Psychology 390
Theories of Learning
Research Paper Guidelines
Paper due March 1, 2005
You will investigate a selected topic in the field of learning and write a 7-10 page paper on that topic. You may select a topic from the attached list or propose a topic and have it approved by the instructor. Each topic is posed as a question. Your objective is to attempt to answer the question through evaluation of current scientific literature in the field. There are no simple answers to the questions posed. The topics are controversial and lend themselves to creative and critical thinking, an approach that I would like to see all students take rather than viewing this paper as a “book report”.
Requirements:
1) Locate, summarize and critique 4 articles from professional journals that refer to your chosen topic. The articles that you select to summarize and critique for this paper should adhere to the following guidelines:
a) The articles must come from professional psychological journals. Popular press articles such as those reported in Psychology Today or newspapers are not appropriate for this project. If in doubt, check with me.
b) The articles should be current (1990 to the present).
c) At least three of the articles must be data based empirical studies (i.e., include a method section with description of participants, procedure etc). One article can be a literature review. Again, if in doubt ask me.
d) Do not include letters to the editor, brief notes of research findings, case studies or secondary sources.
e) The primary focus of the articles should be on your learning topic.
For each article you will write a one to two page summary and critique of the work. In each summary be sure to describe what the author(s) wanted to find, how the study was conducted, what the results were, how the author(s) interpreted the results, and what the author(s) now think due to the results. Assess the quality and relevance of the research. Look for major flaws and confounding variables. Explain why you think that something was a problem in the study rather than simply listing problems. Consider the real world relevance of the study.
2) In addition to the summary/critiques for each article, you should type up a two page summary that integrates the 4 articles and attempts to answer the research question posed with the topic. In this section, based on the information presented in the articles, you will come to a conclusion regarding the topic question. Additionally in this section, be sure to propose suggestions for future research in this area that may contribute to answering the research question.
3) Provide copies of the original articles along with your paper. I will not grade papers without the original research articles.
Be sure to start
researching your topic at the beginning of the quarter. Interlibrary loans take
time. Expect a lower paper grade if you limit yourself to resources available
at the Hamersley library.
Paper Topics
1. Learning & Parenting Practices I: What does learning research suggest as effective parenting practices?
2. Learning & Parenting Practices II: Under what circumstances is punishment effective?
3. Learning & Parenting Practices III: What factors influence the effectiveness of reinforcement?
4. Learning & Relationships: How do learning principles explain interpersonal attraction?
5. Learning & Sleep I: How important is sleep to learning? How much sleep do you need to optimize learning?
6. Learning & Sleep II: Can you learn while you sleep?
7. Learning & Emotions: How does emotional state influence learning?
8. Learning & Alcohol: How does alcohol consumption influence learning? (do not include alcoholism)
9. Learning & Caffeine: How does caffeine consumption influence learning?
10. Latent learning & Incidental learning: What influences the likelihood of learning when we don’t intend to learn?
11. Learning & the Self-Generation Effect: What implications does the self-generation effect have for learning and test taking success?
12. Rote Learning: Under what circumstances would rote learning be successful?
13. Learning Transfer & Generalization: How can we improve the likelihood of applying what we’ve learned to other settings?
14. Learning & Gender: What gender differences (if any) exist in learning?
15. Learning & Aging: When will it be most likely for an “old dog” to learn new tricks?
16. Learning & Anxiety Disorders: What role does learning play in development of anxiety disorders?
17. Learning & Immune System Function: How does learning influence the likelihood of getting sick?
18. Behavioral Therapy for Nocturnal Enuresis: Can learning theory be effectively applied to treat bedwetting?
19. Learning & Prenatal Development: Can a fetus learn before birth?
20. Learning & Language I: How well do learning principles explain vocabulary development?
21. Learning & Language II: How well do learning principles explain grammatical development?
22. Learning & Langauge III: Can animals learn language?
23. Learning & Eating I: How do learning principles explain the development of eating behaviors/patterns and eating disorders?
24. Learning & Eating II: How have learning principles been applied to changing eating behaviors/patterns and treating eating disorders?
25. Learning & Fears I: How do learning principles explain the development of fears & phobias?
26. Learning & Fears II: How have learning principles be applied to reducing fears and treating phobias?
27. Learning & Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: How are principles of escape and avoidance associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
28. Learning & PTSD: What role does habituation play in the maintenance of PTSD?
29. Learning & Latent Inhibition: How is latent inhibition implicated in schizophrenia? Or Parkinson’s disease? or ADHD? (pick one or any combination)
You may suggest
another Learning topic and have it approved by the instructor. Be sure to get
your topic approved before you do extensive searching.
You may narrow or
limit your topic in a meaningful way in order to keep it manageable, as long as
you are left with enough sources to write the paper.
Psychology 390
Theories of Leaning
Research Paper Grade Sheet
Format & Style (10
points)
·
typed &
double spaced
·
margins 1 to
1.5 inches
·
7-10 pages in
content length
·
Title page:
Name & Title
·
Reference
page: APA Style
·
4 Articles
selected (at least 3 empirical studies 1990 present)
·
Articles
attached to paper
·
Active Voice
·
Correct
tense/grammar
·
Spelling
Content of
Summary/Critique for each article
(15 points for each
of 4 articles = 60 points total).
Writing in student’s own words,
quoting avoided.
·
What were the
author’s trying to find with this study?
·
How was the
study conducted?
·
What were the
results & implications of the study? What do the results say about the
learning topic under investigation?
·
Assess the
quality & relevance of the study.
Content of
Integration (30 points)
·
Integration of
the 4 articles summarized in the paper. Compare and contrast results and
implications of the different studies.
·
Research
question answered based on reviewed research.
·
What should
future research focus on in this area? Is there another way that this topic
could be investigated? Are certain variables neglected in the current studies?