Student Resources
Perhaps you're looking to break into healthcare or supplement your psychology studies with information beyond the curriculum. These resources will acquaint students with how to read and comprehend journal articles, write and format papers using APA style, and learn about prominent figures and theories of psychology.
You'll also find insights that will help guide a career in healthcare. Learn which psychology career is right for you or see how you can apply your psychology studies to other fields of work.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Learning how to read this type of writing is mostly a matter of experience, but a few simple tactics can make this process much easier.
- Understand the Structure of a Journal Article.
- Skim Through the Article.
- Take Notes on Each Section and Ask Questions.
- Identify Key Information.
- Note the Sources Cited.
Learn More: Reading Articles in Psychology Journals -
Encyclopedias, online reference sites, lecture notes, supplementary course readings, or your own class textbooks are all reliable sources of information. If you're taking your search online, databases such as PsycINFO, PsycNET, and EBSCOhost are helpful for finding journal articles on your topic.
Learn More: Full-Text Psychology Journal Articles -
Having a good understanding of the human mind and behavior can help you excel in a wide variety of career paths, not just those pertaining to psychology. Some include advertising or marketing, social work, career counseling, and writing.
Learn More: Careers in Psychology With a Bachelor’s Degree
Key Terms
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Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. It encompasses the biological influences, social pressures, and environmental factors that affect how people think, act, and feel.
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APA Format
The APA format is a set of citation and formatting guidelines developed by the American Psychological Association (APA). These guidelines provide writers with a consistent formula for acknowledging the works of others, notes on how to order, structure, and format a paper, as well as practical writing and grammar tips. APA format is used by students and professionals in a variety of disciplines, including business, economics, nursing, and, of course, psychology.
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Variable
A variable is something that can be changed or altered, such as a characteristic or value. Variables are generally used in psychology experiments to determine if changes to one thing result in changes to another.
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Correlation
A correlation coefficient, often expressed as r, indicates a measure of the direction and strength of a relationship between two variables.
Correlational studies are quite common in psychology, particularly because some things are impossible to recreate or research in a lab setting. Instead of performing an experiment, researchers may collect data to look at possible relationships between variables.
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Abstract
The abstract is the second page of a lab report or APA-format paper and should immediately follow the title page. Think of an abstract as a highly condensed summary of your entire paper. The purpose of your abstract is to provide a brief yet thorough overview of your paper.
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