Reporting Psychological Investigations

Question 1

What are the six sections of a scientific report?

Answer 1

Abstract, introduction, method results, discussion, referencing, appendix.

Question 2

What is the purpose of an abstract? What does it allow the researcher E.G.a student or another psychologist to do?

Answer 2

Gain an overview of the study and help them decide if they want to read on

Question 3

What goes in an abstract?

Answer 3

of the study covering the aims, hypotheses, method, results and conclusions. Is the first part of the psychology report.

Question 4

How long is an abstract?

Answer 4

A paragraph of 150 to 250 words

Question 5

What goes in an introduction?

Answer 5

A description of previous research in the area. Links with previous research or it is made clear how the current research will add to the previous research. Ends with the researcher stating the aims and hypothesis of the research.

Question 6

What is the purpose of an introduction

Answer 6

Gives background on relevant theories and studies to explain how aims and hypothesis developed.Explain project area and define key terms.

Question 7

What is the purpose of a method?

Answer 7

Gives a detailed description of what the researcher did -they should provide enough detail for replication of the study.

Question 8

What is the acronym to remember what goes in a method?

Answer 8

Speed

Question 9

What’s the first part of a method?

Answer 9

Sampling method, how many took part and information about participants, ages, occupations, gender etc

Question 10

What is the second part of a method?

Answer 10

Procedure, exact order of events including any standardised instructions.

Question 11

What is the third part of a method?

Answer 11

Equipment details of any materials and apparatus used

Question 12

What is the fourth part of a method?

Answer 12

Ethics, significant ethical issues mentioned as well as how they were dealt with.

Question 13

What is the final part of a method?

Answer 13

Design E.G.repeated measures or covert observation. Design decisions should be justified

Question 14

What is the purpose of the results section?

Answer 14

Present the overall summary of the findings to the reader rather than reviewing the raw data.

Question 15

What goes in the results section? What kinds of statistics?

Answer 15

Descriptive statistics-tables and graphs sharing references and measures of central tendency and dispersion E.G.mean, median, mode, standard deviation, range.
Inferential statistics-start to Tessa reported in calculating values and significant levels of detail.
For any qualitative research-categories and themes are described along with examples

Question 16

What is the purpose of the discussion section?

Answer 16

Discuss the findings and possible uses for future areas of research.

Question 17

What goes in the discussion section? What are the four things?

Answer 17

Summary of results
Compare with other results
Limitations and modifications
Implications and future research

Question 18

What goes in a summary of results?

Answer 18

Written description of the statistical results focusing on whether the hypothesis was supported. Results from tables and graphs are discussed along with any atypical data. Also discuss any type one or Type II errors

Question 19

What goes in a compare with other results?

Answer 19

Explain whether the findings support the results of the study in the introduction

Question 20

What goes in the limitations modification section?

Answer 20

Evaluate present research methods and procedures and explain how this could be improved if repeated

Question 21

What goes in an implications in future research?

Answer 21

Explain how findings could be used in any potential follow up studies that could be conducted

Question 22

What is the purpose of a reference?

Answer 22

Give details of any other articles or books that are mentioned in the research. Readers can locate resources and helps avoid plagiarism.

Question 23

How do you reference an article?

Answer 23

Authors name-date-title of article, journal title, volume, issue number, page numbers.

Question 24

How do you reference a book?

Answer 24

Authors last name, first initial (date). Title. Place of publication: Publisher.