Psychology Question

Overview

This assignment is intended to help students recognize and critique the dissemination of research in the mass media and evaluate the depiction of research findings our clients are most likely to see. Students will locate research claims (in the area of therapy, family studies, or mental health) in mass media sources such as blogs, news articles, magazine articles, web pages, or other sources that state a claim based on research. The mass media piece must reference a study or studies conducted by researchers at an academic or research institution. The students will essentially seek to substantiate or refute the claim made in the mass media outlet by reading one or more of the original research article(s) referenced in the mass media piece. Students should write up an APA-style 1 to 2-page double-spaced report on what they found. Representations of research for lay audiences are one-way clients can be influenced by research, and as clinicians, it is important that we not just take second-hand reports of research for granted which may leave out critical details of the study or minimize important methodological flaws of a study.

Steps/Instructions

1. Find an article in the mass media that states a claim based on research and read the article (see example links below the rubric).

1. Check the mass media article reference list and locate the original research paper(s) the mass media article is based on and read at least one of the pieces of original research.

1. Write a one to two-page report (single spaced, no title page, no separate reference page (just put them on the last page) that addresses the following:

1. What was the research claim in the mass media?

1. Who conducted the original research and what was their aim/question?

1. How clearly and accurately did the mass media study report the following elements of the original research paper:

1. The sample (Did the mass media authors attend to diversity? Did the original authors attend to it?)

1. Method

1. Conclusions

1. In your opinion and overall, did the mass media author(s) appropriately capture the research? Why or why not?

1. What are the implications of the mass media piece for your potential clients? In other words, what are the potential risks and benefits of your clients reading or enacting ideas from this mass media article?