PSY341 – Research Methods in the
Social Sciences
Unit 7 Final Assignment: The Literature Review
Due Date:
Points: 100
Overview:
For this assignment, you will write a literature review based on your approved topic from Unit 2.
You should incorporate into your literature review information from the peer-reviewed journal
articles you found in Units 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Instructions:
This includes:
• a summary of the findings from each peer-reviewed article,
• a conclusion about what is known on your topic based on the totality of this information,
• a discussion of the practical real-world implications and applications of this knowledge,
• discussion of gaps in the literature on your topic. These gaps should lead to one rational
null and one alternative hypothesis, which you should state at the end of your literature
review.
Requirements:
• Your literature review should be at least five (5) pages, double-spaced, not including a
title and references page.
• Your paper should be typed in a Word file and using size 12 Times New Roman font.
• You should cite and reference the four (4) peer-reviewed journal articles you found in
Units 3, 4, 5, and 6 in APA format.
Be sure to read the criteria below by which your work will be evaluated before
you write and again after you write.
PSY341–Research Methods in theSocial Sciences
Evaluation Rubric for Literature Review Assignment
CRITERIA Deficient Needs
Improvement
Proficient Exemplary
0 points 1-5 points 6-9 points 10 points
Number of
Scholarly
Sources
Sources do not
meet scholarly
criteria.
The required
number of sources
is included, but
less than four of
these sources are
peer-reviewed
journal scholarly
articles.
The required
number of peer-
reviewed scholarly
research articles is
met (4).
The required
number of peer-
reviewed scholarly
research articles is
met (4) or
exceeded.
0 points 1 point 2-4 points 5 points
Relevance of
Sources to
Literature
Review Topic
None of the
articles are
relevant to
literature review
topic.
Only 1 article is
relevant to
literature review
topic.
Only 2-3 articles
are relevant to
literature review
topic.
All 4 articles are
highly relevant to
literature review
topic.
0 – 8 points 9 – 11 points 12 – 14 points 15 points
Sources
Summarized
Content in each
source is
discussed but it
significantly lacks
thematic focus and
detail.
Content in each
source is
discussed in some
detail. Some
attempt is made to
organize the
discussion
thematically.
Content in each
scholarly source is
discussed.
Discussion is
organized
thematically with
sufficient detail.
Content in each
scholarly source is
discussed in detail.
Discussion is well-
organized.
0 – 8 points 9 – 11 points 12 – 14 points 15 points
Conclusions
Regarding
Current State
of Knowledge
of the
Literature
Review Topic
A conclusion
about what is
currently known
about the literature
review topic is
either not provided
or a conclusion is
given but there is
no attempt to
synthesize the
information from
each scholarly
source.
A conclusion
about what is
known about the
literature review
topic is provided.
Conclusion is
somewhat
detailed.
A conclusion about
what is currently
known about the
literature review
topic is provided.
Conclusion
contains sufficient
detail.
A conclusion about
what is currently
known about the
literature review
topic is provided.
Information
obtained from each
article is
synthesized into a
well elaborated
conclusion.
0 – 8 points 9 – 11 points 12 – 14 points 15 points
Real-world
Implications
and
Application of
Source
Content
The real-world
implications and
applications of the
information in
some sources are
discussed or are
The real-world
implications and
application of the
information in
each scholarly
source is
The real-world
implications and
applications of the
information in each
scholarly source is
The real-world
implications of the
information in each
scholarly source is
discussed in detail.
CRITERIA Deficient Needs
Improvement
Proficient Exemplary
not discussed at
all.
discussed in some
detail.
discussed in
sufficient detail.
0 points 1-5 points 6-9 points 10 points
Gaps in the
Literature
Gaps in the
literature are not
identified.
Gaps in the
literature are not
sufficiently
identified or do not
lead to rationale
hypotheses.
Gaps in the
literature are
sufficiently
identified and it is
somewhat clear
how these gaps
have led to
hypotheses.
Gaps in the
literature are
identified and lead
to rationale
hypotheses.
0 points 1-5 points 6-9 points 10 points
Hypotheses
and Variables,
and
Operationaliza
tion
Unclear null and
alternative
hypotheses that
lack appropriate
independent and
dependent
variables.
Unclear null and
alternative
hypothesis that
are missing an
independent or
dependent
variable. Variables
are vague and not
well
operationalized.
Clearly written null
and alternative
hypotheses with
both independent
and dependent
variables, but
variables are not
sufficiently
operationalized.
Clearly written,
insightful null and
alternative
hypotheses and
independent and
dependent
variables are
correctly
operationalized.
0 – 9 points 10 – 15 points 16 – 19 points 20 points
Clear and
Professional
Writing and
APA Format
Errors impede
professional
presentation;
guidelines not
followed.
Significant
errors that do not
impede
professional
presentation.
Few errors that do
not impede
professional
presentation.
Writing and format
are clear,
professional, APA
compliant, and
error free.
- Overview:
- Instructions:
- Requirements:
- Evaluation Rubric for Literature Review Assignment
