Reporting results: APA style Psych 231: Research Methods in Psychology

Why present your research? To get the work out there To offer readers an interpretation your data (and perhaps persuade them to believe your theory) To allow testing/falsifaction of your theory To spur further research To allow replication

Misconceptions about Scientific writing Writing the paper is the routine part of the research process Forces you to commit to your evidence and conclusions Just the facts The facts are just part of the argument that the author is making What you say is more important than how you say it Good writing leads to higher chance of accomplishing your goals

Why a structured format? To ease communication of what was done Forces a minimal amount of information Provides a logical framework (for argument) Provides consistent format within a discipline People know what to expect Where to find the information in the article Allows readers to cross-reference your sources easily

Writing resources The ultimate resource for APA style is the APA Publication manual Also websites to help too. Chapter 15 of your textbook is good too.

Writing resources A great book for Psychological writing Sternberg, R. J. (2003). The psychologist’s companion: A guide to scientific writing for students and researchers. Cambridge University Press, NY.

Writing style Psychological writing tends to differ from other academic writings Not a creative writing exercise Presenting an argument based on data and logical reasoning Try to avoid using direct quotes, restate things in your own words. Avoid digression Footnotes are rare, they’re used to elaborate/clarify a point. Try to do so in the text. If long digressions, use the appendix Direct quotes are an easy cop out if you don’t understand something. Don’t cop out. Try to put it into your own words, it forces you to try harder to understand it

Major goal: Clarity Communicate with clarity Write for the reader Think about your audience, what do they already know, what don’t they know Avoid overstatements Be conservative in your claims Emphasize the positive Focus on how the data supports a theory not just on how it refutes another theory

Major goal: Clarity Communicate with clarity Avoid Try to be concise Jargon when possible Slang and colloquialisms Sexist and biased language Try to be concise Don’t use a whole paragraph when two sentences will do Longer papers don’t mean better papers Eliminate unnecessary redundancy Use simple words (sentences) rather than complicated words (sentences)

Major goal: Clarity Communicate with clarity Use concrete words and examples Use a consistent format (APA style) It helps your reader understand your arguments and the sources they’re built on. It also helps you keep track of your sources as you build arguments

APA style: Parts of a research report Adolescent Depression 1 Running Head: ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION Adolescent Depression and Attachment Ima G. Student and Soyam Eye Purdue University Title Page Abstract Adolescent Depression 2 We explored attachment in a family context by applying family systems principles to the investigation of multiple attachment relationships within families. This study focused on maternal adult attachment with respect to family of origin experiences. We examined associations between maternal adult attachment and three levels of family functioning including individual maternal depression symptoms, dyadic marital satisfaction and family unit functioning. We found that attachment security with respect to particular relationships was differentially associated with different levels of family functioning. Body References Authors Notes Footnotes Tables Figure Captions Figures Adolescent Depression 29 Barnett, P. A., & Gotlib, I. H. (1988). Psychosocial functioning and depression: Distinguishing among antecedents, concomitants, and consequences. Psychological Bulletin, 104. Beck, A. T. (1978). Beck Depression Inventory. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation. Benoit, D., Vidovic, D., & Roman, J. (1991, April). Transmission of attachment across three generations. Paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development. Benoit, D., Zeanah, C. H., & Barton, M. L. (1989). Maternal attachment disturbances in failure to thrive. Infant Mental Health Journal, 3, 185-202. Benoit, D., Zeanah, C. H., Boucher, C., & Minde, K. (1989). Sleep disorders in early childhood: Association with insecure maternal attachment. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 86-93.

