Writing stuff

[torifile]

I've got an idea for a something I want to write. I've been doing therapy for a while now and I know what works and what doesn't and the theoretical perspectives I want to take to talk about things, etc. I want to get this down in some sort of a published work. The thing is, how original is it? How much can I use terms, concepts, etc., that aren't "mine" when writing about a subject?

Specifically, the type of therapy I do, dialectical behavior therapy, has had lots published on it, from theory to practice, but, in short, I believe they're all lacking. Can I write about this type of therapy without violating copyright laws? What's typically considered "ok" when extending current knowledge? Now, I haven't even really started writing, more just some thoughts I've been cataloging and concepts I'd like to flesh out. I just don't want to get really into it and then realize because the basis of my theories are not "mine" that I can't do anything with it.

Any pointers? Is a "new take" on old theories acceptable?

[PKIDelirium]

If that wasn't acceptable, a great deal of non-fiction books wouldn't exist.

[Banana]

FWIW, I don't recall those questions being a subject of scrutiny when I took college classes on research methodology. The discussion revolved around fair use, proper citations, and plagiarism but it was always an unspoken assumption that you could cite, quote and paraphrase as much as you needed to make the point in your papers and there was no concern of copyright and/or trademark infringement.

Wait, when you say publish, did you mean to publish to public at large or to publish to a specific psychology literature in your speciality? That may make a difference and I'd love to know about that myself.

[Kickaha]

You can't copyright ideas, only expressions of those ideas. If you rewrite your own take on someone else's idea, use your own words, and don't copy their phrasing, etc, without attribution, then it's all good.

It's like academic publication, really. If you couldn't write about anything that wasn't "yours" then nothing would ever get published!

[curiousuburb]

Thoroughly cite and reference anything you lift verbatim to defend against accusations of plagiarism.

But critique is a valid instance of fair use claims for some academic work (provided you've covered yourself with citations as noted above). You can generally republish Shakespeare with your own dissertation critique framing it and copyright it yourself if it contains at least 25% original work.*

Extemporizing on ideas (without lifting their copyrighted expression of those ideas, as Kickaha notes) is good.

It might make a difference in which jurisdiction you're planning to publish (and is probably worth following up with a specialist rights lawyer once you get further along). Not all international markets operate the same.

* Oversimplified a bit.

[BuonRotto]

Isn't it fundamental to a thesis like this to have those sources to reinforce and back up your claim? You might have 100 pages of end notes for your work, but Kick is right: it is your idea to espouse. Sounds exciting!

[Swox]

I don't think this is any different than writing term papers. Just do what you did in university (unless you're one of the losers who plagiarized, which I'm pretty sure you're not :) ): Do a summary of existing thought/practice (cite prominent authors, schools of thought, etc.), then explain their strengths and weaknesses, and your own approach.

These things basically write themselves once you know what your main point is.

[Robo]

Every textbook or history does exactly what you describe. You can't copyright facts of ideas. I can write a book about the metric system without having invented it. Behavioral models are no different. :)

Good luck!

[torifile]

Cool. I knew all those things - research papers, etc., but I've never tried to publish "theoretical" work. It's all been research. And it's been AGES since I wrote a term paper!

[Robo]

And it's been AGES since I wrote a term paper!

Lucky. :grumble:

[Swox]

Come on, term papers are FUN!!! (Quote me on that in about a month and a half :lol: )

[Banana]

Well...

Given a choice between a class that did a term paper and a class that bombarded you with load of homework, I'd choose term paper every time.

I felt that I learnt far more from doing my papers than doing busywork concocted by a bored graduate student who is aching over his latest breakup and drowning his sorrow in copious amount of alcohol.

Interestingly, given a choice between a class that had quiz every two days and a class that did 2 big tests that was worth 80% of the grade, I'd prefer the former because it worked much out better for in actually learning the materials and remembering it several years later.

[torifile]

Sorta thread-necromancy...

So, I'm working on this app. There are specific acronyms in the skills that I teach (and that are part of DBT as a whole). Can I use these acronyms and phrasing of the skills from the workbooks? I understand attributions, and I will cite liberally. But can I put an acronym like "DEAR MAN" in the app?

If you do a search for "DBT diary card" on the web, you'll see lots of people posting documents with these acronyms. Can I assume that since it's freely available on the web, I won't have a hard time with this? Any ideas where I can start to find out?