PSY 325 WEEK 5 ASSIGNMENT FINAL PAPER

PSY 325 WEEK 5 ASSIGNMENT FINAL PAPER | Ashford University 

PSY 325 WEEK 5 ASSIGNMENT FINAL PAPER

Focus of the Final Paper
For your Final Paper you will conduct a research study critique. Utilize the instructor-approved topic that you selected in Week One of the course. Identify three to five quantitative research studies from peer-reviewed sources which were published within the last ten years that investigate this topic. Describe the statistical approaches (i.e., identify the variables and their type) used in each study and the interpretation of the results. Finally, present other statistical approaches that could have been used and, when appropriate, suggest alternative interpretations of the results. This process will allow you to apply the concepts learned in the course in the interpretation of actual scientific research.
The three to five quantitative research studies that have been conducted on your chosen topic must:
1. Have a clearly stated research hypothesis.
2. Utilize inferential statistical tests as part of the research study.
3. Present the results of the statistical analysis.
4. Interpret the results of the statistical analysis.
5. Discuss the implications of the results of the study.
The Final Paper must contain the following sections:
1. Introduction
2. Methods
3. Results
4. Discussion
Introduction
This section will provide a general introduction and review relevant literature to the topic being studied. The research studies being critiqued will also be introduced in this section. In the Introduction, the research hypothesis associated with each study should also be clearly defined.
Methods
In this section, the research method and statistical approaches for each of the studies being critiqued will be presented. This section should include a discussion of all statistical tests conducted and other relevant information, such as the
sample size, and any assumptions noted on the part of the researcher. In this section, the student should describe of all of these factors, and suggest alternatives when they are appropriate.
Results
In this section, the results of the statistical tests performed in each of these studies should be presented and critiqued. It is appropriate in this section, to discuss limitations or to critique the interpretation of the results provided in each study.
Discussion
This section will compare the efficacy of the research studies that are presented on the topic chosen by the student. The strengths and weaknesses of each study should be mentioned in this section. Based on these studies, suggest future research directions. Additional forms of statistical analysis should be included as part of the suggested future research.