Research methods 17 | Reporting psychological investigations. Sections of a scientific report Flashcards
What are the six main sections of a psychological report in order?
Abstract, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, References
What information should be included in the abstract?
Study aim, brief method, key results, and main conclusions
Explain the purpose of the introduction section.
To review background theory/previous research and state the study’s aim/hypothesis
List the four subsections of the method section.
Design, Participants, Materials, Procedure
Why is the procedure subsection important?
Provides step-by-step instructions to allow exact replication of the study
What statistical information appears in the results section?
Descriptive statistics (means/ranges), graphs/tables, inferential test results
How does the discussion section differ from the results?
Results present data objectively; discussion interprets meaning and implications
Give two elements that should be included in the discussion.
1) Hypothesis acceptance/rejection 2) Comparison to previous research 3) Limitations 4) Future research suggestions
What is the correct Harvard reference format for a book?
Author, A. (Year). Title. Location: Publisher
Why is referencing important in psychological reports?
1) Avoids plagiarism 2) Allows others to locate sources 3) Supports credibility
What does ‘standardized procedure’ mean in the method section?
Identical steps followed for all participants to control extraneous variables
How might a researcher improve population validity in future studies?
By using a more diverse sample (e.g., different ages/cultures)
Identify two limitations a researcher might discuss.
1) Sample bias 2) Low ecological validity 3) Uncontrolled variables
