Developmental Research Methods – Research Proposal Assignment

Your assignment is to write a research proposal on a topic relevant to the field of Developmental Psychology. You can propose either basic or applied research. You may work together in a team if you want but let me know that if so - I would encourage your group to meet on a regular basis about this project and consider setting up an e-mail list serve for effective collaboration. Here is basically what you must do:

First task: Pick a research topic that interests you. If you have a particular topic in mind already - GREAT! If not, I have provided a list of topics that I find relevant to developmental psychology. I want you to make a commitment by Mon Aug 25.

Second task: Do a thorough and critical review of the scientific work that has been done on the topic (e.g., journal articles, edited books, etc.). As many of you know, computerized searches on-line services are the best way to go about this. One recommendation would be to go through the IBIS service accessed through the ISU/Milner library home page. Once in IBIS, check out PsychINFO—great resource.

Hint: Reading review papers on the subject is extremely helpful because not only do the articles summarize the literature that has been done on the topic, the author will often critique the work that has been done and often make suggestions for future research that can inform your work.

As you read through the literature, be extremely critical. What problems do you see with the literature? How can it be improved? What aspects are well-done and should be replicated in future work on related questions?

Hint: A "C" or "worse" proposal is one where you select a topic, descriptively report what has been done on the topic, and then blindly propose a research project that sheds little or no light on current scientific knowledge. Another critical problem is to descriptively report the available literature and then make hypotheses and predictions with no foundation. Hypotheses should always deal with issues specifically dealt with in your lit. review and should have some foundation.

Your proposal must be written in APA style (typed, double spaced, etc.) and must include:

1) A title page;

2) An abstract

3) A lit. review summarizing and critiquing the available information regarding your topic (4-6 pages is ok here) (Note, the literature review should be an integrated summary and critique of theory and research. Do not spend time discussing single studies. Please see your journal articles for templates/examples of how literature reviews are written.);

4) A paragraph section on your proposed project, including hypotheses and the rationale for them;

5) A clear methods section with participants, design, measures, procedures, and expected data analyses sections;

6) An implications and social significance section of at least a paragraph suggesting how the expected results will make the world a better place (more than just that they will please);

6) A list of references

Final proposals are due on the date on your schedule at the beginning of the class period. Late papers will not be accepted.

More info on each of the sections of this type of paper can be found at http://www.gmu.edu/departments/psychology/writing/types.htm