Scientific processes & reporting conventions

• Theory

  An explanation for something
• Abstract

  Provides the reader with a summary or the whole study
• Introduction

  Introduce the background of the study including previous research
• Method

  Describes how the study was done, including information about the design, apparatus and procedure
• results

  Summarise the findings - including tables and graphs. Also includes results of statistical analysis
• Discussion

  Considers the findings and their implications. Also considers alternative explanations and any methodological problems of the study
• References

  Informs the reader about the quality and sources of information and past research used in the report