Reporting Psychological investigations

• Key sections to include when reporting psychological investigations:

  1. Abstract
  2. Introduction
  3. Method
  4. Results
  5. Discussion
  6. References
• The abstract is a short summary of the entire report.

  • it includes: aim and hypothesis, method, results and conclusions.
• The Introduction outlines the background of the research, including theories, models, or studies that inform the investigation

  • ends with the research aims and hypotheses (both null and alternative)
• The method is detailed enough for replication and divided into these subsections:

  • Design: The type of experimental design and its justification.
  • Sample: Information related to the people involved in the study (size, demographical/biographical information, the sampling method and target population). 
  • Materials/Apparatus: Any tools or materials used.
  • Procedure: Step-by-step process of the investigation, including instructions given to participants: briefing, standardised instructions and debriefing.
  • Ethics: How ethical guidelines were adhered to (e.g., informed consent, debriefing).
• Results summarise the key findings from the investigation:

  • Presents data clearly, using tables, graphs, or descriptive statistics (e.g., means, standard deviations).
  • Inferential statistics should include reference to the choice of statistical test, calculated and critical values, the level of significance and the final outcome
  • Any raw data and calculations appear in the appendix
  • Avoids interpretation of results.
• Discussion is a summary of the results/findings in verbal findings, it relates results back to the hypotheses.

  • Comparison to previous research: links findings to existing relevant research.
  • Limitations: evaluates and discusses weaknesses
  • Future research to address these limitations
  • Implications: practical applications of what has been discovered and what contribution the investigation made.
• Referencing involves full details of any source material that the researcher drew upon or cited in the report.

  • Sources cited in APA format.
• When citing Journals in APA format: Author surname, initial (Year). Article title. Journal title, Volume number (italicised). (Issue or part number). Page numbers.
• When citing Books in APA format: Author surname, initial (Year). Book title (italicised). Place of Publication, Publisher.