What This Document Is
This resource is a lab manual and introductory guide for students enrolled in a Developmental Psychology lab course (PSYC 363) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It focuses on foundational skills essential for conducting research in the field, specifically covering the process of conducting a literature search and adhering to American Psychological Association (APA) style guidelines. It appears to be designed for an initial lab session, setting the stage for subsequent research projects.
Why This Document Matters
This guide is crucial for any student beginning research in developmental psychology – or any social science field requiring rigorous academic sourcing. It’s particularly helpful for those new to navigating academic databases and understanding the importance of properly citing sources. Students will benefit from reviewing this material *before* starting their first literature review or research paper, and it serves as a valuable reference throughout the course as they develop their research skills. It’s designed to build confidence in approaching research tasks.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This resource provides an overview of key concepts and tools. It does *not* offer in-depth tutorials on specific database functions or exhaustive APA style rules. It’s a starting point, and students will likely need to supplement this information with additional resources and practice. It also doesn’t provide completed literature reviews or examples of APA-formatted papers – its purpose is to equip you with the knowledge to *create* those yourself.
What This Document Provides
* An introduction to the purpose and process of conducting a literature search.
* An overview of commonly used research databases and search engines (including PsycINFO and Google Scholar).
* Discussion of the benefits of utilizing different search strategies.
* Guidance on understanding the role of APA style in academic writing.
* Information regarding campus resources available to support student research (CDL/ECDL).
* An introduction to the instructor and course expectations.