AP Psychology - First Semester Project – POSTER BOARD & PAPER
“Creating a Hypothetical Correlational or Experimental Psychology Study”
As part of your first semester grade you will be asked to create a viable psychology study. You will
be working with partners (only groups of three unless otherwise specified) on these projects are due
on _____________________. Failure to appear on that date will result in a full letter grade penalty.
The specifics for the project are described below. Good Luck!!!
On _____________________ & ______________________ & _____________________ we will
have computer lab days to research, create your poster board and type your paper. The same
information that is included on your poster board is also included in the paper. What ever you don’t
complete in class is homework. You must use your time wisely.
Objective: For students to apply the information they have learned about psychological research
and create a viable study to present to the class. You and your partner(s) need to identify an area of
interest for your psychological study and find two research articles per person on your topic. It is
important you can find information on your topic. If there is no information on your topic, you need to
revise your topic. Your two articles are due on _________________________.
Procedure:
1. On ____________________, you will turn in a rough draft of your research question and the
beginning of your outline. # 1 – 10 of the project guidelines must be completed for this
draft. (25pts) Be sure to give me detail. The more detail you give, the more feedback I can
give you. This draft needs to be PRINTED and turned into me.
2. On ___________________, you will turn in a second outline of your research project including
your hypothesis and experimental / correlational design. #1- 12 of the project guidelines
must be completed and you must fix any suggestions I made from your previous draft.
You must also write out your complete conclusion which should be about 1 ½ pages
(25pts) This draft needs to be submitted on TURN IT IN. COM.
3. You and your partner will turn in a typed essay (20) about your research study the day you
present your poster board to the class. Follow the format included for typing the paper. YOUR
PAPER AND POSTER WILL CONTAIN THE SAME INFORMATION! YOUR PAPER IS
JUST A MORE DETAILED EXPLAINATION. I am available before and after school if you
would like to me to go over your draft of your paper with you. It is optional.
4. Your FINAL PAPER needs to also be submitted on TURN IT IN.COM. You must also
turn a PRINTED copy of the paper, the graded first draft and a rubric needs to also be
turned in during class.
5. This grade will count towards 10 percent of your semester grade.
The Project: You need to include the following ON YOUR POSTER BOARD! The information
in italics tells you what to put in your paper. BE SURE THE INFO ON THE POSTER BOARD IS
NEATLY TYPED OR HANDWRITTEN AND IS LARGE ENOUGH TO VISUALLY SEE! You may
use both sides of the poster board for your presentation! All info needs to be put on the
poster board in the same order as listed below!
1. A research problem. It should be written as a question.
the abstract and title section.
Revised Feb 2012
For paper this information will go in
2. A hypothesis (with operational definitions). This should be written as a statement.
this information will go in the abstract and title section.
For paper
3. Pre-determined independent and dependent variables (EXPERIMENT ONLY). If you are
doing a correlational study you do not have to do this. For paper this information will go in the
title section.
4. Clearly defined subjects including target population, demographic information (this describes
who is in your population), and sample size. For paper this information will go in the
participants section.
5. Identify your sample (who, where /how you got them) and how you will get subjects. For
paper this information will go in the participants section.
6. A clearly defined test and control group (double or single blind?) if you are doing an
experiment. How do you put them in groups and how exactly is it a double or single blind?
(EXPERIMENT ONLY)
For paper this information will go in the title section.
7. A detailed description of the method being used and what specific information / data will be
obtained (ex. case study, survey, experiment). If you are conducting a hypothetical survey
you need to create 5-6 potential questions and choices. THERE MUST BE CHOICES FOR
SURVEY ANSWERS! For paper this information will go in the title section.
8. THIS ONLY GOES IN THE PAPER AND NOT ON THE POSTER!! A step by step procedure
for conducting the study including directions, sample tests, etc. Describe for me from
beginning to end of what occurs in your study. Number each step. Be sure to include APA
Guidelines. For paper this information will go in the procedure section.
9. Identify the statistical analysis (Is it average? Is it a correlation? ETC.) that will be used for
your data and why you chose that form. How would you graph your data and include a graph
of your “data.” If you can find a real graph of actual data to support your hypothesis then use
that, if not you can create a graph of what you think would be the results if you did your study.
****Due to the complexity of research and statistical analysis, you will not actually be
conducting the study or experiment nor calculating the statistical analysis. **** You will
be supporting your hypothesis with research that has already been completed! For paper this
information will go in the procedure section.
10. The results section will consist of information you have found from your research. It is
important to find similar studies to yours that have already been done to support your
hypothesis. You need to find at least 5 quotes / facts from other research that either proves
or disproves your hypothesis. For paper this information will go in the results section.
11. A conclusion of what you learned, liked, disliked and any problems (extraneous and
confounding variables, selection, ETC.) you had or anticipated. What changes would you
make for future studies? Why is this information / research project important? THIS SHOULD
BE ABOUT 1 ½ PAGES. For paper this information will go in the discussion section.
12. You must quote and cite information in your presentation. You also must include a works cited
at the end of your presentation. PLAGARISM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE!
Revised Feb 2012
Evaluation: Your project will be evaluated on content, creativity and cooperation.
Content = 50% Did you cover all the major areas listed above with adequate information both in the
typed paper and power point presentation? CAN I REPLICATE THIS STUDY FROM THE
INFORMATION YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME?
Creativity / Neatness = 25% Is this an original study or a replicate one? Were you creative in your
presentation and or product?
