Journal Summary Assignments

• Due Week 6 (Sept. 30 & Oct. 1):
  Alvarez, G. A., & Cavannagh, P. (2004). The capacity of visual short-term memory is set both by visual information load and by number of objects. Psychological Science, 15, 106-111.
  • Download from Milner

• Due Week 12 (Nov. 11 & 12):
  Bernstein, D. M.,Atance, C., Loftus, G. R., & Meltzoff, A. (2004). We saw it all along: Visual hindsight bias in children and adults. Pschological Science, 15, 264-171.
  • Download from Milner

Note: To read and print out these articles you will need to be able to read PDF files. This can be done with Adobe Acrobat Reader (download here - this site is sometimes very slow. You can also try here and type in adobe acrobat reader in the search field).

A critical research skill is the ability to read and understand primary research articles. Your general task is to write a brief (2 to 3 typed double spaced pages) summary of a journal report of psychological research. The journal summary checklist summarizes the key pieces of information that you want to include in your summary. You must use full sentences and paragraphs (i.e., no lists or bullet points).

PLEASE USE YOUR UNIVERSITY ID NUMBER RATHER THAN NAME ON YOUR JOURNAL SUMMARY

Evaluation

Journal Summary Checklist
Summarize the theory(ies) that are being tested	__/10
Briefly state the hypotheses	__/5
Briefly describe the research method that was used	__/10
How does the method test the hypotheses That is, what are the predictions?	__/5
What is/are the dependent variable(s)?	__5
What is/are the independent variable(s)	__/10
What are the assumptions that link the conceptual and operational levels of the IV and DV? (How are the variables manipulated and measured in the experiment?)	__/5
What are the results	__/15
Do the results support the hypothesis/theory?	__/10
What are the implications of the results? What is the "take-home message?"	__/5
Writing Overall clarity Grammar Spelling	__/10 __/5 __/5

Feel free to e-mail me if you have questions jccutti@ilstu.edu.