The principal goal of this assignment is to allow you to investigate further some sub-topic of interest related to the psychology of rhythm, and to provide a means of evaluation for those students enrolled in the course for credit. There are a number of different kinds of papers that are suitable for a final project. Below are brief descriptions of seven different types of projects.

1. Phenomenological Paper. A phenomenological paper attempts to provide a detailed first-person description of some personal experience. For example, a phenomenological paper might provide an indepth description of your experience of a particular piece of music, or trying to learn a new musical work. The goal is to describe your personal experience in the most compelling language possible. Phenomenological papers are the most difficult of all essay types. A fine example of music-related phenomenological writing can be found in David Sudnow's The Ways of the Hand.
   
   
2. Literature Survey. A literature survey identifies a particular topic, and describes the existing published literature related to that topic. A good literature survey will focus on a topic that is small enough that the author can become familiar with 70% or more of the published research.
   
   
3. Theoretical Paper. In a theoretical paper, you might present, describe, compare, or criticize one or more theories related to some phenomenon. You might also present your own theory.
   
   
4. Experimental Design. There is typically insufficient time in a course to carry out an experiment. However, it is possible to produce an experimental design -- that is, a detailed description of an experiment that might be carried out in the future. An experimental design begins with a brief discussion of the problem being addressed. This leads to a hypothesis which declares a possible relationship between two or more concepts. (E.g. "Listening to Heavy Metal makes you smarter.") The principal terms of the hypothesis are then operationalized in such a way that they can be measured. The experimental method is then described. This may include a description of the desired pool of participants, a description of the stimuli used, as well as a description of the procedure including the instructions given to the participants. N.B. A true experiment involves the direct manipulation of some variable by the experimenter: one manipulates X and observes the effect of this manipulation on Y.
   
   
5. Correlational Study. A correlational study is very similiar to an experimental study except that the experimenter does not manipulate any variable. Instead, the experimenter simply observes the relationship between two (or more) variables that vary naturally. Like the experimental study, a correlational study begins by creating a design, which includes an introduction, hypothesis, method, participants, stimuli, procedure, instructions, etc. Since correlational studies do not involve experimental manipulation, it is often possible to carry out a correlational study within the time available in a course.
   
   
6. Analysis. An analysis seeks to apply a body of knowledge to a particular problem. For example, one might take a particular theory of rhythm, and use it to investigate a particular musical work or performance. Sometimes several works are analysed; in other circumstances only particular passages or moments are analysed. An analysis is evaluated according to its level of detail, accuracy in applying the theory, and the quality of insights gained. Sometimes an analysis will highlight how a theory fails to elucidate a problem or artifact.
   
   
7. Annotated Bibliography. A bibliography is a list of published works pertaining to some subject. An annotated bibliography includes brief descriptions of the contents of the items in the bibliography. Typically, annotations are roughly one paragraph in length. However, for important items the annotation may be somewhat longer. Works of lesser importance may have a single-sentence annotation. Often, people value an annotated bibliography because it makes it easy to determine which published works are most pertinent. The annotated bibliography is the poorer cousin of the Literature Survey. A (unannotated) bibliography alone is rarely sufficient for a course project. Bibliographies are evaluated almost exclusively by their thoroughness and utility. It is difficult to create a thorough bibliography fo r acourse. Annotated bibliographies are evaluated primarily by the number of articles/books annotated, and by the quality of the annotations.

Your project should be submitted in hardcopy rather than electronic format.

DUE DATE: December 5, 2005.

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