Final Research Paper including revised DESIGN PART and ANALYSIS PART
Final Product Checklist
1) APA-style title page
2) Abstract (this should be the last part that you write)
3) Revised introduction (end with a paragraph describing your study and presenting your
hypothesis)
4) Revised method section
5) Results section
6) Discussion section
7) Revised references
8) Figure with caption
9) Optional Appendix (labeled Appendix) or Appendices (labeled Appendix A, Appendix B,
Appendix C, and so on), such as questionnaires
10) Attach previous draft with comments and feedback, plus output from SPSS
Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Completion of Assignment
1) Revise the work completed for the DESIGN PART of the paper.
2) Conduct the appropriate statistical analyses based on the data you receive.
a) Means for each group
b) Standard deviations for each group
c) t test comparing groups
d) Cohen’s d effect size
3) Create a figure that displays the data
4) Write the results section: After the method section, center the word “Results” (in bold) on a
line by itself.
5) Write the discussion section: After the results section, center the word “Discussion” (in bold)
on a line by itself.
The discussion section includes interpretation of the data and discussion of the hypothesis and theories.
6) Attach any hand calculations, scratch work, or computer output. In the unlikely event that some of your computations are incorrect, partial credit will be assigned.
See Cozby and Bates (Appendix A) for descriptions of each section of an APA-style paper.
YOUR FINAL PAPER GRADE WILL BE DETERMINED BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:
DESIGN PART:
introduction method
references experimental design APA format
25 points possible
ANALYSIS PART: 25 points possible
5 5 5 5 5
______
______
______
______
see points from first draft
results discussion abstract figure
APA format
5 ______
5 ______
5 ______
5 ______
5 ______
Why Revision is Important
Revising one’s research papers is an integral part of scientific writing in psychology. This assignment provides the opportunity to revise the introduction and method sections based on feedback.
Tips for revising the method section:
Participants subsection: The sample size should correspond to the number of cases that completed the study. For this paper, the sample size should be described as the number of scores for the dependent variable. Explain why any participants withdrew from the study.
Note that any measure mentioned in the method section should be analyzed in the results section. For this paper, only describe one dependent variable so the method section is consistent with the results section. (In future papers, describe all measures analyzed in the results section.)
From the APA Publication Manual:
Results
The Results section summarizes the data collected and the statistical analyses used. Report the data in sufficient detail to justify the conclusions. Mention all relevant results, including those that run counter to the hypothesis.
When reporting inferential statistics (e.g., t-test), include information about the value of the test statistic, the degrees of freedom, the probability, and the direction of the effect. Be sure to include sufficient descriptive statistics (e.g., means, standard deviations) so that the nature of the reported effect can be understood by the reader. This information is important, even if no significant effect is being reported. Assume that your reader has a professional knowledge of statistics.
To report the data, choose the medium that presents them most clearly and economically. Tables commonly provide exact values and, if well prepared, can present complex data and analyses in a format that is familiar to the reader. Figures best illustrate complex relationships and general comparisons but are not intended to be as precise as tables. Be scrupulous in presenting the data in as fair a manner as possible. Reserve tables and figures for your most important data and situations where their use enhances your ability to communicate your findings. Be certain to mention all tables and figures in the text.
Please see example results sections for this project in the Psych Stats Lab Booklet.
Discussion
The discussion section provides an opportunity to evaluate and interpret the implications of results, especially with respect to your original hypothesis. You are free to examine, interpret, and qualify the results, as well as to draw inferences from them. Emphasize any theoretical consequences of the results and the validity of your conclusions. (For this paper, cite at least three sources to explain how your study relates to previous research. These may be sources cited in your introduction or new sources.)
Open the discussion section with a clear statement of the support or nonsupport for your original hypothesis. Similarities and differences between your results and the work of others should clarify and confirm your conclusions. The discussion should not, however, simply reformulate and repeat points made earlier in the paper.
Acknowledge limitations, and address alternative explanations of results.
Propose ideas for future research. (Do not state the obvious that “future research is needed.”)
End the discussion with implications of your research (what it means for the area of study) and/or applications (how the information from your study can be used).
Abstract
An abstract is a brief, comprehensive summary of the contents of the article; it allows readers to survey the contents of the article quickly. A well-prepared abstract can be the most important paragraph in your paper. Readers frequently decide on the basis of the abstract whether to read the entire article. The abstract needs to be dense with information but also readable, well organized, brief, and self-contained.
A good abstract is accurate, concise, specific, coherent, and readable. Ensure the abstract correctly reflects the purpose and content of the manuscript. Make each sentence maximally informative, especially the lead sentence. Be as brief as possible. Abstracts should be 150–250 words.
An abstract of a report of an empirical study should describe
• the problem under investigation;
• the participants, specifying pertinent characteristics, such as number, type, age, and sex;
• the experimental method (in this case, a true experiment, which can be indicated by referring
to random assignment);
• the findings;
• the conclusions in terms of at least one implication or application.
On the line after the abstract, indent half an inch and present keywords relevant to the paper.
