Howtowritearesearchreport.ppt

PRM LECTURE 3 Professor Craig Jackson Head of Psychology BCU How to write a research report Purpose of Psychology Reports Reports enable you to communicate to others: What was carried out How it was carried out Why it was carried out What was found What the results actually mean Reports enable further exploration of ideas. Any psychologists who publishes their research uses the same APA/BPS report format. Dissemination of research findings is the end goal of all research. Report Rules Standardised format (quick finding of details) format guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA). The abstract and conclusions are arguably the most important sections of the report. The key aim of a report is replication Report Structure Abstract Introduction Method Results Discussion Conclusion References Participants Design Apparatus/Materials Procedure Introduction Rationale (including previous research in the area and the current hypotheses). The introduction should contain: Review of (relevant) background material including existing theories and key findings. Outline the exact problem to be researched and the research hypotheses. Outline the expected results – what do you expect to find once you have conducted the research? Introduction ‘Tips’ Start broad and become narrower as you reach your research hypotheses. Include 3-6 key pieces of previous research or theories. References from peer-reviewed journals and books are more credible and provide more ‘weight’ to your arguments than Internet-based sources. Method The method should be one of the first sections of the report that is ‘written-up’ immediately after the study has finished. The method should contain sufficient information for the reader to understand and replicate the study exactly as you did it. The method is split into the following principle sections: Participants Design Apparatus/Materials Procedure Method: Design The design should state the following: The type of design that was u