Scientific Report

• What is the format used by psychologists to write up their research for publication?

  A scientific report
• What are the main sections of a scientific report?

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Method
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Referencing
• What does the abstract of a scientific report include?

  A summary of the key details of the research report
• How long is the abstract typically?

  About 150-200 words long
• What information is included in the introduction section of a scientific report?

  Past research on a similar topic, relevant theories, studies, and concepts
• How does the introduction section of a scientific report progress in terms of specificity?

  It starts broad and becomes more specific towards the end
• What does the method section of a scientific report describe?

  What the researchers did during the study
• What specific details are included in the method section?

  Design, sample collected, materials used, procedure, and ethics
• Why is it important for the method section to have sufficient detail?

  So that others can replicate the investigation precisely
• What is included in the results section of a scientific report?

  All the findings from the study, including statistics
• What type of analysis may be included if qualitative data is collected?

  A thematic analysis
• What is the purpose of the discussion section in a scientific report?

  To consider what the findings mean for us and psychological theories
• How are the findings discussed in relation to the introduction?

  They are summarized and discussed in context to the introduction
• What limitations might be discussed in the discussion section?

  Ways of improving the study and wider implications for society
• What is the last part of a scientific report?

  Referencing
• What does the referencing section include?

  A list of all the sources quoted or referred to in the report
• How are books and journals referenced differently?

  Books:

  • Author(s), date, title (in italics), place of publication, publisher

  
  

  Journals:

  • Author(s), date, title, journal name, volume, issue number (in italics), page range
• What is the correct order for referencing books?

  Author(s), date, title of book, place of publication, publisher
• Provide an example of how to reference a book.

  Flanagan, C. and Berry, D. (2016). A level Psychology Year 2. Chettenham: Illuminate Publishing.
• What is the correct order for referencing journals?

  Author(s), date, title of article, journal name, volume, issue number, page range
• Provide an example of how to reference a journal article.

  Gupta, S. (1991). Effects of time of day and personality on intelligence test score. Personality and individual differences, 12 (11). 1227-1231.