This assignment is about reading professional journals in your field and becoming familiar with the scientific method and the tone…

This assignment is about reading professional journals in your field and becoming familiar with the scientific method and the tone of professional writing. Articles published in professional journals go through a process in which knowledgeable people critique it and make suggestions (peer review). Try to  select research that relates to your major, your option, or your interests. Articles must be current (after 2005).

            Our Oviatt library has a wide selection of databases and journals paid, in part, by your student fees. I encourage you to learn to use computer databases to select topics of interest and find various journals. Articles may be retrieved from the internet but must be cited as such. Choose an article where the author(s) describes the purpose/introduction, method, results, discussion and conclusion of a scientific investigation.  

 

You may choose any subject that relates to lifespan development.

Make sure you are reading an actual article, not a summary or abstract of that article. Caution: book reviews, editorials, health newsletters & website summaries are not actual research articles. These usually do not have statistical analysis or references.     

A few examples of professional journals are:

 

Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences                    Clothing & Textiles Research Journal

Human Development                                                  Child Development

Psychology and Aging                                                Family Relations

Journal of Family Issues                                             Journal of Youth and Adolescence
Clothing & Textiles Research Journal             Nutrition & Dietetic Journal

Journal of Black Psychology                                      Journal of Interior Design
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology            Developmental Psychology
Journal of Marriage and the Family (JMF)                Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity & the Arts      Journal of Fashion Marketing &                                                                                                                     Management

Journal of the American Dietetic Association(JADA) Pediatrics    

Social Behavior & Personality                                    Journal of Consumer Marketing

Journal of Retailing                                                     Journal of Consumer Affairs

The Gerontologist                                                       Journal of Family & Economic Issues

There are literally thousands…

 

Note: It might help you to skim through one of these journals until you come upon an article that is of interest to you. 

Assignment Format (50 points)

(refer to APA Writing Format for All Assignments – on moodle)

Page 1:

Title Page (see sample included with APA Guidelines on moodle)                          

Page 2 to  4:

            In your own words, briefly summarize each section of the article. You want to provide the most salient information, as simply as possible in each section. In some instances you might choose to cite part of the original text. In this case you MUST put quotation marks around the citation, followed by the author’s last name, year, page #. in parentheses. Use these headings to summarize and organize each section: (headings are capitalized)

INTRODUCTION (or sometimes PURPOSE)

       This is the rationale for the investigation and the purpose of the study. The introduction     also reviews relevant research.                                                                                    

 

METHOD

       This includes a description of the participants, instruments, and procedures used.  

 

RESULTS

       This addresses the significant findings of the study.                                                 

        

DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION

       This is the summary of the authors findings and suggestions for future research.

In a second paragraph include YOUR ideas for future research and directions as well; clearly indicating it as your opinion.                                                                                                                        

 

Last page:

REFERENCES

         Cite the article you read using correct APA formatting (see APA Guidelines on moodle). Don’t forget to include retrieval information if found read on the internet)

 

FINALLY –

ATTACH a copy  of the first and last page of the article so I can SEE/VERIFY the name of professional journal; the abstract; & some article references.

Otherwise you will not receive credit for the annotation.                                                                                                         

Grading Criteria:         +relevance of article to course

                                    +quality & currency of article

                                    +headings used

                                    +information summarized clearly and concisely

                                    +APA format, quality of writing

                                    +copy of first and last page of article