Guidelines for Writing a Research Paper

Guidelines for writing a research paper:

Your term paper should be based on your research project, which can be a literature review, a naturalistic observation, an experimental study, an interview, or a survey. You may choose any topic related to developmental psychology. Your topic can be derived from daily life experiences, for instance, and can thus carry some personal significance. In addition, it can help you to apply what you have learned in class, and shed some light on your experiences.

The topic you choose should be specific rather than general. For example, you should not pick a broad topic, such as nature vs. nurture or ADHD, and use sweeping strokes to write up a paper. Instead, it would be better to address the specific issues involved in. An example of this could be as follows: "How genetic factors affect children's temperament: A review of monozygotic twins raised apart." Theoretical perspective developmental psychology should be relied on to organize your paper.

The text of your paper should be 5-8 pages. References must be included in the text as well as in the appendix. In terms of the style of writing, please refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th edition.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition

American Psychological Association

http://www.apastyle.org/manual/index.aspx

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association is the style manual of choice for writers, editors, students, and educators in the social and behavioral sciences. It provides invaluable guidance on all aspects of the writing process, from the ethics of authorship to the word choice that best reduces bias in language. Well-known for its authoritative and easy-to-use reference and citation system, the Publication Manual also offers guidance on choosing the headings, tables, figures, and tone that will result in strong, simple, and elegant scientific communication.

Chapter 1: Writing for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

Chapter 1 describes the role of ethics in publishing and offers guidance in following best practices for compliance.

Chapter 2: Manuscript Structure and Content

Chapter 2 defines all parts of a scholarly manuscript, from title to appendix, emphasizing both function and form. It ends with sample papers for users to model.

Chapter 3: Writing Clearly and Concisely

Chapter 3 offers basic guidance on planning and writing the article. It advises readers on how to organize their thoughts, choose effective words, and describe individuals with accuracy and sensitivity.