Developmental Psychology (MPTC/809-188)
Learning Plan 1: Developmental Psychology
Research Study Analysis Worksheet
Instructions: Follow the directions in the curriculum for selecting an appropriate research
study report. Review/skim the research study report. Answer the questions listed on this
worksheet. You will need to use information from the research study report and from your
textbook or other course resources to answer the questions. You will also need to include
an APA formatted reference citation for the article you selected. Save the worksheet
(remember to include your name and name of the course at the top of this worksheet before
saving and submitting the assignment. Follow instructions in the curriculum for
submitting the worksheet.
1. What is the topic of the study?
2. What is the name of the group or organization that sponsored the study and the name
of the researchers who conducted the study?
3. What is the hypothesis of the study (what did the researchers want to find out)?
4. What is the population used for the study (what is the target group for the study? Be
specific. For example, if the research study is about behaviors of children with autism,
then the population is likely to include children with autism. You would, therefore, not
limit your response to the population question to “children.” NOTE: The sample size
(the specific number involved in the study) is covered in the next question.
5. What is the sample size used for the study (How many people/animals were used in the
study – this is a specific number)?
6. What is the independent variable? What is the dependent variable? You need to
answer this question: How does X (the independent variable) affect Y (the dependent
variable)? Your response should be similar to your response to question 4; that is, your
Developmental Psychology (MPTC/809-188)
hypothesis and your variables should match. Respond to the question by typing out the
statement and filling in the X and the Y.
7. What type of research design was employed for the study? (Descriptive Research,
Correlational Research, Experimental Research). Explain the purpose of the research
design, not the purpose of this specific study. So, you need to explain the purpose of
correlational research, or experimental research, or descriptive research…whichever one
you believe is the type of research design employed in this study. HINT: Use your
textbook to find out the purpose of the research design.)
8. What is strength of the research design selected for the study? What is a weakness of the
research design selected for the study? (NOTE: Your response should focus on the type
of research design, not the study itself…..That is, if you responded to Question 8 with
Correlational Research, then in Question 9, you are to identify one strength of
correlational research and one weakness of correlational research.)
9. What methods for collecting data did the researchers employ? Possible methods are (1)
Observation in a Laboratory, (2) Naturalistic Observation, (3) Survey, (4) Interview, (5)
Standardized test, (6) Case study, (7) Life history record, (8) Physiological Measures.
Define the method. (HINT: Use your textbook to find out the definition of the method
for collecting data.)
10. What is a strength of the method for collecting data? What is a weakness of the method
for collecting data? (NOTE: This question is not asking you to identify a strength or
weakness of the study, but to identify a strength and a weakness of the method of
collecting data.).
11. What is the time frame of the research (Cross-sectional or Longitudinal)? Explain the
time frame. (If the study is longitudinal, what is the timeframe?).
12. Explain how one theory of development relates to the study. (The theories are covered in
Chapter 1 in section 3 “Theories of Development”).
Developmental Psychology (MPTC/809-188)
13. What conclusions did the researchers make from the study? (NOTE: This information is
available in the article you selected. This is not your opinion.)
14. What limitations, problems of bias, omission, or ethics associated with the study? ?
(NOTE: This information is available in the article you selected. This is not your
opinion.)
15. What type of developmental specialist would use this research and why it would be of
interest to them? (NOTE: Types of developmental specialists are described at the end of
Chapter 1 in your textbook).
16. What is the APA formatted reference citation for the article you used for this
assignment?