Reporting Psychology Investigations

Question 1

What are the 5 sections of a scientific report?

Answer 1

Abstract, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, Referencing

Question 2

What is a psychological report?

Answer 2

Pieces of research carried out by psychologists and written up as detailed reports, which are then published into psychological journals.

Question 3

What is an abstract? What is its purpose?

Answer 3

A short summary of a study including aims, hypotheses, method, results, conclusion. It allows the reader to get a quick picture of the study, to help them decide if they want to read on.

Question 4

What is an introduction? What is its purpose?

Answer 4

Describes previous research including links and how current research will contribute to it. The background on relevant theories and studies highlights how the current research aims and hypotheses have been developed.

Question 5

What is the method? What is its purpose?

Answer 5

The method is a detailed description of what the researcher did. Its purpose is to provide enough detail for a replication of the study.

Question 6

What goes into a method section?

Answer 6

Sampling, Procedure, Equipment, Ethics, Design (SPEED)

Question 7

What goes into the results? What is its purpose?

Answer 7

Descriptive statistics/ Inferential Statistics. Its purpose is to provide an overall summary of findings rather than reviewing data.

Question 8

Descriptive Statistics

Answer 8

Displaying Information(table, graphs etc) to show frequencies, central tendencies and measures of dispersion

Question 9

Inferential Statistics

Answer 9

Significant levels of detail when reporting stats test and calculated values

Question 10

Qualitative Research

Answer 10

Letters (categories and themes)

Question 11

Quantitate Research

Answer 11

Numbers

Question 12

What is the discussion? What is its purpose?

Answer 12

The discussion is a summary of results focusing on wether or not the hypothesis was supported, compared with other results from previous research, as well as the limitations, modifications, implications and potential future research. Its purpose is to discuss the findings and suggest future areas of research.

Question 13

What is the purpose of a Reference? How do we reference an article and a book?

Answer 13

A reference gives detail and credit of any other articles or books that are mentioned in the research.
Author’s name- date- title of article- journal title- volume- issue number- page number
Author’s name- date- title of book- place of publication- publisher