Writing for Psychology

by Mitchell, Mark L.; Jolley, Janina M.; O’Shea, Robert P.

• ISBN13: 9780495092063
• ISBN10: 0495092061
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-18
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

Write a great psychology paper in APA style with WRITING FOR PSYCHOLOGY with InfoTrac® College Edition! This user friendly guide shows you what to do and what to avoid by providing concrete examples of common errors. WRITING FOR PSYCHOLOGY will help you adhere to the basics of APA style, refine library search skills, avoid plagiarism, and improve your revising, editing, and proofing skills. Checklists precede the summary at the end of every chapter, giving you the chance to make sure you have been thorough in your reports. Your purchase includes access to InfoTrac College Edition, an online university library of full length articles from thousands of journals, newspapers, and magazines.

Table of Contents

To the Student	ix
To the Professor	xiii
Acknowledgments	xiii
CHAPTER 1 What Every Student Should Know About Writing Psychology Papers	1	(24)
1.1 Understanding Your Assignment	1	(2)
1.2 Understanding Academic Values	3	(4)
1.2.1 Be Informed	3	(1)
1.2.2 Make a Claim	3	(1)
1.2.3 Defend Your Claim	4	(1)
1.2.4 Be Honest	4	(2)
1.2.5 Use Your Own Words	6	(1)
1.3 Understanding APA Style	7	(4)
1.3.1 Ideals	7	(1)
1.3.2 Appropriately Personal Prose	8	(1)
1.3.3 Simple Language	9	(1)
1.3.4 Respectful Language	10	(1)
1.4 Writing and Revising	11	(10)
1.4.1 Plan to Finish Early	11	(2)
1.4.2 Think, Search, Read, and Get Organized	13	(1)
1.4.3 Write Your First Draft	13	(1)
1.4.4 Revise Your First Draft: Reorganize, Rethink, Reread, and Rewrite	14	(2)
1.4.5 Help the Reader Navigate Through Your Paper	16	(1)
1.4.6 Address Readers' Objections	17	(1)
1.4.7 Polish Your Writing	17	(1)
1.4.8 Check Language, Grammar, Spelling, Usage, and Punctuation	18	(2)
1.4.9 Final Formatting	20	(1)
1.4.10 Five Final Checks	20	(1)
1.5 Submitting the Finished Product	21	(1)
1.6 Avoiding Common Problems: A Checklist	21	(2)
1.7 Summary	23	(2)
CHAPTER 2 Writing Term Papers	25	(28)
2.1 Thesis Statement	26	(1)
2.2 Basic Sections, Headings	27	(1)
2.3 Title Page	28	(1)
2.4 Abstract	29	(1)
2.5 Introduction	29	(2)
2.5.1 Introduce Generally and Gently	30	(1)
2.5.2 Introduce Key Issues	30	(1)
2.5.3 Introduce Key Definitions	30	(1)
2.5.4 Introduce and Present Your Thesis Statement	30	(1)
2.5.5 Invite Inquiry	31	(1)
2.6 Body	31	(1)
2.6.1 Integrate Material	31	(1)
2.6.2 Be Both Concise and Precise	32	(1)
2.7 Conclusion	32	(1)
2.7.1 Conclude	32	(1)
2.7.2 Follow the Body's Logic to Your Conclusion	32	(1)
2.8 References	33	(1)
2.9 Author Note	33	(1)
2.10 Tense	34	(1)
2.11 Sample Term Paper	34	(16)
2.12 Checklist for Evaluating Your Term Paper	50	(1)
2.13 Summary	51	(2)
CHAPTER 3 Writing Research Reports and Proposals	53	(48)
3.1 Basic Sections, Headings	53	(4)
3.2 Title Page	57	(1)
3.3 Abstract	58	(1)
3.4 Introduction	59	(3)
3.4.1 Introduce the Broader Issue	60	(1)
3.4.2 Introduce the Hypothesis	61	(1)
3.5 Method	62	(3)
3.5.1 Participants or Subjects	62	(2)
