Additional information for research proposals in advanced social psych class

See syllabus for more information (especially on what an appropriate topic is and on APA style)

Cover page (in professional APA style)

Abstract

Needs to have a "problem statement," sentence or two on methods (who will do what in your study), sentence or two on expected results, and specific implications.

Checklist

· Is it 150-250 words?

· Does it contain all the information mentioned above?

· Is it easy to follow and grammatically correct?

Introduction

· 7-8 pages

· General intro leading us into the topic (why is it important?) and setting up your study briefly

· Then a review of the literature with headings (and topic sentences and all that),

· Ending with a “current study” (or something similar) section that tells what’s new and different about your study and has your hypotheses. It should summarize past research briefly, tell what your study adds, describe your study in general terms, and give the hypotheses. The logic of your hypotheses should be clear.

· Use the information in the readings on writing!

· Use topic sentences

· Focus on results of previous research and important details (not every detail)

· Organize by topic, not by study

· Keep people in ()

· Typical paragraph should have: a) topic sentence (what is this paragraph about and what does it add to what you’ve already said?); b) important method details with focus on results; c) include more than one study in most cases: d) use present tense for general results—past if you explicitly mention the study in the text; e) then summarize with what it all means or suggests

· Go from broad (context) to narrow (getting closer and closer to your study)

· Note that you need to have at least 1 guiding theory, and that you will need to describe that theory and research supporting it as well as relate it to your proposal idea.

Checklist:

· Do you introduce your topic well, telling people (without saying it explicitly) why this matters?

· Do you have an appropriate theory, explain it clearly, and apply it correctly?

· Do you explain past research accurately and clearly?

· Are your hypotheses clearly linked to previous research? Is it clear what this study will add to our knowledge and how it relates to the theory?

· Is it written in appropriate scientific style, with the right amount of detail, using topic sentences and good grammar and transitions?

Method

· Design section that tells what type of study it is (be specific, e.g., randomized control group experiment), what type of design it is (e.g., 2 x 2), and what the independent, dependent, and control variables. Also list any mediators, moderators, and covariates. Justify your choice of design here or in the current study section in the intro.

· Participants section explaining who the participants will be and how you will recruit them. For second year students--include a power analysis (optional for first years)

· Procedure section detailing what will happen in time order from consent through debriefing. All measures/stimuli that you make up should be in Appendices and properly referenced. You should provide enough detail that I could repeat exactly what you have in mind just by reading this.

· You can optionally have sections such as measures (describing measures if there are very many) and apparatus if they are appropriate. All sections for things that aren’t done yet (e.g., procedure) should be in future tense.

· For each measure, you should provide the name of it and citation (or make it clear that it’s author-generated) as well as a sample item, the number of items, how they are answered (e.g., 1 (not at all) to 7 (very much), and information on its reliability and validity (as well as subscales if relevant).

Checklist:

· Does your study test your hypothesis?

· Is your study clearly explained?

· Are your measures appropriate?

· Do you pay attention to details (making sure you have measures you need, a manipulation check, a comment box, etc.)?

· Do you have all the details needed, including information on each measure, for me to repeat your study?

Expected Results

· Section on any transformations, scale creations, initial data checks, manipulation checks, how you will deal with missing data, etc.

· For each hypothesis—what specific statistical tests you will do and what will you expect to find (include things like what effect will be significant, whether it’s a main effect or an interaction, etc.—put in stat terms and normal language). Also mention what statistics you would report (e.g., effect sizes, confidence intervals). If you have questions on any of this, let me know.

· Add a section on any additional or exploratory analyses you will do.

Checklist:

· Do you explain how you’ll clean the data and test whether manipulations were effective, etc.?
Do your proposed tests actually test your hypotheses?

· Do you explain how you would do each statistical test and what it would tell you?

· Did you remember to address all your IVs, DVs, and hypotheses?

Discussion—

· First summarize your expected findings

· What would these findings mean (e.g., for theory, practice)

· What would it mean if you didn’t get the expected findings?

· What are the major limitations of the study and how could those be addressed in future research (and/or other ideas for future research). Don’t just mention the obvious, and if there is a reason they might not be as much of a problem in your study explain why (e.g., looking at college students but examining dating relationships). Address how future research could deal with these limitations (need at least 2 ideas for future research)

· Nice strong ending with your take home message

Checklist:

· Do you summarize your expected findings?

· Do you discuss implications for your theory?

· Do you discuss practical or applied implications?

· Do you mention at least two limitations of your study (and are they good ones—not just the obvious, not things that aren’t really a problem)?

· Do you provide at least two ideas for future research?

· Do you have a nice strong ending?

References

· In APA style, matching up exactly to those used in the text

Checklist:

· Are all your references in the reference section in the text and vice versa?

· Are they all in correct APA style?

· Is the paper in correct APA style?

· Are you using primary sources from good journals?

Appendices

· Here you need any measure that you create (even demographics), along with any stimuli examples or other method details that couldn’t be fully explained in the Methods section.

Points per section are assigned as follows. Note that there is overlap, however (e.g., if you have bad organization, it will also likely affect how well I understand the introduction):

APA style 10

Abstract 10

Intro 15

Method 35

Results 10

Discussion 10

Organization/composition 10

Note that papers will poor APA style will be returned ungraded.