Structure of a Psychology Report

Question 1

What are the seven key features of a psychology report?

What is the order that these key features appear in a psychology report?

Answer 1

1) The title
2)The abstract
3) The introduction
4) The method
5) The results
6) The discussion
7) The references

Question 2

What is the title?

Answer 2

A clear introduction of the focus of the study

Question 3

What does the title have to make references to?

Answer 3

The title has to reference the main variable under investigation

Question 4

What is the abstract?

Answer 4

An overview of the study, that aims to summarise the main details of the study

Question 5

What should the abstract include? (6 key pts)

Answer 5

The abstract should include a summary of the aim of the research, hypotheses (both null+alternative), participants, methods used, results and the conclusion which was drawn

Question 6

What is the introduction?

Answer 6

The introduction presents audience with previous research of the same/similar topic areas

Question 7

What must be clearly stated in the introduction?

Answer 7

In the introduction, the aim of the research must be clearly stated along with the alternative and null hypothesis

Question 8

What is the method?

Answer 8

The method reports the independent and dependent variables, description of sampling technique used and sample

Question 9

What does the method refer to?

Answer 9

The method has to refer to ethical guidelines, describe experimental designs used and produce in depth details

Question 10

What also needs to be included with the method?

Answer 10

In the method, a consent letter should be included

Question 11

What are the results of a psychological report?

Answer 11

The results of a psychological report are the findings

Question 12

How are the results of psychological reports shown?

Answer 12

Results are shown in a table of summaries, there is a report of measures of central tendency/dispersion

Question 13

How are the results illustrated?

Answer 13

Results are illustrated through appropriate graphs and inferential statistics are added

Question 14

What does the discussion section of a psychology report involve?

Answer 14

The discussion discusses the findings by comparing them to research referenced in the introduction, evaluates whether there is agreement or not. Also explains what hypothesis is accepted or rejected

Question 15

What does the discussion identify?

Answer 15

Identifies any strengths/limitations and offers suggestions to improve the study

Question 15

What is involved in the references section of the report?

Answer 15

All research cited in the report must be listed alphabetically

Question 15

What does the discussion end with?

Answer 15

The discussion concludes with usefulness/implications of the study

Question 16

How would you write a reference for a book as it would appear in the reference section?

Answer 16

You would firstly write the surname of the author, then the date the book was published, followed by the title of the book, publishing house name and lastly the place the book was published

Question 16

An 1980, a book about social cognition was published in New York. The book was written by Robert L.
Selman from Harvard University. The title was ‘The growth of interpersonal understanding: developmental and clinical analyses’. The book was published by Academic Press. A researcher needs to modify the above information to include Selman’s book in the references section of a scientific report.
Write the full reference for this book as it should appear in the reference section of the researcher’s report. [2 marks]

Answer 16

Answer:
Selman, R. L. (1980) The growth of interpersonal understanding: developmental and clinical analysis. New York. Academic Press.