3.5.2 Apparatus	64	(1)
3.5.3 Materials	64	(1)
3.5.4 Design and Other Optional Subsections	64	(1)
3.5.5 Procedure	65	(1)
3.6 Results	65	(12)
3.6.1 Statistical Significance	67	(1)
3.6.2 Formatting Statistical Information	67	(1)
3.6.3 Deciding Whether You Need Either a Figure or a Table	68	(1)
3.6.4 When to Use Tables	68	(1)
3.6.5 Creating Tables	69	(2)
3.6.6 When to Use Figures	71	(1)
3.6.7 Creating Figures	71	(6)
3.6.8 Units	77	(1)
3.7 Discussion	77	(4)
3.7.1 Briefly Restate the Results	79	(1)
3.7.2 State Qualifications and Reservations	79	(1)
3.7.3 State the Theoretical Importance	80	(1)
3.7.4 Conclude	80	(1)
3.8 References	81	(1)
3.9 Appendixes	82	(1)
3.10 Author Note	82	(1)
3.11 Tense	83	(1)
3.12 Sample Research Report	83	(13)
3.13 Report and Proposal Content Checklist	96	(3)
3.14 Summary	99	(2)
CHAPTER 4 Finding, Reading, Citing, and Referencing Sources	101	(44)
4.1 Finding Information	102	(7)
4.1.1 Starting Your Search	102	(2)
4.1.2 Using One Reference to Find More References	104	(1)
4.1.3 Reading the Right Stuff	105	(4)
4.2 Reading	109	(3)
4.2.1 Read Purposefully	109	(1)
4.2.2 Take Notes	109	(1)
4.2.3 Reread	110	(2)
4.2.4 Revise Your Notes	112	(1)
4.3 Citing	112	(5)
4.3.1 Choosing a Citation Type	113	(3)
4.3.2 Citing From Secondary Sources	116	(1)
4.3.3 Citing Personal Communications	117	(1)
4.3.4 Citing Information Obtained From the Internet	117	(1)
4.4 Formatting Individual Citations	117	(3)
4.4.1 Work by One Author	118	(1)
4.4.2 Work by Two Authors	119	(1)
4.4.3 Work by Three, Four, or Five Authors	119	(1)
4.4.4 Work by Six or More Authors	120	(1)
4.4.5 Work by Author Sharing Same Last Name as Another Cited Author	120	(1)
4.4.6 Work With No Author	120	(1)
4.5 Formatting Multiple Citations	120	(1)
4.5.1 More Than Two Works by Different Authors	120	(1)
4.5.2 More Than Two Works by the Same Author	121	(1)
4.6 Paraphrasing	121	(1)
4.7 Quoting	122	(2)
4.7.1 Embedded Quotations	122	(2)
4.7.2 Block Quotations	124	(1)
4.8 Deciding What to Reference	124	(1)
4.8.1 Referencing Nonstandard Sources	124	(1)
4.8.2 Referencing Secondary Sources	125	(1)
4.9 Formatting References	125	(13)
4.9.1 Starting the Reference Page	125	(1)
4.9.2 Form of Each Reference	126	(1)
4.9.3 Order	127	(1)
4.9.4 Author Names	128	(1)
4.9.5 Date of Publication	129	(1)
4.9.6 Title	129	(1)
4.9.7 Abbreviations	130	(1)
4.9.8 Book Reference	130	(2)
4.9.9 Book-Chapter Reference	132	(1)
4.9.10 Journal-Article Reference	132	(2)
4.9.11 Journal-Article-Abstract Reference	134	(1)
4.9.12 Referencing Internet Sources	135	(3)
4.10 Checklists	138	(3)
4.10.1 Academic Honesty Checklist	138	(1)
4.10.2 Formatting Citations Checklist	139	(1)
4.10.3 Finding and Using Sources Checklist	140	(1)
4.10.4 Reference Page Checklist	140	(1)
4.11 Summary	141	(4)
CHAPTER 5 Making Your Case: A Guide to Skeptical Reading and Logical Writing	145	(18)
5.1 Theses	146	(1)
5.2 Deductive Arguments	147	(3)
5.3 Inductive Arguments	150	(1)
5.4 Hypotheses	151	(1)
5.5 Problems in Making Arguments	152	(1)
5.6 Stating an Unarguable Thesis	152	(1)
5.7 Substituting Appeals for Reasoning: Nonobjective Thinking	153	(1)
