Assignment:
A. Begin by choosing a developmental topic that is related to risk. You will analyze this topic from three perspectives:
1. negative developmental outcomes associated with experiencing/engaging in the topic
2. risk factors for engaging in/experiencing the topic for the first time
3. naturally occurring protective factors that can either buffer the negative outcomes OR deter experiencing or engaging in the topic in the first place.
B. Your introduction should describe the topic, describe demographic information about the topic, and finish with a general over-view of what the paper will discuss in the following paragraphs. You will need one or two credible sources (e.g. CDC, US Department of Education, US Department of Justice, US Department of Health and Human Services, Kids Count, etc.) to provide demographic information about the topic. That is, indicate what percent of children/adolescents experience the topic, which children/adolescents are most likely to experience the topic (e.g. gender, age, SES, ethnicity, family structure, etc.).
C. The body your paper will be based on at least six peer-reviewed, empirical research articles. Two articles can be used to describe what we currently know about the topic from a developmental perspective (i.e., negative outcomes); at least two of the articles should discuss risk factors; and at least two of the articles should discuss protective factors. It will help to break the body of the paper into three subsections:
1. developmental review of the outcomes associated with the topic
2. risk factors for the topic
3. protective factors that mitigate the topic
This means you may cite any or all of the six articles in multiple places in the paper. Be sure to describe the subjects, study goals, and specific empirical findings for each study you cite.
I STRONGLY urge you to use PsycInfo as your search tool - you can access it under "Articles and Databases in King Library (https://library.calstate.edu/sanjose/databases). The ChAD LibGuide is also a very useful place to begin your search. The research articles must be published in the last 10 years.
D. Your analysis should categorize each unique result for negative outcomes, risk factors, and protective factors into a developmental domain (cognitive, social, emotional, or physical). At the end of all three sections you should sum-up key trends and indicate the most common domains impacted by the topic.
E. Your conclusion should include the following elements:
1. a brief over-view of the key points from the paper related to negative outcomes
2. an over-view of the risk factors that lead to experience/engaging in the topic
3. an over-view of protective factors that promote resilience for this topic
4. an analysis of the domains are impacted (outcomes) and impact (risk, protective) the topic 5. recommendations for applying this knowledge to actually decrease risk and promote resilience in the context of your topic - this will lead you to part II of the assignment - your prevention or intervention program).
F. A full reference list for all the sources cited and discussed in your paper.
G. Some important reminders:
1. Your paper should be at least 5-pages of text (does not count the title page or the reference page
a. you need at least six peer-reviewed empirical research articles and two credible web-sites
b. all in-text citations and full references should be in correct APA format - no author first names, journal name, nor article title in the text of the paper
c. use a 12-point font and 1-inch margins
d. do not use direct quotes - paraphrase (i.e., summarize in your own words)
e. do not describe the methods, measures, author affiliation, or the article lit review -information from the article should only include a one to two sentence description of the subjects and study goals and the relevant results from the empirical study
f. integrate (link together) your articles rather than listing them.