reporting psychological investigations

• reporting psychological investigations

  • everyone uses a conventional format on how to share findings to make it easier for the reader to navigate
  • in psychology's the American Psychological Association (APA) format is typically used
  • however some other formats can be used (Harvard), whilst there ares some minor differences, all formats present research in a similar way
• sections of a scientific report - abstract

  • short summary of key research points (150-200 words)
  • first information the reader will encounter
  • should include: aim, hypothesis, participants, method, results, data analysis and conclusions
• sections of a scientific report- introduction

  -general overview of the area being studied

  -incudes: existing theories, and a few studies closely related to the current study
• sections of a scientific report- aim and hypothesis

  aim - sentence stating the purpose of the study (to investigate whether reaction times are affected by hunger levels)

  hypothesis - what's actually going to be tested and should include IV and DV (hunger will have no significant effect on reaction times)
• sections of a scientific report-method (design)

  -describes how the research was carried out

  -someone should be able to replicate the study by following the method

  -should include: participants, materials, procedure and ethics
• sections of a scientific report: results

  • presenting the findings in graphs and charts to talk about findings in greater detail
  • raw data shoudn't be presented here
  • chronological order
• sections of a scientific report: discussion

  • most important part as it allows findings to be interpreted
  • results are in verbal form rather than statistical
  • reiterating what was found and linking back to the aim
  • reference future research
• sections of a scientific report: references

  • giving credit ti the original authors of any work that has been referred to within the research report
  • should be referred to in the introduction
• consent form

  • direct address
  • opening line - tell them what research is about
  • procedure - what the participant will be doing
  • why their involvement is beneficial for society
  • possible ethical risks - distress
  • support for participant if needed
  • right to withdraw and confidentiality
  • will be a full debrief at the end
  • any enquires and who to contact
  • where to sign
• debrief

  • thank participants
  • what they consented to
  • inform of deception and why they were deceived
  • right to withdraw and who to contact for it