1. APA Results & Discussion
Psychology 290
January 19 – 21, 2015

2. APA Rules to Keep in Mind
Write in Past Tense
First-level headings are centered and bold
Remember to follow other APA rules (page layout, font, etc.), as well as consult the manual on-line
Check APA format for Number formatting
All numbers zero through nine are written in word form unless they are followed by a unit of measure
All decimal numbers and numbers greater than 10 are written in Arabic numerals
Any number that begins a sentence must be in written form
Back to back numbers are written in word and number form: Twenty 20 inch monitors

3. Results Results section is “all about the data”
All data and results (even those that run counter to hypotheses) must be reported here
Summarizes data collected and stats that were run
Should begin with a description of the statistical test that was used
May direct reader to Tables and/or Figures
Do not interpret or discuss the results

4. Types of Results Descriptive Statistics Inferential Statistics
Means, Standard Deviations, Ranges…
Tables & Figures
Inferential Statistics
Results of Statistical Analysis
e.g. ANOVA, t Test, Correlation, Chi Square …

5. Reporting Central Tendency & Dispersion
Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion (e.g. means and standard deviations) are often given in the Results section
If you are reporting a mean, it should always be accompanied by a measure of dispersion
Often presented in Tables to simplify presentation and when there are too many values to reasonably relay (See Table 1)
Example in text:
The mean score for men on the verbal test was 23.6, with a standard deviation of 2.10.
 Example following text:
Women (M = 26.94, SD = 1.98) had a slightly higher score than men (M = 23.61, SD = 2.10) on the verbal test.

6. Inferential Statistics
The type of statistical test that you will choose depends on:
The type of data collected
Nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio
The type of research design
Experimental
Differential
Correlational

7. Reporting Inferential Statistics
Degrees of Freedom
t (81) = 2.598, p < 0.05
The letter of the test (t, F, r, etc. and p) and M and SD all need to be italicized but not the numbers or symbols (=, <, etc.)
Statistics must be part of a sentence
P value tells you if the test is significant or not
Type of Test
Obtained Valued

8. What is this “p” value thing?
Every decision we make as the potential to be the wrong one (i.e. due to chance rather than our manipulation)
The p value is our “acceptable risk”
If we set α = .05 we accept a 1 in 20 chance of making the wrong decision, therefore:
If the p value is less than (<) 0.05 the test is significant
If the p value is more than (>) 0.05 the test is not significant

9. Experimental Design
ANOVA
ReactionTime
Sum of Squares df
Mean Square F
Sig.
Between Groups
41.363 2
20.682
3.835
.029
Within Groups 44
5.393
Total 46
A One-Way ANOVA was performed and significant differences were found between at least two groups, F(2,44) = 3.835, p < Tukey’s post hoc test revealed that participants in the Alcoholic Beverage Condition (M= 63.75, SD= 7.19) and the Non-Alcoholic Beverage Condition (M= 53.13, SD= 7.93) had significantly longer reaction times (in ms) than participants in the Water condition (M= 39.33, SD= 16.68).

10. Differential Design
An Independent Samples t-test was performed and participants who were going to wear a Halloween costume (M= 6.02, SD= 1.02) anticipated having significantly more fun than participants who reported that they were not going to wear a Halloween costume (M= 4.40, SD= 1.30), t(74) = , p < .001.

11. Correlational Design
A Pearson correlation revealed a significant positive correlation between the amount of fun anticipated and number of alcoholic beverages participants intended to consume, r(74) = .466, p < As number of alcoholic beverages consumed increased, so did the amount of fun anticipated and vice versa.

12. Tables and Figures
Tables and Figures may be used to clarify data being presented in a Results section however they should never appear in the body of your text
Tables are often used to report means and standard deviations
Figures are used to represent interactions between variables and emphasize differences between groups
Direct readers by adding (Table 1) or (Figure 1) at the end of sentences in your Results section
They should not repeat information presented in the Results section

13. Tables
Tables are used to present data when it would be unmanageable to present them in the results section (i.e. too many M & SD)
Are presented in the a sans serif font (e.g. Arial) size 12
Contain no vertical lines
Contain minimal horizontal lines
Begin with a Table number and description
Follow after References and Appendices

14. Non-alcoholic Beverage 53.13 (7.93) Water 39.33 (16.68)
SAMPLE APA PAPER Table 1 Response Time of Participants (ms) After Consuming Different Beverages.
Condition
M (SD)
Alcoholic Beverage
63.75 (7.19)
Non-alcoholic Beverage
53.13 (7.93)
Water
39.33 (16.68)
All in Arial font

15. Figures Greyscale (no colours) Label Axes but do not include a title
Legends (if applicable) must fall within the axis lines
Figure presented in a sans serif font (e.g. Arial) between size
Figure Caption presented in serif font (same as body of text) size 12
Goes below the figure and describes the what is being shown
No gridlines or borders (the only lines will be the axes)
Follow after References, Appendices, and Tables
Figure should fill the width of the page
If presenting means, SD or SEM should be included as error bars

16. SAMPLE APA PAPER 14 Figure 1.*
Figure 1.
A comparison of the amount of fun anticipated by participants either wearing or not wearing a costume on Halloween. (Error bars represent +/- SEM)

17. APA Format Discussion

18. APA Rules to Keep in Mind
Past Tense
First-level headings are centered and bold
“Method”; “Results”, “Discussion”
Remember to follow other APA rules (page layout, font, etc.), as well as consult the manual on-line

19. General Discussion Info
In this section, the goal is to discuss and evaluate your results, and whether or not the results support your hypotheses.
Relate your findings to literature from Intro.
You may not introduce new sources; use only sources from your Intro
Start Specific and end General

20. Discussion must include:
A clear statement of support or non-support for your original hypotheses
Note: You do not prove your hypotheses; you support or fail to support them
Similarities and differences between your results and those of previous research
Relate to research from Introduction

21. Implications
Implication (noun): the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated
Evaluate and interpret the implications of the results with respect to your hypotheses
Include a discussion of the theoretical, clinical or practical implications of your results
Implication. (2005).  In Oxford Reference Online. Retrieved from

22. Limitations
Limitation (noun): a limiting rule or circumstance; a restriction; a condition of limited ability; a defect or failing
Highlight the shortcomings of your study
Suggest explanations to account for hypotheses that were not supported
Methodological (examine methodology critically)
Conceptual
Sources of error or bias that may have affected the results
Limitation. (2005). In Oxford Reference Online. Retrieved from

23. Future Research Suggestions for future research should always be made
Indicate future directions this research could take
Indicate improvements to methodology that may benefit future attempts to replicate
What problems remain unresolved or were raised as a result of your research?

24. Log into Moodle and check to see if any modifications need to be made to your SPSS data file from January 5 – 7th. Once you have made the necessary modifications you are free to go.