Paper assignment goal: An exciting aspect of cognitive psychology is that it relates to many “real-world” issues. Theories and research findings from cognitive psychology can be directly used to inform and advance actual activities that people do every day. For example, research findings have been used to inform courtroom proceedings, medical practices, security issues, fingerprinting, and more. For the paper assignments, we will ask you to embrace the “applied” and “translational” aspects of cognitive psychology and write a 5- page paper that explores how cognitive psychology research can inform the “real-world.”
Introduction (5 total points) Section 1
1. What was the primary goal/point/thesis of the article? 1 point – Why was this particular research project undertaken? – What did they hope to address/answer?
2. What theory and/or psychological principle does this article relate to or rely on? 2 points – What specific theories are employed/discussed/assumed? – What does this have to do with basic science in cognitive psychology?
3. Why might this study actually matter for the “real-world”? 2 points – Assuming everything worked perfectly, what are the applied implications? – Why does this matter above and beyond cognitive psychology theory?
Review of Methods (4 total points)Section 2
1. Who were the participants? 1 point
2. What was actually done in this study? 3 points – What were the primary dependent variables? – What were the primary independent variables? – What did the participants do in this study?
Review of Results and Implications (4 total points)Section 3
1. What was the outcome of the experiment(s)? 2 points – What were the primary/main/key findings? 2. What did the author(s) concluded based on the results? 2 points – What implications were drawn from the results
Critical Evaluation of the Article (6 total points)Section 4
1. Were the methods appropriate? 2 points – Any concerns about the actual experimental setup? – Any concerns about the participant group?
2. Were the results sound? 2 points – Any concerns about the statistics, findings, data, etc.?
3. Were the implications appropriated? 2 points – Any concerns about the conclusions/discussion points drawn from the study? – Are the conclusions well founded based on the methods and results?
Extending and Evaluating the Article and Research Goals (4 total points)Section 5
1. How can this work be taken further to advance cognitive psychology theory? 2 points –
What can be done to tweak/extend/change the study to inform theories?
2. How can this work be taken further to advance “applied” issues? 2 points – What can be done to tweak/extend/change the study to inform the “real-world”?