Assignment 2 (20%) Treatment Effectiveness Research in Abnormal Psychology The purpose of this assignment is to use empirical (research studies) literature to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific treatment for a particular mental disorder. You should pose a specific statement that you are examining in your paper (i.e., hypothesis), and using empirical papers from peer-reviewed journals, your essay should attempt to support or oppose the hypothesis. The Sources • Your essay must be based on 5 empirical, quantitative articles from peer-reviewed journals (i.e., secondary references or books are not acceptable). You may use the article from Assignment 1. o Other sources (e.g., books, chapters) may be used, but do NOT count as one of the 5 articles. o Internet sources and self-help books are definitely NOT acceptable references. o Case studies, qualitative research, and meta-analyses are NOT acceptable references. o Feel free to consult with the instructor on the appropriateness of your 5 references. • Note that empirical articles are actual research studies where data was collected from a sample of participants. These are original sources that do not review articles or describe other people’s work. If this is not clear, it is your responsibility to discuss your choice of articles with your instructor well-ahead of the deadline. • You may use more than 5 empirical articles, but ensure you include enough information about each study to describe the research in reaching your conclusions (e.g., relevant information from 7  the method and results section of the article to understand the study’s conclusions). • Use PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and other library resources to search for your articles. Ask the librarian for assistance for identifying some of your sources (instructor will provide contact information). The Content • To ensure your topic is appropriate or possible, you should discuss your topic with the instructor and get some feedback prior to beginning the writing process. This can be done in one of many ways: (a) through your 1st assignment (annotated bibliography), (b) email me your topic, or (c) see me during office hours. • Body of the essay (6 pages max.): o Clear paragraph introducing the research question (1⁄2 page). o Review evidence (relevant empirical studies) to support your conclusion (4-5 pages). o Concluding paragraph, summary of findings and any future directions (1⁄2-1 page). • For each research study/article, you should summarize key points of each article, which include: o purpose of the article (specific research question or hypothesis) o brief summary of the sample and methods (including variables and how they are measured) o description of the specific results and an overall conclusion o any limitations and strengths of the study (regarding findings and/or method used) Important to Note • Plagiarism is to be avoided at all costs—please review “Avoiding Plagiarism” page. • Do not use quotes. Major deductions will be made if you use quotes. You should be paraphrasing information from the articles. Quotes are typically used when (a) you clearly did not understand what you read, or (b) you were too lazy to understand it and to write it in your own words. • Ensure that you proofread your work. • Plagiarism is unacceptable—review the “Avoiding Plagiarism” page in the syllabus. • APA formatting is mandatory (typewritten, double-spaced, 12 pt font, one-inch margins): o Title page, page headers, and page numbering o Reference citations in the essay and full reference list Sample Topics: A list of possible topics is provided below. You may choose something different, but to ensure your topic is appropriate or possible, you should discuss the new topic with the instructor and get some feedback prior to beginning the writing process. • Is Prozac more effective than other medications to treat depression? • Is exposure and ritual prevention therapy effective to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder? • Is prolonged exposure therapy helpful in reducing symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder? • Is cognitive behavioural therapy an effective treatment for bulimia nervosa? • Is lithium effective for treating bipolar disorder? • Is eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) helpful in treating post-traumatic stress disorder when compared to other treatments? • Is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) effective to treat depression? • Is behavioural or conditioning therapies helpful in treating pedophilia (or other paraphilias)? • Does dialectical behaviour therapy help to reduce symptoms or suicidal behaviour among patients with borderline personality disorder? • Is relapse prevention effective to treat specific substance abuse disorders?  article used for first assignment : Smink, F. R.E., van Hoeken, D., Oldehinkel, A. J. and Hoek, H. W. (2014). Prevalence and severity of DSM-5 eating disorders in a community cohort of adolescents. International Journal of Eating Disorders, volume 47(issue 6), 610–619. doi: 10.1002/eat.22316