Overview
To help maintain focus and support your learning, please choose one of the two articles below. You are not required to use all of this week’s readings for this assignment.
Option 1 – Conceptual / Applied Article
What this means: A conceptual article focuses on explaining ideas, theories, and relationships between concepts. It does not include a formal research study with participants or data collection.
This is different from a qualitative study, which involves collecting and analyzing non-numerical data (such as interviews or observations).
Conceptual articles help build understanding of key topics and how they apply in real-world settings. In this type of article, the authors are explaining ideas rather than conducting a study.
Article: David, A. M. (2010). The social psychology of status leveling in organizational contexts. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 18(1), 76–104.
- Explores how status and hierarchy influence interactions within organizations
- Focuses on conceptual understanding and applied social dynamics
Option 2 – Quantitative / Empirical Study
What this means: A quantitative (empirical) study involves collecting and analyzing data. These articles include a structured research design with participants, methods, and measurable findings.
Article: Türetgen, I. Ö., Ünsal, P., & Dural, U. (2017). The role of leadership perception as a mediator between managers' self-monitoring and subordinate attitudes.Journal of Management Development, 36(5), 611–621.
- Examines how leadership perception influences relationships between manager behaviors and employee attitudes
- Uses measurable data to explore how individuals interpret and respond to leadership in organizational settings
Assignment Overview
This assignment is designed to help you begin building confidence in reading and understanding scholarly research. At this stage, your focus is on identifying and clearly explaining the key elements of an article—its purpose, main ideas, and conclusions.
Rather than evaluating or critiquing the article, your goal is to demonstrate accurate understanding by summarizing the authors’ work with clarity and objectivity.
This assignment introduces a skill you will continue to build throughout the program.
📌 Instructions
Write a three-paragraph summary of your selected article:
👉 Paragraph 1 – Purpose and Key Ideas
- What is the purpose of the article or study?
- What key concepts, ideas, or theories are introduced?
👉 Paragraph 2 – Approach or Method
For conceptual articles:
In conceptual articles, there is no formal study. Instead, focus on how the authors explain ideas, connect concepts, and build their overall argument.
- How do the authors explain, organize, or develop their ideas?
- What perspectives, examples, or arguments do they use?
For empirical studies:
- What type of study is this?
- Who were the participants?
- How was the data collected?
👉 Paragraph 3 – Key Takeaways
- What are the main conclusions or findings?
- What insights do the authors provide about the topic?
🚫 Do not include personal opinions or evaluation 🚫 Avoid first-person language
Helpful Tip
Focus on clarity and understanding—your goal is to explain the article in your own words. You are not expected to interpret advanced statistical analysis.
Submission Requirements
- Include the full APA reference for your selected article at the top of the paper
- Three well-developed paragraphs