1. SCIENTIFIC WRITING IN PSYCHOLOGY DAVID L. DUBOIS UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA

2. Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident. Very few sentences come out right the first time, or even the third time. Remember this as a consolation in moments of despair. If you find that writing is hard, it’s because it is hard. It’s one of the hardest things that people do (On Writing Well: An Informal Guide to Writing Non-Fiction, William Zinsser, p. 13).

3. OVERVIEW I.WHY SHOULD A (PSYCHOLOGICAL) SCIENTICIST WRITE WELL? II.RESOURCES FOR EFFECTIVE WRITING III.BASICS: GRAMMAR, SYNTAX, AND ORGANIZATION IV.STRATEGIES FOR SCIENTIFIC WRITING IN PSYCHOLOGY

4. WHY SHOULD A SCIENTIFIC PSCYHOLOGIST WRITE WELL? Communication and Influence Archival Value Career Advancement Intrinsic Pleasure!

5. RESOURCES APA STYLE MANUAL GUIDES TO NON-FICTION WRITING/ WRITING IN PSYCHOLOGY FACILITATIVE COMPUTER SOFTWARE EXEMPLARS “SECOND READERS” YOURSELF

6. BASICS: GRAMMAR, SYNTAX, AND ORGANIZATION Goal Logical, Structured Argument that will be Easily Grasped By the Reader --”Tell A Good Story” Tips Use an Outline Include “Advance Primer” Paragraphs Use Headings and Subheadings Use Tabular and Graphic Presentations to Advantage Write Well-Crafted, Internally-Organized Paragraphs

8. Demographic/ Background Characteristics of Mentors/Youth Mentor Training/ Support Mentor Efficacy Beliefs Mentor/ Youth Contact Relationship Experiences Activities Discussions Obstacles Closeness Perceived Benefits for Youth Longevity (Direct Effect of Mentor/Youth Contact Mediated by Relationship Experiences) Figure 1. Hypothesized Model of Factors Influencing Perceived Benefits and Longevity of Mentoring Relationships for Youth

9. BASICS: GRAMMAR, SYNTAX, AND ORGANIZATION (Continued) SYNTAX AND GRAMMAR Goal Write Concise, Clear, and Grammatically Sound Sentences Tips Eliminate (all) Non-Essential Words Avoid Non-Sentences Keep Referents Proximal to Intended Subjects Take Care with Complex Syntax Break Long Sentences Into Separate Sentences Strive for Effective Word Choice Use Parenthetical Text Effectively Use Correct Punctuation--Know Rules for Commas, Apostrophes, etc. Iterative Drafting and Polishing: Read Paper ALOUD

10. Example #1: Example #2: Example #3:

11. Example #4:

12. STRATEGIES FOR SCIENTIFIC WRITING IN PSYCHOLOGY ORGRANIZATION, STYLE, AND FORMATTING Goal Clear and Concise Presentation in Accordance with Accepted Scholarly Standards Tips Write with a Purpose (e.g., Publication in Specific Journal) Adhere to Specific Formatting Guidelines of Intended Outlet or Receiving Organization Except as Otherwise Directed, Adhere to Guidelines of APA Style Manual Include Abstract or Equivalent (e.g., Executive Summary) Use Headings and Subheadings Use Tabular and Graphic Material to Advantage Avoid Overly Discursive or Repetitive Writing: Literature Review, Method, Results, Discussion, etc. Use Appropriate and Well-Defined Terminology

14. STRATEGIES FOR SCIENTIFIC WRITING IN PSYCHOLOGY (Continued) DESCRIPTION OF EMPIRCAL FINDINGS AND THEORETICAL PROPOSITIONS Goal Clear and Accurate Description of Empirical Data and Theoretical Views Tips Distinguish Between References to Empirical Facts and Theoretical Inferences: Use Intended Point of Reference on the “Nomological Net” as Guiding Principle Develop Vocabulary and Phraseology for Writing at Levels of Both Theory and Empirics Discuss Issues of Causality to Extent Possible Recognize/Acknowledge Potential Limitations of All Research Designs

15. Construct A Construct B Measure C Measure D Measured, Observable Theoretical, Unobservable Schematic Overview of Nomological Net (e.g., CTI)(e.g., BDI) (e.g., Dysfunctional Beliefs) (e.g., Depressive Symptoms)

16. Construct A Construct B Measure C Measure D Measured, Observable Theoretical, Unobservable Schematic Overview of Nomological Net (e.g., CTI) (e.g., BDI) (e.g., Dysfunctional Beliefs) (e.g., Depressive Symptoms)

17. Construct A Construct B Measure C Measure D Measured, Observable Theoretical, Unobservable Schematic Overview of Nomological Net Construct C (e.g., CTI) (e.g., BDI) (e.g., Dysfunctional Beliefs) (e.g., Depressive Symptoms) (e.g., Dysfunctional Family-of-Origin)

19. STRATEGIES FOR SCIENTIFIC WRITING IN PSYCHOLOGY (Continued) APPLIED WRITING Goal Clear, Accurate, and “User-Friendly” Presentation of Information Tips Write with Intended Audience and Purpose in Mind Maintain Emphasis on Adherence to Scholarly Standards and Principles (e.g., Distinguishing Empirical Fact versus Theoretical Inference) Describe Practical Implications and Recommendations in Concrete and Detailed Manner

20. Example #1: Example #2: