PSY 302 Exam 2
Identify the basic rules of formatting an APA style paper
APA style format: All text should be double-spaced Use one-inch margins on all sides All paragraphs in the body are indented Make sure that the title is centered on the page with your name and school/institution underneath Use 12-point font throughout All pages should be numbered in the upper right hand corner The manual recommends using one space after most punctuation marks A shortened version of the title ("running head") should be placed in the upper left hand corner
Understand Mill's Criteria for supporting a causal claim
Covariance: degree to which two variables vary together Presence or level of one variable is related to presence or level of another variable; Drinking coffee covaries with improved memory Temporal precedence: order in which variables occur in time If one variable came before the other, there is clear time sequence occurring between the two variables Eliminate alternative explanations: no other variable is responsible for the relationship we have identified
Identify common grammar errors in sentences
Grammar Errors: Incorrect Header - The first words in a paper with a title page is the running header Errors in In-Text Citations In-Text Citations Don't Match the Reference List Incorrect Quotations Citing with Multiple Sources
What are some of the guidelines suggested by the APA for authors to avoid biased language?
Guidelines for biased language: Focus on relevant characteristics Be mindful to describe only relevant characteristics Acknowledge relevant differences that do exist Be appropriately specific Examples of specificity by topic
Identify and describe four different types of validity
Internal validity: degree to which experiment is free from flaws in internal structure Not always essential Manipulating variables Construct validity: degree to which test or instrument is capable of measuring a concept, trait, or other theoretical entity Study claims rely on operational definitions that are precise and accurately reflect the variable being studied Measuring variables External validity: degree to which results of research can be generalized beyond the sample to other individuals, situations, and time periods Not always essential Sampling and conditions Statistical validity: degree to which conclusions drawn from statistical tests are accurate and reliable Claims based on studies that included adequate sample sizes and results Analyzing and interpreting results
Distinguish between scholarly and nonscholarly sources of information
NS - items that are generally accessible by the general public, and are intended to inform, educate, or entertain readers on general subjects SS - written by and for faculty, researchers, or scholars, and are often about original research
What are two ways to cite and format a source in the text of an APA style paper?
Parenthetical citation: include the author(s) and the date of publication within parentheses Narrative citation: intertwine the author as part of the sentence with the date of publication (in parentheses) following
Understand where to find key information in a research article. Specifically, list in order the major sections that all empirical research articles must include and the information provided in each section
Title (cover page) Introduction Literature review Research methodology Data analysis Results Conclusion Reference page
Select the research design that is best suited to examining a research question
best suited to examining a research question: descriptive or experimental
Identify and describe descriptive, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental research designs.
descriptive: get a picture of the current thoughts, feelings, or behaviors in a given group of people correlational: measure two or more relevant variables and assess a relationship between or among them experimental: how participants are allocated to the different groups in an experiment quasi-experimental: aims to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between an independent and dependent variable. However, unlike a true experiment, a quasi-experiment does not rely on random assignment. Instead, subjects are assigned to groups based on non-random criteria
What are correct and incorrect ways to paraphrase?
incorrect ways to paraphrase: another way plagiarism can be present in an author's writing, usually when an author replaces just a word or two of a source's phrasing with synonyms, does not show enough understanding and engagement with the text correct ways to paraphrase: start your first sentence at a different point from that of the original source, use synonyms (words that mean the same thing), change the sentence structure (e.g. from active to passive voice), break the information into separate sentences.
What is a literature review and what is its purpose?
literature review establishes familiarity with and understanding of current research in a particular field before carrying out a new investigation conducting a literature review should enable you to find out what research has already been done and identify what is unknown within your topic
What subsections does the method section typically have?
method has three main subsections: Participants, Materials, and Procedure
Distinguish between primary and secondary sources and the different types of journal articles
primary source gives you direct access to the subject of your research secondary sources provide second-hand information and commentary from other researchers
When is it appropriate to use a direct quotation? What information must be provided in the citation for a direct quote?
use a direct quotation when the author you are quoting has coined a term unique to her or his research and relevant within your own paper always include a full citation (parenthetical or narrative) in the same sentence as the quotation, including the page number (or other location information, e.g., paragraph number)
