1. 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

2. 2
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

3. 3
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.

4. 4
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)