Role of scientific community

What is reporting psychological investigations?

Once a study has been carried out, report will be written by the researcher. Report is then submitted to a research journal who may decide to publish it. Structure follows a particular pattern.

What are the parts of a psychological paper in order?

The abstract

The introduction

Method

Results

Discussion

References

Appendix

What is the abstract?

Overview of participants and procedures of study, including results & conclusions. Allows reader to get a snapshot of important info about study without having to read entire report

What is the introduction?

Overview of previous research & studies. Ur should start broadly and funnel to become more specific to the study being conducted. Aims and hypothesis should lead on logically from the intro

What is the method?

Details about what researcher did. Enough detail so another researcher can replicate —> see if results are reliable.

Should include details like design, participants apparatus & any another ethical considerations

What is the results?

Details about what researcher found, can be qualitatively or quantitative data. Quantitative should be analysed with both descriptive & inferential statistics.

What is the discussion?

Conclusion from findings. Should refer back to hypothesis and/or predictions. Findings should be compared with previous research & theories findings. Needs to identify any methodology issues & ways to overcome. Can also suggest avenues for new research

What is references?

Full title w & details of all journals & book references in the text

What is the appendix?

Found at end of paper, contains info that supplements the text. Too distracting to include on main body of the paper.

What is peer review?

Piece of psychology research being scrutinised by a small group of usually 2 or 3 peers in the particular field

Peer review process:

Scientists study something

Write about their results

Journal editor receive an article & sends out for peer review OR

May send reviewer comments to scientists who may then revise & resubmit for further review. If article doesn’t maintain sufficiently high standards, may be rejected

Peer reviewers read article & provide feedback to the editor

If article finally meets editorial and peer standards published in a journal

Purposes of peer review?

Allocation of research funding

Publication in research journals and books

Assessing research rating of university deperatment

Strengths of peer review

• Published work is validated for accuracy/validity

• Peers suggest improvements and allocate further funding

• Any problems areas/weaknesses/suggestions for improvement are highlighted as necessary

• Upholds principles of science- prevents scientific fraud

• Adds credibility to the research and field of study

Limitations of peer review

• Takes time (average 180 days) so delays publication

• Peers bring their own bias

• Hard to find an expert

• Conflict of interest

• Publication bias “file drawer” effect- positive findings more likely to be published over negative findings (no difference) leads to unbalanced view of human behaviour; differences exaggerated and similarities understated. Many “null results” not even written up. Those that are submitted very few published