Lit Review Paper

Literature review paper:

This 5-page paper will require you to think critically and personality psychology. Choosing one

of major sub-areas in personality psychology that we talk about in class (e.g., Big 5, humanistic

approach, motivation, etc.), explore what the research looks like across cultures. Your level of

analysis can be very large (e.g., comparing collectivistic culture vs. individualist culture, or West

vs. East), or smaller (e.g., across races, ethnicities, gender, religious groups). The key is that you

are exploring the cultural dynamics within one sub-area of personality psychology. Keep in mind

how interlocking systems of power – such as gender, race, class, and sexuality – may impact the

research and findings. A good lit review uses your own words to describe the pattern of findings.

Using quotes from researchers really is most appropriate when they’ve described something in

such a specific and nuanced way that altering their words would cause it to lose significance or

meaning. Don’t quote just to summarize a finding. You will be marked for extensive or inappro-

priate quoting.

Below is a step-by-step guide to help you effectively structure your paper and meet the assign-

ment goals:

1. Choose Your Sub-Area of Personality Psychology

A. Select one major sub-area of personality psychology discussed in class, such as the

Big Five personality traits, the humanistic approach, motivation, or another topic of

interest. Your choice will serve as the lens through which you examine cultural dy-

namics.

2. Define Your Level of Analysis

A. Decide whether you want to take a broad or narrow approach to cultural compari-

son:

A. Broad Approach: Compare findings across broad cultural categories,

such as collectivistic vs. individualistic cultures or Western vs. Eastern

societies.

B. Narrow Approach: Focus on specific groups, such as differences in

personality traits across races, ethnicities, genders, or religious groups.

3. Identify Cultural Dynamics and Systems of Power

A. As you explore your chosen sub-area, consider how interlocking systems of pow-

ersuch as gender, race, class, and sexualitymay influence research findings

and interpretations. For instance, how might societal norms or systemic inequalities

shape the way personality is expressed, measured, or understood in different cul-

tural contexts?

4. Organize Your Review. Your paper should be at least 5 pages long and include the follow-

ing:

A. Title Page: This should be the first page of your document and should include a

creative and appropriate title as well as your first and last name. This page will not

count toward your total page count.

B. Introduction: Briefly introduce your sub-area of personality psychology and the

cultural dimension(s) youll explore. Provide a clear thesis statement outlining the

main points you will address.

C. Body: Discuss the research findings in your own words, synthesizing the patterns

that emerge. Organize your review thematically (not just a summary of each arti-

cle, one after another), focusing on key topics or debates within the research. Your

paper must also include a minimum of ten peer-reviewed academic articles to

support your arguments.

D. Conclusion: Summarize the key insights from your review, reflect on their signifi-

cance, and identify potential directions for future research.

E. References: This section should be on a separate page after your main document

and should be formatted in APA style. In it, you should include full citations for all

of the works referenced in your paper. This page will not count toward your total

page count.

5. Use Your Own Words to Synthesize Findings

A. A strong literature review synthesizes findings rather than simply summarizing in-

dividual studies. Look for patterns, themes, and connections between studies, and

describe them in your own words.

B. Only use direct quotes sparingly and thoughtfully. Quotes are most appropriate

when a researcher has described something in a particularly nuanced or significant

way that would lose meaning if paraphrased. Avoid quoting just to summarize a

finding or to fill space.

6. Cite Your Sources Properly

A. Use APA format for in-text citations and the reference list. Ensure every source you

cite is included in your references and vice versa.

7. Avoid Overuse of Quotes

A. Your paper will be graded on how well you synthesize research. Extensive or inap-

propriate quoting will lower your grade. Focus on showcasing your understanding

of the material by putting findings into your own words.

8. Edit and Revise

A. Review your paper for clarity, coherence, and organization. Ensure your arguments

are well-supported by the research youve reviewed. Pay attention to grammar,

spelling, and formatting.