Please review the instructions carefully:
- Each candidate will submit a research paper of 5-7 pages (not counting the title page or reference pages) on a current, relevant topic or ethical issue related to the field of School Psychology. Your instructor must approve the topic. You are expected to critically review MULTIPLE research articles (minimum of four peer-reviewed research articles) and/or theoretical viewpoints.
- Research articles must be from the last five years and come from a peer-reviewed journal.
- Textbook and course materials may be used as references but do not count towards the four peer-reviewed article minimum.
- The paper must be typed (double-spaced) and demonstrate writing skills appropriate to graduate-level standards. The paper must adhere to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA)-Seventh Edition. An abstract is not required. Note: see the attached written rubric for scoring.
- Include in the paper the following:
- Statement of the ethical issue (e.g., societal changes, educational programming, special education).
- Why was this topic selected, and why is/was this topic an issue?
- What is the ethical dilemma around this topic?
- What is the role or function of a school psychologist regarding this topic (professional skills, characteristics, training needed)?
- Who might be impacted by this ethical topic (including school psychologists)?
- What external factors may exist (school site characteristics, students served, job-related factors, personnel, and teacher expectations)?
- What conclusions did you draw from the research?
- What can school psychologists do to handle the ethical dilemma?
- What further wonderings do you have, and what recommendations would you have for future research?
- Statement of the ethical issue (e.g., societal changes, educational programming, special education).