What sorts of research designs are used in child-development research? Be sure to include
those that are specifically intended for the study of age-related change
Specific Considerations
In your essay, be sure to incorporate both description and critical discussion (which would include
the advantages vs. disadvantages/strengths vs. weaknesses) of research designs/methods.
To illustrate the designs/methods/concepts you are critically discussing or points you are making,
your paper should include critical discussion of multiple individual empirical research studies.
Critical discussion of a study involves more than simply describing it. Consider including key
information about the study (e.g., its research question, its sample, its methodology, some key
findings) but include also discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the study.
o The empirical research studies you choose to discuss must NOT be cited/described in the
course etextbook. Instead, you have to search the peer-reviewed literature for yourself to
find other studies that you actually read for your essay and then critically discuss in your
essay – check the Reference section of the etextbook to make sure that none of your chosen
empirical studies have been described somewhere in the etextbook).
o The empirical research studies you choose to discuss must be published in the peer-
reviewed literature – so, they must appear in a scholarly journal that involves a peer review
process; NOT a website or blog, etc. You are strongly encouraged to email or meet in
person with one of the Graduate Assistants for this course if you are unsure about
whether a particular empirical study will be considered to have been published in the
peer-reviewed literature.
Where appropriate, your essay should include mention of possible ethical issues arising with either
general designs/methods or individual empirical studies you critically discuss.
In your essay, be sure to incorporate both description and critical discussion (which would include
the advantages vs. disadvantages/strengths vs. weaknesses) of research designs/methods.
To illustrate the designs/methods/concepts you are critically discussing or points you are making,
your paper should include critical discussion of multiple individual empirical research studies.
Critical discussion of a study involves more than simply describing it. Consider including key
information about the study (e.g., its research question, its sample, its methodology, some key
findings) but include also discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the study.
o The empirical research studies you choose to discuss must NOT be cited/described in the
course etextbook. Instead, you have to search the peer-reviewed literature for yourself to
find other studies that you actually read for your essay and then critically discuss in your
essay – check the Reference section of the etextbook to make sure that none of your chosen
empirical studies have been described somewhere in the etextbook).
o The empirical research studies you choose to discuss must be published in the peer-
reviewed literature – so, they must appear in a scholarly journal that involves a peer review
process; NOT a website or blog, etc. You are strongly encouraged to email or meet in
person with one of the Graduate Assistants for this course if you are unsure about
whether a particular empirical study will be considered to have been published in the
peer-reviewed literature.
Where appropriate, your essay should include mention of possible ethical issues arising with either
general designs/methods or individual empirical studies you critically discuss.
Copyright © C. M. Langton 2024. All rights reserved.
2/3
General Considerations
Make sure you have carefully read this document as well as the ‘Rubric for Course Paper 2230’ document
for this assignment and also the ‘Help Sheet for Course Paper 2230’ document before beginning work on
the assignment.
Your essay must be typed and written in the third person, using coherent sentences and appropriate use of
paragraphs (you are encouraged to use a grammar and spell checker).
It should be no more than 2,000 words (this is a strict word limit). This should be your target length
because a shorter essay may not include sufficient information and critical discussion for a passing mark.
An essay that exceeds the word limit of 2,000 words will lose marks as per the Rubric.
Format your essay using 1” margins and Times Roman 12 pt font. It must be double-spaced, which will
result in a maximum of about 6½ pages of text, with an additional title page and a final page(s) for your
references. It is the actual count of 2,000 words that is important not the number of pages (and you must
include your accurate word count on your title page). List all your references (including the etextbook) on
the final page(s) using the APA format. Your title page and reference page(s) are not included as part of the
2,000 total word count.
In-text Citations and References
You must correctly use in-text citations and give full references in a Reference section for all of your
sources. Correctly list all your references (including the etextbook) on a final Reference page(s) using the
American Psychological Association (APA) format (references on your Reference page are not included as
part of the 2,000 total word count). Guidance in preparing your in-text citations and references for a wide
range of sources using APA format can be found via the links included in the ‘Help Sheet for Course Paper
Assignment’ document also posted for this assignment. Note that it is your in-text citations and your
references listed on your Reference section page(s) that must be in APA format. Your paper/essay should
be written as one would write a standard academic paper – but APA formatting of the paper itself is not
required
2/3
General Considerations
Make sure you have carefully read this document as well as the ‘Rubric for Course Paper 2230’ document
for this assignment and also the ‘Help Sheet for Course Paper 2230’ document before beginning work on
the assignment.
Your essay must be typed and written in the third person, using coherent sentences and appropriate use of
paragraphs (you are encouraged to use a grammar and spell checker).
It should be no more than 2,000 words (this is a strict word limit). This should be your target length
because a shorter essay may not include sufficient information and critical discussion for a passing mark.
An essay that exceeds the word limit of 2,000 words will lose marks as per the Rubric.
Format your essay using 1” margins and Times Roman 12 pt font. It must be double-spaced, which will
result in a maximum of about 6½ pages of text, with an additional title page and a final page(s) for your
references. It is the actual count of 2,000 words that is important not the number of pages (and you must
include your accurate word count on your title page). List all your references (including the etextbook) on
the final page(s) using the APA format. Your title page and reference page(s) are not included as part of the
2,000 total word count.
In-text Citations and References
You must correctly use in-text citations and give full references in a Reference section for all of your
sources. Correctly list all your references (including the etextbook) on a final Reference page(s) using the
American Psychological Association (APA) format (references on your Reference page are not included as
part of the 2,000 total word count). Guidance in preparing your in-text citations and references for a wide
range of sources using APA format can be found via the links included in the ‘Help Sheet for Course Paper
Assignment’ document also posted for this assignment. Note that it is your in-text citations and your
references listed on your Reference section page(s) that must be in APA format. Your paper/essay should
be written as one would write a standard academic paper – but APA formatting of the paper itself is not
required
Use of Generative AI for this Course Paper Assignment is Prohibited
In this specific course, a primary focus is to cultivate an equitable, inclusive, and accessible learning
community that emphasizes individual critical thinking and problem-solving skills. To ensure a fair and
consistent learning experience for all students, the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools
(including but not limited to ChatGPT, Gemini, or Dall-E 2) is strictly prohibited by the course instructor
for this Course Paper assignment. Each student is expected to write their essay independently and without
assistance from others or the use of generative AI. Any use of an AI tool in a student’s academic work in
this course may be considered an act of academic misconduct. (Statement adapted from resources provided
by the University of Alberta Centre for Teaching and Learning; reference/resources available upon
request.)
In this specific course, a primary focus is to cultivate an equitable, inclusive, and accessible learning
community that emphasizes individual critical thinking and problem-solving skills. To ensure a fair and
consistent learning experience for all students, the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools
(including but not limited to ChatGPT, Gemini, or Dall-E 2) is strictly prohibited by the course instructor
for this Course Paper assignment. Each student is expected to write their essay independently and without
assistance from others or the use of generative AI. Any use of an AI tool in a student’s academic work in
this course may be considered an act of academic misconduct. (Statement adapted from resources provided
by the University of Alberta Centre for Teaching and Learning; reference/resources available upon
request.)