Writing for Psychology

Writing a paper for your psychology class? Below are resources for finding appropriate references using electronic databases and the Internet, identifying peer-reviewed journals, avoiding plagiarism and writing a paper in APA style.

Electronic Databases and the Internet

The electronic databases most useful for papers in psychology are: PsycINFO, PsycArticles and Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, which can be accessed through the Shenandoah University Libraries website.

If you do not know how to use PsycINFO, read about it at APA - Quick Reference Guide PsycINFO on EBSCOhost.

If you do not know how to evaluate the content of websites on the Internet, read about it at University of California Berkeley Library- Evaluating Web Pages.

Peer-Reviewed Journals

You can find definitions of peer-reviewed journals at these websites:

West Virginia University Libraries

University of California Berkeley Library - Educational Psychology Library

You also can check to see whether or not your article is from a peer-reviewed journal by using Ulrich's Periodical Directory, which is available through the Shenandoah University Libraries website.

APA Style

APA Style, established by the American Psychological Association, is the standard for academic writing in the social and behavioral sciences. It consists of rules for presenting research ideas and documenting references. As a psychology major, you likely will write several papers using APA Style. The publication manual currently is in its 6th edition. Although the following resources may help you, it always is best to refer to your APA Style Guide (copy available in the Psychology Resource Center). 

Purdue Online Writing Lab - APA Formatting and Style Guide

Vanguard University of Southern California - APA Style Essentials

Plagiarism

Plagiarism, as defined in the Shenandoah University Honor Code, is the "presentation, oral or written, or copying of the language, structure, ideas, facts, data or thoughts of another person without proper acknowledgement, submitting purchased work, or misrepresenting another's work as one's own" (Article IV, Section 2). Examples of plagiarism include copying and pasting text from a book, textbook, journal article or website without quoting or explicitly citing the source.

The following websites contain information on how to avoid plagiarism. If you still are in doubt, ask a professor or instructor.

Acadia University Vaughan Memorial Library - You Quote It, You Note It!

University of Alberta Libraries - Guide to Plagiarism and Cyber-plagiarism

Purdue Online Writing Lab - Paraphrase Exercises

Wayne State University - Plagiarism Quiz

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