Writing for Psychology

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Writing for Psychology

• Presented by Jessica Paynter
• PhD Student and Tutor.

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Writing Types in Psychology

• Essay Argument based on empirical evidence for a
  specific topic or question
• Lab Report Rationale, description, findings, and
  discussion of research you (or your class)
  conducted.

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Process of Writing

• Be clear on the topic
• Read read read!
• Summarise
• Decide on your argument and what evidence you
  will use to support it.
• Plan
• Write your body, intro, and conclusion.

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Structure

• It is important to structure your writing so it
  is logical and easy to read.
• Essay structure Intro, Body and conclusion.
• Before you write anything decide on your main
  points (for your body) and the empirical evidence
  for them.
• Figure out a logical order to present these in,
  write these first.

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Body Paragraphs

• In general need to ensure you include a topic
  sentence, supporting/elaborating sentences and a
  concluding sentence.
• At least 3 sentences in a paragraph and only one
  idea.

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The Funnel Approach

• Introductions and conclusions should follow a
  funnel approach broad to specific for intro,
  reverse for discussion.
• Introduction Begin with a general statement
  about the area, follow with your specific
  topic/argument, then the specific evidence you
  will use to support it. Define any terms, e.g.
  alcohol intoxication.
• Discussion Summarise your main points, reiterate
  your argument and end with future directions or
  practical applications.
• More information on this approach will be given
  in tutorials (psyc1020/1030).

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Sentences

• Consider the position of each of your sentences
  within each paragraph.
• Make sure sentences flow on from each other, make
  links explicit.
• Transitional words may help
• Time links then, next, after, following.
  
• Cause-effect links therefore, consequently,
  as a result, subsequently.
• Addition links in addition, moreover,
  furthermore, similarly, also.
• Contrast links but, conversely,
  nevertheless, however, in contrast,
  although, whereas.
• Be careful of incorrect use, starting a
  paragraph with transitional words (avoid)
• Alternatively can add an extra sentence to link
  two sentences that dont flow.

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General Writing Tips

• Psychology uses a formal writing style.
• Formal writing differs from informal writing
  in being concise, clear, simple, scholarly,
  polite, careful, precise, and scrupulously
  grammatical (p1, OShea, 2000)
• DO state the obvious.
• DONT use a larger word where a smaller one will
  do.
• DO say it in as few words as possible, this makes
  the most of your word count and gives more
  substance to your writing.
• DO use respectful language.
• DO defend what you say either empirically
  (studies from scientific journals) or logically.
• DONT EVER reference dolly doctor, Cleo, freds
  blog etc. Same for anonymous web sites (i.e. DO
  NOT reference Wikipedia!!!)
• DO use correct terminology, e.g. independent
  variable, non-significant.

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Things That Drive Markers Crazy
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Things That Drive Markers Crazy

• The opposite of significant is non-significant,
  IT IS NOT INSIGNIFICANT
• The word prove. You support, you do not prove.
• Fancy long-winded words use short, simple words
  to convey your message clearly.
• Obvious redundant phrases The dependent
  variable was what we measured
• Unnecessary information keep to the topic, if
  you have trouble with this write your topic down
  and stick it next to your computer refer to it
  often and ask Does this answer my
  question/topic? If the answer is no, dont
  include it!
• Ambiguous pronouns Pronouns like this, that,
  these, and those are often used without
  explaining what theyre referring to explain
  what these pronouns refer to e.g. this test.
• Over use of quotes It breaks up your writing and
  its lazy!

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Something to Keep in Mind
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Things That Drive Students Crazy

• Referencing
• Q How many should I include?
• A As many as you need!
• To support factual statements
• To acknowledge an idea comes from another source
• To indicate the source of a quote
• APA formatting

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APA Formatting

• APA style based on the Publication Manual of the
  American Psychological Association (2001, 5th
  ed.).
• This is the formatting style for psychology for
  both students and professionals.
• Note Sometimes lecturers or tutors will ask you
  to ignore one or more of the APA guidelines for
  their course requirements, where there is a
  difference always follow your course
  requirements.
• The customer is always right
• Your marker is the customer!

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Please DO NOT do this
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Main Points

• White paper!
• Indent paragraphs dont leave extra lines
  between
• At least 2.5cm margins
• 12 point Times New Roman font.
• Alignment Dont justify flush-left style
  leaving right uneven
• Title Centered upper and lower case
• Italics not underlining
• Contractions e.g. cant, spell out i.e. can not.

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Drafts

• Check your drafts, then check them again and
  again. Tick off your criteria sheet.
• if there is aught of good in the style, it is
  the result of ceaseless toil in rewriting.
  Everything comes out wrong with me at first but
  when once objectified I can torture and poke and
  scrape and pat it till it offends me no more.
• (William James response when complimented on
  his writing style, taken from Rubin, 2006).

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Tutes

• GO TO YOUR TUTES! Your assignments are covered in
  great detail for both 1020 and 1030 and its ans
  ideal time for feedback and help. For 1040 your
  tutes lead you through your entire report step by
  step!
• Make the most of draft/bullet point reading you
  wont get this in later subjects.
• Extra help is available for international and
  domestic students from the Psychology Students
  Support Team (PSST) contactable via email
• PSST_at_psy.uq.edu.au

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• Questions?

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References/Thanks

• Special thanks to everyone for their input into
  this
• seminar, in particular thankyou to Mark Rubin at
  the
• University of Newcastle who gave his permission
  for the
• following guides to be utilised in the
  preparation of this
• presentation
• Rubin, M. (2006). Guidelines for general writing
  style. Retrieved May 18th 2006, from The
  University of Newcastle
• http//www.newcastle.edu.au/school/psychology/tea
  ching_learning/psychology_resources.html
• Rubin, M. (2006). Notes on APA Style. Retrieved
  May 18th 2006, from The University of Newcastle
• http//www.newcastle.edu.au/school/psychology/tea
  ching_learning/psychology_resources.html

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Writing Guides

• Burton, L. (2002). An interactive approach to
  writing essays and research reports in
  psychology. Milton, Australia Wiley.
• Findlay, B. (2006). How to write psychology
  research reports and essays (4th ed.). Frenchs
  Forest, Australia Prentice Hall.
• OShea, R. (2002). Writing for psychology (4th
  ed.). Melbourne, Australia Thomson Learning.
• Smyth, T. R. (2004). The principles of writing in
  psychology. New York Palgrave Macmillan.
• Sternberg, R. J. (2001). The psychologists
  companion A guide to scientific writing for
  students and researchers (3rd ed.). Cambridge,
  U.K. New York Cambridge University Press.

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Useful Websites

• APA On-Line (2003). Retrieved 24th August 2006,
  from the American Psychological Association
  http//www.apastyle.org/index.html
• Masser, B. (2005). Report Writing in Psychology
  (3rd ed.). Retrieved 24th August 2006, from The
  University of Queensland http//www2.psy.uq.edu.a
  u/pdf/report.pdf
• Rubin, M. (2006). How to avoid plagiarism.
  Retrieved May 18th 2006, from The University of
  Newcastle
• http//www.newcastle.edu.au/school/psychology/tea
  ching_learning/psychology_resources.html
• Rubin, M. (2006). How to prepare your report.
  Retrieved May 18th 2006, from The University of
  Newcastle
• http//www.newcastle.edu.au/school/psychology/tea
  ching_learning/psychology_resources.html
• References APA style How-to guide. (2005).
  Retrieved 24th August 2006, from The University
  of Queensland http//www.library.uq.edu.au/train
  ing/citation/apa.pdf