Overview:
The task for this paper is to propose a theoretically meaningful, well designed experiment on a topic of your choice. The proposed experiment can be an original, or it can derive from some unsettled issue in previous research. Your proposed experiment will be evaluated on rationale, design, procedure, and ethics. Your paper as a whole will be evaluated on the categories of the Writing Rubric.
Formatting:
The paper should be typed using 12 pt. Times New Roman font and one inch margins all around, double spaced, 8-10 pages in length, NOT INCLUDING title page, abstract, references, and appendices.
Organization:
The body of the paper WILL include the following:
**Abstract briefly describing the overall rationale, hypothesis and method for the study
**Introduction including a literature review of 10 sources (minimum) and hypothesis
**Method including description of participants, materials and/or measures and procedure
**Planned Analysis describing how data will be treated
**References
**Appendices including a consent form, experimental scripts or instructions, stimuli & measures
**It WILL NOT include the following:
Results
Discussion
**Content:
Title Page
Refer to APA style manual (and to the sample APA paper uploaded on the BB) for formatting guidelines.
Abstract
Refer to APA style manual for formatting guidelines. In no more than 250 words, include a BRIEF rationale for your study, a BRIEF description of your research design, and a BRIEF description of your hypothesis.
**Content (continued):
Introduction—two (2) subsections:
1. Literature review focused on the most relevant prior research. Conceptual clarity and organization are important.
2. A statement describing the experimental hypothesis. Remember that this should be a testable prediction, describing a causal relationship between the IV and the DV.
**Method—four (4) subsections: Refer to APA style manual for formatting guidelines.
1. Design: Describe your design, identify the independent variable(s) and describe each level of the IV(s).
2. Participants: Describe your participants of interest. Decide whether you are using a convenience sample or not. If not, explain in detail how you will randomly select participants. That is, what is your sampling plan?
3. Materials/Measures: Discuss and attach as many examples of the materials you would use. If they come from a previously published study, you may simply cite the original source, or (better), get a copy and attach as Appendix.
4. Procedure: Describe in DETAIL what the participants will do.
**Provide detailed information regarding:
1. Instructions to participants. Describe the EXACT instructions you will use. If you make use of deception or a cover story, describe this.
2. Independent variable(s). Describe your IV and how you operationalize it. Explain how you will manipulate this variable.
3. Dependent variable. Describe your DV, how you operationalize it, and how you will measure outcomes on your DV.
4. Debriefing. Explain how you will debrief your participants.
**The Planned Analysis
Identify the statistical analysis that you are going to conduct on your data. Briefly, describe what you predict YOUR results will indicate regarding group differences in your study.
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