Step 1: Read the tips from the UMGC library on “Finding Experimental Research Articles.” Pay special attention to the sections on “Scholarly Research Articles” the “Structure of An Experimental Article”
Step 2: Using the UMGC Library electronic databases, find an article published in the last seven (7) years in the Journal of Clinical Psychology*. The article should describe an experimental manipulation by the researchers specifically. This means that the researchers conducted a study that is a true experiment with an easily identifiable independent and dependent variable.
Step 3: Read the article starting with the Title and Abstract, which will give you a quick preview of the purpose and results of the article.
Step 4: Read the Introduction. Highlight the purpose of the article and the author’s hypothesis Pay attention to the context provided for the research .
Step 5: Read the Methods section. Note the description of the participants and any tests, surveys, questionnaires, apparatus, or other materials that were used. Pay particular attention to the details involved in the experimental procedure. How were the variables manipulated or measured? Recall that the Independent Variable (IV) is the variable that is manipulated by the research or whether participants are given a placebo, shown any type of media or other stimuli, given talk therapy, or instructed to take medication . Remember that the Independent Variable is what was different about the experiences of the different groups. Recall also that the Dependent Variable (DV) is that variable that is measured, or, the outcome of the study .
Step 6: Read the Results. Try not to get intimidated by complex statistical analysis. Instead of focusing on the numbers, focus on the short descriptions that accompany the findings explaining what the researchers found .
Step 7: Read the Discussion. Pay special attention here to what the authors say about the importance of their findings or the lack of findings. Think about other things you could do to look at this issue.
Step 8: Prepare a 3 to 5 page summary of the article fully paraphrased in your own words and your own writing style and structure. Changing a few words from the original is not fully paraphrasing. Be sure to address the following questions in your summary:
What is the purpose of the research?
What hypothesis is tested?
How did the researchers investigate their research question?
What are the pertinent results of the manipulation?
What is your personal opinion of the study conducted? Should it be repeated? What could be improved?
What is your overall impression of the work? What are the implications of the study for the practice of counseling psychology?
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