Signature Paper/Writing Assignment
The purpose of this paper is to assess your critical thinking, writing, information literacy,
and technological competency. This is an academic writing assignment, which includes
the title page, body (content paragraphs), and reference list.
Overview:
1. Identify a theory or concept in the text.
2. Explain the theory or concept (definitions, main points).
3. Locate a peer-reviewed journal article that examines the theory or concept
that you selected. You will look for your article using the Psychology
Research Toolkit. The articles chosen should not be a review or
theoretical articles, but published in peer-reviewed journals (e.g.,
Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Developmental Psychology, Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Experimental Psychology).
Articles must include methods and results sections. Only empirical
research from a peer-reviewed/refereed psychology journal is acceptable.
You are required to read the article and do not use the abstract to respond
to the questions below.
4. Critically evaluate the article by identifying the different parts of the
research study and identify where this research can be applied/used in the
real world.
a. Describe the psychology research question/topic presented in the
peer-reviewed journal article? How does this article relate to your
research question/topic? You must attach a PDF copy of your
article when you submit your essay.
b. What is the hypothesis(es) of the research? Describe the
hypothesis(es) of the research in your own words.
c. What are the research variables? Identify the independent and
dependent variable(s).
d. What did the researchers do? Describe the subjects/participants
within the methodology of the study in your own words. Be sure to
identify what kind of research method was used (survey,
experiment, correlational study), the variables that were measured
in the study, and any other relevant aspects of the methodology.
[Hint: This information is described in the section of the article titled
“Method or Methodology.” Explain how the research was conducted
well enough that someone who hasn’t read the article will know
what the researchers did.]
e. What was the research design (e.g., descriptive, correlational, or
experimental and/or quasi-experimental)?
f. What did the researchers find? Describe the main results of the
study in your own words. [Hint: The results are described in the
section titled “Results” and then often summarized again in the
section titled “Discussion/Conclusion.”]
g. What do the results mean? Describe the main conclusions drawn
from this study in your own words. [Hint: The researchers’
conclusions are usually discussed in the section titled
“Discussion/Conclusion.’]
h. What are the strengths and weaknesses of this study? In your own
words, describe at least one strength and one weakness of the
study, explaining why these are strengths and weaknesses. This is
your opinion, rather than strengths and limitations as identified by
the researchers in the articles.
i. How would you improve this study? If you were to do the study over
again, describe what changes you would make and why these
changes would improve the study.
j. Based on what you have read and learned in the course draw an
intellectual conclusion. Give your opinion about the issue. Why is
this empirical research important? State what all this means for the
theory or concept. How does this empirical research impact society,
policy or future empirical research? What have you learned from
the theory or concept? How will you apply that new knowledge to
your everyday life?
5. The paper should use APA style formatting. Refer to the APA Student
Paper Formatting Checklist included in the APA Style Writing Tools
folder in Course Content to ensure that your assignment is properly
formatted. Correct grammar and spelling are important and will be
assessed. The paper should include proper citations in the body of your
paper as well as the reference list again using APA style. The WRL may
be contacted for assistance with writing mechanics, citations, and
paraphrasing. For assistance and questions including regarding choosing
a research article contact the reference librarian.
6. You are must complete the Scholarly Writing Tutorials and Quizzes
including 1) Library Tutorial/Quiz Academic Integrity and Avoiding
Plagiarism, 2) Library Tutorial/Quiz Choosing and Using Keywords, 3)
Library Tutorial/Quiz How to Read Scholarly Material, 4) Library
Tutorial/Quiz Why Citations Matter, 5) Library Tutorial/Quiz Begin Your
Research, 6) Library Tutorial/Quiz Evaluating Information, and 7) Library
Tutorial/Quiz Primary Sources. These provide guidance on how to read a peer
reviewed journal article, write an article summary and how to cite sources in APA
style. As a part of this assignment,you must take all the Tutorial/Quizzes.
7. The writing assignment MUST be submitted using Microsoft Word or PDF
(preferred). It MUST be uploaded into Blackboard. All submissions will be
checked for plagiarism.
Additional tips for reading and evaluating journal articles:
• Examine whether information (e.g., hypotheses, procedures, researchers
interpretation of results) is clearly outlined or stated.
• Additional questions to consider include:
o Are all tables and graphs clearly labeled?
o Do researchers provide enough statistical information?
o Did the results support their hypothesis?
o Do the conclusions drawn by the researchers seem reasonable?
• Take note of pertinent information (e.g., results/findings)
• Document any questions you have while reading the article. Refer back to these
questions and whether they were addressed as you write your critique
