Reporting psychological investigations

Question 1

What is a scientific report split into ?
(AIMRDR)

Answer 1

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Method
• Results
• Discussion
• Refrencing

Question 2

What is an abstract ?

Answer 2

• The first section in a journal article and it summarises the major elements , aims hypotheses,results and conclusions.
• Allow researchers to see if article is relevant or not and if they should read the full report.

Question 3

What is an introduction ?

Answer 3

• This acts as a guide to academic background of current study justifies why research is carried out, it will explain the aim and give the hypothesis.

Question 4

What is the method?

Answer 4

• Complete outlining detail in how research was conducted.
• Allows other to have the ability to replicate study.
• Design - RM or independent measures observation or experiment , controls for IV Counterbalancing ?
• Participants - the number of ppts used , sampling techniques used.
• Materials questionnaires
• Standardised procedures

Question 5

What are the results ?

Answer 5

• Summarises the data collected in the research study. There will be tables of central tendency and appropiate graphs
  -Statistical tests

Question 6

What is the disscusion ?

Answer 6

• Explains what data analysis in results actually mean, as should the reserach be accepted or rejected.
• Does this support previous reseearch ?
• Oppurtunity to criticise their research for potential Evs

Question 7

What is refrencing ?

Answer 7

• Referencing section: An alphabetical list (using surnames) of the research studies that were used to inform the current research.
• This provides credit for other researchers’ ideas (avoiding claims of plagiarism)
• Helps future researchers to identify the author’s sources and find related studies.
• How to write a reference: Psychologists use the Harvard / APA referencing format.
  Example - Bandura, A (1970) Principles of behaviour modification.London,England;Thomson Learning.