This guide has 8 mini-sections to get you started with your Essay assignment.
Before you start, it is strongly recommended that you:
Before you start looking for information for your assignment, it is important to analyse your topic and questions. Think about:
Identifying key concepts or keywords in your assignment will help you to locate relevant information more effectively. Also think about similar concepts and alternative terms eg Ethics OR code of conduct, aboriginal OR indigenous.
These key concepts and keywords will form the basis of your search strategy.
Watch the video below on topic analysis. What are your key concepts and keywords?
Once you have identified the keywords included in your assignment question, you can think about how to use these keywords to conduct your search.
Using appropriate search techniques such as Boolean, phrase searching, and truncation can make your search more effective.
Watch the video below and try the Library Search for books and articles
Library journal databases are collections of journal articles. You can find the best databases for your topic on the Psychology Subject Guide.
Not sure how to use them? Watch the following videos and try your search in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection (EBSCO) and in PsycINFO.
Government and professional organisations' publications such as legal material, government policies, reports, statistics, professional standards and code of conducts may only be available on the internet. The simplest way to find such material is by Google advanced search.
Snowball search is using a key document on your topic as a starting point to find more other relevant publications by tracking down the citations.
Watch the video below and try a snowball search in Google Scholar using the doi 10.1037/a0037081
Watch the following video on evaluating your sources with the TRAAP method.
Australian Psychological Society. (2020). APS ethical guidelines for reporting abuse and neglect, and criminal activity. InPsych, 42(6).
Davis, A. W. (2014). Ethical issues for psychologists using communication technology: An Australian perspective on service provision flexibility. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 45(5), 303-308. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037081
Kremer, P., Symmons, M., & Furlonger, B. (2018). Exploring the why of psychologist misconduct and malpractice: A thematic analysis of court decision documents. Australian Psychologist, 53(5), 454-463. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12343
Psychology Board of Australia. (n.d.). Guidelines and policies. Psychology Board of Australia. Retrieved 5 April 2022 from https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au/Standards-and-Guidelines/Codes-Guidelines-Policies.aspx
Robertson, M., Walter, G., & Bloch, S. (2016). Ethical use of the media by psychiatrists: Towards an antipodean formulation of the "Goldwater Rule". Australasian Psychiatry, 24(1), 26-29. https://doi.org/10.1177/1039856215620030
Sanders, C. (2015). Commentary on ethical and legal considerations when counselling children and families: The Australian context. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 36(4), 465-466. https://doi.org/10.1002/anzf.1124
Venkatesh, S., & Lovibond, P. (2020). Is the unexamined professional life worth practicing? Factors influencing ethical practice in psychologists. Ethics & Behavior, 30(5), 326-341. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2019.1620611
This guide may help you format an APA Style student paper. However, it is for general guidance only. Depending on the requirement of your writing, different formatting specifications may be appropriate. If you are unsure, check with your lecturer. Always follow your lecturer’s instructions.
Watch the video below on Essay writing. Contact academic support for more help.