Reporting studies + long answer questions

• subsections in a full report

  Abstract

  Introduction - background research followed by aims, experimental/alternative hypothesis and null hypothesis

  Method - design and ethics, ppts, apparatus and procedure

  results - descriptive statistics, graphs and inferential statistics

  Discussion

  Conclusion

  References

  Appendix
• abstract


  summary of study summarising aims, hypotheses, procedures, results, conclusion and implications of study
• introduction


  identify specific areas of psychology involved in research project

  state aim, experimental hypothesis, null hypothesis, tails, and reason for this number of tails

  state minimum significance
• method


  design - state research method + design, IV, DV, identify and explain potential extraneous variables and say how they were controlled

  identify 2 or more ethical concerns and how you stuck to BPS ethical guidelines

  ppts - state target populations, how sample was selected

  apparatus - list all apparatus used and refer reader to appendix to find it.

  describe how apparatus evolved

  procedure - give details of exact steps each ppt went through
• results


  draw up a clear table of results, ensuring it has a full title

  2nd - draw up relevant chat or diagram. explain why you chose that diagram, then describe pattern of results

  3rd - state statistical test you used and give 3 reasons why you chose that test

  4th - state what you did to alternative and/or null hypothesis.
• discussion


  summary of results

  relationship to previous research

  consideration of methodology

  implications for psychological theory + applications

  suggestions for future research
• conclusion


  reference to hypotheses, state conclusion of study
• references


  full details of any journal articles, books, websites or pictures mentioned in report belong here
• tips for long answer questions

  1. divide number of marks by number of bullet points e.g. 12 marks = 4x3 mark

  2. do a separate paragraph for each bullet point to ensure clear structure

  3. get 3-4 marks available for each bullet point, use following structure

  - what you have chosen

  - how you would do this in the context of stem provided

  - why you have chosen to do this over other options