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Psychology 101 Article Analysis
I.
The Assignment
The paper requires you to find a peer reviewed, empirical journal article. You will analyze the article
and write a three section paper covering all content under “What will be in the paper?” section. You
will be graded on content, style, and mechanics.
The article will have a topic that aligns with some topic or aspect from the Prologue or Chapters
1-4, 6-8, or 11-12 of the textbook.
II.
How do you find your article?
(A) Find one article in a peer-reviewed, empirical journal on a topic from the designated chapters in the
textbook.
“Peer Reviewed” describes articles written for publication in academic or professional journals.
When an author submits an article t such a journal, a committee of peers in the author’s discipline
reviews the article for accuracy, for writing quality, and for containing information of value to that
discipline. Knowing an article has been peer-reviewed lends credibility to it.
“Empirical” means that the article is the report on a research project.
It must describe a specific experiment or study. It should have a methods section and a results
section. DO NOT use an article that is a review of a collection of research studies, an editorial
paper, or a meta-analysis.
Select an article that describes a study with human participants. The first question you should ask
yourself when trying to determine if yours is an appropriate article is the following: How many
human participants were included in the study? If you cannot answer this question, you should
probably find another article.
(B) For articles you may use the EBSCO Academic Search Premier database, Wilson Social Sciences
database, or www.apa.org/journals website.
EBSCO is the name of a database publisher. PPCC Libraries use several of their databases like
Academic Search Complete and Wilson Social Services database.
You can access Academic Search Complete by going to the library home page: www.ppcc.edu. Once
you are there click on “Search Databases.” The library’s database will appear. Academic Search
Complete is the first database listed. Click on the title. If you are on campus you will be taken into the
database.
If you are off campus you will need to follow the on-screen instruction in order to log in.
Once you are in the database you may click on the option “Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals” and
begin searching.
See the library site for information on using some advanced searching techniques.
1. The article must have been published within the last ten (10) years.
2. The article must be at least seven (7) pages.
3. Make sure the article is an empirical article (it describes an experiment or study and has
a “Methods” section and a “Results” section.
4. Select an article that describes a study with human participants (preferably children). The
first question you should ask yourself when trying to determine if yours is an appropriate
article is the following: How many human participants were included in the study? If you can
not answer this question, you should probably find another article.
5. You will attach the article to the end of your paper.
6. You need to print the article including all tables and graphs.
7. Papers using unacceptable sources will receive a grade of zero.
(C) You can find a brief (approximately five minute) video on how to read a scholarly article
which may help you. It is designed for people doing research but describes the various parts
of a scholarly article. To view it go to the PPCC Library homepage. Under “Library Research
Guide” click on “LibGuides”. Click on “Video Tutorials” from the list that appears. Go to
“How To Do Research” and then to “How To Read a Scholarly Article.”
III.
IV.
The parts of the paper
Your paper will have several components:
(A) Paper (including title page, article analysis, and reference page) – note that the article
analysis should be a minimum three of pages and a maximum of four, such that your entire
paper should be five to six pages including title page and reference page.
(B) Copy of article.
(C) See the syllabus for due dates.
(D) Papers which do not have the minimum number of pages will be penalized 10% per page.
(E) Papers turned in late will be penalized 20% per class.
The Title Page
See the APA publication manual in the library
or at www.owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
(A) Section one
This is your introductory paragraph.
1. What article will you be analyzing?
2. How does the information in the article relate to what is covered in the
textbook?
3. Do NOT put results in the introductory paragraph.
(B) Section two: Description
This section describes the participants of the study and what the researches did
(method).
1. What did the researchers do?
2. Who was in the study?
(a) Were males and females included in the sample and what percentage or how
many?
(b) What was the age of the participants (as a whole and divided by subgroups)?
(c) What was the racial/ethnic makeup of the sample? What percentage or how
many in each group?
(d) What was the socio-economic status of the sample?
(e) What was the educational level of the sample?
(f) What was the marital status of the sample?
(g) What geographical region was the sample from?
3. What did the authors find?
4. What were the conclusions of the study?
5. What did the authors state were the limitations of the study?
(C) Section three: Analysis
This section describes your analysis and opinion of the study or the hypotheses and
reasoning of the author(s).
1. What is the relevance (importance) of the study or hypotheses?
2. What is your opinion about the study or the author(s) arguments?
3. The research
a. What did the researchers do well?
What could have been improved about the research?
b. Are the participants in the study representative of the population to which
the researchers want to be able to be able to apply the results?
c. Does the study have practical implications?
d. What are the limitations of the study in your opinion?
4. Compare/contrast, critique, refute, or evaluate the article based on the
information in the textbook.
5. Further analysis can include:
a. What are some ways a person could use the information from the article?
b. Why is the information/conclusion important?
c. If you were to argue against the ideas/conclusions, what would you say?
d. If you were to argue for the ideas/conclusions, what would you say?
e. Is there another way to look at the conclusions or ideas from the article?
6. Concluding remarks.
V.
The Reference Page
Reference Page Guidelines
Go to the Purdue University OWL website listed above or see a copy of the APA publication
manual in the library mentioned above.
The only reference will be the article you are analyzing.
VI.
Mechanics and Style
(A) Your paper will be graded based on mechanics and style as wells as content.
(B) The paper is a formal academic paper written in APA format. This influences:
1. Documentation of sources
2. Tenses: no second person tense (“you”). You can use first person (“I”) in the first and
third sections of the paper. The remainder of the paper should be written in third
person (“he”, “she”, “they”).
