research methods: reporting psychological investigations Flashcards
What is the format for psychologist’s writing up their research?
- abstract
- introduction
- method
- results
- discussion
- referencing
What is the abstract?
The key details of a research report and a short summary in the first section of a journal article
What does an abstract include?
All major elements: aims/hypotheses, method, results and conclusions and is 150-200 words in length
What is the introduction?
A look at past research on a similar topic and the general area of investigation
What does the investigation include?
Relevant theories, concepts, studies that are related to the current study, aims and hypotheses and gradually becomes more specific until the aims and hypothesis are presented
What is the method?
A description of what the researcher did including design, sample, apparatus, procedure and ethics
Why should the method be detailed?
So other researchers are able to precisely replicate the study if they wish
What are the results?
Summarises the data collected in the research study
How will the results be shown?
There will be tables of descriptive statistics (measures of central tendency and distribution) with key figures shown on graphs
What is the discussion?
Explains what the data analysis in the results section actually means
What should the researcher discuss?
The limitations of the present investigation , identifying potential extraneous variables
What is referencing?
An alphabetical list of the names of the research studies that were used to inform the current research
What is the purpose of referencing?
Provides credit for other researchers’ ideas (avoiding claims of plagiarism) and helps future researchers to identify the author’s sources and find related studies
How do psychologists write a reference?
Using the Harvard / APA referencing format
Outline the format of referencing:
- author
- date
- article title
- journal name
- volume (issue)
- page numbers
