Choose a Research topic from our textbook or from the New York Times' Science Section on Tuesdays (available athttp://www.nytimes.com).

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Research Paper Instructions:
1.   Choose a Research topic from our textbook or from the New York Times’ Science Section on Tuesdays (available athttp://www.nytimes.com). Email this topic to the instructor and include 3 references for scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles on the topic by no later than Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 11:54 PM.  Be sure to read my suggested tips for locating a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal article BEFORE sending me your proposed topic / references.
2.   Wait for emailed approval for your topic before writing.
3.   Please type your research paper using Microsoft Word 10-12 point black font Times New Roman or Arial
4.   View and adhere to these Research Paper Assignment Guidelines (see below) as you complete your paper.
5.   Provide in-text citations and references following the American Psychological Association (APA 6.0) style writing format for documenting your sources.  Paraphrase and / or directly quote following APA 6.0 formatting guidelines.   Points reductions will occur for no / improper use of APA 6.0 scholarly formatting AND / OR for use of other types of scholarly formatting such as MLA or Chicago.
o    Reference Librarians at each campus of the college can also help you with this.
o    Recommended website: Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
6.   Discuss information from your course text and at least FIVE scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles related to your topic in your paper.  Cite / reference all paraphrased or quoted material in your paper following APA 6.0.  Your paper must include a minimum of five (5) typed pages in addition to a cover page and reference pages.

  1. Cite / reference any paraphrased or quoted statements in discussions following APA 6.0.
  2. Statements made in your research paper must be documented and referenced, using American Psychological Association 6.0 format

NO PLAGIARISM AND FOR SERIOUS TEACHERS

You will write an 8–10-page paper in current APA style—submitted through SafeAssign—summarizing an aspect of a selected psychophysiological topic from the textbook.

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Research Paper (APA STYLE)

Research Paper Instructions
The Research Paper is the capstone assignment for this course and is to be a written representative of the research conducted on the psychophysiological aspects of an issue chosen from the textbook. Using the services of Liberty University’s Online Library, you will select and read at least 5 recent journal articles on the chosen issue. You will then summarize your findings in an 8–10-page paper, written in current APA style, and submitted through SafeAssign. This assignment is separated into 2 parts: the Title Page, Abstract, and References submission, and the completed Research Paper submission.
1.      Title Page, Abstract, and References
It is important for you to use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association as you format your paper. The Title Page is to reflect the formatting of the current APA manual with a running head and page number. The Abstract is to consist of pertinent information regarding the paper and must not exceed the number of words outlined by the current APA manual. The references must be journal articles that are found in the APA PsycNET database found on the research portal of Liberty University’s Online Library. This portal can be accessed via the web by all Liberty University students. The Title Page, Abstract, and References submission must reflect proper and current APA formatting.
The Title Page, Abstract, and References are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 3.
2.      Research Paper
You will write an 8–10-page paper in current APA style—submitted through SafeAssign—summarizing an aspect of a selected psychophysiological topic from the textbook. The final paper must include the pages turned in for the first step with the corrections given from the instructor made, or the feedback given from the instructor followed. You are encouraged to use APA headings in the body of the paper. The headings outline the paper for the reader and are encouraged but not required. The 8–10 pages include the abstract, the body, and the conclusion. The title and references pages are not included in the total page number requirement.

Describe the problem under investigation (in one sentence if possible)

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Writing a Research Paper

General
__ Typed using 12-point Times New Roman font
__ Correct spelling and grammar
__ Clear and concise description of study (i.e., understandable and not too wordy)
__ Double space throughout
__ Use of 1.0 inch margins on all sides
__ NO right justification
__ Page number in upper right corner of header for all pages
Title Page
__ Title length: 12 words or less
__ Title, name, affiliation centered on page
__ Running head less than 50 characters (including spaces)
__ Running head in all caps flush left (i.e., left justified) at top of page inside header
__ Words ‘Running head’ only on title page (actual running head on all others)
__ Page number in upper right corner of page
__ Page number 5 spaces to the right of the short title/page header
Abstract
__ A brief, comprehensive summary of the contents of the article
__ Should allow reader to survey the contents of the article quickly
__ Accurate, self-contained, concise, and specific
__ Approximately 120-150 words
__ Describe the problem under investigation (in one sentence if possible)
__ Identify pertinent participant/subject characteristics (number, who they were, etc.)
__ Brief description of method
__ Identify results, including statistical significance (Note: Do NOT report actual statistics)
__ Identify conclusions and their implications
Introduction
__ Begin section with title of paper centered on the line not in bold
__ Using past research, provide a logical argument for the premise of your study
__ Introduce the problem
__ Develop the background: review past research and describe relevant theory
__ Demonstrate logical continuity between past research and the present study (i.e., include transitions)
__ In closing paragraph of Introduction: describe your study (i.e., identify variables, hypotheses, expected    results)
Method
__ Describe in detail how the study was conducted
__ Should be broken down into subsections
__ Identify participants/subjects (i.e., how many, how recruited, from what population)
__ Identify design: independent/predictor and dependent/criterion variables, operational definitions, type of design
__ Describe procedure so specifically that the study could be replicated
__ Describe any measures, materials, and/or apparatus used
__ The word “Method” is centered and in bold on the line at the start of the section
Results (what we expect, our outcome)
__ Summarize the data collected and the statistical treatment of them
__ Describe analyses used
__ Provide results of analyses – report actual data and appropriate statistics
__ Include tables or figures/graphs to supplement discussion of the results
__ DO NOT evaluate or interpret implications
__ The word “Results” is centered and in bold on the line at the start of the section
Discussion
__ Evaluate and interpret your results
__ Open discussion section with a clear statement of support or non-support for your original hypothesis(es)
__ Discuss similarities and differences between your results and the work of others (i.e., are your results consistent with previous work in this area?)
__ DO NOT simply reformulate and repeat points already made; each new statement should contribute to your conclusions
__ Discuss implications of the study outcomes
__ Identify limitations to the study (i.e., critique of the study)
__ Outline future research areas made relevant by the findings of the study you conducted
__ The word “Discussion” is centered and in bold on the line at the start of the section
References
__ Begin on a new page
__ The word “References” is centered at top of page not in bold
__ APA style
__ ALL REFERENCES MUST BE CITED IN THE TEXT
__ Alphabetical order by author’s last name

