1. 1 Research Methods in Psychology Overview of the Research Report Chapter 16

2. 2 The Purpose of the report Communication (to tell what you did and what you found). Provide details for others to: Evaluate the quality of the work Replicate and extend the findings Provide objective information Fact-filled, structured and concise Avoid opinion and personal statements Should be interesting and lively (e.g., Morris, 1981?)

3. 3 The Standard Format Title Abstract Introduction Method Results Discussion References

4. 4 Title - A description of what the report is about. - Include variables and relationship - 10 to 12 words (concise) - When should you write the title? - “Effect of variable 1 (and 2) on place navigation in the virtual water maze” - “Variable 1 impaired (or improved) water maze place navigation in rats”

5. 5 Abstract - A summary of the report - About 120 words - Past tense - Concise and can stand by itself - Should contain - Statement of the problem studied - The method - The results - The conclusions

6. 6 Abstract hints - Write the abstract after other sections - Stick to word counts (required) - Don’t give specific stat results - Look at other abstracts as examples

7. 7 Introduction Tells the reader what you are doing and why. the general problem being studied what prior studies have found the hypothesis the rationale for the hypothesis the plan to test the hypothesis predictions about the outcome

8. 8 Introduction hints General Outline of the Introduction A) Currently accepted general statement B) Details of supporting data C) Facets of the general statement that are not known or firmly established D) Summary of your experiment, which will address the problem or fill in what is not known

9. 9 Method - How you conducted the experiment Include details for replication Subdivide into sections Subjects (or Participants) Apparatus (or Materials) Procedure

10. 10 Method (Subjects or Participants) State the characteristics of your sample Age, sex, species, weight etc. How many subjects were included Incentives for participation Details of subjects who drop out

11. 11 Method (Apparatus or Materials) Provide a description of the equipment used Standard items (stopwatches, pencils, tables, chairs etc.) do not have to be described in detail Give the name, manufacturer, size and model of specialized equipment Use the metric system for physical dimensions

12. 12 Method (Procedure) Provide a description of all the procedures followed. Include information on: How subjects were assigned to groups Experimental manipulation Controls for extraneous variables Exact instructions given to subjects (if it constitutes your manipulation) Factors in a complicated design State the dependent variable(s)

13. 13 Results Describe the statistical procedures and what you found Brief summary of findings in words Results of statistical tests (e.g., F, t and p values) Statistical tests used (e.g., ANOVA, t-test) Group means (M) and standard deviation or standard error (measure of variability)

14. 14 Discussion Evaluate the experiment and interpret the results Should tie things together Relate findings to the original problem Relate findings to prior research What do the results mean? What are the implications of the findings Is generalization warranted? Report any potential confounds (but don’t get caught up in offering excuses)