CHS Psychology Research Guide

Quick Links

• Noodletools: https://www.noodletools.com/

• Access Power Library: https://powerlibrary.org/e-resources/?all=y&ID=PL2591

• Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com

• Purdue OWL APA Overview: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html

• Purdue OWL Paper Format: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html

• Purdue OWL In-Text Citations: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/in_text_citations_author_authors.html

• Purdue OWL Reference List: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/reference_list_basic_rules.html

1. Choose a College-Level Psychology Topic
Focus on a specific question supported by studies and data.
Examples:

• Anxiety → Social anxiety in adolescents

• Memory → False memories in eyewitness testimony

• Mental health → Social media use and teen depression

2. Find Scholarly Sources
Access Power Library

• Use keywords, not full questions

• Use AND to narrow and OR to broaden

• Limit to peer-reviewed when available

Google Scholar

• Check journal title and author credentials

• Prefer PDF or HTML full text when available

• Evaluate carefully

3. Open Access Research
Open access research is legally free to read. Typically no paywall.

• Many open-access studies are peer-reviewed

• Google Scholar often links to open access full text

• Verify author, journal, and publication details

4. Organize Research with NoodleTools

• Select APA format

• Enter all sources as you research

• Write notes in your own words

• Label quotes clearly

5. Format Your Paper in APA Style
Use Purdue OWL for:

• Paper format and title page

• Headings

• In-text citations

• Reference list formatting

6. Acceptable Websites and Website Evaluation

Websites should not replace journal articles, but some are acceptable.

Generally acceptable website types

• Government agencies such as NIH, CDC, SAMHSA, NIMH

• Universities and academic institutions such as .edu research centers

• Professional organizations such as APA

• Major hospitals and medical systems with evidence-based information

• Peer-reviewed open-access journals on official journal or university sites

Use with caution

• Mainstream news for context only

• General health sites only if they cite research and name expert reviewers

• Advocacy sites for perspective only and verify claims with scholarly sources

Not acceptable

• Wikipedia as a final cited source

• Blogs, influencer content, social media

• Forums or Q&A sites

• Sites selling products, supplements, treatments, or services

Website evaluation checklist

Authority and expertise

• ☐ Author is named

• ☐ Author has relevant credentials

• ☐ Organization is reputable such as .gov, .edu, or recognized professional org

• ☐ Contact info or About page is present

Evidence and accuracy

• ☐ Sources are cited such as peer-reviewed studies or official data

• ☐ Claims are supported by data, not opinion only

• ☐ Information matches what you find in scholarly sources

• ☐ Language is not sensational or extreme

Currency and relevance

• ☐ Page shows a publication or update date

• ☐ Information is recent enough for the topic

• ☐ Page directly supports your research question

Bias and purpose

• ☐ Purpose is to inform, not sell

• ☐ Facts and opinions are clearly separated

• ☐ Funding or conflicts of interest are transparent

Quick decision rule!
If there is no author, no sources, and no date, do not use it.

CHS Psychology Research Checklist

Research and sources

• ☐ Topic is focused and psychology-based

• ☐ At least one source from Access Power Library

• ☐ Scholarly peer-reviewed sources used

• ☐ Google Scholar sources evaluated

• ☐ Open-access articles verified as scholarly

Citations and notes

• ☐ All sources entered into NoodleTools

• ☐ APA format selected

• ☐ Notes written in original words

• ☐ Quotes clearly labeled

APA formatting

• ☐ Paper matches Purdue OWL APA format

• ☐ Title page formatted correctly

• ☐ Double spaced with 1-inch margins

• ☐ In-text citations correct

• ☐ Reference list formatted properly

Academic integrity

• ☐ All borrowed ideas cited

• ☐ No copy-and-paste writing

• ☐ Final formatting check completed