Discuss how membership in an oppressed group might contribute to or exacerbate the problem.

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Clinical assessment paper

This paper provides the opportunity to apply the theories and interventions learned throughout the semester to an individual from your CURRENT field placement or to one of the cases provided for you. If you have never utilized interpersonal, psychodynamic, and/or cognitive behavioral approaches in your work, then act as if you did.  By this I mean: analyze the client through the lenses of interpersonal, psychodynamic, and cognitive theories and then apply the interventions stemming from these theories.
It is expected that the paper include references from this course (i.e., texts, required readings), and a minimum of FIVE empirical and theoretical scholarly articles that are not on the syllabus. At least FOUR of your outside sources should come from scholarly journals, not books or websites. The DSM does not count as one of your scholarly sources.
The paper should be 11 to 12 pages (not including title page or references) typed in 12-point font, double-spaced, and with one inch margins. APA style citations and references are required. NO EXCEPTIONS. It is essential that you protect the confidentiality of your client (i.e., use pseudonyms in place of actual names of persons and in place of highly sensitive information that could link individuals and agencies). DO NOT INCLUDE AN ABSTRACT. NO DIRECT QUOTES ALLOWED. PARAPHRASE ONLY.
ORGANIZATION OF THE PAPER
Part I: Choose a client from your current field placement OR one of the cases provided for you. If you choose one provided for you, the instructor cannot provide any other information regarding the case.
Part II: Assessment (no more than 5 pages)

  1. Briefly describe your professional setting (no more than two or three sentences).
  2. Identify the client’s presenting problem. Include client information (age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, family composition, etc.). Also, discuss whether the client used social or mental health services in the past. This is a good place to cite literature that is not on the syllabus.
  3. Discuss how membership in an oppressed group might contribute to or exacerbate the problem. For example, if your client is Latina, discuss some of the psychosocial issues encountered by Latina populations and whether or not these issues relate to your client. This is a good place to cite literature that is not on the syllabus.
  4. What family issues and/or stressful/traumatic/developmental experiences have contributed to the client’s current problem? Describing these experiences is not enough. Advanced clinical practice requires you to carefully analyze these experiences and explain how they affect your client’s psychosocial functioning. This is a good place to cite literature that is not on the syllabus.
  5. Include a psychiatric diagnosis according to DSM-5. See example below. Please phrase in the following way:

According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) Ms. Smith meets criteria for:
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Diabetes Mellitus
6.      Briefly describe the client’s strengths. Or briefly explain the way in which the client has manifested resilience throughout his or her life. Discuss the importance of client’s religion or spirituality, if applicable.
7.      Describe two of the client’s treatment goals. The client’s treatment goals should stem from the problems under discussion. Please see the chapter on goals in the course tools section. Goals should be one sentence each and should be measurable. Only describe two treatment goals.
Part III: Interpersonal Interaction (no more than three-quarters of a page)
How does the client interact with you during sessions or during your contacts with them? How does this help you to understand how s/he interacts with others, or the way in which others react to her/him?
Part IV: Engagement (no more than 1 page)
Describe the role of the holding environment in the engagement process. First, define the holding environment and briefly discuss the clinical/developmental theories underlying this intervention. Second, discuss why the holding environment is necessary for engaging and establishing a therapeutic alliance with your client. The discussion should be specific to your client—DO NOT discuss the material in a general way. This is a good place to cite literature that is not on the syllabus.
Part V: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) OR CBT-Related Interventions (no more than 4 pages)
Describe TWO cognitive behavioral interventions (e.g., uncovering automatic thoughts, identifying distortions, using thought stopping, or using deep breathing) that can be used to help the client achieve his/her goals. Your discussion MUST include the theory underlying the cognitive behavioral model.
PROVIDE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES. Do NOT discuss the interventions in a general way. Relate the interventions to the client’s problem.
OR
Describe TWO interventions stemming from (a) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), (b) Trauma-Focused CBT, or (c) Exposure and Response Prevention. Choosing one of these approaches means that you will have to describe the specific theory underlying the approach. For example, if you choose DBT, you will discuss Linehan’s biosocial theory and how it informs the skills training component of DBT.
PROVIDE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES. Do NOT discuss the interventions in a general way. Relate the interventions to the client’s problem.
Part VI: Professional Use of Self (no more than 1 page)
Describe some of the factors (e.g., countertransference, personal biases, judgments) that influenced—or could have influenced—the development and maintenance of the therapeutic relationship. Did you need to modify your practice in any way?