Finally, you will write a 10-12 page (at least 2700 words) research paper on a topic in intimate relationships that they want to explore in more detail. Your goal is to integrate theories, research, and discussion to answer a new and novel question. Narrow down your topic to your best abilities!
Once you pick a topic, you will have to read additional journal articles (at least five; popular sources like the New York Times or Psychology Today do not count) on that topic. Carefully analyzing their theory, methods, results, and conclusion. The textbook can point you to some interesting articles. The Internet might also help you find sources, but there is no quality control on the web (called peer review in scientific journals) and thus it does not count as an article. As you read the articles, try to understand what the authors did, why they did it, and how the results enhance our understanding of the topic. Be sure to include a reference list at the end of your paper (preferably in APA format). At least two of the five references must come from the approved journals listed above and must be from the last 10 years.
– no abstract needed
I am most interested in your ability to answer your new and novel question by integrating the research you read. Your summary of the articles should be minimal (and you should have no quotes longer than two lines of the research). You should try to integrate the findings, discuss where they agree, where they disagree, whenever you think the findings are valid (don’t be afraid to criticize the research), gaps in our knowledge, ideas for future studies, and anything else you think will enable a reader to understand that topic in detail.