Study of the day

When choice is demotivating

(Iyengar & Lepper, 2001)

Choice = good- marketing- politics- education- psychology

So the more choices the better?

ResultsWhen choice is demotivating (Iyengar & Lepper, 2001)

6 jams 24 jams

40%60%

30% 3%

6 jams 24 jams

Number that purchased 31

30%

Number that purchased 4

3%

N = 260 N = 242

Follow-up study: How likely are people to complete extra credit?

1. Students offered an extra credit assignment: one of 6 topics or one of 30 topics

More likely to do extra credit when fewer choices

ResultsWhen choice is demotivating (Iyengar & Lepper, 2001)

Writing Psychology Papers

Introductions• I want to see development in intros:

• Paragraphs should not be committed to single citation but instead focus on a theme

• Make sure to connect each citation to over-arching research question

• Subtitles can help with organization, but make sure you have transitions!

• Make beginning interesting! Hook in the• Start broad explicitly state research question hypotheses

Introductions

• Look at lit reviews in empirical articles for e.g.s• No operational information in intros• Don’t need a lot of methods details about cited

studies – just main point • Adhere to APA structure• Make sure you cite when making big claims

Content is more important than length

Using Other People’s Ideas

• Should be used to support your ideas

• If using someone else’s words directly, you must use quotations and a citation

• It’s much better to rephrase into your own words, as this conveys understanding• Citations still required!

Giving Credit

• If you can’t put an idea into your own words, you shouldn’t write about it

• After reading an interesting idea, look away from it and write your own version• Does it summarize an important point?• Is it short and sweet?• If not, re-read and try again!

In-Text Citations

• If borrowing an idea from previous research or theory, it must be cited when:• Paraphrasing an author’s ideas• Sharing information that is not common

knowledge• Directly quoting a source

Examples

• Iyengar and Lepper (2001) “Studies 1, 2, and 3 provide compelling empirical evidence that

the provision of extensive choices, though initially appealing to choice-makers, may nonetheless undermine choosers' subsequent satisfaction and motivation.”

• Although many choices are attractive, individuals are more motivated and satisfied when given fewer options (Iyengar &Lepper, 2001).

Chapter 5 reading

• Remove “fluff” words• Use simple language – not jargon