For this assignment, consider this research question: “Can smiling influence environmental engagement?” Using APA writing style (APA Manual, Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5), address the following:
1. Formulate a testable hypothesis.
2. Write operational definitions to support your research hypothesis and observations (positive, negative, neutral).
3. Determine and describe how you will record your data (see sample data provided).
4. Smile at ten strangers.
5. Record your observations (positive, negative, neutral).
6. Analyze your data, drawing conclusions about any patterns you noted during your experiment.
7. Report/describe your findings.
8. Write a conclusion supporting or rejecting your hypothesis.
These elements should be submitted in APA-style paper format and should adhere to APA standards. Use the APA Manual to help you create the sections listed below. You may also find it helpful to review the APA Style Guide Overview and APA Style Template documents.
1. Title page with the title “The Smile Experiment: Participant-Observation Study” (APA Manual, Section 2.01)
2. Abstract (APA Manual, Section 2.04)
3. Introduction (APA Manual, Section 2.05)
a. State your research hypothesis using an if-then statement (e.g., “If I smile at ten strangers, then _____”).
4. Methods section (APA Manual, Section 2.06)
a. Describe how you conducted the research to test your research hypothesis.
b. Be sure to operationalize the word smile and the anticipated outcomes with regard to positive, negative, and neutral responses.
c. Identify the independent and dependent variables.
d. Show how you measured the aforementioned variables. (APA Manual, Section 5.07, pages 128–130)
5. Results section, in which you support your conclusion (APA Manual, Section 2.07, pages 32–34)
Reference the Module Seven Smile Exemplar document in the Assignment Guidelines and Rubrics section of the course for an example of how one student effectively performed and reported out on their findings from the experiment.
