The Written Report Notes on How to Read and / or Write Empirical Research Articles

Stratification of Journals – Three Tiers – Tier One – Journals distributed by a national organization or top Research One University e.g. American Sociological ReviewAmerican Sociological Review – Tier Two – Journals distributed by a regional organization or Top Private Firm – (edited and externally reviewed) e.g. Sociological PerspectivesSociological Perspectives – Tier Three – Journals published by local or web based organizations - (edited but not externally reviewed). e.g. Electronic Journal of SociologyElectronic Journal of Sociology

The Written Report - Sections Title Abstract The Four Components Appendix

The Written Report - Sections Report Title (what to look for) The DV typically comes after this phrase The IV typically comes before this phrase Seek out the phrase “effects on”

The Written Report - Components Abstract (what to look for) Statement of the Research Keywords for Search Engines Summary of the Findings

The Written Report - Components Part I - Introduction Importance of the topic Review of the Literature Discussion of the problem/issue Statement of the Propositions

Part II - Methods Description of the Population/Sample Description of Instrument / Operationalizations The Written Report - Components Procedure Followed to Obtain Data

The Written Report - Components Part III - Results Restatement of each hypothesis Presentation of statistical data (e.g. tables) Table-1 about here

The Written Report- Components Part IV - Discussion Interpretation of results re: the hypotheses Limitation of sample, procedure, analysis Suggestions for further research

The Written Report Appendix (what to look for) References / Bibliography - MLA APA ASAMLAAPAASA Tables, Graphs and Figures Footnotes

Reference Format Comparison Books: 1(MLA) 2(APA) 3(ASA) 1. Okuda, Michael, and Denise Okuda. Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future. New York: Pocket, Okuda, M., & Okuda, D. (1993). Star trek chronology: The history of the future. New York: Pocket Books. 3. Herrera-Sobek, María and Helena María Viramontes Chicana (W)rites: On Word and Film. Berkeley, CA: Third Woman Press.

Reference Format Comparison Journal Articles: 1(MLA) 2(APA) 3(ASA) 1. Wilcox, Rhonda V. "Shifting Roles and Synthetic Women in Star Trek: The Next Generation." Studies in Popular Culture 13.2 (1991): Wilcox, R. V. (1991). Shifting roles and synthetic women in Star trek: The next generation. Studies in Popular Culture, 13(2), Garcia, Alma M "An Intellectual Odyssey: Chicana / Chicano Studies Moving into the Twenty-first Century." Journal of American Ethnic History 18:109.

Reference Format Comparison Web Articles: 1(MLA) 2(APA) 3(ASA) 1. Lynch, Tim. "DSN Trials and Tribble-ations Review." Psi Phi: Bradley's Science Fiction Club Bradley University. 8 Oct Lynch, T. (1996). DS9 trials and tribble-ations review. Retrieved October 8, 1997, from Psi Phi: Bradley's Science Fiction Club Web site: 503r.html 3. Smith, Herman W. and Takako Nomi "Is Amae the Key to Understanding Japanese Culture?." Electronic Journal of Sociology 5:1. Retrieved May 5, 2000 (