Each summary must include the following information:
- On a cover page or in the upper right-hand corner of the first page include: Student’s name, student’s email address, student’s id number, the course for which the student will get credit including the course number and section number, the day/time for the course, and the course instructor’s name. This information is required in order to record credits.
- Author(s), Date, Title of Article, Journal Name, Volume, Pages
- Introduction: What basic question(s) were the researchers trying to answer? What was the general problem area? Why was the study being done, or why is the study important?
- Method:
- Describe the research participants.
- What task did the participants perform, or what tests did they take, or what characteristic were observed or measured?
- How were the data gathered? Naturalistic observation, participant observation, cross-sectional study, longitudinal study, survey, interview, archival, meta-analysis? (the student should include all that apply; and cite evidence to support the claim)
- If it was an experimental or quasi-experimental design:
- Were there different groups? If so, the student should describe what distinguishes them and how participants were assigned to groups.
- How was the independent variable manipulated? How was the dependent variable measured?
- If the article was a correlational or descriptive design:
- What variables were measured and how were they measured?
- Did one variable precede another in time?
- Results:
- What were the results of the study? (e.g. Did any groups differ, or were variables related?). Note: Students do NOT need to provide precise statistical data; it is more appropriate to give a summary.
- Did the results support hypotheses (if any were given)?
- Discussion
- How are the results important (e.g. Can they be applied to solve social or individual problems, do they change the way other studies are interpreted, do they support one theory over another, do they summarize a diverse body of literature?)
- What were any problems with the study identified? In other words, what were the limitations of the study?
- What were the author(s)’ suggestions for future research?
