It is almost impossible to pick up a newspaper or newsmagazine without encountering a report of a "new finding" from research on some important topic. Such reports vary widely in the detail with which the findings are reported, and in the quality of the "research" the article describes. Your assignment for next class period is to find an article in a newspaper or newsmagazine that reports some type of research finding. If possible, choose a research finding related to psychology, but any type of research is acceptable. (Note about internet articles: You may use an article retrieved from the internet only if it is from the site of a newspaper or news organization. You must provide the URL for articles from the internet. If you have questions about whether a particular source is appropriate, ask.)
Note that your article does not have to be about psychology, but can address research findings in any domain.
Write a short critique of the research described in the article, applying ideas from the class and from the assigned readings. Your paper should include:
Your paper should be a well-written response paper with a clear introduction and conclusion. It should be free of grammatical and spelling errors, one and a half to two pages long, typed, and double-spaced. (If you do not have a typewriter or computer, you should go to one of the public computer labs on campus to print your paper.) Attach the first page of the article you are critiquing (or a photocopy of the first page of the article) to your paper. If the date and source of the article are not evident on the first page, be sure to write them in.
This assignment is due at the beginning of class on the date listed in the syllabus. Be prepared to discuss your article in class.