Research Methodology 5: Scientific Report

Question 1

what makes a good scientific Q?

Answer 1

Clearly stated
 Answerable
 Maps onto at least one
study design
 Important
 Not already answered

Question 2

what is the imrad method of writing scientific reports?

Answer 2

Introduction – Make a case for
your research
Methods – What did you do?
 Results – What did you find?
 Discussion – What does it mean?

Question 3

what to include in intro?

Answer 3

 Introduction – Make a case for your research
 Why this research is important or necessary
 First describe problem or situation that motivates the
research
 Then describe the current state of research in the
field
 Then reveal a “gap” or problem in the field
 Finally, explain how the present research is a solution
to that problem or gap

Question 4

what to include in methods

Answer 4

Tells readers how you conducted your study
 Information about your study design,
population, sample, methods, procedure,
equipment, analyses etc
 Includes ethics statement (if necessary)
 “Gold standard” = it should enable readers to
duplicate your study

Question 5

subheadings in methods?

Answer 5

Sample (target population, how you identified and
included/excluded)
 Participants (who you ended up with and what they
were like)
 Procedure (what you asked your participants to do
and how)
 Measures (what measures you used, what they
involved, psychometric properties, how you derived
scores, any coding procedures etc)
 Analysis (what you planned to do and what you did

Question 6

what is the target population?

Answer 6

The target population is the population you

want to know about

Question 7

what is the study population?

Answer 7

The study population is the sample of

people you will actually study

Question 8

what to include in results?

Answer 8

Presentation of findings
 Findings must relate to research
questions/hypotheses described in introduction
 Typically contains only findings and no explanation of
or commentary on the findings

Question 9

what does discussion include?

Answer 9

Summary of findings, starting with main findings
 Reflect on the meaning of your data
• Comment on findings
• Connecting findings to previous research
– how they compare with, and advance, the existing literature
– explain any unexpected findings
 (Specific) limitations of the study (e.g. sample,
missing data)
• Alternative explanations for your findings (bias, confounding)
 Use findings and limitations to suggest additional,
future research