Annually, TOPSS administers an award co-sponsored by the American Psychological Foundation (APF) to recognize outstanding research projects conducted by high school students. TOPSS invites all papers that were awarded semi-finalist status in the Intel Science Talent Search in the Behavioral and Social Sciences category to be submitted for this competition. Additionally, TOPSS invites other students who did not participate in the Intel competition to submit research papers that comply with the guidelines of the Intel Science Search. Professors of psychology at the college and university level evaluate the submissions and determine the winning papers.
The award structure for this competition is: $1,500 first place; $1,000 second place; $500 third place; and $250 fourth place. Winners’ names and descriptions of their projects will appear in the APF and Psychology Teacher Network newsletters and the APA Monitor.
To submit your paper (if it is not part of the Intel Science Talent Search contest), please send three copies of your paper plus an electronic copy of the paper in a diskette along with the information requested below to:
Excellence in High School Student Research Awards
c/o Sherrill Jenkins
APA Education Directorate
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Submissions must be postmarked by April 23, 2003. For complete information on eligibility and scoring criteria, please click here.
To print this form, please adjust your printer's page setup from "Portrait" to "Landscape" orientation.
I. TITLE OF RESEARCH REPORT
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
II. STUDENT INFORMATION
Last Name ________________________ First Name ________________________________
Middle Name_______________________
Street ____________________________________________________________________
City ________________________________ State _______________ ZIP ____________________
Telephone Number __________________________________________________________________
E-Mail ____________________________________________________________________________
III. HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION
High School Name _________________________________________________________________
High School Street Address _____________________________________________________________
High School City ______________________ State ____________________ ZIP __________________
Principal’s Last Name __________________________ First Name ______________________________
Telephone Number ________________________ FAX Number __________________________
E-Mail ______________________________________________________________________________
IV. INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD (IRB) APPROVAL INFORMATION
(Note: This form is for APF/TOPSS information. Completing it does not constitute application or approval to carry out the research. You must receive approval from your own institution, following legal guidelines.)
Student’s Name___________________________________________________________________
Student’s High School ______________________________________________________________
A. What types of participants (e.g., human or non-human) are proposed or necessary for this project? Please explain why it is necessary for such participants to be involved in this project?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
B. Describe and assess any potential risk (physical, psychological, social, legal, other).
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
C. Describe consent procedures to be followed and attach a sample of the completed Informed Consent
Form used, if applicable. ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
D. Describe procedures to minimize risks.
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
E. Signature _____________________________________________________________________
V. RESEARCH REPORT
To give the judges a better understanding of your achievement, please answer the following questions.
a. How did you get the idea for your research? ______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
b. Where was the research done and who supervised your research? Give names, titles, addresses, and phone numbers.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
c. What help have you received in doing your research? Please tell who helped you and what help each gave.(Be sure to include help received in equipment, in ideas, in materials, in methodology, etc.)
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Eligibility and Scoring Criteria for the APF/TOPSS Excellence in High School Student Research Awards
RULES
Eligibility
- Entrants must be high school students
The paper
- Papers must involve original research in behavioral and social sciences
- Papers must meet the guidelines of the Intel Science Search Competition which are described at the Intel Science site http://www.intel.com/education/sts/
- A document verifying IRB approval must be included if human subjects are used as required by the Intel Science Competition
- If a student worked with a scientist in a lab outside of the school setting a copy of the “Supervisory Scientist Form” Part 11A from the Intel science site must be included
The procedure
- No more than TEN papers per school may be submitted
- All entries must include a cover/application form with the following information:
- Student’s name
- Student’s year in school
- Name, address, and phone number of faculty advisor and any supervising scientist involved in the project
- Names of any readers and editors who reviewed the project
- Student’s school name, address, and phone number
- All other information as requested on the application form.
- Send three copies of the paper plus an electronic copy in a diskette, postmarked by April 23, 2003, to:
Excellence in High School Student Research Awards
c/o Sherrill Jenkins
APA Education Directorate
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
CRITERIA FOR SCORING RESEARCH PAPER
Literature Review (25 points possible)
_____ Comprehensive review of the literature using at least six well chosen sources (5)
_____ Quality of analysis of the literature (5)
_____ Clear communication of information (5)
_____ Demonstration of grasp of the topic (5)
_____ Accurate use of APA style in citations and references (5)
Hypothesis and Method (28 points possible)
_____ Hypothesis is clearly communicated (3)
_____ Hypothesis is tied to the literature review (2)
_____ Methods of sampling and assignment are appropriate and clearly explained (5)
_____ Instruments are appropriate. Reliability and validity discussed if necessary (5)
_____ Procedure and design are appropriate and are related to the studies in the literature review (5)
_____ Procedure is innovative in that it advances in some way the studies in the literature review (5)
_____ Addresses the issue of prior approval and informed consent if human subjects are used (3)
Results (17 points possible)
_____ Appropriate methods of data analysis are employed (7)
(If study done with a supervising scientist a higher standard of statistical analysis is expected)
_____ Results are presented clearly and in an appropriate form (5)
_____ Effective use of graphs and/or charts, if needed (5)
Discussion (20 points possible)
_____ Reasonable conclusions are drawn from data (10)
_____ Limitation of findings are recognized and discussed (5)
_____ Appropriate suggestions are given for further research (5)
_____ OVERALL POINTS SCORED (90 possible)
