Psychology Research Project (Per 1, 5 & 8)
All students enrolled in a semester social studies course are required to complete a research
project. Your research project in Psychology is designed to accomplish several goals.
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To research one field in psychology
To participate in a collaborative assignment
To develop written and oral skills of communication
To accomplish these goals you will form a research team of two students and select an approved
topic. You must submit a written proposal of your topic on or before Fri Apr.15, 2016.
Your second step is to gather information from appropriate sources. We will research in the IMC
for 5 days (Apr 20, 27 & May 4, 11, 18) to help in this process. If you need additional time for
this stage, a blue IMC five use pass will be issued for more IMC time for study hall/lunch use..
As a team, you and your partner will be responsible to conduct a literature search on your topic.
You must have a minimum of 5 (five) sources on your final APA Bibliography. Only two (2)
may be electronic sources. Your textbook is NOT a satisfactory source.
Using the information gleaned from your literature search, you and your partner will complete
the following requirements:
 A Poster Display- which gives a summary of the latest information in your topic and
highlights a special area of interest associated with your topic. The display should be
attractive and orderly. Many students like to use a large size “science fair” three section
poster (available from suppliers such as Staples or craft store like Michaels). A power point
presentation instead of a poster is an option with pre-approval from Mrs. Craig.
 An Annotated Bibliography- of your five (5) sources. A sample has been included below.
This is due the day of presentation and attached to the back of your poster/or handed to
Mrs. Craig if using a power point.
 A Ten Minute Oral Presentation- of the important information you have discovered about
your topic. You and your partner are equally responsible for this presentation. Any student
who is absent on the day of the presentation will be required to meet with me. If there is a
question regarding a partner who has not contributed his/her share of work, a meeting
between both partners and Mrs. Craig will be conducted to resolve questions concerning
differences in grades that might result. A rubric will be provided for grading this section.
GRADING
1. Topic must be submitted for approval in writing.
2. Posters and presentations are due starting May 19. Sign up sheets are posted. Students are
responsible for signing up on a date that doesn’t interfere with other obligations/field trips.
3. Students who do not sign up or not prepared on the due date will suffer a ten percent deduction
in grade. Absence is not an excuse. Completed presentations must be delivered to school.
4. The completed project is worth 100 points. Calculation of grade:
 Poster/power point 50%
 Oral presentation 25%
 Annotated bibliography 25%
POSSIBLE PSYCHOLOGY RESEARCH TOPICS– the following list is not meant to be
inclusive. Hopefully it will help you generate an idea which you and your partner will find
interesting. Remember, if you find your topic unworkable, you must get approval from Mrs.
Craig before switching to another topic. You must submit a second topic proposal form.
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Why do we dream?
What effect does divorce have on children?
What causes shyness?
What is autism?
Can watching TV violence cause children to become aggressive?
What are learning disabilities?
Does ESP exist?
How do stereotypes cause prejudice?
How do advertisements influence behavior?
How can you improve your memory?
How valid are IQ tests?
What are the various types of territorialism?
Lefthandedness- does it matter?
How similar are identical twins?
What are the effects of stress?
Why do adults abuse their children?
Does subliminal persuasion have an effect on behavior?
What is body language?
Can a polygraph determine if someone is lying?
How are gender differences created?
When is an insanity plea used?
What are some examples of optical illusions and why do they work?
What are the causes/treatments for (select one): schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive
disorder, bipolar disorder, multiple personality. etc.
Are personality traits inherited?
Is ethnic prejudice too ingrained ever to be eliminated?
Does daycare harm the emotional development of infants?
Are IQ tests unfairly biased against certain groups?
Can traumatic memories be repressed, then recovered?
Does acupuncture relieve pain?
Are there drugs that can make you smarter?
Does cynical hostility increase the risk of heart disease?
Can medication help relieve stress?
Can chimps or other animals learn language?
Is punishment ever effective?
Why do we sleep?
Can hypnosis improve eyewitness memory?
What do twin studies reveal?
When will people help?(altruism)
Why do people conform?
When will people obey an order to harm another?
EXAMPLE OF ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ENTRY:
Norman, D.A. (1997). American Psychological Association Handbook. New York: Academic Press.
The principles in this document make explicit an investigator’s ethical responsibilities toward participant as
over the course of research – from the initial decision to pursue a study to the steps necessary to protect the
confidentiality of research data. Although primarily intended for use in research, any many of the principles
also apply to demonstrations and activities employed in the teaching of psychology
For journal articles, add volume numbers and page numbers at the end. If an author’s name is not available,
substitute an editor’s name or the title of the article in quotation makers.
Note: The above example is not real!