Psy 109: Nov. 14, 2002

Reporting Research: Written and Oral

Laurie Karp

Erin Roland

Why APA Format

Standardized format makes research:

• Easier to read

• Easier to compare to other studies

• Easier to replicate

APA Format

• Title page • Abstract • Introduction • Method • Results• Tables and Figures• Discussion • References

Sample Research Report, Goodwin text, p444

The purpose of each part

• Title Page & Abstract – To introduce topic• Introduction – What do we already know?

Hypothesis?• Method – How did we find information?• Results, Tables & Figures –

Is our information significant?• Discussion – How does this effect understanding

of issue?• References – To credit sources

Title

• Simple summary of main idea

• Identify IV’s and DV’s

• List author names and affiliations

• Running head = on title page, 3 words

• Manuscript Page Header = top of all pages

Venting Feeds The Flame

Running Head: Catharsis, Rumination, and Aggression

Does venting anger feed or extinguish the flame? Catharsis, rumination, distraction, anger, and aggressive responding.Brad J. BushmanIowa State University

Example: Venting Anger Study

Introduction

• What is the question?

• What has been done? “Blowing off steam” vs. increasing anger

• What will you add to this past research?Rumination and distraction and venting

• What do you expect (hypothesis)?

Methods

• What exactly did you do?

• Subsections

- Participants (or Subjects)

- Procedure

Venting Anger Design

• 300 men, 300 women total, in 3 conditions

• Manipulated anger, then divided into rumination, distraction, control

CONTROL

100 men, 100 women

PUNCHING BAG PROCEDURE

RUMINATION

100 men, 100 women

DISTRACTION

100 men, 100 women

Results

• What did you find? • Guideline for reporting results 1. Tests used

= inferential stats: t-test, ANOVA, correlation, chi-square

2. Significance of each DV for all levels of IV = descriptive stats: mean, SD

2. Why it came out that way

• Tables and figures

Tables and Figures

• Tables

show DV (results) for each level of IV

means, standard deviations, N

results of analysis, p (sig)

• Graphs and Figures

Include captions, labels, and

explain within results!!

Venting Anger ResultsDid Dependent Variables differ based on IV’s:male/female and rumination/distraction/control?DV’s:

Time spent hitting punching bagEnjoyment of hitting punching bag *How hard participants hit punching bag *How many times they hit punching bag *Self-reported anger *Self-reported positive moodAggressive behavior towards partner

Confounding Variable!Gender differences with the punching bag

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Enjoyment (2.53, 2.51) Hard hit (2.05, 1.88)

Men (n=300)Women (n=300)

Significant Group Difference:Aggressive Behavior

100

105

110

115

120

125

130

#Times hit (57.5, 63.5)

Rumination (n=200)Distraction (n=200)

Significant Group Difference:Self-Reported Anger

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Anger (11.56, 10.88, 10.98)

Rumination* (n=200)Distraction (n=200)Control (n=200)

Variables That Were Not Significant

• Report the variables that were NOT significantly different as well.

• Explain why they weren’t.

–Time spent hitting the bag

–Positive mood

–Aggression

Discussion

• What you found

-relate to hypotheses

-relate back to past research

• Limitations

• Suggest next step in this research

Venting Anger Study

So what did we find out about venting?

• People who ruminated were angrier and had a less-effective workout

• Do something non-aggressive when you’re angry; picture something other than what made you angry

References

• Cite all ideas that are not originally yours Previous research has shown that rumination

increases angry feelings (Rusting & Nolen-Hoeksema, 1998).

In your own words – no quotations

• Cite all papers at endBushman, Brad J. (2002). Does venting anger

feed or extinguish the flame? Catharsis, rumination, distraction, anger, and aggressive responding. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 6, 724-731.

Abstract

• Last part written, first part read

• People decide whether or not to read your article based on this

• Summarizes each of the other sections in a neat little package

• Only about 120 words! Brief but powerful!

Resources To Help You

• Sample papers• Goodwin text - Appendix A, p444• Past student papers - ask your TA

• APA format • Goodwin text, p440• www.uvm.edu/~lgordon/psyc109/APAformat.html

• Paper Guidelines - from TA in lab

• UVM’s Writing Center, 656-4075

Oral Presentations

• Tell a research story • Usually not as complete a presentation as

an article • Select the most important findings for

discussion• Be positive and interested; it will

influence how your audience responds to the presentation

Oral Presentation Outline

12-15 minutes total

• Introduction – 4 minutes

• Methods – 3 minutes

• Results & Discussion – 5 minutes

• Questions – 1 minute

What To Do During Your Oral Presentation!!!

1. BREATHE!

2. Be on time and prepared (practice).

3. Use large overhead fonts.

4. Speak loudly, clearly and slowly.

5. Speak to the entire audience.

6. Explain– don’t just read from your overheads or notes.

7. Why did you do the study? Tell the audience interesting the topic is?

Paper & Presentation Info

• Presentations start Monday, Nov. 18– All students: two hours as an audience– Tomorrow (Friday) open lab in Dewey

• Paper is due December 3

• Susan’s and Sham’s groups:See Sham at the front