Students and Families
High School Students
- Checklist for Success
- Earning College Credit in High School
- Graduation Requirements
- Why go to college?
- Student with Disabilities
- College Entrance Exams
- Discovering the Career That’s Right for You
College or University
- Taking the Mystery Out of Academic Planning
- Choosing the Right School
- Programs of Study
- Choosing the Right Major
- Applying to College
Study & Research Tips
- Tips for Effective Study
- Tips for Effective Research
- Using the Net and Social Networking Sites
- Finding a Study Space
- Micro/Macro Editing
- Academic Composure
- Using Academic Resources
- Data Compilation and Analysis
- Confirm Accuracy and Sources
The Parent Section
- Coping with Your Child Leaving Home to Study
- Understanding a Contemporary Campus
- Helping Your Child Move and Settle In
- Stay Involved in Your Kids Education
- Planning for Holidays
- Funding Study
Education Funding Alternatives
Learning Lifestyles
- Healthy Eating for Learning
- The Dreaded Freshman 15
- Playing Varsity Sports
- Artificial Intelligence
- Exercise to Cope with Stress
Pastoral Care in Tertiary Study
Formatting & Citing References
Different Tertiary Paper Types
- Thesis writing
- Business Case Studies:
- Psychology Research Papers
- History Term Papers
- English Essays:
- Science Thesis
- Term Papers
- Proposals
- Journal Articles
- Online Coursework
- Essays/Personal Statements
Other Useful Resources
Psychology Research Papers
The most important thing to remember about writing a psychology research paper (or any research paper) is to begin with a bold statement. Not outlandish but bold, a well defined single statement that sums up the paper hypothesis clearly and concisely. This will sharpen and focus the subject matter for you and for the reader. From this point it is clear to you, the author, what needs to be researched and for the reader there are no surprises. He or she knows exactly from that opening paragraph what you will purport or prove and how you will do it. The latter is important particularly for a psychology paper because these papers require the author to present a reliable and respectable research methodology. Because psychological testing is subject to specific testing criteria, these must be presented and followed at the start of the paper in order to be credible.
Once the hypothesis is stated the body should be written using sub-headings in the writing style requested. Every statement made in the body of a paper must be supported with evidence. Part of supporting evidence is presenting alternative and opposing arguments and then explaining how these are unsubstantiated or why they carry less weight than the ideas promulgated in your hypotheses. The facts of every supporting and opposing argument must in turn be supported with references to where the data was sourced, whether that is books, experiments or personal experience, every piece of evidence has a source and that source should be made known.
Remembering to present a strong argument in the introduction, substantiating arguments with evidence and counter arguments and correctly citing sources (usually APA style referencing in psychology) are the foundations of a passing grade and respected paper. Sum these up neatly in the conclusion and you will be assured of a successful psychology research paper.
Related Links and Resources
- Psychology Writing Guide – psychology.gmu.edu
- List of Psychology Research Paper Topics
- Finding Ideas for Psychology Term Papers
- Psychology Research Paper Sample
Recommended Books
High School Students
- Checklist for Success
- Earning College Credit in High School
- Graduation Requirements
- Why go to college?
- Student with Disabilities
- College Entrance Exams
- Discovering the Career That’s Right for You
College or University: What’s the difference and how to choose?
- Taking the Mystery Out of Academic Planning
- Choosing the Right School
- Programs of Study
- Choosing the Right Major
- Applying to College
Study & Research Tips:
- Tips for Effective Study
- Tips for Effective Research
- Using the Net and Social Networking Sites
- Finding a Study Space
- Micro/Macro Editing
- Academic Composure
- Using Academic Resources
- Data Compilation and Analysis
- Confirm Accuracy and Sources
The Parent Section
- Coping with Your Child Leaving Home to Study
- Understanding a Contemporary Campus
- Helping Your Child Move and Settle In
- Stay Involved in Your Kids Education
- Planning for Holidays
- Funding Study
Education Funding Alternatives
Learning Lifestyles
- Healthy Eating for Learning
- The Dreaded Freshman 15
- Playing Varsity Sports
- Artificial Intelligence
- Exercise to Cope with Stress
Pastoral Care in Tertiary Study
Formatting & Citing References
Different Tertiary Paper Types
- Thesis writing
- Business Case Studies:
- Psychology Research Papers
- History Term Papers
- English Essays:
- Science Thesis
- Term Papers
- Proposals
- Journal Articles
- Online Coursework
- Essays/Personal Statements