Running head: Synthesis Paper Name 1
Synthesis Paper
Name
Liberty University
Author Note
Name, Department of Psychology, Liberty University.
Correspondence for this article should be directed to Name, Department of Psychology,
Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 24515
Email:
Synthesis Paper Name 2
Synthesis Paper
Through out the course of Psychology 255, the art of research as well as how to write
about studies became clearer aspects. The introductory course helped established foundations in
designing research, understanding the variables behind the investigation, and the correct APA
format for discussing studies. This course simultaneously improved personal comprehension of
studies and how to design, conduct, interpret, and publish results.
A Christian perspective also contributed significantly to the course. Not only were versus
from the Bible shown to have relevant application to research, there also was strong emphasis on
how Christianity affects the moral and ethical approaches taken in conducting studies.
Lessons Learned
Paper Format
After completing the APA Module 3, writing a paper in accordance with the American
Psychological Association became easier. The module served as a template for future
assignments and outline the essentials of a paper such as title pages, running headers, and
different level headings. The title page was not a new a feature in terms of a research
presentation, but the implementation of an author’s note was a task that required the help of the
APA publication manual for formatting concerns. Running headers were a struggle to format on a
word document, but through writing multiple papers in APA format, the researcher learned the
proper techniques. The different level headings were the main lesson learned in paper formatting.
The headings essential function is to define the level of importance of information and provide
organization to the research paper. The distinctions between level one headings which are bolded
and centered versus the level three headings that are bolded, italicized, and lowercase, really
Synthesis Paper Name 3
made a difference in paper organization (APA, 2010). The final papers became a clearer and
well-developed representation of ideas by the end of the course.
In-Text Citations
After writing most papers in MLA format, citing in APA was more of a challenge. A. R
Crawford’s book, Introduction to research: Less frights, more insights, detailed how in-text
citations could be written with just the year of publication in parentheses if the author and book
name was included in the beginning of the summarized material (2017). The book also placed a
large emphasis on summarizing reference material rather than using direct quotes. However,
when quoting directly, the page number is required within the citation (Crawford, 2017).
References
References were made a more manageable task through the APA . Publication Manual
The reference page itself, has a bold title that is centered. This course also defined the difference
between a citation versus a reference. Before taking this course, the terms were assumed to be
interchangeable. However, citations are for quoted or summarized material, while the references
are the list of materials in which the citations were extracted (APA, 2010). Additionally, the APA
Publication Manual serves a great aid for creating the final reference page for sources other than
a standard textbook or journal article.
Qualitative and Quantitative
The distinctions between qualitative and quantitative methods were greatly expounded
upon by the textbook Introduction to research: Less frights, more insights. The qualitative
observations are often used as a precursor for future experiments involving empirical data. Much
of the qualitative observations come from naturalistic observations and searching for patterns in
prior histories. The quantitative method revolves around the manipulation of variables and
Synthesis Paper Name 4
running statistical calculations based of the acquired data (Crawford, 2017). Usually, research
will include a compilation of both methods as they serve different purposes.
Case Studies
In depth research into case studies showed a whole new perspective on research. The
most pertinent information acquired about case studies, was their ability to provide ethical
research data on questions that are not easily observed (Crawford, 2017). While the results may
not be wholly applied to the public, because each circumstance is typically an extreme case,
researchers still may infer a lot from their naturalistic observations and set up future experiments.
Studies like Phineas Gage and Genie the feral child opened new avenues in terms of brain
function and the underdevelopment of mental and social skills, while maintaining an ethical
standard that brought no harm or discomfort to the patient. The argument over the validity of
case studies being applied to mass populations is still tentative. For example, while the Phineas
Gage case study is well known for suggesting the destruction of Gage’s frontal lobe led to
complete reversal of his personality, other opinions suggest differently. Other psychology
researchers like Kotoweiz and Harlow suggest the post-trauma behavior was due to Gage’s
period of adjust to his disfigured continence (Griggs, 2015). Discrepancies such as this one, leads
to further discussions over what the real reasoning behind Gage’s personality changes. While
case studies may not be completely applicable to the mass public and there are multiple risks
with bias and preconceived notions, case studies do open avenues for discussion and bring about
new ideas for research. What made the case studies so intriguing, was their ability to answer
questions but facilitate a conversation on multiple reasons as to why certain events or processes
occurred.
