This literature review will consist of an 8–10-page paper in APA format that includes an introduction, a summary of a minimum of 5 current articles related to a topic of your choice, and a discussion section providing a synthesis of the extent to which there are similarities or differences among or between the articles’ findings, as well as exploration of what the implications might be for the findings of the articles on the student’s work in the field.
Preparation Guidelines:.
- Find five articles within the past five years pertaining to your topic (2019/2020 – 2025). Make sure your articles are from scholarly sources such as professional journals; avoid articles from blogs or public interest websites. Submit your 5 article references to the discussion board in Module 03.
Paper Guidelines (refer to APA Formatting guidelines throughout) 8 – 10 pages
- Title Page
- (No abstract is needed for student papers in current APA formatting rules)
- Introduction: Explain to the reader the goal of the paper, including exploring what is currently understood in the literature about your topic and discussing the implications of that understanding for work in the field.
- Review of Literature: Provide a well-cited summary of each of your articles in narrative form. Remember, only one citation is needed at the end of multiple sentences from the same source within a paragraph. Offer a critique about the strengths and weaknesses of each article, and review implications for future research and how the findings of the article impact work in the field of counseling.
- Discussion
- Summary and synthesis of literature review including similarities and differences in the various findings
- Analysis of strengths and weaknesses of current research – what do we know and what additional research is needed?
- General trends and implications for work in the field of counseling – this section seeks to answer the “So what?” question. Now that we know what these articles have presented, what does it mean for us as counselors?
“I want to write a literature review on psychoanalytic theories because I find their exploration of the unconscious mind and human relationships profoundly insightful. The way ego psychology, object relations, self-psychology, and relational psychoanalysis unravel the complexities of identity, emotion, and interpersonal dynamics resonates deeply with my curiosity about human behavior. Additionally, connecting these theories to the legal field intrigues me, as it opens doors to understanding how unconscious motives and relational conflicts influence decision-making and justice. Exploring this intersection feels both intellectually stimulating and personally meaningful. Exploring psychoanalytic theories and their connection to legal decision-making and judicial behavior. Specifically, I will examine how unconscious motives, relational conflicts, and identity dynamics influence legal professionals, such as judges, attorneys, and jurors.” – this was my pitch for doing this topic!