reporting psychological investigations

Question 1

What is a psychological report and what are its sections?

Answer 1

A psychological report is a piece of writing outlining the a psychological study, it has 7 sections which are..

Title
Abstract
Introduction
Method section 
Results section 
Discussion section
Reference section

Question 2

Section 1 and 2 expanded

Answer 2

Section 1-title: This should provide a clear focus of the study and mention the key variables being investigated.

Section 2-abstract: Usually written after the rest of the report has been completed, as it summarises the main concepts of the report allowing the reader to see if they want to read the whole report. It provides information such as: Aims, experimental hypothesis, null hypothesis, research methods, experimental design, sample and sampling method, briefly mention the findings, results, statistical tests levels of significance, the study’s conclusion.

Question 3

Section 3 expanded.

Answer 3

Section 3-introduction: Justifies the need to conducting the research, includes previous related research and reasons why you chose this topic to study. By discussing the general topic you can narrow it down till you produce an aim for the study. You can also add a hypothesis and null hypothesis.

Question 4

Section 4 expanded

Answer 4

Section 4-method section: This states how the investigation was carried out, it should be precise so it can replicated. The methods section has 5 subsections.

1) design- Includes experimental design alongside explaining why they were used. Research method and justification, all variables confounding, independent, dependent etc. Any controls such as counterbalancing need to be stated.
2) sample- give details about your sample and explain why you chose your sampling method and what one was used.
3) Materials- make a list of the materials needed for the study.
4) procedure- steps that need to be carried out in order to conduct the research, needs to be detailed enough to allow for easy replication. Includes briefing, standardized instructions and debriefing.
5) ethics- mention any ethical issues and how they were addressed, ie debriefing.

Question 5

section 5 expanded

Answer 5

section 5-results section:
includes descriptive statistics-graphs, raw data, charts etc.

inferential statistics-what statistical tests have been used and why, include significance levels and calculated values.

categories and themes for qualitative data

whether the experimental/null hypothesis is accepted/rejected.

Question 6

Section 6 expanded

Answer 6

Section 6-discussion section:
The researcher interprets the results of the study in 4 key areas.

1) the results are summarized and reported in a brief format and the researcher explains what they mean, it is a summary of results
2) the results of the study are discussed in relation to background research
3) Criticisms about the methods used can be made an improvements are suggested.
4) Researcher goes through the implications of the results on future psychological research and suggestions are made for future research.

Question 7

Section 7 expanded

Answer 7

section 7-reference section:
The full details of any journals or books that have been mentioned in the report are provided in this section of the report.

They will be reported in this format-
Author name(s) in alphabetical order, date of publication , book title, place of publication, publisher.