Reference no: EM133195230

Adult Development and Aging by John C. Cavanaugh, Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, Fredda Blanchard-Fields

A research review paper "is a report that an individual presents to others about the conclusions that he or she has reached after investigating a subject and carefully assessing the information he or she has gathered" (Hubbuch, 1992, p. 3). 

A literature review paper is more objective than a personal essay. That is, statements in a research paper are supported by facts as opposed to statements reflecting personal opinions or beliefs. That is not to say a research paper is simply a regurgitation of facts you have read. Rather, the research paper should be based on your assessment and understanding of the material you have researched for your paper, and the conclusions that you draw. 

Reference

Hubbuch, S. (1992). Writing research papers across the curriculum (3rd ed.). Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.

Purpose

The literature review paper is an important component of your educational experience in this course. The research paper assignment will: 

1. get you involved, and help you to develop skills, in reading original research literature.

2. assist you in learning how to summarize and integrate research findings into the body of a research paper.

3. allow you to study a particular area in more depth, and to apply the results of your study of the psychology of adult development.  

4. assist you in continuing to develop your academic writing skills.

The hope is that you will find this assignment intellectually exciting and fun.

Selection of Topic and General Tips

Many students find writing an essay intimidating, and one of the hardest tasks can be selecting a topic for your paper. To make this task easier, you are encouraged to scan through the table of contents in your text, and identify three or four areas that interest you. Read the text material about these particular areas, and based on your reading, limit yourself to one or two areas of particular interest. Try to narrow or focus your interest to a specific topic within the area(s). At this point, call your tutor, and discuss your choice of topic(s). You must have tutor approval of the topic before proceeding with your paper.

Athabasca University has a number of excellent resources to assist you in writing the research paper. AU Library's Get Help page has links to both research strategies and writing tutorials that you are strongly encouraged to visit.

If you experience difficulty writing research papers you might find the following tips helpful. Most people find writing difficult, even those who have been doing it for years and who do it for a living. If you follow the tips given here, you should find the task of writing the research paper a bit easier to accomplish.

Start early

You will need to search databases and order material from Athabasca University's Library. This takes time. Leaving your paper until the last minute means that you will not have the research articles you need to complete your paper.

When choosing a topic of interest, keeping mind the length required for the paper, the boundaries of the topic for the course, and the availability of sources. Do not select a topic that is so broad that you would have to write a book to cover it adequately. Conversely, ensure that your topic is not so narrow that there is not enough material to deal with the topic. Remember to discuss your topic with your tutor before you begin your paper. 

Review the literature

Once you have approval, you should prepare a rough outline. Preparing an outline helps to identify main and subordinate ideas.  It will help you organize your thoughts, and provide direction in your reading and note-taking.  You should have a theme or argument around which your ideas logically cohere.

There are a number of databases available to conduct searches and locate relevant material. Check the Help section of Athabasca Library's web page for assistance on accessing the databases. The research articles from scientific journals will provide you with more specific and current information related to your topic.  If you are unfamiliar with the searching the library catalogue or the databases, contact the reference librarians for assistance. You must use a minimum of ten primary sources with at least six original articles from scientific journals from the last 5-10 years.

As you review the research, take notes only on material that is directly related to your topic.  It might be useful to record only one fact on an index card citing the relevant source and page.  Be sure your references are complete and accurate.

Prepare a rough draft

State your thesis or argument using your outline for the organization of the paper.  All information that follows should relate to your argument.  Group your index cards or notes to achieve a logical sequence of ideas and backup material.  Evaluate the relevant literature by commenting on strengths and weaknesses of the published research and the themes that emerge from your integration. Using sentence form, fill in the details of your outline.  Ensure that you have a logical progression of arguments, good transitional sentences, and sufficient supporting material.

Prepare the final draft

Focus now on the style of your paper rather than content.  Reread the rough draft, making marginal notes regarding weaknesses. Use clear, concise prose.  Check spelling and grammar. Check accuracy of reference citations in text. Compile the reference list, including only those references cited in the text using APA format. Before submitting your essay, take the time to proof read it carefully to catch any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.