Structure of a Research Article & Plagiarism

PSY 310 R02

Sections in Final Paper (in this order):

Title PageAbstractIntroductionMethodResultsDiscussionReferences TablesFigures

Sample Title Page

Procrastination 1

Running head: PROCRASTINATION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

The relationship of procrastination to academic performance among first-year college students

Jane A. SmithStony Brook University

Title Page

Express your study in a simple, straightforward wayInclude main variables being studied and their relationshipSpecifically summarizes what’s in the paper (especially the Introduction and Results)

Bad title: Effects of parenting styles on children

Good title: Negative effects of permissive parenting styles on children’s early social interactions

Abstract

Brief summary of contents of paper(120-150 words)Useful in literature searchesMeant as a quick reference for readersFramework for further readingPut most important info first Things to mention:Participants Variables measuredExperimental designStatistical tests usedMain resultsConclusions

Main Parts of a Journal Article

Introduction

Method

Results

Discussion

Introduction

Introduction

Introduces/identifies a problemReviews the literature relevant to your studyJustifies the present study (Why is it important?)Provides an overview of the studyGives a hypothesis / hypotheses

Avoid quotations• Rarely ever used in research articlesWhen introducing articles –

• Incorporate sources throughout the Introduction

• Only cite the author(s) and the date• No need to state the words “This article” (as

in: “this article was about…”) Rather, write something like “Bowald and Grella (2006) suggest . . .”

Summarizing Prior Research

Incorporating details into summaries• Use only essential, study-relevant details• Avoid unnecessary details (e.g., This study

used 150 blue-eyed participants and 150 brown-eyed participants. . . .)

Summarizing Prior Research cont.

Method

Detailed description• Participants / subjects• Materials• Procedure

Who, where, when, how, what measures?Purpose: explain exactly what you did so that others could replicate it.

Method

Introduction

Results Present findings of the studyUses statistics / describes statistical tests Report total scores, averages,

correlations, effect sizes, etc. (individual scores are NOT reported, except in single-subject designs)

Displays results graphically; tables and figures are referencedDescribes results objectively – no interpretation (save explanation of results for the discussion)

Method

Results

Introduction

Discussion

Method

Results

Discussion

Summarize/review resultsAnalyze/interpret results Did results confirm your

hypothesis? If not, what other explanations exist?

How do your findings relate to previous research?

Limitations of your study Future directions and implicationsConclusion

Introduction

References

All references cited in the manuscript are listed in alphabetical order at the conclusion of the manuscript List all sources usedEnsures accountability

Example of Reference in APA format: Saywitz, K. J., Mannarino, A. P., Berliner, L., &

Cohen, J. A. (2000). Treatment for sexuallyabused children and adolescents. AmericanPsychologist, 55, 1040-1049.

How to write your References

Formatting:Start on a new pageTop of page: put “References” (centered)Each reference starts on a new line ½-inch hanging indent for all lines after 1stNo spaces between referencesAlphabetical order by last name of first authorTwo references with the same authors, order by yearTwo references with the same authors and year, order by title,

and be sure to put a letter after the yeare.g. (1989a), (1989b)

Sample References Section

ReferencesAgnew, C. R. (2000). Cognitive interdependence and the experience of relationship loss. In J. H. Harvey & E.D. Miller (Eds.) Loss and trauma: General and close relationship perspectives (pp. 385-398). New York, NY, US: Brunner-Routledge. Agnew, C. R., Loving, T. J., Le, B., & Goodfriend, W. (2004). Thinking close: Measuring relational closeness as perceived self-other inclusion. In D. Mashek & A. Aron (Eds), Handbook of closeness and intimacy (pp. 103-115). Mahwah, NJ: ErlbaumAron, A. (2003). Self and close relationships. In M. R. Leary & J. P. Tangney (Eds.), Handbook of self and identity (pp. 442-461). New York, NY: Guilford Press.Aron, A., Aron, E., & Smollan, D. (1992). Inclusion of other in the self scale and the structure of interpersonal closeness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 596-612.

PlagiarismExplicit plagiarism is saying that someone else’s idea is your

own

Implicit plagiarism is using an idea from someone else’s study and not citing them - This happens way more often- People usually do this without meaning to

To avoid plagiarizing:Be careful when taking notes!Cite any authors whose work you use (when you refer to their

ideas or paper, and when you paraphrase or quote their work)

CitationsSee Chapter 7 in Dunn book and/or Smith textbookOne author: (Author, Year) or Author (Year) Two authors: (Author & Author, Year) or Author and Author (Year)Three-Five authors :

1st time in text: (Author, Author & Author, Year) or Author, Author, and Author (Year)

2nd time: (Author et al., Year) or Author et al. (Year)Six or more authors: (Author et al., Year) or Author et al. (Year)For citing multiple papers, include both in the parentheses, in

alphabetical order, and offset by a semi-colon (Aron & Aron, 1986; Aron et al., 2001)

**If you use a direct quote from an article , then you have to use quotation marks and cite the article’s author, year, and page number. (Author, Year, p.)