Research methods - Reporting on Psychological Investigations

Question 1

1. Title

Answer 1

• what the study’s about
• include the independent variable and the dependent variable

Question 2

2. Abstract

Answer 2

• concise summary of the report
• tell the reader about the research and findings without having to read the whole repot
• brief descriptions of the aims and hypotheses, method and summary of results
• contain interpretations of the findings and any significant flaws

Question 3

3. Introduction

Answer 3

• general overview of the area being studied
• including existing theories
• discuss a few studies closely related to the current study

Question 4

4. Aim and Hypothesis

Answer 4

• purpose of the study
• what’s going to be tested
• include independent variable and dependant variable

Question 5

5. Method

Answer 5

• how the research was carried out
• someone should be able to replicate the study, must contain detail

Question 6

5. a) design of the investigation

Answer 6

• research method used
• research design used
• how extraneous variables were controlled
• how materials were chosen
• how ethical issues were dealt with

Question 7

5. b) procedure used

Answer 7

• account of what happened each time a participant took part
• how the researcher and the investigation was introduced to the participant, how informed consent was obtained
• include what was said to the participants, how the study was carried out, how participants were debriefed
• contain detail of how the data was recorded

Question 8

5. c) use of participants

Answer 8

• number used
• demographics of participants
• sampling method used
• how participants were allocated to conditions

Question 9

5. d) resources used

Answer 9

• materials used
• any apparatus used

Question 10

6. Results

Answer 10

• can be reported as descriptive or inferential statistics
• tables, graphs and charts

Question 11

7. Discussion

Answer 11

• explanation of the findings: summarising the results and relating them to the aim and hypothesis
• implications of the study: relates to real-life situations
• limitations and modifications of the study: and problems or limitations need to be explained, along with modifications that could improve the study
• relationship to background research: results need to be related to the background research covered in the introduction
• suggestions for further research

Question 12

8. References

Answer 12

• books, articles, and websites that had been used for information during the study
• allows the reader to see where the information on the research and theories mentioned in the report came from
• should be presented in alphabetical order

Question 13

9. Appendices

Answer 13

• any materials used (questionnaires or diagrams)
• includes any raw data and statistical test calculations