To prepare for this assessment, ensure that you have finalized your abstracted outline. Make sure to complete the media, which will deepen your understanding. Complete a draft of your literature review and additional empirical research sources if you found more. Remember, you’ll need at least 20 empirical sources in the final version of the literature review.
The purpose of the literature review is to provide the context within which the project will be developed and framed. The process of finding, reviewing, synthesizing, analyzing, and writing the literature review provides greater definition to the theoretical framework and gives you a strong foundation from which to work when developing support for the research concept.
You will continue developing your literature review, integrating and synthesizing the information gleaned as you developed your research topic, your LSQ, your annotated bibliography, and your abstracted outline.
In this assessment, you will focus on developing brief, carefully constructed paragraphs supported by the literature and research. You will research and present key findings of your literature review that you may not have addressed or that may need further development. Plan to build upon what you have already presented.
In addition to the other helpful links provided in Resources, we recommend you use an organizing tool from the Capella University Library Services and Tools page, such as the Scholarly Research Log, to help you track the theories, methods, and findings of the articles you have read.
For this assessment, submit the current draft of your literature review for instructor feedback and grading. Using your literature search question (LSQ), the annotated bibliography, and the abstracted outline to support your review, identify themes that emerge from your analysis of what we know so far about your topic. Use these themes to describe how your research builds on prior knowledge.
For instance, if your LSQ is What does the literature in psychology tell us about the utility of treating mild depression in adults with a combination of synchronous and asynchronous labyrinth walking and cognitive behavioral therapy? you might discuss literature that covers the themes of exercise and depression, cognitive behavioral therapy and depression, walking meditation and depression, mindfulness and depression, and so on. Do not organize the paper by referencing each article sequentially; your task is to synthesize concepts pertinent to the LSQ from the articles selected for this review.
Identify literature that:
Describes the chosen area of research and provides rationale for the choice.
Describes the significance of the chosen topic:
Explain and justify the implications of the new knowledge for stakeholders, including community members and those who serve the population.
Summarize sources applicable to the history of the chosen topic:
Discuss historical context and dominant themes in the evolution of the topic; connect common themes and present counteropinions.
Consider theory in light of seminal works by theorists such as Urie Bronfenbrenner, Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, Carol Gilligan, Jean Piaget, Erving Goffman, and Clark Moustakas.
Summarize sources applicable to the theoretical background of the chosen topic:
Provide information about theoretical underpinnings such as empirical/behavioral or constructivist and humanistic orientations of the literature reviewed.
Consider theory in light of seminal works by theorists such as Urie Bronfenbrenner, Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, Carol Gilligan, Jean Piaget, Erving Goffman, Clark Moustakas, Martha Bernal, and George I. Sanchez.
Summarize sources applicable to best practices for engaging in research:
Describe data-collection strategies, research procedures, and approaches for conducting and reporting research.
Summarize sources that add significance and relevance to the knowledge base of psychology:
Indicate how the chosen sources help investigators identify topics that are well understood and other topics that represent gaps in the knowledge base and the need for further study.
Create a scenario that illustrates the need for new research.
Articulate guidelines of the profession applicable to ethical conduct in research practice:
Demonstrate ethical conduct associated with the protection of research subject vulnerabilities such as the need for data privacy.
Identify practices and research guidelines that address respect for individual differences and diversity:
Address individual variation and diversity within and across groups. For example, when writing about marriage and family therapy, acknowledge research choices that exclude or include subgroups such as gay and lesbian families or families of particular racial, ethnic, or cultural compositions.
Adhere to APA style and formatting guidelines, including concise and well-organized writing:
Organize paper to enhance the message and supporting points; writing should reflect the quality and expertise expected for academic work.
Organize and summarize sources thematically.
Your task is to present current considerations important to investigators and to indicate ramifications for stakeholders who rely on the current knowledge base. Use illustrative examples to explain and highlight key concepts. Good reviewers share evidence-based assessments of the current state of knowledge with their audiences.
This assessment is one component of the research concept paper. You are expected to refine this literature review before submitting the final project. Use the research concept paper template to complete the literature review. There are additional details in the template to help guide the completion of this assessment.
Formatting: Use the Research Concept Paper Template [DOCX] to complete your assessment. It has been created to reflect the proper structure. To avoid missing content and losing points, please do not modify the template.
Font: New Times Roman, 12 points, double-spaced, or any other font that complies with current APA guidelines.
APA: Use APA format and style throughout, including citations.
Length: The literature review draft assessment should be 5–6 pages, not including references.
Refer to the scoring guide to ensure that you meet all criteria.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:
Competency 1: Determine the scientific merit of the professional literature.
Identify the chosen research topic and describe its significance.
Competency 2: Apply theoretical and research findings from the discipline of psychology to professional and academic activities.
Explain the theoretical orientation for the research concept.
Demonstrate an effective understanding of the current state of research and literature on the topic.
Synthesize research findings to create a new understanding.
Critique the various methodologies and designs that have been used in prior empirical research related to the chosen research topic.
Competency 5: Communicate psychological concepts effectively using the professional standards of the discipline.
Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
Competency 6: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for members of the psychological professions.
Exhibit proficiency in writing and use of APA (7th edition) style.