Reporting Psychological Investigations

• 6 sections:

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • References
• Abstract

  • 1st section
  • 150-200 words
  • Includes: aims, hypotheses, methods, procedures, results and conclusion
  • Allows researchers to easily find relevant reports to then read in full
• Introduction

  • Review of general area of investigation, includes theories and past studies
  • uses a funnel technique: starts off broad and then focuses in on current research
• Method

  • detailed enough to allow for replication
  • Include: design, sample, procedure, apparatus / materials, ethics
• Results

  • key findings in relation to hypothesis
  • descriptive statistics
  • inferential statistics
  • qualitative research
• Discussion

  • summary of results
  • comparison of results to previous research
  • address limitations
  • real life implications and contributions
• Referencing

  • all sources for initial info
  • apparatus for investigation
• Writing a consent form

  1. title
  2. aim
  3. procedure
  4. confidentiality
  5. have to take part- right to withdraw
  6. information- researcher's contact details
  7. Participant response to: have you received enough info and do you consent for your data to be used
  8. signature
• Standardised instructions

  1. enough info for replication
  2. read out loud to ppts
  3. welcome ppts
  4. thank for consent
  5. explain what will happen
  6. right to withdraw
  7. ask if any questions
  8. check ppts are okay to proceed
• Debrief sheet

  1. Thank for taking part
  2. outline true aims
  3. explain what you were looking to find
  4. how data will be used, now and in future
  5. right to withdraw
  6. thank ppts for taking part
  7. researcher's contact info