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Explain why the student's decision to use MLA style for their psychology empirical research report is incorrect, and describe what style they should use instead and why style selection matters in general.
Case context: A student in an undergraduate research methods class is preparing to write their first empirical research report. They previously took an English class where they wrote a literary analysis on psychoanalytic themes and used Modern Language Association (MLA) style. The student decides to use MLA style for their psychology report because they are already familiar with it and the report also deals with psychological concepts.
Question: Explain why the student's decision to use MLA style for their psychology empirical research report is incorrect, and describe what style they should use instead and why style selection matters in general.
Sample answer: The student's decision is incorrect because writing styles must match the specific writing task and field. Although the student is writing about psychological concepts, an empirical research report in psychology is a specific scientific task that requires APA style. MLA style is appropriate for a literary analysis, not a psychological research report. Selecting an appropriate style is a key aspect of effective writing as it must align with the specific field and task at hand.
Key points:
- Explain that using MLA style for a psychology empirical report is incorrect.
- Identify that an empirical research report in psychology requires APA style.
- Explain that effective writing requires matching the style to the specific task and field.
Rubric: The response should explain that MLA is incorrect for a psychology empirical report because the writing style must match the specific task and field. It must identify APA style as the correct format and demonstrate comprehension that effective writing requires adapting styles to the specific context.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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