Writing a research report Writing a research report in APA-stylein APA-style

Vesalius CollegeVesalius College

SOC-203SOC-203

Scientific researchScientific research

Descriptive ExperimentalSecundary sourcesNatural observationCase studiesCorrelational studiesEx Post Facto researchSurveyParticipant observation

Cause and effect relations through

Controlled experiments

Main features of the scientific methodMain features of the scientific method

ControlControl External (intermediating) variables are excluded External (intermediating) variables are excluded

OR kept constant in order to understand causes OR kept constant in order to understand causes ofobservationsofobservations

Operational definitionsOperational definitions Terms defined by operations required to measure Terms defined by operations required to measure

themthem improves communication, minimal ambiguityimproves communication, minimal ambiguity

ReplicationReplication Reliability of results: does replication lead to the Reliability of results: does replication lead to the

same results? (inter-group, inter-subject, intra-same results? (inter-group, inter-subject, intra-subject, …)subject, …)

Operational definitionsOperational definitionsNot-operationalNot-operationalHungerHunger

Good salesmanGood salesman

FearFear

OperationalOperational8h without food8h without food

Sells a lot, provides Sells a lot, provides client with correct client with correct information, helpful, …information, helpful, …

Answers to fear Answers to fear questionnaire, Galvanic questionnaire, Galvanic Skin Response, Amount Skin Response, Amount of droppings in ratsof droppings in rats

Problem is established in verbal concepts (not-operational), then operationalised. Conclusions are

stated in verbal concepts

Goals of scienceGoals of science

DESCRIBE (ex Piaget, Freud)DESCRIBE (ex Piaget, Freud)

EXPLAIN (antecedents and causes)EXPLAIN (antecedents and causes)

PREDICT (ex “weather”, “succeeding in PREDICT (ex “weather”, “succeeding in college”)college”)

CONTROL (trigger wanted phenomena by CONTROL (trigger wanted phenomena by manipulation of causes)manipulation of causes)

DESCRIBE and EXPLAIN phenomena and so be able to

PREDICT and CONTROL them

Scientific methodScientific method

Problem identification – Hypothesis formationProblem identification – Hypothesis formationMake research problem “researchable”Make research problem “researchable”Experimental designExperimental design

control / measurement of all relevant variablescontrol / measurement of all relevant variables

Execution of experimentExecution of experimentparticipants, instructions, staff, debriefing, dataparticipants, instructions, staff, debriefing, data

Hypothesis testingHypothesis testing““suitable” data-analyse, interpretation of results suitable” data-analyse, interpretation of results

Communication of resultsCommunication of resultsscientific publicationscientific publication

research is a stepwise process

Research process and research reportResearch process and research report

Hypothesis Design Experiment Testing Reporting

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion

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

A report in APA-styleA report in APA-style

Title pageTitle page

AbstractAbstract

Body (introduction, method, results, Body (introduction, method, results, conclusion)conclusion)

ReferencesReferences

Tables and PicturesTables and Pictures

Extras: content / index, appendix, …Extras: content / index, appendix, …

APA-formatted referencesAPA-formatted references

Journal articlesJournal articles Roy, A. (1982). Suicide in chronic schizophrenia. Roy, A. (1982). Suicide in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal British Journal

of Child and Family Studies, 141,of Child and Family Studies, 141, 171-177. 171-177.

BookBook Struck, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (1979). Struck, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (1979). The elements of styleThe elements of style (3rd (3rd

ed.). New York: Macmillan.ed.). New York: Macmillan.

Web page, no author, no dateWeb page, no author, no date GVU’s 8th WWW user suvey. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, GVU’s 8th WWW user suvey. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19,

2001, from 2001, from http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey-1997-10/http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey-1997-10/

APA-formatted figureAPA-formatted figure

Figure CaptionFigure 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 inthe space nearest the adjective you feel

best describes the child.firm:__:__:__:__:__:softbig:__:__:__:__:__:little

strong:__:__:__:__:__:weakhardy:__:__:__:__:__:delicate

well-coordinated:__:__:__:__:__:awkwardbeautiful:__:__:__:__:__: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 19.5 Line Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales

Bil l

ion

s of

Dol la

rs

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Figure 19.6 A Pictograph of Hewlett Packard Sales

Figure 19.7 Histogram of Hewlett Packard’s SalesB

i lli

ons

of D

oll a

r sFigure 19.7 Histogram of Hewlett Packard’s Sales

0

10

20

30

40

50

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Bi l

lion

s of

Dol

l ar s

60

APA-formatted tableAPA-formatted table Table 19.2

Hewlett-Packard Sales: 1996-

2000 Year Net Revenue (Billions of Dollars) 1996 31.6

1997 35.5

1998 39.4

1999 42.4

2000 48.8

Source: The 2000 Annual Report, Hewlett-Packard Company

Information & LINKSInformation & LINKSPublication manual of the APAPublication manual of the APA

American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. - 5th ed. - Washington (D.C.) : APA Psychological Association. - 5th ed. - Washington (D.C.) : APA

439 p. : ill. ISBN 1-55798-790-4439 p. : ill. ISBN 1-55798-790-4VUB library: Centrale Bibliotheek: 159.9 B APA 2001VUB library: Centrale Bibliotheek: 159.9 B APA 2001

EssentialsEssentials http://http://wwwwww..vanguardvanguard..eduedu//facultyfaculty//ddegelmanddegelman/index./index.cfmcfm??docdoc__idid=796=796

Summary of Publication ManualSummary of Publication Manual http://http://wwwwww..woosterwooster..eduedu//psychologypsychology//apa-cribapa-crib..htmlhtml

General informationGeneral information httphttp://www.apastyle.org://www.apastyle.org

Q&AQ&A http://webster.commnet.edu/apa/apa_index.htmhttp://webster.commnet.edu/apa/apa_index.htm

Examples for referencesExamples for references http://www.crk.umn.edu/library/links/apa5th.htmhttp://www.crk.umn.edu/library/links/apa5th.htm http://www.lib.usm.edu/~http://www.lib.usm.edu/~instructinstruct//guidesguides//apaapa..htmlhtml