Cooperation / Presentation / Drafts = 25% How well did you work with your partner? Did everyone
have a speaking part? Was everyone present? Did you use your class time wisely? Did you make
suggested changes?
THINGS TO REMEMBER!
1.You may use both sides of the
poster board!
2. Be sure we can read your
information! Neatly typed or
handwritten
3. All information must be put
on your poster in the same
order as presented above.
This is what your poster
display board must look like.
You can purchase these at
any office supply store.
Paper Format (not including the title page or works cited 4 to 5 pages double spaced, size 12
font, 1 inch margins) 1 per group!
Type your correlational study or experimental study in the following this format. Please follow
closely.
TITLE PAGE
Main Topic of Paper PG #
Go to View, Header and Footer
(Put on every page)
Sample:
Restaurant Tipping 1
Sample:
Effect of an After-Meal Candy on Restaurant Tipping
An Experimental Study in a Naturalistic Setting
Title
Name(s) of Authors
Be sure to tell me if it is a correlational or
experimental study in the second part of
the title.
Revised Feb 2012
Mrs. Polacek
Date
Main Topic of Paper PG #
Abstract
The purpose of the abstract is to give your reader is to introduce your study. Include in the
abstract what the purpose of your study was, what the hypothesis (with operational definitions) was, your
variables being measured, and what the main results were. This part should only be a preview. The typed
portion should not be longer than one paragraph or half a page. You must include the information from
#1 and 2.
INSERT PAGE BREAK__________________________________________________________
Main Topic of Paper PG #
Title
In the first portion of the paper (in 2-4 paragraphs) explain your purpose, hypothesis (with operational
definitions), why you chose this topic, and any background information you have about your topic. You
must include the information from #1, 2, 3, 6, 7.
Method
Be sure to indent and
use italics
Participants
Include the same information here as you did in your PPT about your participants. You must
include the information from #4 and 5.
Be sure to indent and
use italics
Procedure
Include the same information here as you did in your PPT about the method and procedure. You
must include the information from #8 and 9.
Results
Be sure to find information from resources that supports your hypothesis!!! Be sure to cite
your sources. You must include the information from #10.
Discussion
The discussion begins with a statement of the predictions and results and concludes by noting the
limitations of the study and ideas for further investigation. You must include the information from #11.
Revised Feb 2012
Name(s) __________________________________________________ Period ____________
Topic_____________________________________________________
Criterion
Content
1. Identify the Problem
Comment
Max Point
2. State Hypothesis
2
5
3. Explanation of Method
(variables, reasons, ect.)
4. Sample (target pop,
size, how selected, ETC).
10
5. Data Collection &
Analysis (how you’ll get it
and what you’ll do with it)
6. Conclusion (anticipated
problems, variables and
future studies)
Presentation / Poster
1. Poster was neatly
organized, info was in
order, clear, creative
2. Work was divided
equally, all spoke during
presentation
3. Used real research to
support your project.
Internally cited sources
4. Use of Class Time, Use
of Resources, Asked
Teacher 4 Help
Paper
Well written, follows
format, includes all of the
above information.
Includes well written,
descriptive procedure
Correct citations and work
cited
Made Corrections From
Previous Drafts
Total
8
NOTE: ALL DRAFTS AND SOURCES MUST BE TURNED IN WITH YOUR FINAL COPY!
Revised Feb 2012
10
5
20
10
10
10
20
10
10
10
140
Turnitin.com Instructions for
AP Psychology
1. Go to www.turnitin.com and click on the Create Account link to the left of the Sign in button.
2. Click the Sign up for Turnitin link in the New Users column on the right of the web page.
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Revised Feb 2012
Presentation Format
Psychology Fair
In the past, I have had every group present in front of the class using power points. The process
worked but was long. To be more efficient with time we are going to try a different approach to
presentations. There will be two days of presentations with 5 to 6 groups presenting at the same
time. If you are not presenting you are responsible for touring the exhibits and taking notes.
Set Up:
 Each day there will be five groups that will present (You can either volunteer or I will choose
you). They are to set up an exhibit and be ready to present just like you would at a science
fair. You want your exhibit to attract others and also make sense because your visitors will be
judging you! You are to explain to your visitors what the major ideas of your project where and
what you though was the most interesting thing you learned.
Judges:
 If you are not presenting you are going to be a psychology fair judge. I will break the nonpresenting students into 5 small groups. Each small group will start off at a particular station
and then will rotate when I call out for you to change. Your job is to tour all five stations and
take notes / judge the quality of the presenter’s work.
Judge Format:
Key Idea
Hypothesis
Do they have operational
definitions?
Experiment or
Correlation
If experiment what are
the IV&DV? If
correlation is it positive
or negative?
Who was their sample
and their population?
How was their sample
obtained?
Give me one real statistic
they found.
Overall Rating on
Neatness, Creativity,
Presentation,
Correctness
Revised Feb 2012
An Explanation of the Key Idea
Rating on Scale of
1 (bad) – 5
(superior)
Names of Group Members: ___________________________________________________
Topic ___________________________________________________
Key Idea
An Explanation of the Key Idea
Hypothesis
Do they have operational
definitions?
Experiment or
Correlation
If experiment what are
the IV&DV? If
correlation is it positive
or negative?
Who was their sample
and their population?
How was their sample
obtained?
Give me one real statistic
they found.
Did they prove or
disprove their
hypothesis?
Overall Rating on
Neatness, Creativity,
Presentation,
Correctness
EXPLAIN WHY!!!!
Total Score ___________________________________
Revised Feb 2012
Rating on Scale of
1 (bad) – 5
(superior)