Overview
The purpose of the Understanding Research Paper Assignment is to critically examine a research article using Jordan & Zanna’s (1999) recommendations for evaluating a research study. This resource is found in the Learn section of Module 5: Week 5. Please locate and read a research article on any topic in psychology that interests you, using the Jerry Falwell Library databases. If you are not familiar with the Jerry Falwell Library and how to find resources, please watch the brief Library tutorial located on the Understanding Research Paper Assignment page under the Understanding Research Paper Resources. Also, please read the information on Defining Databases and Journals located under the Understanding Research Paper Resources on the Understanding Research Paper Assignment page for information on what a scholarly journal article is and how to find them in the research databases.
Instructions
For this Understanding Research Paper Assignment, please locate and read an article on any topic in psychology that interests you. Actively read the article using the evaluation recommendations of Jordan & Zanna (1999). In your reading by Jordan & Zanna (1999), there are questions to guide you through an evaluation of each section of your research article. Use those questions to actively read the journal article you have selected, and then write a 2–3 page summary evaluation of the article that includes the following:
- A concise description of the purpose of the study and research questions.
- An evaluation of the method of the study. Briefly describe how the researcher(s) collected the data for the study and then report any limitations you see. For example, evaluate their sample, how the variables were measured, and any other methodological factors that may have affected the study.
- A brief description of the results found. What were the major findings? Did the findings support the researchers’ hypotheses?
- An evaluation of how the authors discussed the findings. Do you agree with how they discussed the findings of their study? Are there possible alternative explanations for what they found (or didn’t find)? Are there things about the way the study was conducted (described above) that could explain why the authors found what they found (or didn’t find)?
The Understanding Research Paper Assignment must also include a title page and reference page in current APA format. The Understanding Research Paper Assignment must include an introduction and conclusion in addition to the body, as outlined above. The title page and reference page are not included in the 2–3 page requirement. Please note that the Understanding Research Paper Assignment is meant to be a concise summary and evaluation of a research article using the recommendations of Jordan & Zanna (1999). You are not expected to review all limitations, but rather to point out some factors that you notice when you critically evaluated the article.
Be sure to review the criteria on the Understanding Research Paper Grading Rubric before beginning the Understanding Research Paper Assignment.