is, your abstract should include the following; 16 points total):
1. Title page (1 point)
2. Include the word “Abstract” at the top of your abstract (2 points)
3. Identify the general problem or research question (the hypotheses) for both studies. (2 points)
4. Note the participants for both studies (2 points)
5. Note the IVs and DVs for the studies (2 points)
6. Note the findings for both studies (2 points)
7. Note the overall conclusions / implications of the two studies (2 points)
8. Please include keywords for the study (at least 5 keywords or phrases – these are not included in the total word count) (2 points)
9. Correct any errors you find on the references page and include the corrected references at the bottom of your abstract page (see the example paper for how this should look). (2 points)
Writing Quality (7 points)
1. Avoid run-on sentences, sentence fragments, spelling errors, and grammar errors.
2. Write with sufficient detail that the person reading it would be able to understand what the study is about, even if they had not read the paper!
3. The writing should be PERFECT here. You will lose a point for each writing error, so proofread, proofread, and proofread some more!
4. Get a group member to review it for you! Review their abstract!
Total points possible: 40 points (Part I = 16 points; Part II = 24 points)
Other Instructions: this is an individual assignment.
1). Psychological Purpose
The psychological purpose behind the Methods II Preview Assignment is to give you a brief preview to the paper you will write in Methods II next semester. Not only do I want you to see what will go into your eventual Methods II research paper, but I also want to make sure that you can write a clear, succinct paragraph for a research study that covers all of the relevant information needed to convey the important parts of a study in a single paragraph (i.e. an Abstract).
The Abstract is one of the first items readers see. You need to convey a lot of information in this very short paragraph, as the potential reader will decide whether to read your full paper based on the information in the Abstract. There are several elements needed in the Abstract about research studies, including information about: a). the research question(s), b). the participants, c). the experimental methodology, d). the findings, and e). the conclusions / implications. Being able to write a precise yet succinct Abstract takes some effort, so make sure you go through several drafts before settling on your final version. Make sure to include keywords / key phrases as well (keywords are an essential part of articles, as these are the words or phrases that library databases like PsycInfo provide to searchers interested in specific topics. Well, the authors actually recommended these keywords, so if you include them for this short Abstract Assignment).
2). APA Formatting Purpose
This Article Critique assignment should once again assess your ability to follow APA formatting guidelines. Use Chapter 14 in your Smith and Davis textbook for help, and look at the instructions on the next page for guidance with formatting
3). Writing Purpose
I want to make sure you can write clearly and specifically, summarizing what might be a 20 page paper in a single paragraph. This assignment serves that.
Abstract Assignment Grading Rubric (40 points possible)
Title Page – 1 Point (Must have PERFECT APA formatting!)
Part One – Submit answers to questions posted on Canvas (16 points total).
Part Two – Abstract (2 points each item, or 16 points total)
a. Include the word “Abstract” at the top of your abstract
b. Identify the general problem or research question (the hypotheses) for both studies.
c. Note the participants for both studies
d. Note the IVs and DVs for the studies
e. Note the findings for both studies
f. Note the overall conclusions / implications of the two studies—what does it all mean? What are the main “take away” points from the study?
g. Please include keywords for the study (at least 5 keywords or phrases – these are not included in the total word count)
h. Correct any errors you find on the references page and include the corrected references at the end of your abstract (see the example paper for how this should look). (2 points)
Writing Quality (7 points)
1. Avoid run-on sentences, sentence fragments, spelling errors, and grammar errors.
2. The writing should be PERFECT here. You will lose a point for each writing error, so proofread, proofread, and proofread some more!
