Scientific Writing for Psychology: Chapter 7
Exercise 7.2
View the discussion section at the end of the assignment (the page after all three exercises are listed). This discussion section lacks subheadings. Identify the function of each paragraph and which paragraphs hang together (as opposed to which ones separate naturally). Look for the sections listed in your book, including a summary of findings and overview, limiting conditions, and general implications. Consider whether there are paragraphs that have other functions (study-specific issues). Add a minimum of 3 subheadings based on what you read in your writing psychological science book.
[After you read the content, make a date for games or chats or studying with friends – online or otherwise…This might read as a prompt to go do something with other people, not as a reminder that you can’t do such things. If everyone else is lonely, no reason everyone else isn’t looking for *you* the same way you’re looking for *them,* and that’s a good message in what could be an otherwise sad article. Now go find each other, live long, and prosper… Remember that if you’re struggling, there are campus resources, including the Student Wellness Center (Links to an external site.) that can help – even if it’s just to help problem-solve loneliness, or if it’s bigger than that.]
Exercise 7.3
For each of the following exercises (which may look familiar from Chapter 5) identify one limiting condition that could be described, as well as one study-specific issue.
1. Are positive and negative events remembered equally well?
Hypothesis: Because negative outcomes lead to more processing of details, we expect negative events to be recalled more accurately.
Method: In the spring of the school year, we asked students at four high schools to recall the scores of their school’s football games from the previous fall. Each student received a list of all games with the opponent’s name provided; students listed the number of points scored by each team. To control for exposure to game-related information, students were asked to estimate, on 7-point scales, their interest in their high school football team and their attendance at the previous fall’s games.
1. Do people’s responses to stressful daily events predict whether they develop depression?
Hypothesis: People who respond routinely to stressful daily events by becoming upset, hostile, or nervous are at greater risk for developing depressive symptoms.
Method: College students were tested twice during the academic year. In the second month of the fall semester, they came to the laboratory and completed a measure of depressive symptoms. In the week that followed this visit, every evening they completed online measures of (a) the different stressors they had experienced that day (e.g., “had an argument with a friend”) and (b) the extent to which they had experienced positive and negative emotions during the day. During the last month of the academic year, they returned to the lab and completed the measure of depressive symptoms again.
1. Does feeling insecure financially influence people’s reports of physical pain?
Hypothesis: Feeling insecure about income and employment can lead people to report experiencing greater pain.
Method: Adults recruited online were assigned randomly to one of two conditions. In one condition, they were asked to write a paragraph describing a time in their life when their financial situation was insecure (e.g., they lost a job, they had trouble playing bills). In another condition, participants were asked to write a paragraph describing a time when their financial situation was secure (e.g., they had just taken a job with good pay, they had received a large bonus). Then participants completed questionnaires measuring (a) how much physical pain they were experiencing, (b) their mood, (c) their personality, and (d) demographic variables.
Exercise 7.4
Use the hooks below (they may look familiar from chapter 5) to write a paper-ending sentence. For the first study, assume that wellness programs were effective when they rewarded people for healthy behavior instead of punishing them. For the second study, assume the endorsements by celebrities were more effective when celebrities were familiar and credible but that their trustworthiness had no impact.
1. Many studies have been conducted to determine whether workplace wellness programs are more effective when they reward employees for healthy behavior or penalize them for unhealthy behavior.
2. Advertising research reveals that the effectiveness of product endorsements by celebrities depends on the familiarity, trustworthiness, and credibility of the celebrity.
Rubric
Some Rubric (7)
Some Rubric (7)
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome7.2.1 Discussion subheading: makes sense based on the scientific writing, and based on the sections described in the book. 2 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome7.2.2 Discussion subheading: makes sense based on the scientific writing, and based on the sections described in the book. 2 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome7.2.3 Discussion subheading: makes sense based on the scientific writing, and based on the sections described in the book. 2 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome7.3.1 Limiting Condition is identified (.5) and is accurate a limiting condition from the book and for the context (1); study-specific condition is identified (.5) and is an accurate study-specific condition for the context (.5) 2.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome7.3.2 Limiting Condition is identified (.5) and is accurate a limiting condition from the book and for the context (1); study-specific condition is identified (.5) and is an accurate study-specific condition for the context (.5) 2.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome7.3.3 Limiting Condition is identified (1.5) and is accurate a limiting condition from the book and for the context (2); study-specific condition is identified (1.5) and is an accurate study-specific condition for the context (1.5) 6.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome7.4.1 A paper-ending sentence has been written based on the hook (2). 2 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome7.4.1 A paper-ending sentence has been written based on the hook (4). 4 pts
Total Points: 23.5