PSY 216 Literature Review Template

What is the title of the article? Provide a citation for the article in APA format.
Birth Order Effects on Personality and Achievement within Families
Paulhus, D., Trapnell, P., & Chen, D. (1999). Birth Order Effects on Personality and Achievement within Families. Psychological Science, 10(6), 482-488. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/stable/40063474

What is the purpose of the article?
They investigated birth order effects on personality and achievement in four studies including both student and adult samples in four studies.
What is the hypothesis of the study? In other words, what claims do the authors make in the article?
The article consists of a combination of other articles and studies seeing if they could prove Sulloway’s and Zajonc’s initial results.
What variables (factors) are being looked at as an influence on personality?
Over four different data sets, first-borns were nominated as most achieving and most conscientious. Later-born were nominated as most rebellious, liberal, and agreeable. The same results obtained whether or not birth order was made salient (to activate stereotypes) during the personality ratings.
If these variables or the relationship between these variables have been studied before, what have other studies found? This shows historical significance.
With this particular study the variables involved have been studied before. The results of this study supported predictions discovered from Sulloway’s niche model of personality development, and also found in Zajonc’s confluence model of intellectual achievement.
What type of research design is used in the study?
It seems to be cross-sectional due to a large group of people only being asked questions one time and not being observed over a period of time.

Do you think the research in this article was conducted in an ethical manner? Why or why not?
Yes, I think that it was done in an ethical manner due it being a questionnaire taken home and people had a choice to fill it out or not to.