This assignment will consist of a literature review on a forensic psychology topic of your choice. A list of general topics follows. These may be useful to assist in developing a more specific sub-topic. Other topics may be approved after discussion of their suitability with your lecturer.
Effects of imprisonment on offending
The effectiveness of diversion programs
Links between intoxication and offending
behaviour
Psychopathy
Sexual offender treatment program efficacy
Juvenile offending in Australia/Singapore
Offender profiling
Reducing offending rates within minority
communities
Detection of malingering
Police interrogation technique efficacy
False confessions
Lie detectors efficacy
The reliability of children’s eyewitness testimony
Jury decision making
Miscarriages of justice
The literature review should include a synthesis of the ideas and details from at least 10 key studies in the respective field. The required word length for the literature review is 1,500 words (plus or minus 10%), which excludes the reference list. Provide a word count on the assignment.
References must be provided using the APA style conventions (7th ed). Incorrect use of APA referencing conventions will reduce the mark allocated.
An appreciation of the task of writing a literature review in psychology is important (e.g., a literature review includes a critical element). For many students this may be the first opportunity to undertake a literature review so care needs to be given to understand the requirements. Various guides to writing a literature review in psychology can be found with appropriate searching.
