Methods II Paper Assignment

Running head: METHODS II PREVIEW ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS 1

Methods II Preview Assignment Instructions (Worth 20 Points)

Ryan J. Winter

Florida International University

METHODS II PREVIEW ASSIGNMENT 2

Methods II Preview Assignment Instructions

1). Psychological Purpose

The psychological purpose behind the Methods II Preview Assignment is to give you a

brief preview to the paper you will write in Methods II next semester. Not only do I want

you to see what will go into your eventual Methods II research paper, but I also want to

make sure that you can write a clear, succinct paragraph for a research study that covers

all of the relevant information needed to convey the important parts of a study in a single

paragraph (i.e. an Abstract).

The Abstract is one of the first items readers see. You need to convey a lot of information

in this very short paragraph, as the potential reader will decide whether to read your full

paper based on the information in the Abstract. There are several elements needed in the

Abstract about research studies, including information about: a). the research question(s),

b). the participants, c). the experimental methodology, d). the findings, and e). the

conclusions / implications. Being able to write a precise yet succinct Abstract takes some

effort, so make sure you go through several drafts before settling on your final version.

Make sure to include keywords / key phrases as well (keywords are an essential part of

articles, as these are the words or phrases that library databases like PsycInfo provide to

searchers interested in specific topics. Well, the authors actually recommended these

keywords, so if you include them for this short Abstract Assignment).

2). APA Formatting Purpose

This Article Critique assignment should once again assess your ability to follow APA

formatting guidelines. Use Chapter 14 in your Smith and Davis textbook for help, and

look at the instructions on the next page for guidance with formatting

3). Writing Purpose

I want to make sure you can write clearly and specifically, summarizing what might be a

20 page paper in a single paragraph. This assignment serves that purpose.

METHODS II PREVIEW ASSIGNMENT 3

Methods II Preview Assignment (Worth 20 Points)

You will read a paper written by an actual Research Methods and Design II student from a prior

semester. This paper includes two studies the student conducted, with Study One introducing the

main variables and Study Two offering an extension with replication of Study One. Your job is

to read the whole paper and then complete the following (copy your answers and paste them into

the assignment dropbox on Blackboard by the due date – You can find an example of what I am

looking for in Blackboard as well):

Title Page (1 point)

1. For your title page, follow the same guidelines as your article critique paper. You can

include the same title and header as the study you are looking at, but make sure to put

YOUR OWN NAME as the author.

2. Your assignment should be in APA format in all respects (appropriate headers with

running head and page numbers; correct references where needed; correct alignment

of the headings, subheadings, fonts, spacing, etc.)

In Part One, I want you to answer the following (1 point for each question, or 9 points total):

1. What is the hypothesis for study one? Please give me both the null and alternative

hypotheses when you answer this question

2. What is the independent variable(s) for study one? Make sure you tell me how many

IVs there are and how many levels there are for each IV

3. What is the dependent variable(s) for study one? Note: there are several of these, so

focus on the ones the author analyzed.

4. What did they find in study one? Give the general outcome

5. What is the hypothesis for study two? Please give me both the null and alternative

hypotheses when you answer this question

6. What is the independent variable(s) for study two? Make sure you tell me how many

IVs there are and how many levels there are for each IV

7. What is the dependent variable(s) for study two? Note: there are several of these, so

focus on the ones the author analyzed.

8. What did they find in study two? Give the general outcome

9. I want you to review the references and spot the reference(s) that is (are) not in APA

format and rewrite it for me according to APA rules. Note: there may be as few as

zero and as many as ten incorrect references, so make sure to look at them all!

In Part Two, write an abstract for the paper! This should be fairly easy, as you can paraphrase the

information from Part One. However, this time you need to write it in one short paragraph (150

to 200 word maximum!). Note: there are two studies, and you have to mention both. Yes, this is

tough, but authors often summarize (in the same short abstract) papers that they wrote that may

include six or seven different studies! My suggestion is to find the overlap between both studies

METHODS II PREVIEW ASSIGNMENT 4

and discuss both simultaneously. For example, “Both studies looked at X, but study two also

examined Y.” Make sure your abstract starts at the top of its own page (it should be all on its

own). Your abstract should include the following (1 point each, or 7 points total):

1. Include the word “Abstract” at the top of your abstract

2. Identify the general problem or research question (the hypotheses) for both studies.

3. Note the participants for both studies 4. Note the IVs and DVs for the studies 5. Note the findings for both studies 6. Note the overall conclusions / implications of the two studies

7. Please include keywords for the study (at least 5 keywords or phrases – these are not

included in the total word count)

Writing Quality (3 points)

1. Avoid run-on sentences, sentence fragments, spelling errors, and grammar errors. 2. The writing should be PERFECT here. You will lose a point for each writing error,

so proofread, proofread, and proofread some more!

3. Get a group member to review it for you! Review their abstract!

Total points possible: 20 points

Other guidelines for the Abstract Assignment

 Upload your paper through available assignment blackboard link  This is an individual assignment, but you can get a group member to review it for you.