To conclude the course, you have the opportunity to choose a topic of interest t

To conclude the course, you have the opportunity to choose a topic of interest to you and analyze it from a social psychological perspective. You will then write a literature review (see Bem, 2016), which is a scholarly paper, written in an objective and academic tone, focused on a particular subject. To do this, you must gather, review, and summarize relevant theory and research.
For example, if you chose to examine a proverb, such as “Opposites attract,” you would first find scholarly articles outlining the major predictors of attraction and testing this notion specifically. Begin your paper with a clear stance on the topic—yes, opposites do attract, or no, they do not—and then present the evidence in an organized fashion to support your thesis.
The topic of your literature review might come from the following list, or you may choose to identify a different area of interest. Scan your textbook for relevant concepts to explore. However, if you choose something other than the options below, you are encouraged to obtain permission from your instructor prior to writing/submitting the paper to ensure the suitability of your topic.
Here are some ideas you might choose to explore:
Accuracy of proverbs
Example: “Don’t judge a book by its cover” or “Beauty is a good letter of introduction.” In other words, what can one conclude based on appearance alone?
Example: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” or “Out of sight, out of mind.” In other words, do long distances or extended amounts of time strengthen relationship ties, or weaken them?
Example: “Birds of a feather flock together” or “Opposites attract.” In other words, are people attracted to similar or dissimilar others?
Impact of titles/labels
Example: How do team mascots (such as the Redskins or Braves) impact Native Americans (self-esteem, stereotype threat, etc.)?
Example: How do labels (such as smart/stupid, crazy or criminal, etc.) impact people’s mental processes and behaviors?
Altruism
Example: Does true altruism exist? What motivates people to help?
Explanatory style
Example: Do optimists experience better life outcomes than pessimists?
Persuasive appeals
Example: How do political campaigns utilize various techniques?
Self-esteem
Example: Is there a dark side? Can one be too confident?
School size
Example: Do students fare better in big schools or small schools? Why?
Reactance
Example: What is the theory behind “reverse psychology”?
Gender differences
Example: in aggression, sex, etc.
A form of prejudice
Example: fat prejudice, racial prejudice, etc.
Psychology and the law
Example: jury behavior, etc.
Other: If you have something else in mind, contact your instructor as soon as possible to ensure the topic is appropriate and to seek additional direction.
In your paper,
Analyze the social psychological literature for evidence that supports your thesis, providing a Synthesis of your findings. Be sure to dispel refuting evidence.
Illustrate specific social psychological concepts using real life examples.
Examine relevant situational factors.
Identify social and cultural forces at work.
Indicate potential ethical considerations in research on this topic or application of insight.
The final paper
Must be seven double-spaced pages at minimum (not including title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA Style resource.
Must include a separate title page with the following:
Title of paper
Student’s name
Course name and number
Instructor’s name
Date submitted
For further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for Microsoft Word.
Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic Voice resource for additional guidance.
Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
For assistance on writing Introductions & Conclusions as well as Writing a Thesis Statement, refer to the Writing Center resources.
Must use at least five peer-reviewed scholarly sources in addition to the course text.
The Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment, please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
To assist you in completing the research required for this assignment, view the University of Arizona Global Campus Library Quick ‘n’ Dirty tutorial, which introduces the University of Arizona Global Campus Library and the research process, and provides some library search tips.
Must document any information used from sources in APA Style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA: Citing Within Your Paper guide.
Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center. See the Formatting Your References List resource in the Writing Center for specifications.