Reporting Psychological Investigations

Question 1

What is in a psychological report?

Answer 1

Abstract
Introducarikn
Method results
Discussion
Referencing

Question 2

What’s the purpose of an abstract?

Answer 2

Allows the reader to gain an overview of the study to help them decide if they want to read on

Question 3

What does an abstract help the reader decide?

Answer 3

If they want to read on

Question 4

What goes in an abstract?

Answer 4

Summary of the study covering the aims, hypothesis, method, results and conclusion. It’s the fist part of the psychological report. 150-200 words

Question 5

Where does the abstract go and how many words should it generally be?

Answer 5

First part of the report
150-200 words

Question 6

What goes in an introduction?

Answer 6

Describes previous research in the area. Links made with previous research and its made clear how the current research will add to the previous research. The intro ends with the researcher stating aims and hypothesis of the research.

Question 7

How does an introduction end?

Answer 7

With the researcher stating aims and hypothesis

Question 8

What’s the purpose of an introduction?

Answer 8

Gives background on relevant theories and studies do explain how aims and hypothesis are developed

Question 9

The introduction gives a background on what?

Answer 9

Relevant theories and studies to explain how aims and hypothesis developed

Question 10

What’s the purpose of an introduction?

Answer 10

Gives a detailed description of what the researcher did - should provide enough info for replication if the study

Question 11

What goes in a method section?

Answer 11

Sampling method
Procedure
Equipment
Ethics
Design

Question 12

What’s a sampling method?

Answer 12

How many took part and info about ppts (ages gender)

Question 13

What is a procedure?

Answer 13

Written like a recipe with exact order of events including standardised instructions

Question 14

What is the equipment?

Answer 14

Details of any materials and apparatus used

Question 15

What are ethics?

Answer 15

Significant ethical issues may be mentioned as well as how they’re felt with

Question 16

What’s the design?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What’s the purpose of the results section?

Answer 17

To present the overall summary of the findings to the reader

Question 18

What goes in a results section?

Answer 18

Descriptive statistics- tables and graphs showing measured of central tendency and dispersion

Inferential statistics - stats tests reported and calculated value and significance levels

For qualitative research categories and themes are described along with examples

Question 19

What’s the purpose of the discussion?

Answer 19

Discuss findings and possible uses or research

Question 20

What goes in discussion section?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

In the discussion section what is the summary of results?

Answer 21

Description of results focusing on if the hypothesis was supported. Results from tables and graphs are discussed along with atypical data

Question 22

In the discussion section what is comparing with other results?

Answer 22

Explain if findings support results of studies in the introduction

Question 23

In the discussion section what is the limitations and modifications?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

In the discussion section what is the implications and future research section?

Answer 24

Explain how findings can be used and an follow up studies could be conducted

Question 25

What’s the purpose of a reference?

Answer 25

To give details of an articles and books mentioned in the study

Question 26

How to reference an article?

Answer 26

Author name - date - title of article, journal title, volume, issue number, page number

Question 27

How to reference a book?

Answer 27

Author last name, first name initial (date). Title of book. Place of publication: publisher