Composing A Research Paper In Psychology: The Correct Structure
Writing a paper, no matter what the subject, typically follows a similar structure. Unless the paper you are asked to write is narrative, it’s safe to say that you can apply the same setup for any type of document. If you are taking social, cognitive, behavioral, or any other kind of psychology course, you’re probably going to have o write a research paper at some point highlighting a certain study or other event. Here are some guidelines to help you correctly compose your essay:
- Thesis statement: The most important part of any research paper is its thesis statement; come up with a strong one or two sentences that perfectly captures and summarizes what you are looking at in your paper and which angle you’re taking on the subject.
- Create a title: Your title needs to be clear and concise, and preferably as short as possible. The title is meant to summarize your entire paper in just a few words, and let the reader form an accurate assumption of what the content is about.
- Gather sources: Obviously, if you’re writing a research paper, it’s important that you do some research. Look up articles, check out books from your local library, and see if you can access files to any studies. Compile all of your sources into one bibliography and be sure to properly cite them throughout your essay.
- Present all of the facts: Even if there is some information or evidence that goes against whatever point you’re trying to make, it’s still important to still acknowledge these other perspectives in your content. This will boost your credibility and make the reader more likely to trust what you say and believe in the information you present.
- Discuss: After you’ve presented statistics, facts, pictures, and charts, it’s time to discuss what all of this means. Towards the end of your psychology essay, dedicate a paragraph or two to analyzing what you just shared and what kind of impact that might have on the industry. Put all of it into perspective and give the research context.
- Method: Be sure that when you’re providing the information and facts, you explain how all of the studies obtained these results. If you’re writing about the child development from a social psychologist’s perspective, using studies on children might support your essay. Explain what study was done on the children and how the scientists and psychologists came to these conclusions.