Psychology Unit 7 Assignment/Final Project: Literature Review

PSY341 – Research Methods in the Social Sciences

Unit 7 Final Assignment: The Literature Review

Due Date: Points: 100 Overview: For this assignment, you will write a literature review based on your approved topic from Unit 2. You should incorporate into your literature review information from the peer-reviewed journal articles you found in Units 3, 4, 5, and 6. Instructions: This includes:

• a summary of the findings from each peer-reviewed article,

• a conclusion about what is known on your topic based on the totality of this information,

• a discussion of the practical real-world implications and applications of this knowledge,

• discussion of gaps in the literature on your topic. These gaps should lead to one rational null and one alternative hypothesis, which you should state at the end of your literature review.

Requirements:

• Your literature review should be at least five (5) pages, double-spaced, not including a title and references page.

• Your paper should be typed in a Word file and using size 12 Times New Roman font.

• You should cite and reference the four (4) peer-reviewed journal articles you found in Units 3, 4, 5, and 6 in APA format.

Be sure to read the criteria below by which your work will be evaluated before you write and again after you write.

PSY341–Research Methods in theSocial Sciences

Evaluation Rubric for Literature Review Assignment CRITERIA Deficient Needs

Improvement Proficient Exemplary

0 points 1-5 points 6-9 points 10 points Number of Scholarly Sources

Sources do not meet scholarly criteria.

The required number of sources is included, but less than four of these sources are peer-reviewed journal scholarly articles.

The required number of peer- reviewed scholarly research articles is met (4).

The required number of peer- reviewed scholarly research articles is met (4) or exceeded.

0 points 1 point 2-4 points 5 points Relevance of Sources to Literature Review Topic

None of the articles are relevant to literature review topic.

Only 1 article is relevant to literature review topic.

Only 2-3 articles are relevant to literature review topic.

All 4 articles are highly relevant to literature review topic.

0 – 8 points 9 – 11 points 12 – 14 points 15 points Sources Summarized

Content in each source is discussed but it significantly lacks thematic focus and detail.

Content in each source is discussed in some detail. Some attempt is made to organize the discussion thematically.

Content in each scholarly source is discussed. Discussion is organized thematically with sufficient detail.

Content in each scholarly source is discussed in detail. Discussion is well- organized.

0 – 8 points 9 – 11 points 12 – 14 points 15 points Conclusions Regarding Current State of Knowledge of the Literature Review Topic

A conclusion about what is currently known about the literature review topic is either not provided or a conclusion is given but there is no attempt to synthesize the information from each scholarly source.

A conclusion about what is known about the literature review topic is provided. Conclusion is somewhat detailed.

A conclusion about what is currently known about the literature review topic is provided. Conclusion contains sufficient detail.

A conclusion about what is currently known about the literature review topic is provided. Information obtained from each article is synthesized into a well elaborated conclusion.

0 – 8 points 9 – 11 points 12 – 14 points 15 points Real-world Implications and Application of Source Content

The real-world implications and applications of the information in some sources are discussed or are

The real-world implications and application of the information in each scholarly source is

The real-world implications and applications of the information in each scholarly source is

The real-world implications of the information in each scholarly source is discussed in detail.

CRITERIA Deficient Needs Improvement

Proficient Exemplary

not discussed at all.

discussed in some detail.

discussed in sufficient detail.

0 points 1-5 points 6-9 points 10 points Gaps in the Literature

Gaps in the literature are not identified.

Gaps in the literature are not sufficiently identified or do not lead to rationale hypotheses.

Gaps in the literature are sufficiently identified and it is somewhat clear how these gaps have led to hypotheses.

Gaps in the literature are identified and lead to rationale hypotheses.

0 points 1-5 points 6-9 points 10 points Hypotheses and Variables, and Operationaliza tion

Unclear null and alternative hypotheses that lack appropriate independent and dependent variables.

Unclear null and alternative hypothesis that are missing an independent or dependent variable. Variables are vague and not well operationalized.

Clearly written null and alternative hypotheses with both independent and dependent variables, but variables are not sufficiently operationalized.

Clearly written, insightful null and alternative hypotheses and independent and dependent variables are correctly operationalized.

0 – 9 points 10 – 15 points 16 – 19 points 20 points Clear and Professional Writing and APA Format

Errors impede professional presentation; guidelines not followed.

Significant errors that do not impede professional presentation.

Few errors that do not impede professional presentation.

Writing and format are clear, professional, APA compliant, and error free.