PSY 265

Scholarly journal review:

 

This project must be based on your review of a recent (published 1990 or more recently) scientific journal article.  The article must be a research study related to one topic in chapters covered on Test 2.  You must pick an article published in the Journal of Sex Research, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, or Journal of Sex Education and Therapy  OR any other scholarly journal if you clear the journal with me first.

 

You can use Psych Info to track down an article on a particular topic or you can go sit in the stacks and thumb through the tables of contents for one of the journals (that can be interesting!).  I can also suggest some references on particular topics if you ask me.

 

You will summarize and evaluate the research article.  Papers must be 2-3 pages TYPED.  Your paper is due at the beginning of class on the day of test 2.

 

Grading:  You can earn up to 15 points. 

 

Remember to include:

 

  1. Full reference in APA style- see below.  (1 point).  Be sure to attach a print copy of the article.
  2. Why you chose the article/topic. (1 point)
  3. What you learned (5 points)- Make sure to address what you learned BEYOND what we covered in class or you read in the book on the topic.  How did the information add to information in the text or presented in class?  This section should be one page or less. (Note:  Don’t get bogged down in the statistics- go for the summary of the results- a well-written article will tell you in plain words what was found.) 
  4. Evaluate the research design- sample, operational definitions, procedures, validity, as best you can.  (5 points) Be sure to consider the following: 

a) What factors make you think the results of the study are valid (or not)? 

b) Can the research findings be generalized to the population?  Why or why not?  c) Are there strong or weak points of the study’s methodology? Would you change anything?

d) Does it seem to meet ethical guidelines? Why or why not?

  1. Is your writing style clear?  No typos or grammatical errors…. (3 points)

 

APA style:

 

Author, Firstname. (year published). Title of journal article with only first word

capitalized.  Journal Name, volume, pages.