Assignment Paper

For this assignment, you are to write a paper of 2500-3000 words, which is approximately 10-12 pages (typed, double spaced). The paper should follow the APA style (e.g., format of citations and references). It should include a title page but does not include an abstract. Late papers will be penalized by deduction of one point (out of 30) per day.

Your assignment is to choose a particular topic in clinical psychology and write a review of recent research findings and theoretical developments relating to that topic. Some suggested topics are listed below. Your topic should relate to some aspect of the discipline of Clinical Psychology. Note that the amount of existing research varies widely with domain of interest, so the breadth or specificity of your topic will depend on the particular issue that you choose. Be careful not to choose a topic that is either too broad or too narrow.

If you do not select a topic from the selections below, please get approval for your essay topic from me. Approval must be received by June 22 at the latest.

Your essay should include references to at least 10 empirical journal articles or book chapters. Referencing websites is rarely advisable. Many psychology journals can be accessed online through Western Libraries, and your course textbook has a list of major journals relevant to clinical psychology that you may find useful.

Format your references and citations according to APA style (6th ed): these guidelines are available online through Western Libraries under “Publication manual of the American Psychological Association.” The overall format of your paper should follow the APA style guidelines, but you do not need to include an abstract.

The paper should follow an essay format, which means it should contain an introduction with a thesis statement, a main body detailing the research and references to support the statement, and a summarizing conclusion. Your paper can be a maximum of 3000 words/12 pages long (1-inch margins, double spaced, 12-point font).

A good paper demonstrates evidence of critical thinking and discussion. Therefore, a good paper is not only a summary of the findings and opinions of others. Critical thinking involves comparison and contrast of related points from different sources, or discussion of the strengths and weakness of arguments, evidence, and theory.

WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT EVALUATION CRITERIA. Papers will be graded based on:

1. Accuracy and clear understanding of the research and relevant surrounding issues,
2. Critical evaluation and discussion of the empirical research,
3. Organization and logic in the presentation of points and discussion
4. Quality and relevance of references selected for the paper
5. Overall quality and sophistication of ideas
6. Overall writing style

Possible Essay Topics

(you are welcome to choose a topic from outside this list but you must have your topic approved by me – deadline for topic approval is June 22)

• Ethical challenges in clinical psychology
• What makes psychotherapy effective?
• Emerging roles for clinical psychologists
• Should clinical psychologists seek prescription privileges?
• How does our increasing understanding of neuropsychology influence therapeutic intervention?
• Technology and therapy – online therapy, teletherapy etc.
• Publication-bias/positive results bias in psychology and its effect on the theory and/or practice of psychology
• Participatory research/activist research and its role in the field of psychology
• Challenges in accessing psychological help in Canada
• Is there a role for projective measures in contemporary assessment?
• The impact of client-report progress monitoring and outcome measures in therapy
• Looking at the efficacy of a given treatment for a particular disorder, population, etc
• Comparing the efficacy of two or more treatments for a particular disorder, population, etc.