Synthesis Paper Name 5
Christian Approach
Pursuit of Research
The first discussion board of the course drove the researcher’s focus to God’s intention
for humans and research. Through personal reflection and exploration of bible verses, the
researcher concluded “the Bible warns against pseudoscience in the research community”
(Berrios, 2018). In current debates, non-believers claim that science and faith can not effectively
coexist. However, the bible does not look down up research. Proverbs 2:2 in the English standard
Version suggests people, “make ears attentive to wisdom and incline hearts to understanding.”
The Bible encourages learning and discovery. The researcher’s assessment on pseudoscience and
the Bible, comes from a belief that God does not want His children to approach His creations
with malcontent and then proclaim false truths for others to misguidedly believe. The researcher
discovered earlier that “God encourages all His children to actively pursues the knowledge of
His creations, with the same fervor we have for pursuing Him” (Berrios 2018). The ability to
pursue research is one of God’s many gifts that should be used for the betterment of the others.
Research should not be falsely proclaimed or blindly followed.
Research Ethics
Upon pursuing research, there are certain ethical standards according to God and the
scientific community that should consistently be respected. The textbook recommends
researchers follow the Belmont Report. The Belmont Report gives all participants the ability to
leave the study whenever they wish, ensures that all risks are disclosed and kept to a minimum,
and eliminates discrimination by equally sharing all risks among participants (Crawford, 2017).
Research was intended to improve the quality of life, not diminish the well being of others. Any
time a participant is at risk of mental, emotional, or physical danger, there is a breach of ethics.
Synthesis Paper Name 6
Following the APA guidelines for research, all participants should be well informed of all the
risks and go into all research studies fully accepting of any consequences (APA, 2016). The
participants should be apprised of the risks, but no unnecessary risks should be taken to begin
with. No human life or comfort is worth proving a scientific hypothesis. Pride is one of the seven
deadly sins of the Bible, and whenever a researcher puts his/her own prideful study ambitions
above the life of another human being, there is a breach in ethics with God and the legal realm of
this world. As the researcher discovered with the Little Albert experiment, “the research
conducted was selfish, broke multiple codes of ethics, and was used by Watson to prove a
theory” (Berrios, 2018). Breaking ethical codes is a sin against what God hopes for mankind. In
John 13:34, God tells the world, “Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another”
(ESV). Research was made to bring enlightenment to the world, but never at the risk of one of
God’s creations. Researchers need to place Godly love for one another above their own personal
desires. Through this course, the researcher discovered there are multiple avenues to learn about
unique concepts, such as case studies, without endangering another human being. Research is all
about learning how to combine faith with curiosity, all while maintaining a life that glorifies
God.
Conclusion
The completion of this course has taught the researcher basic components of conducting a
scientific study and publishing the results. Techniques learned in this course made the researcher
adept at writing papers in the APA format, while expanding the researcher’s knowledge on types
of studies and qualitative and quantitative research methods. Additionally, the course grew the
researcher’s understanding in the biblical expectations of research. This course showed the
standard, ethical expectations of conducting research along with conducting research in
Synthesis Paper Name 7
accordance with the Christian faith. The course truly outlined how research is God’s gift to
people and it is researchers’ job to explore this gift while keeping God at the forefront.
Synthesis Paper Name 8
References
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Berrios, A. (2018) DB 1 [Web log post] Retrieved from liberty.edu
Berrios, A. (2018) DB 3 [Web log post] Retrieved from liberty.edu
Crawford, A. R. (2017). Introduction to research: Less frights, more insights (2nd ed.). Dubuque,
IA: Kendall Hunt.
Griggs, R. A. (2015). Coverage of the Phineas Gage Story in Introductory Psychology
Textbooks: Was Gage No Longer Gage?. Teaching Of Psychology, 42(3), 195-202.
