10 Steps for Writing a Psychology Research Paper

Human psychology is a fascinating subject defined by a rich theoretical tradition and a vast body of research.

Because writing a psychology research paper requires a student to draw on this massive body of literature, it can be a challenge to create a powerful and compelling research paper, particularly for students who are only starting out in exploring the field. Fortunately, there are some simple steps that can help students like you to achieve better results when writing a psychology research paper.

When you follow this simple step-by-step guide offered by academic experts from SmartWritingService.com which provides students with professional research paper writing services, you are more likely to develop the kind of research paper that will wow your instructor and earn you better marks.

• Read the assignment. It might sound obvious, but the place to start with any psychology research paper is by reading the assignment thoroughly and making sure that you understand it. If there are any elements that are confusing or you need clarified, be sure to ask before you start writing the essay.
• Develop a topic. After you’ve read the assignment, you need to choose a topic for your paper. If you have one in mind, you can use the assignment to clarify the topic to create a strong research question. If not, you will need to being to do some preliminary research in order to generate possibilities and to identify a viable topic.
• Begin your research. The psychological literature is vast, and it can seem intimidating to know where to start. Instead of searching Wikipedia or Google, try you school’s online library to search for peer-reviewed journal articles. Using current articles from the past 5-10 years can help you to see what is current about your topic and to work backward from there if needed.
• Take notes and create a bibliography. As you work with the sources you are researching, save yourself time and effort later on by taking careful notes. Summarize each source and identify key quotations you plan to use. When you have a list to work from, it will make the writing process easier because you won’t have to stop to find information. Create bibliography entries for each source now to avoid having to go back later.
• Develop your thesis statement. Once you have read your research, you should have a good idea about how you plan to answer the question posed in the assignment with regard to your topic. Use this information to create a strong thesis statement that will tell the reader what your paper will demonstrate or prove.
• Write an outline. Outline your paper before you write. While it might seem like an unnecessary step and a waste of time, it’s actually an important way to plan your essay and save yourself time when you go to write the paper. When you know what you’re going to write before you write it, it makes the whole process faster.
• Write the body paragraphs first. The introduction is often the hardest part of the essay to write, so start with the body paragraphs. Write them one after the other and be sure to link them together to show how each idea links to the next and supports the thesis statement. When you have finished the body, the conclusion should flow naturally from the body.
• Write the introduction last. Writing the introduction last will allow you to work backward from the conclusion to find the words that will set up the paper logically to help your readers prepare for the paper to come. If you write the introduction first, you might feel compelled to bias the paper toward the text you’ve written, but saving it for last lets you match the introduction to the conclusions you’ve drawn.
• Revise carefully. Once you’ve finished all the parts of the paper, you’re still not done. You need to revise the paper carefully and go through each line to make sure it doesn’t just capture your meaning but explains your point of view in the best and most effective way possible. The revising process can take a while, so be sure to budget enough time.
• Proofread a final time. After you’ve finished revising, let the paper sit for a few hours or a day. This way you can read it a final time with fresh eyes in order to proofread again carefully and catch any lingering errors.