1. Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report (Unit 2543)

2. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Format The report should be no more than 1400 words, excluding graphs, tables, references and appendices The report must be written under the headings It is best to start each section on a fresh sheet of paper because this makes corrections easier

3. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Abstract – 80 words A summary of: Aims Method Sample results and conclusions WRITE THIS LAST!

4. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Background – 200 words This section gives a rationale (theoretical justification) for the aim and your choice of method. Points can include: previous research (x1 or more); terminology and concepts used in this area; aims of the study; how the hypotheses for this study were developed;

5. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Hypotheses – 100 words Formally state: the null and experimental hypotheses in operational terms (include IVs and DVs and how they are going to be measured)

6. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Method – 300 words Divide into sub- headings: Design: type of study Participants: population, sampling framework, including number, type, age, allocation to conditions. Procedure: how you approached subjects; standardised instructions; details of materials. so that someone could repeat exactly what you did

7. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Method – 300 words Divide into sub-headings: Controls: e.g. choice of subjects; behaviour of the experimenters; standardised instructions; controlled time and place. Measurement and analysis: how measured variables; why you chose this measurement technique; and how you have chosen to analyse the data. Ethics: any ethical considerations that you had to consider and respond to.

8. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Abstract – 80 words A summary of: Aims Method Sample results and conclusions WRITE THIS LAST!

9. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Results – 300 words Present as visually as possible; Descriptive statistics: for example, the average scores, distribution of scores; pie charts, block graphs. Inferential statistics: statistical tests to evaluate probability; reasons for the choice of test; significance level, significance statement. Put the workings in appendix

10. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Results – 300 words Discussion – 400 words In this section the following questions may be considered; What do the results mean? Can the null hypothesis be rejected? What criticisms can be made of the method that was used? choice of design? choice of sample? choice of procedure? choice of location? choice of controls? If the method had been changed in some way, how would this have affected the results? Were there any confounding variables? Were there any ethical issues raised during the study? How do the results relate to the theory that was described in the introduction? Do the results agree with or challenge the theory in any way? What modifications can be suggested to the theory in the light of this study? Suggestions for further work.

11. OCR Notes for Candidates Writing a Practical Report Discussion – 400 words In this section the following questions may be considered; What do the results mean? Can the null hypothesis be rejected? What criticisms can be made of the method that was used? Design; choice of sample; choice of procedure; choice of location; choice of controls If the method had been changed in some way, how would this have affected the results? Were there any confounding variables? Were there any ethical issues raised during the study?