Scientific Method
The experimental construct the research manipulates to create conditions in the experiment.
What is the independent variable?
A psychological concept; a construct, such as neuroticism or extraversion.
What is a conceptual variable?
This process allows for the vetting of new scientific papers by the scientific community and generally is a mark of quality research.
What is peer review?
According to APA High-Style, use of these type of words (firemen, mailman, stewardess) is strongly discouraged.
What is (gender) biased language?
Owens, J. (2014). Insufficient Sleep in Adolescents and Young Adults: An Update on Causes and Consequences. Pediatrics, 134(3), 921-932. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-1696
(Owens, 2014)
Owens (2014)
The practice of relying on observations.
What is empiricism?
Measurements such as blood pressure or heart rate.
What are physiological measurements?
PsychINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar
What are places you can find scientific articles? (scientific databases)
In an APA style reference page, these are always alphabetized by authors' last name.
What are reference entries? (not list of authors for an entry)
Wright, A. L., Schwindt, L. A., Bassford, T. L., Reyna, V. F., Shisslak, C. M., St. Germain, P. A., & Reed, K. L. (2003). Gender differences in academic advancement: Patterns, causes, and potential solutions in one U.S. College of Medicine. Academic Medicine, 78(5), 500–508. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-200305000-00015
(Wright et al., 2003)
Wright et al. (2003)
To say that excessive caffeine intake will disrupt one's sleep quality is to make this type of claim.
What is a causal claim?
This scale has no true value for zero, which also means that you can't multiple values, either.
What is an interval scale?
If you are in need of another source for your research paper, looking at this section of a scientific article might give you some ideas.
What is/are the References?
Using 'because' when referring to a causal relationship is a rule found in this set of APA style guidelines.
What is APA low-style?
Pressey, A. W., & Pressey, C. A. (1992). Attentive fields are related to focal and contextual features: A study of Müller-Lyer distortions. Perception and Psychophysics, 51(5), 423-436.
(Pressey & Pressey, 1992)
Pressey and Pressey (1992)
In the Data-Theory cycle, data helps researchers refine this (no matter if the data supports or refutes it).
What is the theory?
The ability of a measure to perform the same over multiple times and circumstances.
What is the reliability?
Looking at this part of a scientific article will tell you if the authors' used The Big Five personality inventory.
What is the Methods Section?
In the English language, the words 'male' and 'female' are this part of speech.
What are adjectives?
Second (or subsequent) citation in a paper.
Murdock, K.K., Horissian, M., & Crichlow-Ball, C. (2016). Emerging Adult’s Text Message Use and Sleep Characteristics: A Multimethod, Naturalistic Study. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 15(3), 228-241. doi:10.1080/15402002.2015.1120203
(Murdock et al., 2016)
Murdock et al. (2016)
The three conditions necessary to establish causation (typically in an experiment).
What are Covariance, Temporal Precedence, and Internal Validity?
The construct validity that explains why college success can be determined by one's SAT score.
What is predictive validity?
If you'd like to save time reading articles for your research paper, try skipping to this section to get the author's take on the new information they found.
What is the Discussion Section?
According to APA high style, this would be the most concise and proper way for a clinician to refer to their American female patients of Japanese and Korean descent, who are being treated for anxiety.
What is Asian-American women (diagnosed) with anxiety (disorder)?
First citation in a paper.
Rosen, L., Carrier, L.M., Miller, A., Rokkum, J., & Ruiz, A. (2016). Sleeping with technology: cognitive, affective, and technology usage predictors of sleep problems among college students. Sleep Health, 2(1), 49-56. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2015.11.003.
(Rosen, Carrier, Miller, Rokkum, & Ruiz, 2016)
Rosen, Carrier, Miller, Rokkum, and Ruiz (2016)