PSY259 (Personality and Individual Differences): Group-Based Assignment 01

Module / Subject / School

PSY259: Personality and Individual Differences
Singapore University of Social Sciences

Requirements

• Group-based assignment

“Our sense of identity is held captive by the judgements of those we live among.”
Alain de Botton, Status Anxiety (2004)

This group-based assignment requires you to design and conduct a simple experiment involving yourself, your group members, and or 2–3 additional family members or friends per student as test subjects, with a maximum sample size of 30 participants.

The intention of this project is to demonstrate knowledge of humanistic theories and to recognise how this knowledge enhances our understanding of sense of identity, as expressed in the quote above.

Your group is required to design a study to explore the relationship between

• self-actualisation or one or several of its facets as measured through the self-actualisation online questionnaire, and
• sense of identity or how your group determines it may be measured in a manner aligned with de Botton’s quote.

There are no limits or constraints on your research design as long as it is compatible with research design and tested concepts. Reference should be made to the textbook section “Research in the Study of Personality” (pp. 19–24).

Your study must be presented through two components
(i) an experimental proposal due in Week 7, and
(ii) a written report including a peer rating review form due in Week 9.

What We Score

• 70%

Our Writer’s Comment

This assignment evaluates whether students can design a theory-driven study and justify their methodological choices.

Common challenges we see include:

• Unclear operationalisation of sense of identity. Groups struggle to translate de Botton’s quote into measurable variables.
• Weak linkage to humanistic theory. Self-actualisation is measured but not meaningfully connected to identity formation.
• Inconsistent research design. Methods and analysis do not align with the stated research question.

High-scoring groups define variables clearly and show strong theoretical grounding.

How to Improve Your Group Study

Markers prioritise conceptual clarity and methodological logic.

• Define sense of identity carefully. Operational measures must clearly reflect social judgement and status evaluation.
• Use the self-actualisation scale strategically. Select relevant facets rather than treating the questionnaire as a checklist.
• Keep the design manageable. Simple correlational or quasi-experimental designs work best within the sample limit.
• Maintain consistency across proposal and report. The research question and findings must align clearly.

Strong submissions show discipline in design and clarity in theory application.

Need Support for This Assignment?

We have supported many SUSS psychology groups with experimental design and report writing.

• We understand research design standards. Studies are aligned with tested psychological methods.
• We handle theory application properly. Humanistic theories are applied.
• We help with operationalisation. Abstract concepts are translated into measurable variables.
• We deliver consistent outcomes. Most groups working with our team achieve above 70%.

If your group needs structured guidance for this experiment and report, our experts can support the process effectively.