Title Page Title should be maximally informative while short Adolescent Depression 1 Running Head: ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION Adolescent Depression and Attachment Ima G. Student and Soyam Eye Purdue University Title should be maximally informative while short (10 to 12 words recommended)

Title Page Order of Authorship sometimes carries meaning Adolescent Depression 1 Running Head: ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION Adolescent Depression and Attachment Ima G. Student and Soyam Eye Purdue University Order of Authorship sometimes carries meaning

Title Page Affiliation – where the bulk of the research was done Adolescent Depression 1 Running Head: ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION Adolescent Depression and Attachment Ima G. Student and Soyam Eye Purdue University Affiliation – where the bulk of the research was done

Title Page Running head – will go on each page of published article, Adolescent Depression 1 Running Head: ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION Adolescent Depression and Attachment Ima G. Student and Soyam Eye Purdue University Running head – will go on each page of published article, no more than 50 characters

Title Page Short title – goes in header (with Adolescent Depression 1 Running Head: ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION Adolescent Depression and Attachment Ima G. Student and Soyam Eye Purdue University Short title – goes in header (with page number) on each page of the manuscript

Abstract Short summary of entire paper 100 to 120 words The problem/issue The method The results The major conclusions Recommendation: write this after you’ve finished the rest of the paper

Body Hourglass shape Start broad Background Literature Review

Body Hourglass shape Narrow focus Statement of purpose Specific hypotheses (at least at conceptual level)

Body Hourglass shape Most focused - Methods - Results

Body Hourglass shape Broaden Discussion Conclusions Implications

Body Introduction Background Literature Review Statement of purpose Specific hypotheses (at least at conceptual level)

Body Methods (in enough detail that the reader can replicate the study) Participants How many, where they were selected from, any special selection requirements, details about those who didn’t complete the experiment

Body Methods (in enough detail that the reader can replicate the study) Participants Design (optional) Suggested if you have a complex experimental design, often combined with Materials section

Body Methods (in enough detail that the reader can replicate the study) Participants Design Apparatus/Materials Procedure What did each participant do? Other details, including the operational levels of your IV(s) and DV(s), counterbalancing, etc.

Body Results (state the results but don’t interpret them here) Verbal statement of results Tables and figures These get referred to in the text, but actually get put into their own sections at the end of the manuscript Statistical Outcomes Means, standard deviations, t-tests, ANOVAs, correlations, etc.

Body Discussion (interpret the results) Relationship between purpose and results Theoretical (or methodological) contribution Implications Future directions (optional)

The rest Adolescent Depression 29 References Barnett, P. A., & Gotlib, I. H. (1988). Psychosocial functioning and depression: Distinguishing among antecedents, concomitants, and consequences. Psychological Bulletin, 104. Beck, A. T. (1978). Beck Depression Inventory. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation. Benoit, D., Vidovic, D., & Roman, J. (1991, April). Transmission of attachment across three generations. Paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development. Benoit, D., Zeanah, C. H., & Barton, M. L. (1989). Maternal attachment disturbances in failure to thrive. Infant Mental Health Journal, 3, 185-202. Benoit, D., Zeanah, C. H., Boucher, C., & Minde, K. (1989). Sleep disorders in early childhood: Association with insecure maternal attachment. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 31, 86-93. References Author’s name Year Title of work Publication information Journal Issue Pages When something odd comes up, don’t guess. Look it up!

The rest References Authors Notes Footnotes Tables Figure Captions Figures

Figures and tables These are used to supplement the text. To make a point clearer for the reader. Typically used for: The design Examples of stimuli Patterns of results

Checklist - things to watch for Clarity Acknowledge the work of others (avoid plagiarism) Active vs. passive voice Active: Monroe and Wahlheim (2003) hypothesized that speakers use to much passive voice Passive: It was hypothesized by Monroe and Wahlheim (2003) that speakers use to much passive voice

Checklist - things to watch for Avoid biased language APA guidelines: Accurate descriptions of individuals (e.g., Asian vs. Korean) Be sensitive to labels (e.g., “Oriental”) Appropriate use of headings Correct citing and references Good grammar APA style checklist

Next time Read chapters 4&5. Bring your APA Publication Manual to lab (if you’ve got one) Don’t forget your first journal summary is due this week in lab