conventions of reports

Question 1

What is in the abstract section of a report

Answer 1

Summary of the study including aims, hypothesis, method (procedures), results, conclusions and implications.
It allows the reader to determine if the rest of the report is worth reading.

Question 2

What is in the introduction section of a report

Answer 2

· Review of previous relevant research
· leads logically to your research so that the reader is convinced why you’re doing the research
· starts general then becomes more specific
· Ends with aims and hypotheses

Question 3

what is in the method section of a report

Answer 3

A detailed description of what the researcher did. There should be enough detail for someone to precisely replicate your study.
· Design
· Participants
· Apparatus/materials
· Procedures
· Ethics

Question 4

what is in the results section of a report

Answer 4

what the researcher found, including:
· Descriptive statistics
· Inferential statistics
- statement about whether the null hypothesis is accepted or rejected
· If the study uses qualitative research, then categories and themes are described with examples of each category/theme.

Question 5

what is in the discussion section of a report

Answer 5

the researcher aims to interpret their results and consider their implications
- summary of results (verbal, not statistical- explanation)
- strengths and weaknesses of methodology, improvements suggested
- implications for theories and real-life applications
- contribution that the investigation has made to the existing knowledge-base within the field
- suggestions for future research

Question 6

what is at the end of a report

Answer 6

references
- full details of any journal articles, book, websites that are mentioned
appendices
- where any materials and raw data are presented

Question 7

what are the sections of a report

Answer 7

abstract
introduction
method
results
discussion
references
appendices

Question 8

format of journal articles reference

Answer 8

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (year). Title of journal article. Name of Journal, volume number (issue number), page numbers.

italics=Name of Journal, volume number (issue number)

Question 9

format of books printed and online reference

Answer 9

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (year). Book title. Place of publication: Publisher.

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (year). Book title. Place of publication: Publisher.

italics=book title

Question 10

format of website references

Answer 10

Last name, First initial. Middle initial. (year, month date published). Article title. Retrieved from URL

italics=article title