Psychology Critical Analysis

To begin with the final paper should be written in past tense because it is a report of what already has been done. Secondly the final paper should summarize the procedures, problems, successes of your study and should emphasize issues relevant to the research methodology. The final paper will have three major sections. Thirdly the first part of the paper should focus on describing the problem, summarizing the existing literature on the subject (your Step 3 of critical analysis). The second part of the paper describes the data and presenting and analyzing your preliminary findings (Results and Discussion). It should include your results including themes, subthemes, and quotes from your interviewee and a discussion that connects your findings to the previous contextual context and body of knowledge as well as the beginnings of your thoughts and questions about your theoretical narrative.

The third part of the paper should be a critical discussion of the methods used. Any problems you encountered and how you managed any problems or obstacles. In addition what have you learned about fieldwork and qualitative research. Observations and findings of your study are primarily reported in Part 2 of the paper and should be noted in Part 3 only to the extent that they are relevant to the qualitative methodology or to your experience of this project. Make certain to incorporate course readings in your analysis by framing your paper to address issues and debates in the literature on qualitative research methods. The paper will be evaluated on the basis of its clarity, organization, understanding of the readings and class discussions, and what you learned from the experience.

Further Description

Remember that the focus of this course is about your learning of the process of qualitative research, not the results of your mini-research project. Consequently, reports of mistakes, errors in judgment, failures, etc.. Will NOT result in a poor grade as long as you think critically about them. Also demonstrate an understanding of these difficulties as well as what you have learned from them. Where these occur, make certain to suggest what you might do differently the next time. Be careful with writing style (e.g., gram- mar, spelling, adherence to APA style, organization). Structure of final paper (approx. length 12 pages, max 15)First part: Introduction (approx. length 3 pages, max 4). Second part: Results and Discussion (approx. length 6 pages total, max 7)1. Results (approx. length 3 pages, max 4). Include themes, subthemes, and quotes from your interviewee.

2. Discussion (approx. length 3 pages, max 3) This section covers connections of your results to the body of knowledge (e.g., literature, research) on your phenomenon. These are your initial thoughts about the concepts, inter-relationships between the themes & subthemes, and context of your phenomenon. Limitations and Future Research are discussed here. Third part: Self-Reflective Critical Discussion (approx. length 3 pages, max 4). This section is your critical analysis and thoughts about qualitative methodology and your semester research project. It should emphasize issues relevant to qualitative methods as well as summarize your research process for this project (e.g., methods used; problems en- countered; how do they manage it.

Additional Information

What you learned about fieldwork and qualitative re- search; what you would do differently or if you were continuing the study). Make sure to incorporate the course readings and class discussions into your analysis by framing issues and debates in the literature. You want to demonstrate your understanding of qualitative methodology; current issues and debates; observations & findings of your own study; think- ing and questions about your study; and your overall learning process.

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