Research Methods Y2 - Reporting Psychological Investigations

Question 1

What is an abstract?

Answer 1

The key details of the research report.

Question 2

What is an introduction?

Answer 2

A look at past research (theory and/or studies) on a similar topic. Includes the aims and hypothesis.

Question 3

What is a method?

Answer 3

A description of what the researcher(s) did, including design, sample, apparatus/materials, procedure, ethics.

Question 4

What are results in a psychological report?

Answer 4

A description of what the researcher(s) found, including descriptive and inferential statistics.

Question 5

What is a discussion section?

Answer 5

A consideration of what the results of a research study tell us in terms of psychological theory.

Question 6

What is a references section?

Answer 6

A list of sources that are referred to or quoted in the article, e.g., journal articles, books, websites, and their full details.

Question 7

What are the sections of a scientific report?

Answer 7

Abstract, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, References.

Question 8

What is included in an abstract?

Answer 8

The first section in a journal article is a short summary (150–200 words in length) that includes all the major elements: the aims and hypotheses, method/procedure, results, and conclusions.

When researching a particular topic, psychologists will often read lots of abstracts to identify those investigations that are worthy of further examination.

Question 9

What does the introduction section include?

Answer 9

The introduction is a literature review of the general area of investigation, detailing relevant theories, concepts, and studies related to the current study.

The research review should follow a logical progression – beginning broadly and gradually becoming more specific until the aims and hypotheses are presented.

Question 10

What are the sub-sections of the method section?

Answer 10

Design, Sample, Apparatus/Materials, Procedure, Ethics.

Question 11

What is included in the design section of a method?

Answer 11

The design is clearly stated, e.g., independent groups, naturalistic observation, etc.
The reason/justification for the choice of design is also provided.

Question 12

What is included in the sample section of a method?

Answer 12

Information related to the people involved in the study:
How many there were.
Biographical/demographic information (as long as this does not compromise anonymity).
The sampling method and target population are described.

Question 13

What is included in the apparatus/materials section?

Answer 13

Detail of any assessment instruments used and other relevant materials.

Question 14

What is included in the procedure section?

Answer 14

A “recipe-style” list of everything that happened in the investigation from beginning to end.
This includes a verbatim record of everything that was said to participants:
Briefing, standard instructions, and debriefing.

Question 15

What is included in the ethics section?

Answer 15

An explanation of how ethical issues were addressed in the study.

Question 16

What is included in the results section?

Answer 16

The results section should summarise the key findings from the investigation.
This is likely to feature descriptive statistics, such as:
Tables, graphs, charts, measures of central tendency, and measures of dispersion.

Question 17

What must the results section include for inferential statistics?

Answer 17

The choice of statistical test.
Calculated and critical values.
The level of significance.
The final outcome (i.e., whether the hypothesis was rejected or retained).

Question 18

Where do raw data and calculations appear in a report?

Answer 18

In an appendix rather than the main body of the report.

Question 19

What happens if the research uses qualitative methods?

Answer 19

The results/findings are likely to involve analysis of themes and/or categories.

Question 20

What does the discussion section include?

Answer 20

There are several key elements in the discussion section.
The researcher will summarise the results/findings in verbal, rather than statistical, form.
These findings are discussed in the context of:
The evidence presented in the introduction.
Other research that may be considered relevant.

Question 21

What should researchers consider in the discussion section?

Answer 21

Researchers should be mindful of the limitations of the present investigation and discuss these.
They may reference aspects of the method:
The sample (e.g., was it representative?).
Suggestions for how limitations might be addressed in a future study.
The discussion may also include:
Real-world applications of what has been discovered.
How the investigation contributes to the existing knowledge-base within the field.

Question 22

What is included in the references section?

Answer 22

Full details of any source material that the researcher drew upon or cited in the report.