Concept Explication Assignment
ENGL Research Writing
You will develop a concept explication for one of the main concepts you are examining in
your research paper. Here are the steps for this assignment:
1. Identify the concept
Identify the main concept you will explicate. This concept must be a variable that is
su>iciently complex—avoid simple concepts. If you’re unsure about your choice, please
ask me for guidance.
2. Literature search.
Search the research databases to locate how previous researchers have used the concept.
Use the following questions as a guide in your review of the literature:
What are the di>erent conceptual definitions that researchers have used for this
concept?
What are the di>erent labels under which the concept has been studied?
What dimensions have been used to define this concept?
What indicators have been used to enable researchers to directly observe or
measure this concept?
What examples of these indicators were provided in the studies? These could
include conditions for observation, survey questions, rating scales, or manipulation
procedures.
Which of the various usages of the concept is most promising for your study?
To help you organize your lit review, I encourage you to continue using the spreadsheet you
started for the Problem Statement assignment. You can add these questions as new
columns in the spreadsheet (e.g. conceptual definitions, labels, dimensions, indicators,
examples/measures)
3. Concept explication
Write a two-page discussion on the concept using the literature you have reviewed. Your
discussion should address the questions above. Include a minimum of 5 peer-reviewed
primary research articles as references. These can include articles you referenced in the
problem statement. All in-text citations, references, and formatting must follow APA Style
(7th edition). You can refer to the research papers assigned as readings for examples of how
researchers explain and define concepts.
4. Conceptual definition for your concept
At the end of the discussion, identify the essential dimensions of your concept and present
a clear conceptual definition. Your definition should demonstrate strong face validity and
content validity.
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