Research

Mechanics & Style

Excellent Work (+9-10)

Average Work (+5-8)

Below Expectations (+0-4)

Score: _____/10

Correctly uses APA style.

Grammar and style are clear throughout.

Cites at least five peer-reviewed articles.

All articles are from 2010 or later.

Introduction

Descriptive information (one paragraph) about the construct studied. This includes a definition of the construct and why it is important to child development, and what age ranges psychologists generally study regarding this concept.

Excellent work (+9-10)

Average work (+5-8)

Below Expectations (+0-4)

Score: _____/10

Any noticeable patterns when finding articles: was this construct studied in specific groups only (e.g., only in day-care settings, or only with bilingual children?)

Summarizing the Findings

Description of all five (5) articles’ findings with consideration for similarities or differences among results across five (5) articles. This section should be written as a synthesis of all the article findings, not a list of each articles’ findings!

Excellent work (+9-10)

Average work (+5-8)

Below Expectations (+0-4)

Score: _____/10

Consideration and analysis of how the findings across different developmental stages or ages change.

Critiquing the Articles

Describe the research methods the researchers used. Where all five (5) studies conducted in the same way?

Excellent work (+9-10)

Average work (+5-8)

Below Expectations (+0-4)

Score: _____/10

Includes discussion around the implications, strengths, and problems of the research methods. For example, are all the studies correlational? Where all the participants white girls? What does that mean? At least two (2) strengths and two (2) weaknesses are identified, with discussion of how each strength and weakness influences the findings (i.e., implications).

Conclusions

Summarize at least one (1) unexpected thing that you learned regarding the (a) developmental construct itself and then summarize at least one (1) unexpected thing you learned regarding the (b) methods used to study the construct.

Discuss briefly what other construct or child behavior you would like to compare or assess alongside your chosen topic for this paper. Why? What information or question would this answer?

Identify at least two (2) ways that professionals in child development could use the information found across these articles. This could be applied to daycare workers, parents/caregivers, teachers, community personnel, etc.

Excellent work (+9-10)

Average work (+5-8)

Below Expectations (+0-4)

Score: _____/10