Psychology Research Project Proposal



Name_____________________________________ Period______

AP Psychology Elshakhs

AP Psychology Research Project

Now that the AP test is over, you have an opportunity to investigate a psychological phenomenon and present your results to your classmates. Take some time to consider which topics were most interesting to you in this course. Use your textbook and the Internet to brainstorm possible areas for further study. Consider whether you want to undertake original research, replicate a famous study or do a combination of both. You and a partner will choose a topic, carry out the study and present your findings in a 15-20 minute presentation in class.

Due date: In-class project presentations will be due on Thursday, June 6. Presentations will be given for four class days in a row.

Grades: This assignment is equal to one test grade. Project grades are individually determined and based on the categories identified in the scoring rubric.

Work days: Much of your work will be completed in class as you will have seven class periods to work on the project. Beyond those days in class, you will complete the rest of the work on your own time. The following days will be library work days. A few classes will need to work on laptops in our classroom, instead of in the library, as designated below:

May 10, 13, 17, 20, 24 (6th pd in classroom)

May 28 (in classroom), June 3

Thinking Skills: 1) Identify the question you need to answer and the problems you need to solve.

2) Gather and organize information and data.

Project Proposal: Only one project proposal will be submitted by each set of partners.

DUE DATE is Tuesday, May 14. The proposal is worth 20-30% of your

final project grade. See next page for proposal requirements.

Project Proposal

Please be sure to include all of the following information in your project proposals:

1. Partners Names -

2. Hypothesis - Choose something you are genuinely interested in! Focus on a realistic goal for you to achieve in the time allotted. Write out a clear hypothesis that you will study.

3. Summary of a Psychology Journal article: (One-page minimum) Find and summarize a full-text Psychology Journal article on your topic of interest. Your summary should describe the hypothesis, any variables that were measured, how the variables were operationalized, the methodology used (type of study), the generalizability (or lack thereof), and any findings. If you do a thorough job researching your topic, it will give you ideas for how to conduct your study. Source for Journal Articles: Go to the CHS Research Databases webpage, scroll down to Current Issues and click on “Proquest Newspapers and Magazines”.

3. Research Method and Design – (One-page minimum) After examining an academic psychology article, you are now ready to design your own study. You must specify the type of study you will conduct, specify the variables, and describe how you will operationalize and measure/quantify the variables. You will outline the specific procedures you will use to gather data to prove/disprove your hypothesis. For Surveys: You must specify the exact population you will study, the procedures that you will use to get a random sample, submit your questions in advance, and describe how you tried to avoid leading or biased questions. (Remember: You could also design a correlational study using pre-existing data sources.) For Experiments: You must define the dependent and independent variables, describe how you will randomly assign people to the control group and experimental groups, and what procedures you will use to avoid the possibility of experimenter or participant bias.

4. Timetable – Specify when the various steps of your project be completed (research, proposal, study design, data collection, data analysis, preparing an oral presentation, etc.) Consider, we have roughly one month before the due date.

5. The Oral Presentation - Summarize your likely format for how you will present your information. Visual aids are required (many students choose PowerPoint). The presentation of your data and findings is important. It should be clearly organized and easy for the audience to interpret and understand. Some form of proof of experimentation (video footage, audio recording, photographs, etc.) is required.

6. Formatting – 12pt. font, double-spaced, 2-3 pages

Name_________________________________ Period_______

AP Psychology

AP Psychology Project Scoring Rubric

I. Presentation:

(10 = Excellent … 1 = Unsatisfactory)

|Categories, Explanations and Criteria |Rating |

| |1-10 |

|1. Organization: How parts of the presentation fit together. |  |

|clear introduction |smooth transitions |  |

|clearly stated hypothesis |effective conclusion | |

|main points supporting central idea |appropriate length | |

|obvious structure | | |

|2. Content: Topics included in the presentation; key concepts are important. | |

|clear description of research method |original thinking evident |  |

|clear information |clear description of results | |

|significance of information |significance of results | |

|3. Adaptation: Visual aids and level of interest created by the presenter(s). | |

|To content |To audience | |

|visuals appropriate |presentation adapted for audience | |

|technology enhances presentation |awareness of audience interest evident | |

| |audience interest and enthusiasm maintained | |

|4. Language: Presenter’s use of oral language throughout the report. |  |

|clear and precise |rich vocabulary | |

|suited to scientific study |avoids clichés, archaic forms, redundancies | |

|5. Delivery: Connection between speaker and audience. | |

|Voice |Eye Contact | |

|understandable, audible, articulate |maintained through most of presentation | |

|appropriate, varied pitch |spread throughout audience | |

|stress and volume appropriate |Body Movement/Gestures | |

|appropriate rate |appears relaxed, confident, poised | |

|pauses used for emphasis |hands and body used appropriately | |

I. Oral Presentation _________ (50%)

II. Hypothesis & Conclusions _________ (10%)

III. Design of Research _________ (20%)

IV. Response to Questions _________ (20%)

AP Psychology Project Final Grade _________

Notes:

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