PSYC FPX 3210 Assessment 1 Analyzing Sources

Grace J.
October 1, 2026October 1, 2026
BS Psychology, PSYC-FPX3210

Student Name

Capella University

PSYC FPX 3210 Human Lifespan Development

Prof. Name

Date

Analyzing Sources:

Analyzing sources is an important part of psychological research because researchers need to determine whether information is accurate, relevant, and applicable to a particular population. Government statistics can provide information about large populations, while scholarly articles offer more focused evidence from specific research studies. In this assessment, government poverty data and peer-reviewed psychological research are examined to understand how researchers evaluate sources, samples, and generalizability.

Using Government Data to Analyze Poverty

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Income and Poverty in the United States: 2018, 12,759 people under the age of 18 lived below the poverty line in 2018. During the same year, 4,893 people aged 65 and older lived below the poverty line (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019).

Government data such as these can help psychologists understand social and economic conditions affecting different populations. Because government agencies collect information from large populations, psychologists can use these statistics to identify patterns, compare demographic groups, and develop research questions. Government data can also provide a foundation for making inferences about broader populations when the data are collected using appropriate methods.

How Psychologists Use Government Data

Psychologists may use government data to better understand population-level trends and social conditions. For example, poverty statistics can help researchers examine relationships between economic circumstances and outcomes such as mental health, educational achievement, family well-being, and quality of life.

Government datasets may also help psychologists:

Identify patterns across demographic groups.
Examine changes in social conditions over time.
Develop research questions and hypotheses.
Compare outcomes among different populations.
Provide background information for psychological studies.

However, researchers must consider how the data were collected and whether the population represented in the dataset is appropriate for the research question.

Searching the Capella University Library

The Capella University Library provides access to scholarly databases that researchers can use to locate academic literature. An initial search in Summon using the terms “children and poverty” produced approximately 2,450,109 results.

A search was then conducted through the PSYCArticles database using the same terms. After applying the Peer Reviewed filter and limiting the publication date to 2014–2018, the number of results was reduced to 1,752.

Additional subject filters were applied to make the search more specific. Selecting Mental Health under the major subject heading reduced the results to 94. These changes demonstrate how database filters can help researchers narrow a broad search and locate literature that is more closely related to a research topic.

Evaluating Search Results

Although database filters can make a search more specific, the results do not always directly address the original research question. For example, two articles identified during the search were the following:

Berry and Hou (2016) examined immigrant acculturation and well-being in Canada, while Sutter and Perrin (2016) examined discrimination, mental health, and suicidal ideation among LGBTQ people of color.

Neither article directly focused on children and poverty. The first article focused on immigration, acculturation, and well-being, while the second examined discrimination and mental health among a specific population.

This illustrates why researchers should evaluate the relevance of an article rather than assuming that an article is appropriate simply because it appears in a database search.

Improving a Scholarly Database Search

A more effective search for research specifically related to children and poverty could use more precise keywords and combinations of search terms. For example, a researcher could combine terms such as child poverty, children living in poverty, childhood socioeconomic status, child mental health, and economic disadvantage.

Using more specific search terms and relevant subject headings can reduce unrelated results and make it easier to locate scholarly research that directly addresses the research question.

Analyzing the Wang and Rodgers Study

Wang and Rodgers (2006) examined the effects of service-learning and social justice education on college students’ cognitive development. The methodology section provides important information about the participants and setting of the research.

The study involved seven instructors from six service-learning courses, along with students enrolled in those courses. The courses were offered at a Midwestern state university (Wang & Rodgers, 2006).

Understanding the sample is important because the characteristics of the participants and the setting influence how broadly researchers can apply the findings.

Generalizability of the Wang and Rodgers Study

The findings from Wang and Rodgers (2006) may have limited generalizability because the participants came from a specific group of college courses at one Midwestern state university. The study therefore provides information about students who participated in those particular service-learning courses, but the results may not necessarily apply to all college students.

Researchers consider factors such as the size and characteristics of a sample, the institution where the study was conducted, and how participants were selected when determining whether findings can be generalized to a broader population.

Analyzing the Sutter and Perrin Study

Sutter and Perrin (2016) examined the relationships among discrimination, mental health, and suicidal ideation among LGBTQ people of color. The participants were adults at least 18 years old who identified as LGBTQ and belonged to a racial or ethnic minority group. The researchers collected information through an online survey (Sutter & Perrin, 2016).

The characteristics of the participants are important when interpreting the study because they define the population directly represented by the research.

Generalizability of the Sutter and Perrin Study

The findings of Sutter and Perrin (2016) should primarily be interpreted in relation to populations that share characteristics with the participants. Because the study specifically examined LGBTQ people of color, the results may provide useful information about similar populations.

It would be inappropriate to automatically assume that the findings apply equally to every LGBTQ individual, every racial or ethnic minority group, or the general population. Generalizability depends on the characteristics of the sample and the research methods used. Researchers must therefore consider whether populations outside the original sample are sufficiently similar before applying the findings to them.

Why Sample Characteristics Matter in Psychological Research

Sample characteristics are central to evaluating scholarly research. A study may produce meaningful findings, but those findings cannot automatically be applied to every population. Researchers must examine who participated, where the study occurred, how participants were selected, and whether the sample reflects the population to which the researcher wants to generalize.

When evaluating a psychological source, researchers should therefore ask:

Who participated in the study?
How large was the sample?
Where was the research conducted?
How were participants selected?
What characteristics did the participants share?
Does the sample represent the population being studied?
Can the findings reasonably be generalized beyond the sample?

Key Takeaways for Analyzing Sources

Analyzing sources requires more than locating information. Researchers must determine whether the information is relevant, credible, and applicable to the research question. Government statistics can provide broad population-level information, while scholarly studies can provide detailed evidence about specific groups.

The library search process also demonstrates the importance of using appropriate keywords, publication-date filters, peer-reviewed filters, and subject headings. Finally, understanding sample characteristics and generalizability helps psychologists determine how confidently research findings can be applied to populations beyond the participants who were directly studied.

References

Berry, J. W., & Hou, F. (2016). Immigrant acculturation and wellbeing in Canada. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie Canadienne, 57(4), 254–264. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000064

Sutter, M., & Perrin, P. B. (2016). Discrimination, mental health, and suicidal ideation among LGBTQ people of color. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(1), 98–105. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000126