Research Report: Explore How the Scientific Method is Used in Human Development - Custom Essay

Research Report 

Purpose:  To explore how the scientific method is used in human development and to report on current research investigations.

The Process: 

1.  Locate a study that interests you and describes research on a topic relevant to human development.  It needs to be a complete study including a sample of subjects (people) and a defined method, not just an abstract.  If you find a review of several different studies or a report on a study rather than the actual study, keep looking.  Also please do not use a case study.  The study must have been published in 2009 or after. You will be writing about one and only one study.  You do not need multiple sources. 

2.  Read the full study completely.

3.  Write the report.

Paper format:

• Title page containing the following information: 
• Your name on the upper right side of the paper
• The title of the journal article being reviewed centered near middle of page

• Body of paper requirements:
• 3 - 4 pages in length,
• double-spaced,
• normal margins (NOT office)
• 12 point font,
• Times New Roman or similar font,
• And include a running letter head.

• Reference page citing article reviewed (instructions listed at end of document)

The body of the Research Reviews will include the following information: 

Introduction: This section should include the topic and an explanation as to why it is important or interesting to explore (1 paragraph).  Please do not start with: I chose this topic because….  Grab the reader’s attention with an interesting topic sentence. 

Statement of research question: This section defines what the researchers are studying.  This section clarifies the author’s purpose for conducting the study, and states what is being researched. 

Statement of hypothesis:  In your own words clearly explain what the researcher predicts.  If they do not state a hypothesis, do they infer a hypothesis?  If there is no statement or inference clearly indicate that there is not one stated.

Identification of research methods: Methods used to gather data will be clearly identified.  How many subjects were included in the research and how were they selected?  How was the hypothesis tested? Etc.

Results:  Identify the results of the research study. 

Analysis of study: In this section include thoughts on the importance of the study, how the research could have been done differently to better meet certain needs, and how the study relates to HDF, etc.  DO NOT SKIP THIS SECTION OF THE PAPER.

Conclusion: The final section should summarize insights from the study.  It should not introduce new information.

Please reference the article reviewed such as:

Mayhew, M. J., & Fernandez, S. D. (2007). Pedagogical practices that contribute to social                        justice outcomes. Journal of Adolescence, 31(1), 55 – 80. 

(This includes the author’s name or names with last name(s) listed first, then initials only of first and middle name (if given), the date of publication in parentheses, the title of the article with only the first word and proper names capitalized, the name of the source that the article was in with the first letter of each word capitalized and the whole name Italicized and last comes the volume, issue, and page numbers as above). Note:  second line and following are indented.  (APA guidelines)