In this paper, you propose a research project that utilizes one of the designs covered in the course. Specifically, you may propose either:
Experimental
Quasi-experimental
Non-experimental
Descriptive
Correlational
No matter which strategy you choose, your paper will contain all the sections of a research report put forth in the APA guide except for the analysis and results. (You are only proposing a study, not carrying one out.) Thus, you should have an APA-style cover sheet, abstract, introduction—including a literature review—hypotheses, method, discussion, and references as well as any tables or figures you might find useful.
Your paper should be structured as follows:
Title page
Abstract
Literature review
Introduce and summarize research (include discussion of at least 10 peer-reviewed, empirical psychology articles) that has already been done
Set up your hypotheses (final statement in this section should be your formal hypothesis)
Proposed method
Discuss
Proposed sample
Measures (including how these will be reliable and valid)
Research strategy
Research design
Discussion of threats to validity and how they will be managed
Discussion
Because you will not have results to discuss, you should discuss
The contribution that your study will make to the literature if your hypotheses are supported. (What does your study add to the literature that you already reviewed?
What unique contribution does it make?)
The strengths and weaknesses of your methodology (based on what you learned about that methodology in the course)
What kinds of conclusions can be drawn?
Which conclusions cannot be drawn?
Will you be able to show causation, given the design you chose?
