PSY 224: Milestone One: Topic Selection, Article Review, and Bias

This assignment solution for PSY 224 Milestone One focuses on the selection and analysis of a psychology research topic. The student identifies a specific topic within psychology, such as cognitive psychology, and then reviews at least two relevant research articles. The solution includes a summary of each article, followed by a discussion of potential biases, limitations, and other factors that might impact the credibility of the research. The student then explores how these biases and limitations could influence their own research, specifically focusing on the impact of the research design and methods used in the articles. A critical analysis of the appropriateness of the research design and methods is provided, along with a discussion of how the research aligns with the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists. Finally, the student proposes a research design and methods that are appropriate for their chosen topic and outlines the steps they will take to ensure their research adheres to ethical standards, such as obtaining IRB approval and securing informed consent. The assignment aims to develop critical thinking skills, research literacy, and an understanding of ethical considerations in psychological research.

PSY 224 Milestone One Worksheet: Topic Selection and Introduction
Review the critical elements that must be addressed in the final project. Use this worksheet to
develop Milestone One. You should build on the ideas from the Module One discussion to select
your final topic.
1. Identify and briefly summarize the topic related to psychology that you will study. [An
example would be cognitive psychology with the specific topic being memory in emotional
situations.]
2. Summarize at least two articles that you might use in the literature review section of the
introduction that are relevant to the topic you want to research. List the APA reference
citation followed by the summary.
3. Discuss the bias and limitations present in the articles. Support your discussion with specific
examples from the articles. [Bias and limitations might include things like a small sample
size, research being funded by a private corporation, etc. You should use specific examples
to illustrate instances of bias and limitations.]
4. Discuss other factors that might impact the credibility of those articles. You might look at
how the research methods used influenced results, or you might look at the setting of the
research. Anything in the article that might impact the outcome of the research could be
discussed here.

a. Explain how the bias and limitations may inform or influence your research.
[Here you will discuss how the bias or limitations previously discussed would impact
the results. For example, if research on a drug is sponsored by a drug company, this
sponsorship might lead to a more favorable interpretation of the results or
suppression of negative findings.]
b. Summarize the research design and methods described in these articles.
[Discuss the research methods used in each article. For example, was it a
correlational design or a case study?]
c. Discuss the appropriateness of the research design and methods in these articles. Were
they appropriate for the research questions and hypotheses? [Discuss whether or not
the research method was appropriate. For example, was the correlational method the
best way to answer the article’s research question? Discuss why or why not based on
application of different research methodologies.]
d. Discuss whether or not the research design and methods in these articles align to the
expectations of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists. Support your discussion
with specific examples from the articles.
[Here you should examine whether or not the research methods used were ethical
based on APA standards. Use the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists to provide
specific examples.]

e. Based on your evaluation of these articles, discuss which research design and
methods you feel will be most appropriate for the research you want to conduct.
[After reviewing the literature, this section should discuss which research method
would be most appropriate for your research topic. Provide examples from your
literature review to support your choice of research method.]
f. Explain the steps you will take to ensure your research aligns to the expectations of
the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists. [Here you should discuss different steps
that need to be taken in your chosen research topic in order to adhere to APA ethical
standards. For example, you might mention IRB approval or informed consent.]