For this assignment, you will review a single, scholarly PRIMARY research article in the APUS Library and summarize what it says about any topic concerning infant and/or toddler development (physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive/language development). This assignment must be a review of scholarly research, NOT commercial—that is, not Psychology Today, Wikipedia, WebMD-style publications, or self-help or parent support organization material. Your article must be recent—that is, from within the past 5 to 7 years. If you do not know what a primary research article is, please see the resources ahead.
Resources for Finding an Appropriate Article
What is an academic journal? Please review the following resources:
How Do I Know if an Article Is a Primary or Secondary Research Article? (you must choose a PRIMARY research article for this assignment)
View this video: How to Find and Use Library Databases
What Is a Scholarly Article?
Is It Primary Research? How Do I Know?
HELPFUL HINT: Start early. If you are unsure if you have found the correct type of article, you will have time to reach out and ask your instructor for guidance. The APUS librarians are also very helpful and can work with you to find an appropriate article. You can reach them through the Library Portal.
Reading and summarizing a primary research article can be a bit overwhelming. The purpose of this assignment is to expose you to what research looks, like as opposed to a general new article or information found on the internet. Research is a very defined and detailed process and is how new information is learned on a topic. The information is then reviewed by other researchers to ensure that the outcome of the research is accurate. Do not worry if you do not understand the entire article. There are some sections, particularly the statistical analysis sections, that you may find difficult to follow. This is okay. You will still be able to successfully complete the assignment.