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 page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion and references. 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 Page: 2 marks

· The title accurately describes what the study is about

· The title is concise yet meaningful

· Author and institution (i.e. Central Queensland University) information is included

· Three relevant keywords are provided

Abstract: 8 marks

· Around 200 words.

· Clearly and concisely written with flowing text.

· Provides a brief background to the study

· Succinctly states the problem being investigated

· Accurately describes the participants

· Outlines the study method

· Accurately reports the main findings

· Reports reasonable implications of the findings

Introduction: 20 marks

· Not more than 1/3 of the word count

· States the importance of the problem

· Clear, flowing and concise writing, building up from general ideas towards specific hypotheses.

· States what we currently know about the topic and what the study will contribute

· Information is clearly relevant to the research study

· Integration of ideas from different studies, not a series of linked ‘abstracts’.

· References always used to support statements or descriptions of previous studies

Hypotheses and rationale: 5 marks

· A short and concise sentence or couple of sentences embedded in the final paragraph of the introduction (not a separate section)

· All relevant hypotheses are included

· Hypotheses emerge logically from the preceding sections of the introduction

· Hypotheses are clearly, accurately and simply stated

Method: 15 marks

· A well conceived method that can accurately examine the hypotheses

· Divided into sub-sections. Subsections should include: Participants, Design, Materials, Procedure and Analysis.

· Provides a detailed method that someone else could easily replicate

· Describes the design of the study and accurately identifies the independent and dependent variables

· Includes 2 independent variables (with at least 1 independent variable that was not included in the original research activity)

· Reports all relevant participant characteristics

Results: 15 marks

· Presents an analysis that appropriately tests the hypotheses

· Descriptive and inferential 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)

· Provides an accurate interpretation of the results

· Adequately considers findings in relation to previous literature on the topic

· Reports any unexpected findings and suggests explanations

· Discusses limitations of the study, including any possible confounds and how these might be overcome

· Makes clear recommendations about further research on the topic

· Includes appropriate references

· Uses clear, flowing and concise writing

Referencing: 5 marks

· All in-text references are in APA format

· Includes a reference list in APA format for all references included in the report

General

Throughout all these sections, the following criteria will be assessed:

· Grammar, spelling & punctuation

· Coherence and justification of arguments

· Use of literature

· Critical analysis

· Written style

· Structure and length of the report

· Innovation and creativity

In line with university 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

You will be required to write an essay in response to questions posed in a take home test. The questions will be released when the take home test opens. The take home test will open at 9am on Monday 7th February and close at 9am on Monday 14th February.

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…

Introduction 15 marks

· Provides a brief background

· Outlines the key arguments in the main text

Main Text 60 marks

· 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

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

· References always used to support statements or descriptions of previous studies

Conclusion 15 marks

· Effectively summaries the key arguments from the main text

· Does not include any new information

· Includes a 'take home' message for the reader

References 10 marks

· Includes full references in APA format for all references included in the paper

General

· Uses clear, flowing and concise writing

· Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation and APA style

N.B. In line with university procedures

· An assignment which fails to adhere to the word count 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 the Exam Week that covers information learnt throughout the unit. The quiz will be multiple choice and consist of 15 question. The quiz will open at 9am on Monday 14th February and close on at 11.59pm on Friday 18th February.

Questions will be marked as either right or wrong. 1 mark will be allocated to each question.