RESEARCH PAPER: FINAL ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
The Research Paper: Final Assignment requires you to use empirical research to evaluate a language and cognitive topic covered in this course. This Research Paper: Final Assignment will build on your skills of critical thinking, critiquing, and evaluating empirical literature. This Research Paper: Final Assignment will allow you to practice reviewing empirical literature to evaluate your selected topic related to social cognitive development.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Conduct a review of literature on empirical research related to your selected topic that you selected on the Quiz: Research Paper – Topic.
2. The Research Paper: Final Assignment must include at least 10 empirical studies in peer-reviewed journals, in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible, that address your selected topic. A minimum of five sources should be peer-reviewed articles published within the last five years.
3. Read the articles, taking notes on the methods, results, and conclusions.
4. The Research Paper: Final Assignment must be 25 pages long (exclusive of title page, abstract, references pages) and include:
a. Introduction: Be sure to set up the importance of this issue, along with any history that is relevant. The end of the introduction should include a thesis statement that guides the following synthesis of research.
b. Body: Be sure to include empirical details from each study, including design, participants, measures, findings, and interpretations. Synthesize the findings into a coherent narrative. Incorporate appropriate APA subheadings and use transition statements as you move from one main idea to the next.
c. Conclusion: Summarize your analysis and note the practical implications or applications.
5. Use current APA formatting. Avoid first and second person pronouns and be sure to use past tense when describing completed research. Include a title page, abstract, and references page(s) (these do not count towards 25-page length).
The instructor will be focusing on the content of this assignment writing and less on proofreading. You are expected to proofread each assignment for clarity, grammar, and spelling.
Be sure to review the criteria on the Research Paper: Final Grading Rubric before beginning this Research Paper: Final Assignment.
Please see the Research Paper: Final Resources under the Research Paper: Final Assignment page.
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.