The primary aim of this assessment item is to enable you to design, conduct and communicate a research project in psychology. You will be provided with a research activity that describes a basic experiment in cognitive psychology. Your task is to extend this basic study, collect data from at least 16 friends and family (who are over 18), appropriately analyze the data and write up your findings in an academic journal style report. Please note, if you have previously attempted a research activity you must do a different one this time around.

You should write a journal style report, between 2000 (minimum) and 2500 (maximum) words, excluding references and
appendices, but including in-text citations and figure labels etc. In other words, everything from the beginning of the title
to the end of the discussion is included in the word count. Your assignment should be double spaced and should mirror
the form of an academic journal article. Your report should have the following sections: title, abstract, introduction,
method, results, discussion and references, and your report should follow all aspects of the APA publication style.

The following illustrates the marking criteria that will be used to assess this assignment…

Title: 2 marks
Accurately describes what the study is about.
Concise yet meaningful.

Abstract: 8 marks
Around 200 words.
Clearly and concisely written with flowing text.
Contains key information: brief background, the problem you're investigating, participant details, essential features of the method, what you found and what your findings mean.

Introduction: 20 marks
Not more than 1/3 of the word count.
States what we currently know about the topic and what your study will contribute.
Information is clearly relevant to the research study.
Clear, flowing and concise writing, building up from general ideas towards specific hypotheses.
Integration of ideas from different studies, not a series of linked ‘abstracts’.
Citations always used to support statements or descriptions of previous studies.

Hypotheses and rationale: 5 marks
Hypotheses emerge logically from the preceding sections of the introduction.
A short and concise sentence or couple of sentences embedded in the final paragraph of the introduction.
Clearly, accurately and simply stated.

Method: 15 marks
Clear and detailed enough so that someone else can easily replicate your study.
Divided into sub-sections. Subsections should include at least: Participants, Design, Materials and Procedure.
Well conceived method that can examine the hypotheses.

Results: 15 marks
Presents an analysis that appropriately tests the hypotheses.
Statistical tests used are appropriate, correctly carried out and thoroughly described.
Data is presented as evidence for all findings.

Discussion: 30 marks
Begins with recap of results (no numbers necessary).
Reports how results relate to hypotheses (supportive or not).
Considers findings in relation to previous literature on the topic.
Includes citations when reporting other studies.
Reports any unexpected findings and suggests explanations.
Discusses limitations of the study, including any possible confounds and how these might be overcome.
Makes recommendations about further research on the topic.
Clear, flowing and concise writing.

Referencing: 5 marks
Includes full references in APA format for all references presented in the paper.

General
Throughout all these sections, the following criteria will be assessed: grammar, spelling, punctuation, APA format,
coherence of arguments, justification of arguments, use of literature, critical analysis, written style, structure of report
and length of report.
N.B. In line with the Psychology Program Student Assessment and Referencing Guidelines and Procedures,
an assignment which fails to adhere to the word count (i.e. exceeds 2500 or is less than 2000), will be subject to
-a word count penalty of 10% of the total possible grade, i.e. 10 marks.
-an assignment that is submitted late will attract a 5% penalty per day

There will be an online quiz in Week 12 that covers information learnt throughout the unit.

Questions will be marked as either right or wrong.

You will be required to write an essay in response to questions posed in a take home exam.

You are required to write a 1000 word essay (excluding references).  Your essay should be double spaced and should follow all aspects of APA style. The essay should include an introduction, main body, and conclusion in one piece of writing without headings or sub-titles in the text. The following illustrates the marking criteria that will be used to assess this assignment…

Includes a brief introduction, main text and conclusion

Provides clear descriptions of the main theories and concepts

Demonstrates a critical understanding of literature relevant to the question

Provides evidence from research studies in support of arguments

Provides a clear, logical and coherent set of arguments

Demonstrates a good understanding of the key debate/s addressed by the question

Includes information that is clearly relevant to the question

Uses clear, flowing and concise writing

Integrates ideas from different studies, not a list of points or a series of 'abstracts'

Citations always used to support statements or descriptions of previous studies

Includes full references in APA format for all references presented in the paper

Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation and APA style