reporting psychological investigations

Question 1

sections of a scientific report

Answer 1

Findings of research must be displayed in a particular way - a formal document that is composed of several sections. Each section must be developed so that information is conveyed clearly, precisely and efficiently. It must also be written in the past tense, must not use ‘I’ or ‘we’ and never use the words prove or disprove.

Question 2

title

Answer 2

Determines who reads the full report, must be concise but informative.

Question 3

abstract

Answer 3

Written last but inserted between the title and introduction. A 150 - 200 word summary of the topic studied, description of participants, sampling technique, procedure and results, what the findings mean, conclusion, implications and suggestions for further research.

Question 4

introduction

Answer 4

Explains existing background research, reasoning behind investigation, aim, and predictions derived from the hypothesis.

Question 5

method

Answer 5

Describes how the study was conducted and should contain enough information for the study to be replicated.
Consists of subsections:
Design - number of groups/ conditions, control measures and variables under investigation.
Participants - key features e.g. age, gender, how they were selected (sampling method).
Materials
Procedure - how the study was conducted, participants were allocated, how data was collected.
Ethics - how they were addressed.

Question 6

results

Answer 6

What the researcher found, and contains 2 sections:
Descriptive statistics - measure of central tendency and dispersion displayed in a table.
Inferential statistics - used to analyse data and allows the null hypothesis to be rejected or accepted.

Question 7

discussion

Answer 7

Begins with a summary of the findings before an explanation of them. The implications are discussed by relating the findings to the existing information from the introduction and discussing any changes in knowledge or theories following the findings of the study.

Question 8

references

Answer 8

List of sources referenced in the journal article in alphabetical order.
Journal - authors surname, initial, year of publication in brackets, title of article. Title of journal in full and italics, volume number and issue number in brackets, page number
Book - authors surname, initial, year of publication in brackets, title of book in full and italics, edition. Place of publication, publisher.

Question 9

appendix

Answer 9

Alphabetical list of any evidence used. Should include raw data, statistical calculations, stimulus material, standardised instructions, debrief etc. Should be numbered, have a full title and be referred to somewhere in the main body of report.