(C) Mechanics also includes:
1. Grammar
2. Spelling
3. Punctuation
4. Sentence and paragraph structure
(D) Helpful hints:
1. Use the spell checker from your word processing software.
2. Make sure every sentence has a subject and a verb.
3. Check subject-verb agreement.
4. Avoid slang or colloquial phrases.
5. Use active tense as much as possible.
(E) You need to have a header and page numbers in the upper right-hand corner (see APA
format).
(F) Double space and computer print or type all pages including your title page and references.
Handwritten papers will not be accepted.
(G) Use a 12 point font (preferably Times New Roman) with one inch margins.
VII.
How do you refer to other people’s work and give credit?
This is called citations and references:
(A) Use APA (American Psychological Association).
(B) Copies of the publication manual are in the open reference section of the library (one
manual at Centennial campus and one manual at Rampart Range campus).
(C) You can also visit the Purdue University OWL site at
www.owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html
(D) Quotes:
You are not allowed to have any quotes in your paper. You need to paraphrase what the
article says and then give credit according to APA format.
(E) Plagiarism:
If you present other people’s words or ideas as your own that is plagiarism. You must list
your source for all ideas not your own even though you are paraphrasing what the article
said. You must list your source not only on the reference page but throughout your paper.
You must give credit.
Papers which contain plagiarism will receive a score of zero.
(F) How do you change other people’s words into your own words?
1. Change words and change the structure of the sentence.
Use a thesaurus and dictionary to come up with synonyms. Changing words is not
enough, you should rearrange the sentence.
2. Read the passage and set it aside.
Write down on a piece of paper what you thought the passage said. Then check what
you have written against the original for accuracy.
(G) You cannot submit a paper that has been submitted in another course or class at Pikes Peak
Community College or any other institution.
VIII.
Submitting the Paper
(A) Research papers are to be submitted in both hard-copy form and online through D2L via
the “Dropbox” folder on the course site. A paper is not considered submitted and will
not be graded until both the hard-copy and online copy are submitted.
(B) You must submit a hard copy of an edited version of the paper along with your final
product. The edited version must show all edit marks. Failure to submit an edited copy
will result in the loss of 50% of your grade.
IX.
Where can you go for help with your paper?
(A) You may see me after class.
(B) You may take your paper to the writing center for help. Make sure that you bring this
assignment handout with you.
Rubric For Article Analysis
Below Standard Expectations
A.
Meets Standard Expectations
Exceeds Standard Expectations
0-1 Points
1. Presentation is illogical, disordered.
2. Paper is generally underdeveloped.
3. Contains many examples of fallacious
statements of reasoning.
2-3 Points
1. Logical, orderly presentation
2. The paper is adequately developed.
3. Paper contains few examples of
fallacious statements or reasoning.
4 Points
1. The reasoning is logical, orderly, and
internally consistent.
2. The paper is well developed.
3. Paper is basically free of fallacious
statements and reasoning.
0-1 Points
1. Article is not peer reviewed or
empirical in nature and/or does not
relate to the content of the relevant
chapters of the textbook.
2. Heavy reliance on quotations or
paraphrasing or providing “fill” material.
3. A brief description explaining how the
article relates to the material covered in
the chapter in either missing or
inadequately makes the connection.
4. The paper fails to explain or
insufficiently explains the developmental
phenomenon, theory, process, issue or
research finding of the article.
5. Weak or non-existent insightful
applications of topic to ramifications/
relevance for life situations
6. The paper fails to (or inadequately)
compare/contrast, critique, refute, or
evaluate the article based on the
information in the textbook and writer’s
thoughts.
2-7 Points
1. Article is peer reviewed and
adequately related to the content of
the textbook.
2. Original writing supported with
occasional quotations paraphrasing.
3. A brief description explains how the
article relates to the material covered
in the text with some lack of clarity.
4. The paper adequately explains the
developmental phenomenon, theory,
process, issue or research finding of
the article.
5. Adequate applications of topic to
ramifications/relevance for life
situations.
6. The paper does an adequate job of
comparing/contrasting, critiquing,
refuting, or evaluating the article
based on the information in the text
and writer’s thoughts.
8-9 Points
1. Article is peer reviewed, empirical
and related to the content of the
textbook chapters.
2. Limited quotations and paraphrasing
extremely well integrated with original
writing.
3. A brief description explains how the
article relates to the material covered in
the text.
4. The paper clearly explains the
developmental phenomenon, theory,
process, issue or research finding the
article illustrates and explains how the
finding applies to the article.
5. Insightful applications of content to
ramifications/relevance for life
situations.
6. The paper compares/contrasts,
critiques, refutes, or evaluates the
article based on the information in the
textbook and writer’s thoughts.
C.
APA
Format
0 Points
Most features of APA style are ignored.
1-2 Points
Several features of APA style are
ignored.
3 Points
APA style employed in a proficient manner.
D.
Grammar
And
Mechanics
0-1 Points
1. Errors in spelling, punctuation and/or
typos are numerous through paper.
2. Grammatical errors substantially
detract from the communication.
3. Overuse of first and second person
instead of third person.
2-5 Points
1. Errors in spelling and punctuation
are minimal as are typos.
2. Grammatical errors are minimal.
3. Appropriate use of third person
throughout the paper.
6-7 Points
1. The document is basically free of spelling
and punctuation errors, and typos.
2. The document is free of grammatical
errors.
3. The document is free of use of first and
second person and uses third person.
E.
0 Points
Writing is “choppy” with many awkward
phrases and/or paragraphs.
1-2 Point
Writing generally flows well with some
awkward phrases and/or paragraphs.
3 Points
Writing consistently flows well with few
awkward phrases and paragraphs.
Sentences and paragraphs are well
developed.
Reasoning
and
Related
Abilities
B.
Content,
Sources,
Knowledge
of Topic,
Focus of
Paper
Communic
ation Skills