5.7.1 Appeal to Emotion	153	(1)
5.7.2 Appeal to Faith	153	(1)
5.7.3 Appeal to Authority	154	(1)
5.8 Unfair Arguments	154	(1)
5.8.1 Ad Hominem Arguments	154	(1)
5.8.2 Ignoring Contradictory Evidence	154	(1)
5.8.3 Straw Man Arguments	155	(1)
5.9 General Errors in Reasoning From Evidence	155	(6)
5.9.1 Inferring Causation From Correlation	156	(2)
5.9.2 Making Something Out of Nothing: Misinterpreting Null Results	158	(1)
5.9.3 Adding Meaning to Significance: Misinterpreting Significant Results	158	(1)
5.9.4 Trusting Labels Too Much: Not Questioning Construct Validity	159	(1)
5.9.5 Not Questioning Generalizations	160	(1)
5.10 Critical Thinking Checklist	161	(1)
5.11 Summary	162	(1)
CHAPTER 6 Writing the Wrongs: How to Avoid Gruesome Grammar, Putrid Punctuation, and Saggy Style	163	(32)
6.1 Elements of Grammar	164	(11)
6.1.1 Nouns	164	(1)
6.1.2 Personal and Impersonal Pronouns	165	(3)
6.1.3 Verbs	168	(1)
6.1.4 Articles	169	(1)
6.1.5 Adjectives	169	(1)
6.1.6 Adverbs	170	(1)
6.1.7 Prepositions	171	(1)
6.1.8 Conjunctions	171	(1)
6.1.9 Relative Pronouns	172	(1)
6.1.10 Phrases	173	(1)
6.1.11 Clauses	173	(1)
6.1.12 Sentences	174	(1)
6.1.13 Paragraphs	175	(1)
6.2 Punctuation	175	(4)
6.2.1 End Marks (Periods, Question Marks, Exclamation Points)	175	(1)
6.2.2 Commas	175	(1)
6.2.3 Semicolons	176	(1)
6.2.4 Colons	176	(1)
6.2.5 Apostrophes	177	(1)
6.2.6 Parentheses	177	(1)
6.2.7 Dashes	177	(1)
6.2.8 Hyphens	178	(1)
6.2.9 Quotation Marks	178	(1)
6.3 Usage	179	(6)
6.3.1 Know What You Mean	179	(4)
6.3.2 Complete Comparisons	183	(1)
6.3.3 Distinguish Comparatives From Superlatives	183	(1)
6.3.4 Divide Run-On Sentences	183	(1)
6.3.5 Specify Nonspecific Referents	184	(1)
6.3.6 Attribute Humanity Only to Humans	184	(1)
6.4 Writing With Style	185	(5)
6.4.1 Accentuate the Positive	185	(1)
6.4.2 Point the Way Within and Between Paragraphs	185	(1)
6.4.3 Use Parallel Construction	186	(1)
6.4.4 Use a Consistent, Formal Tone	187	(1)
6.4.5 Use Small Words and Short Sentences	187	(1)
6.4.6 Be Precise	188	(1)
6.4.7 Be Concise	188	(2)
6.4.8 Be Cautious	190	(1)
6.5 Your Own Style	190	(1)
6.6 Checklists	190	(3)
6.6.1 Parts of Speech	190	(1)
6.6.2 Punctuation	191	(1)
6.6.3 Style	192	(1)
6.7 Summary	193	(2)
CHAPTER 7 Preparing the Final Draft	195	(12)
7.1 Presentation	195	(1)
7.1.1 Paper, Margins, Spacing	195	(1)
7.1.2 Word Processing Versus Typing	195	(1)
7.2 APA Formats	196	(7)
7.2.1 Running Head Versus Short Title	196	(1)
7.2.2 Paragraphs	197	(1)
7.2.3 Headings	197	(2)
7.2.4 Italics or Underlining	199	(1)
7.2.5 Abbreviations	200	(2)
7.2.6 Numbers	202	(1)
7.2.7 Tables and Figures	203	(1)
7.3 Conclusions	203	(1)
7.4 Format Checklists	203	(2)
7.4.1 General Appearance Checklist	203	(1)
7.4.2 Headings and Headers Checklist	204	(1)
7.4.3 Numbers, Tables, and Figures Checklist	204	(1)
7.4.4 Citations and References Checklist	204	(1)
7.4.5 Abbreviations Checklist	204	(1)
7.4.6 Title Page Checklist	205	(1)
7.5 Summary	205	(2)
References	207	(2)
Appendix A APA Copy Style Versus APA Final-Form Style	209	(2)
Appendix B Problem Plurals	211	(2)
Index	213