Confusion

Running head: CLEARING UP CONFUSION

Clearing Up Confusion

Roberta Simpkin

PSY302 XB: Research Methods - M1:A2

Dr. Brian Uldall

Argosy University

March 7, 2010

Confusion

Rafael comes to your research team meeting feeling quite overwhelmed after an

exhausting meeting with his advisor. He needs a strategy for evaluating the articles he

read in preparation for writing the introduction to his thesis. He finds the terminology,

concepts, and ideas in a few of these articles confusing. What steps would you suggest he

take to clear up this confusion? (Argosy, 2010)

Students commonly encounter a variety of problems in starting to write their

thesis. To deal with this problem, a student needs effective preparations both

psychological and technical for writing the thesis, (Lajom, Magno, 2010).

I would tell Rafael that there are steps to follow in writing a thesis. First there is

the planning and goal setting stage. Rafael must begin his thesis with an end in mind. He

needs to clarify what he really wants to show and prove in his thesis, (Argosy, 2010).

Next he needs to organize. Writing a thesis involves several reading activities and

exposure to reading materials. Handling several reading materials will require a way to

organize and fix the materials that will be meaningful, (Argosy, 2010).

Then he should realize the consequences of not devoting his time and energy in

writing his thesis. A thesis that is not well written is a consequence of lack of

commitment and poor preparation. It is not possible to write a good thesis overnight, I

would tell him. Weeks of editing and preparation are required, (Lajom, Magno, 2010).

Next he would need to seek help and information. If he needs accurate answers

about his thesis, his university or college library is the best place to go if/when he needs

2

Confusion

help to have the skill to search. Journal articles in psychology are good sources that can

be found in the periodical section, (Argosy, 2010).

There are environmental structuring when starting a thesis such as: Remove all

distractions from the environment by minimizing the influence of distractions such as

noise and temptations to do something else. Select a room and space where he is most

comfortable, (Lajom, Magno, 2010).

Rafael should start his thesis with an idea in mind on the “topic” that he wants to

investigate. There are two important questions to ask in raising a research question for a

thesis: how does one know if a research question is worth investigating and how does one

refine variables included in a research question?, (Lajom, Magno, 2010).

Finally in choosing a topic, students generally have a topic in mind so I would tell

Rafael to pick something that he can relate to and is it of current interest.

3

Confusion

References

American Psychological Association (2009)

Argosy University. (2010). PSY302, Module 1 Online Lectures, Retrieved March

5, 2010, from http://www.myeclassonline.com

Lajom, J, Magno, C., De La Salle University – Manila (2010)

4