Psychological Reports

• Why is communication important between researchers in psychology?

  It advances knowledge through shared findings
• What is the purpose of a research report?

  To convey research clearly and precisely
• What is the standard format of a psychological research report?

  • Title
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Method
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • References
  • Appendices
• What should the title of a research report be like?

  Clear and precise, usually 12-15 words
• What is the function of the abstract in a research report?

  To summarize the entire study briefly
• How long should an abstract typically be?

  About 150 to 200 words
• When is the abstract written in relation to the other sections?

  It is written last after all sections
• What should an abstract include?

  A summary, participants, method, findings, conclusion
• What is the aim of the introduction section in a research report?

  To provide a rationale for the research study
• How should the introduction be structured?

  Using a funnel technique from broad to specific
• What does the method section describe?

  How the study was conducted in detail
• What are the key components of the method section?

  • Design: research method, IV, DV, ethical issues
  • Participants: sampling technique, demographics
  • Apparatus: equipment used in the study
  • Procedure: step-by-step execution of the study
• What is included in the results section of a research report?

  Presentation of the study's findings
• What types of statistics are typically included in the results section?

  Descriptive and inferential statistics
• What does the discussion section explain?

  What the results show and their implications
• What elements are covered in the discussion section?

  • Summary of findings: hypothesis acceptance/rejection
  • Relationship to previous research
  • Limitations and modifications
  • Implications of the research
• What is included in the references section of a research report?

  A list of all sources used in the report
• What is the purpose of a research report?

  To communicate research findings to other psychologists
• Why is it important to follow a standard format when writing a research report?

  So the research can be conveyed in a clear and precise manner
• What are the main sections of a research report?

  Title, Abstract, Introduction, Method, Results, Discussion, References, Appendices
• What is the purpose of the title in a research report?

  To clearly and precisely indicate what the research is investigating
• What is the purpose of the abstract in a research report?

  To provide a summary of the entire study in a concise way
• What information should be included in an abstract?

  Aims/hypothesis, method, results, and conclusion
• What is the purpose of the introduction section in a research report?

  To provide a rationale for the research study by reviewing relevant theories and previous studies
• What is the "funnel technique" used in the introduction section?

  Starting broadly with theories and studies, then narrowing down to the specific study
• What is the purpose of the method section in a research report?

  To describe the study in enough detail for others to replicate it
• What are the main subsections of the method section?

  Design, Participants, Apparatus, Procedure
• What is the purpose of the results section in a research report?

  To present the findings of the study, including descriptive and inferential statistics
• What are the two main types of statistics reported in the results section?

  Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics
• What is the purpose of the discussion section in a research report?

  To explain what the results mean and how they relate to previous research
• What are the main elements typically covered in the discussion section?

  Summary of findings, relationship to previous research, limitations, and implications
• What is the purpose of the references section in a research report?

  To provide the full details of any sources cited in the report
• What is the purpose of the appendices in a research report?

  To include additional material that would interrupt the flow of the report
• What are the key differences between a research report and a research article?

  • Research report is more detailed and comprehensive
  • Research article is a condensed version for publication
  • Research report includes appendices, research article does not
  • Research report follows a standardized format, research article may vary
  • Research report is an internal document, research article is for external publication
• If you wanted to find sample research reports to use as examples, where would you look?

  The APA website (www.apa.org/pubs/journals/xap/sample.aspx)