Exercise 03

Norms and Counter-norms

Modified

September 25, 2024

Dates

Due: Friday, September 27.

Goals

This exercise gives you an opportunity to consider how the norms (and counter-norms) that appear common in scientific research compare with other human activities.

Assignment

Choose a realm of human activity that you are familiar with and preferably engage in yourself that is not scientific research–e.g., a sport or game, religious activity, club or social activity, political activity, or something else. Choose two norms or counter-norms in your chosen activity and in a short essay (2-3 double-spaced pages in length) describe the norms or counter-norms in your chosen activity and discuss how they compare with the norms and counter-norms common in scientific research. You could choose two norms, two counter-norms, or one of each.

To get you started, think about answering these sorts of questions:

How are the norms or counter-norms communicated? How are behaviors that embrace the norms norms rewarded? How are violations detected? How are violations handled?

You may work with one other person if you so choose.

Submit

A 2-3 page paper in Microsoft Word format using the following file-naming convention:

<lastname>-<firstname>-PSYCH490.012-ex02.docx, where you substitute your last name for and your first name for . If there are two authors, use both of your last names. If Dr. Gilmore was submitting a paper, it would look like this: gilmore-rick-PSYCH490.012-ex02.docx. Jie will create a dropbox on Canvas for submissions. When that is ready, we will let you know via email.

Please use the APA format for your paper. I found the following template document that would be a very good start:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IIKwtH7eVXIkQMz4FwMuKol6hMDT3ra9/copy

Here is the Canvas dropbox for the assignment:

https://psu.instructure.com/courses/2350148/assignments/16528466

Tips

  • Give your essay a title.
  • Write an introductory paragraph with a clear thesis statement. Here’s an example: “In this essay, I describe a norm common among ham radio operators, a counter-norm implicit in the behavior of most operators, and then compare them to comparable norms and counter-norms in science.”
  • Write two or more paragraphs in the body of your essay. Each paragraph should describe a separate topic. For example: In one paragraph, you might discuss a norm. In a second paragraph, you discuss a counter-norm, and in a third paragraph, you compare the norm and counter-norm to norms and counter-norms in scientific research.
  • Write a short concluding paragraph where you summarize your key points.