APA Psychology Research Methods, Statistics, and Survey Design

What type of info should you cite?

•definitions of concepts

•review of previous studies

•sources for stimuli or questionnaires

•a description of another study

•use of methodology, etc. from another study

How to cite authors

(Harris, 2020) or Harris (2020)

(Harris & Cook, 2020) OR Harris and Cook (2020)

(Harris et al., 2020) OR Harris et al. (2020)

ORDER of the PAPER

Sections of an APA-Style Article:

-Title Page

-Abstract

-Introduction

-Methods

-Participants, Design (if needed), Materials, and

Procedure

-Results

-Discussion

-References

-Tables and Figures

*A I M P D M P; R D R T F

An Island Made Paradise, Dolphins, More Pineapples; Remember Don't Rip Tide Frequently

Title Page

Running heading

Page Number

Title, authors' names, Affiliations (CENTERED)

Abstract

150-200 words describes 4 major sections of article

Should be BOLD and CENTERED

Intro

general info

past/relevant info

research question

hypothesis

Method

description of stimuli or survey

CENTERED and BOLD

-Sections:

Participants, Design, Materials and Procedure (P, D, M, P)

*Subsections BOLD, NOT centered

Participants

Sample size

How recruited

Demographics

Incentives

Design

optional: describes the variables in study and how measured/manipulated

Materials/Measures/Apparatus

Things used to run the study:

-stimuli

-questionnaires

-assignment of stimuli to conditions

Procedure

-what participants do in order

-info about instructions given

-tasks performed

-timing of stim

-experimental conditions

-debriefing for deception studies

-statement verifying ethics

*must be able to replicate

results

BOLD and Centered

-states DV analyzed and tests used

-statement about results, differences/relationships found + stats to prove

*Round to TWO decimal places

*Italicize

discussion

-review major findings

-comparisons with those of past studies

-importance of findings

-limitations

*FINAL PARAGRAPH: Broad Implications

References

-list all sources in alpha order by last name

-publication year

-title

-where published

- + info

Multi-Study Articles

intro

method for each study

results for each study

sometimes discussion for each

general discussion section

Research Proposal

convince that research project should be conducted

-obtain grant funds OR for class project

General Formating

Double space

1-inch margins

running head in top left

page number

Active vs Passive Voice

use active:

The students completed the survey NOT

the surveys were completed by the students

Numbers and how to write them

distribution of stat values when null hypothesis is true determines?

p value

Formula to remember

Sample mean Diff/ sampling error = any stat

independent sample t-test

comparing mean

2 sample means

between subjects

One sample t-test

comparing means

1 sample mean

repeated measure/paired sample

comparing means

2 sample means

within subjects

ANOVA Test

comparing means

3 or more means

Chi-Squared

comparing relationships

nominal/ordinal scale

regression test

comparing relationships

ratio/interval

predictive

Pearson r test

comparing relationships

ratio/interval

descriptive

descriptive

predictive

causal

-frequency of/or relationship between behaviors

-if one can predict another

-what causes specific behaviors to occur

Sources for standardized questionnaires

-Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HAPI) Database

-Mental Measurements Yearbook

-PsycTESTS

psychometrics

validation and refinement of surveys to measure psych constructs

close-ended questions

Questions that can be answered in short or single word responses.

Ex: Example: How many cups of coffee do you drink per day?

0 1-2 3-4 5+

Open-ended questions

questions that allow respondents to answer however they want

Ex: How many cups of coffee do you drink per day? ________

When creating a survey:

-don't be confusing

-may cause biases with categories

consider number of response categories

-categories cannot overlap

- = +/- responses

double-barreled questions

questions that attempt to get at multiple issues at once, and so tend to receive incomplete or confusing answers

validity scores from a survey

accurately measures behavior

nonresponse error

when individuals do not respond

coverage error

occurs when sample doesn't represent entire population

increase reliability

longer survey

Test-Retest Reliability

-Checked by getting same participant to take survey twice

-Attrition and testing effect may occur when participants take survey twice

Validity of Scores from a Survey

Previously validated surveys yield accurate

results

• Criterion-related validity

• Social desirability bias

• Respondents answer in a manner to appear favorable or desirable

• Example: How often do you text while driving?

testing effect:

taking a test once influences responses the second time

Internal Consistency of Scores

Tests relationships between scores on different items of survey

Split-Half Reliability

Indicates if scores are similar on different questions

that address similar topics

Cronbach's Alpha

Indicates average correlation between scores on

all pairs of items

Correlation studies and Personality

conscientiousness and Sexual infidelity (-)

extraversion and Life Expectancy (+)

Correlation studies and Clinical and counseling

Depression and Anxiety (pos)

- Age and use of mental health resources (neg)

- Children who have experienced abuse are more likely to have an

external locus of control than their non-abused peers (Simmons &

Weinman, 1991)

Correlation studies and Industrial-organizational

-Job satisfaction and opportunity for promotion

- Turnover rate and marital status (married = less likely to switch

jobs)

Correlation studies and Social

- Happiness and Money

- Experienced Discrimination and Health

Descriptive vs Predictive Studies

describe relationship between variables vs use one variable to predict another variable