Writing a research report in APA-style Vesalius College SOC-203

Scientific research DescriptiveExperimental Secundary sources Natural observation Case studies Correlational studies Ex Post Facto research Survey Participant observation Cause and effect relations through Controlled experiments

Main features of the scientific method Control External (intermediating) variables are excluded OR kept constant in order to understand causes ofobservations External (intermediating) variables are excluded OR kept constant in order to understand causes ofobservations Operational definitions Terms defined by operations required to measure them Terms defined by operations required to measure them improves communication, minimal ambiguity improves communication, minimal ambiguityReplication Reliability of results: does replication lead to the same results? (inter-group, inter-subject, intra- subject, …) Reliability of results: does replication lead to the same results? (inter-group, inter-subject, intra- subject, …)

Operational definitions Not-operationalHunger Good salesman FearOperational 8h without food Sells a lot, provides client with correct information, helpful, … Answers to fear questionnaire, Galvanic Skin Response, Amount of droppings in rats Problem is established in verbal concepts (not- operational), then operationalised. Conclusions are stated in verbal concepts

Goals of science DESCRIBE (ex Piaget, Freud) EXPLAIN (antecedents and causes) PREDICT (ex “weather”, “succeeding in college”) CONTROL (trigger wanted phenomena by manipulation of causes) DESCRIBE and EXPLAIN phenomena and so be able to PREDICT and CONTROL them

Scientific method Problem identification – Hypothesis formation Make research problem “researchable” Experimental design control / measurement of all relevant variables Execution of experiment participants, instructions, staff, debriefing, data Hypothesis testing “suitable” data-analyse, interpretation of results Communication of results scientific publication research is a stepwise process

Research process and research report HypothesisDesignExperimentTesting Reporting Introduction MethodsResultsConclusion Title Abstract References Appendix Research process Research report Problem definition Approach to problem Research design Field work Data preparation & Analysis Report preparation & Presentation

Problem Definition, Approach, Research Design, and Field Work Data Analysis Interpretation, Conclusions, and Recommendations Report Preparation Oral Presentation Reading of the Report by the Client Research Follow-up Figure 19.3 The Report Preparation and Presentation Process Figure 19.3 The Report Prepara tion & Present ation Proces s

A report in APA-style Title page Abstract Body (introduction, method, results, conclusion) References Tables and Pictures Extras: content / index, appendix, …

APA-formatted references Journal articles Roy, A. (1982). Suicide in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal of Child and Family Studies, 141, Roy, A. (1982). Suicide in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal of Child and Family Studies, 141, Book Struck, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (1979). The elements of style (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan. Struck, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (1979). The elements of style (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan. Web page, no author, no date GVU’s 8th WWW user suvey. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2001, from / GVU’s 8th WWW user suvey. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2001, from / / /

APA-formatted figure Figure Caption Figure 1. JPEG image of child and bipolar adjectives rating scale. Please rate the child [Laurie, Larry, no name] on each of the following items, placing a mark in the space nearest the adjective you feel best describes the child. firm:__:__:__:__:__:soft big:__:__:__:__:__:little strong:__:__:__:__:__:weak hardy:__:__:__:__:__:delicate well-coordinated:__:__:__:__:__:awkward beautiful:__:__:__:__:__:plain

Figure 19.4 Pie Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales Other 3% Computing Systems 42% Imaging and Printing Systems 41% IT Services 14% Figure 19.4 Pie Chart of Total Hewlett Packar d Sales

Figure 19.5 Line Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales Billions of Dollars Figure 19.5 Line Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales

Figure 19.6 A Pictograph of Hewlett Packard Sales Figure 19.6 A Pictograph of Hewlett Packard SalesFigure 19.6 A Pictograph of Hewlett Packard SalesFigure 19.6 A Pictograph of Hewlett Packard SalesFigure 19.6 A Pictograph of Hewlett Packard Sales

Figure 19.7 Histogram of Hewlett Packard’s Sales Billions of Dollars Figure 19.7 Histogram of Hewlett Packard’s Sales Billions of Dollars 60 Figure 19.7 Histogram of Hewlett Packard’s Sales

APA-formatted table

Information & LINKS Publication manual of the APA American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. - 5th ed. - Washington (D.C.) : APA American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. - 5th ed. - Washington (D.C.) : APA 439 p. : ill. ISBN VUB library: Centrale Bibliotheek: B APA 2001 Essentials Summary of Publication Manual General information Q&A Examples for references