Overview

For this assessment, you will summarize an article for a nonacademic audience. This means you want to summarize this article using straightforward, accessible language so that someone without doctoral training will understand the key points of the study. You must write using correct grammar and punctuation as well as adhere to APA formatting. This is an important skill to learn; when working outside of an academic setting, you must be able to communicate with nonacademics!

In terms of selecting the article, this is a good opportunity to explore a topic that you might want to study for your capstone project. Keep in mind that you aren't committing yourself to a topic yet—this is just an exploration! You should select an article that is no more than five years old.

Preparation

• Choose a topic from a peer-reviewed journal located in the Capella University LibraryLinks to an external site..

• Focus your topic on something a human services leader needs to know, such as:
  • Leadership style or development.
  • Employee and volunteer management.
  • Conflict resolution.
  • Multidisciplinary collaboration and Interorganizational collaboration.
  • Human services program development and evaluation.
• Ensure your topic is not clinical in nature. For example:
  • Effects of trauma.
  • Burnout.
• For help in using the Library to find sources, see Human Services Doctoral (DHS) Program Library Guide: Essential Research Skills.Links to an external site.

Instructions

In your summary of the article:

1. Explain the purpose of the study.
   1. Why did the authors conduct this study?
   2. What issue were they trying to learn more about?
2. Summarize the methodology and findings of the study.
   1. How was the data collected?
   2. How was it analyzed?
   3. What were the findings?
   4. What are the implications of those findings?
3. Apply the findings of the study to a potential capstone project.
   1. How is this study relevant to a possible capstone project topic?

Writing Requirements

• Write concisely and directly, using active voice.
• Adhere to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
• Follow APA format.

Submission Requirements

• Attach a copy of the article: You must submit both your summary and a PDF of the original article. If the original article is not included, the assignment will be returned with a score of zero.
• Length: 2–3 pages.
• References: Include the full reference for the study at the conclusion of the summary.
• Format: Use current APA style and format for references and in-text citations. Visit Evidence and APALinks to an external site. for help with APA as needed. Include headings for sections of the paper, aligned with APA standard