Critical Analysis Paper (30%): The critical analyses are meant to allow you to delve deeper into a journal article of your choosing than possible in the journal club papers.

Critical Analysis Paper (30%): The critical analyses are meant to allow you to delve deeper into a journal article of your choosing than possible in the journal club papers. Most important is the demonstration of your ability to critically evaluate empirical research. The journal article must be fairly current (within the last 5 years), be indexed on PubMed (www.pubmed.gov), and relate to human memory. Non-human animal studies are acceptable, as long as you discuss them in relation to their implications for human memory. The critical analysis paper should be no more than 1200 words long, and include both: A summary of the primary article and how it relates to assigned topic. This should include a brief and concise description of the article. When describing a study, you should identify its research question, methods used to answer the question, and direct implications of results. An excellent summary will concisely convey the key components of the article in an organized manner. A commentary or critique of the article should express your thoughts on the topic, not just a regurgitation of a given study’s findings. This section is more open-ended and may involve relating the findings to other research articles or a discussion of the scientific implications for the real world. You could evaluate how important the research question is, whether the design employed tested the research question, or whether the conclusions reached by the author were sound. You could also describe any strengths and/or limitations of the studies, or suggest ideas for future research. An excellent discussion will concisely convey the writer’s own thoughts and opinions on the article, while also demonstrating a deep understanding of the experiment and its implications. Arguments will be supported by the text and/or draw upon relevant research in the field (at least 2 additional articles).