PSY100 Critical Psychology Essay

PSY100 Critical Psychology Essay

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PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
Semester 1, 2017

Assessment 2:  Critical Essay Task Requirements

The aim of this document is to help you with the second assignment in this course.
Refer also to the Course Outline, Rubric, and other help documents available within the Assignment 2 folder on Blackboard.
Step-by-step assistance will be provided during tutorials in Weeks 6, 7, and 8.
Please contact your tutor or Course Co-ordinator for additional help, if needed.  See contact details and consultation times for staff under the Course Outline and Staff Details tab on the PSY100 Blackboard site.

Learning Outcomes (see p.2 of Course Outline):
ü    Understand concepts, theories, and research relating to the study of psychology.
ü    Comprehend and evaluate the scientific method and methodological issues.
ü    Critically evaluate concepts, theories, and research conducted in psychology.
ü    Communicate knowledge appropriately for the psychology discipline.

PSY100 Critical Psychology Essay

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Task Requirements:
This assessment task requires you to write a critical essay in psychology. You will not conduct your own research study. Instead, you will review and critically evaluate the research studies already conducted and published in peer-reviewed journal articles.  To write a critical essay, you will review the literature and devise an argument that suggests that one (or two) specific variables significantly contribute to your chosen topic. This argument must be logically substantiated by your accurate and sufficient description of the evidence. From your literature review, you will also identify three additional variables that have been studied in relation to your chosen topic.  However, from your critical evaluation of a reasonable sample of relevant studies, you will show why this evidence is not as strong as the evidence associated with the variable/s used in your argument.

PSY100 Critical Psychology Essay

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You must choose only one topic from the three provided below.
(1)    Topic 1:  Discuss the variables contributing to children’s cognitive development.
Note:  For this topic, the focus must be on variables contributing to children’s cognitive development and not on other aspects of children’s development.
(2)    Topic 2:  Discuss the variables contributing to interpersonal attraction.
(3)    Topic 3:  Discuss the variables contributing to bullying.
Note:  For this topic, the focus must be on variables contributing to bullying (i.e., behaviour of the bully) and not the consequences of bullying or the variables contributing to victimisation.
Writing your essay on any other topic may result in a fail.
You mayscope your essay (e.g., specify an age group that your entire essay focuses on) if logical to do so, but this is not essential.  Check with your tutor.

PSY100 Critical Psychology Essay

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Your essay must be structured in the following way:
·    Title page
·    Abstract
·    Essay
o    Introduction
o    Body of Essay
§    Evidence supporting your argument
·    Variable/s defined
·    One main study described in detail (e.g., design, participants, findings)
·    Additional studies described in sufficient detail to further justify your argument.
§    Critical evaluation of evidence related to three alternative variables to those in your argument (may be referred to elsewhere as “Balanced Argument”)
·    For each variable, define the variable and describe at least two studies that have assessed this variable in relation to your chosen topic.  Provide sufficient detail to clearly justify your critique of this evidence.
o    Concluding Paragraph
·    References
Your essay must be written in academic style, using correct grammar and spelling.  Where possible, avoid direct quotations because they do not demonstrate your understanding of the material.
Your essay must be formatted in APA style, including in-text citations and references.  A maximum of four secondary citations is permitted, but primary sources are preferred.  In the discipline of psychology, in-text citations are required throughout the entire essay (i.e., introduction, body, and concluding paragraph).  It is essential to cite your sources appropriately to avoid any accusations of plagiarism.  Create your own descriptive title for your essay, using a maximum of 12 words.
A minimum of 10 references is recommended to adequately address the above criteria.  Take care to use articles that report empirical evidence and not articles that are opinions or general reviews.  Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are acceptable.  If uncertain about whether articles are appropriate, please check with your tutor.

PSY100 Critical Psychology Essay

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Word count excludes the title page, abstract, and references.  However, it includes the title that is presented above the introduction and all in-text citations.  Word count must not exceed specified limit of 1500 words by more than 10% to avoid penalty.
Your essay must be uploaded, preferably in Word format, to SafeAssign by 11:59 p.m. on Monday 1 May 2017 (Week 9).  See Course Outline, page 6, for details of late submission penalties. If necessary, email Course Co-ordinator to apply for an extension, attaching any relevant documents to support your application (e.g., medical certificate) and evidence of work completed at that point.
Regularly save your draft in multiple places (e.g., email it your USC student email account, USB, home computer).  Note that computer failures are rarely accepted as sufficient reason for approved extension.

PSY100 Critical Psychology Essay

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By admin in Essays on April 6, 2017