1. Various writing things
How to read a psych article
Remember that the authors are selling something
Be critical but not overly so
Solutions, not just problems
What to get from each section of an article
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
References

2. Assignment notes
What I’m teaching is not my style but APA style, based also on advice from editors and successful grant getters and writing experts.
Early feedback on writing
Articles that you would read anyway
Summaries
APA style reference
Summary of the entire, empirical article

3. Broad Considerations Make sure you understand what you’ve read and
Convey that clearly to the reader
Be concise and precise

4. Tell why the researchers are doing the study and why it matters
Theory
How it builds on previous research
Hypotheses (don’t quote)
Tell us the most relevant method details
Who did what
Description of participants (keep it relevant)
Descriptions of scales (if you call it by name, cite)

5. Tell us the most important results
In general, not statistical terms
Address all the hypotheses at least, but don’t refer to them by “name”
Tell us what it means and why it matters
Can add evaluation if you want but not required
You do need to address what this means for theory/research/practice

6. Specifics Be concise “that” phrases “the researchers showed that”
“were told to”
Cut passive voice
Cut unnecessary details

7. Be precise Each participant, they
Researchers were interested, believed
Study hypothesized
Hypotheses argued
Felt
Put a noun after “this” or “these”
“Filled out”, “take” questionnaire, “divide” people
Male and female as adjectives
Emotion vs. affect vs. mood (as an example)

8. Wording choices Survey vs. questionnaire That vs. which
Affect vs. effect
Since vs. because
While vs. whereas

9. Plagiarism exercise What is plagiarism? Why is it bad?
How many words can you use?
What if you put them in a different order or replace them with synonyms?
What about taking people’s ideas instead of words?
Primary vs. secondary sources

10. What are the consequences?

11. How to avoid plagiarism
Strategies to avoid plagiarism
Rewrite your notes
Use “ in notes for quotes
Always put page # for quotes
Don’t use many quotes
Read, then pause before writing
Make notes on the article
More important, more extreme
Outline your paper and then fill in
More important attitudes are more extreme.
College students and elementary school children on school proposals (Harton & Latane, 1998)
When judging others (Justin, 2000)
Believe others will do too (McConahay & Costa, 2004)

12. You don’t have to do it at the end of every sentence
But
You don’t have to quote technical terms, scale names, etc. (but cite them)
You don’t have to do it at the end of every sentence
You don’t have to have citations for “common knowledge”