Sections C & D
Psychology 238
Assignment #3 – Empirical Article, Poster and Presentation
Due: Wednesday April 25, 2007 (50 pts.)
Brief Description:
Each group will select a topic and answer questions based on an empirical research article.
Students will look for one empirical article in peer reviewed journals that focus on their topic.
Students will answer questions about the article of their topic.
Students will then create a mini-poster based on their empirical article and make a class
presentation on it.
Objective:
1. To learn more about an area of interest.
2. To learn how to navigate through library system (including using PSYCINFO).
3. To read original research in the field of abnormal psychology.
4. To practice presenting a research study.
Assignment Requirements:
1. Approval of topic and article.
2. Approximately 2-3 page paper.
3. A poster of your article.
4. A 5 minute class presentation.
Criteria of Article:
1. Must be an empirical article (not a review of the literature)
2. Must be published in a peer reviewed journal
Dates:
M 4/9
W 4/11
M 4/16
W 4/25
M 4/30
W 5/2
Distribute assignment
How to use PSYCINFO
Submit topic and article abstract
Written portion of assignment due
Poster presentations
Poster presentations
Potential Journals (not exhaustive):
American Journal of Community Psychology
Behavior Research and Therapy
Behavior Therapy
Clinical Psychology Review
Cognitive Therapy and Research
Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority
Psychology
Developmental Psychopathology
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Journal of Child Abnormal Psychology
Journal of Community Psychology
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Journal of Counseling Psycholgy
Schizophrenia Bulletin
Below are some recommendations on ways to narrow down your topic. You are not limited to these topics. These are listed to give you
some ideas of directions you can go in.
DISORDER
Mood Disorders:
Major Depressive Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Suicide
Anxiety Disorders:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Specific Phobia
Social Phobia
Dissociative Disorders
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders:
Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorder
Personality Disorders:
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Schizotypical Personality Disorder
Eating Disorders:
Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia
Substance Use Disorders:
Alcohol Abuse
Sexual Dysfunction Disorders:
Pervasive Developmental Disorders:
Autism
Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity Disorder
POPULATION
Gender
Age/Developmental Period:
Children
Adolescents
Adults
Ethnic Minority:
African American
Asian American
Latino
Other Special Populations:
Prisoners
War Veterans
Patients
Students
TOPIC
Etiology:
Biological Factors:
Genes
Hormones
Neurological (brain structures)
Neurochemical (neurotransmitters)
Psychological Factors:
Temperament
Cognition
Social Factors:
SES
Physical/Sexual Abuse History
Gender
Culture
Treatment:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Family Therapy
Psychodynamic Therapy
Medication
Support Groups
Assessment
Psychology 238
Assignment # 3 (50 points) due December 7, 2006
Anatomy of an Empirical Article
Answer the following questions based on the article you chose.
Use the additional handouts
All responses should be typed, double spaced, 12 point font.
Make sure you include your name, netID, and section #.
A. Introduction of Topic (5 points):
-Write a paragraph describing the topic area you decided to choose. Use
information from lecture and/or the textbook with page numbers if needed.
B. Summary of Article (10 points):
-In your own words summarize the article you chose for the assignment. Do not
summarize or copy the abstract. Answer can range from a couple of paragraphs to one
page.
C. Questions related to empirical article.
1 What did the authors say the purpose of the study was? (4 points)
2 What were the hypotheses of the study? (4 points)
3 Describe the sample that was used in the study. (4 points)
4 What were the findings of the study? Did they support the hypothesis? Why or
why not? (4 points)
5 What were some of the limitations of the study that were discussed? (4 points)
D. In your own words, what did you learn from the article? What are some questions
you still have related to your topic? (5 points)
E. Include an APA citation of your article. (5 points)
F. Make sure to have your topic and article approved by the instructor by November 14,
2006. Make sure to turn in a copy of the article or the abstract of the article to the
instructor as part of the assignment. (5 points)
Additional Information for Assignment # 3
Psychological empirical articles all follow the format below. All main headings will be included (e.g.,
Introduction, Methods, etc.). However depending on the study, not all subheadings will be included.
1. Abstract
a. 1 paragraph summary of the article.
2. Introduction
a. Review of prior literature
i. Previous empirical research
ii. Theoretical underpinnings
b. Justification of why research is important
c. Hypotheses/Research questions
3. Methods
a. Participants
i. Who was in the study?
ii. Number
iii. Demographics
iv. Recruitment strategy
b. Measures
i. What did they do?
ii. Interviews, Questionnaires, Secondary data, Observations, Psychophysiological
techniques, etc.
c. Procedures
i. How was the study implemented?
4. Results
a. Analysis of data
b. It is likely that at this stage, you will not understand most of the statistics performed. That is
okay. Read the results section to get a general idea of what they found. It should be
explained more in the discussion section.
5. Discussion
a. Findings
i. Support/lack of support for hypothesis
b. Interpretations of findings
c. Implications for practice and research
d. Future directions of research
Grading Criteria:
Possible Points
Choice of article
Articles are related to topic, empirical, and/or
approved by the instructor
Introduction of Topic
Clear statement of topic
Summary of Article
More than restating the abstract
Emphasis of how the article is related to topic in
your own words.
Questions on Article
Critical examination of article (Answers to
questions)
5
5
10
20
Conclusion
What was learned?
5
APA Style Citation of Article
Clear attempt at citing the article using APA style
5
Total
50
Points Earned
APA Style
APA style is the most commonly used writing style in the field of psychology. It is frequently
used in other fields as well. For this assignment, you are expected to include a citation of your
article using APA style. Below are some general guidelines to follow.
Basics:


Double-space (for this handout, I single-spaced to save space, but you should always
double-space)
For this assignment, please use one inch margins, Times New Roman size 12 font.
Citations In-Text:
Parenting is often characterized as a risk factor to mental health problems among
youth in research studies. In a review of more than 50 studies, Repetti, Taylor, and
Seeman (2002) characterized “risky families” as having high levels of conflict and
aggression and who were cold, unsupportive, and neglectful toward youth. The authors
concluded that risky families have “damaging outcomes for mental and physical health”
(p. 330) of youth beginning in childhood and continuing into adulthood. Another review
of the literature also conceptualized parenting as a risk factor to mental health outcomes.
A meta-analysis was conducted on a subset of 46 studies examining the relation between
“negative parenting” and mental health problems (Grant, Compas, Sthuhlmacher, Thurm,
McMahon, & Halpert, 2003). Negative parenting had a significant positive relation to
internalizing and externalizing problems in youth. Hence, both the Repetti et al. (2002)
and the Grant et al. (2003) reviews refer to parenting as risk factors as opposed to
benefiting youth mental health.
References:
References
Grant, K. E., Compas, B. E., Stuhlmacher, A. F., Thurm, A. E., McMahon, S. D., &
Halpert, J.
A. (2003). Stressors and child and adolescent psychopathology: Moving
from markers to
mechanisms of risk. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 447-466.
Repetti, R. L., Taylor, S. E., & Seeman, T. E. (2002). Risky families: Family social
environments and the mental and physical health of offspring. Psychological Bulletin, 128,
330-366.