Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16: Writing an APA-Style Research Report

INTRODUCTION

• Purpose of Research Report: To provide three key types of information about the study:

  • What was accomplished

  • What discoveries were made

  • How the study connects to existing knowledge

SCIENTIFIC METHOD

• Steps Involved:

  1. Define the Problem

  2. Form a Hypothesis

  3. Collect and Analyze the Data

  4. Draw Conclusions

  5. Communicate Findings

• Discourse Community: A group sharing common goals, languages, and knowledge in the field.

WAYS TO COMMUNICATE

• Methods for communication include:

  • Archival publications

  • Journal articles

  • Books

  • Invisible college (informal networks)

  • E-mail, phone, snail mail

  • Lab visits

  • Professional meetings

THE PURPOSE OF SCIENTIFIC WRITING

• Goals of Scientific Writing:

  • Convey information clearly, concisely, and engagingly

  • Persuade and inform readers

  • Present a thesis: the central proposition supported by argument

ASPECTS OF THE WRITTEN REPORT

• Clarity:

  • Use precise language and avoid jargon

  • Ensure correct grammar and spelling

  • Adhere to APA Style

  • Maintain objectivity: avoid sexism and racism

• Brevity: Avoid unnecessary verbosity.

• Felicity: Foster a pleasing writing style.

Affect vs Effect

• Affect:

  • Noun: Emotion

  • Verb: To influence

• Effect:

  • Noun: Result or outcome

  • Verb: To accomplish

DEFINITION OF A RESEARCH REPORT

• Components of a Research Report:

  • Clear purpose statement

  • Review of background literature

  • Description of research methods used

  • Summary of results

  • Discussion and interpretation of findings

ELEMENTS OF WRITING STYLE

• Impersonal Style:

  • Personal pronouns may be used to describe actions taken by the researcher.

• Verb Tense:

  • Past Tense: For specific events in the past.

  • Present Perfect Tense: For ongoing or unscheduled events.

• Reduce Biased Language: Scientific writing should avoid evaluations of groups.

• Citations: Required for non-common knowledge facts and prior research findings. Provides author(s) and year of publication for referential integrity.

FORMATS COMMONLY USED FOR CITATIONS

• Cite sources in-text:

  • In parentheses: If stating a fact or claim in the sentence.

  • As the subject: Name(s) in the body, with year noted in parentheses.

DOCUMENTING

• Importance of Documenting:

  • Credit ideas of others

  • Place personal ideas in a broader context

  • Provide theory information

  • Avoid plagiarism: cite only what you have read.

• Secondary Citations: Should be used cautiously.

EXAMPLES OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSEQUENT CITATIONS

• Number of Authors:

  • 1 Author: Jones (2017), (Jones, 2017)

  • 2 Authors: Smith and Jones (2016), (Smith & Jones, 2016)

  • 3-5 Authors: Jones, Smith, and Brown (2014), Jones et al. (2014)

  • 6 or More: Jones et al. (2015)

RULES FOR USE OF REFERENCES

• Be selective: Choose only useful references.

• Prefer paraphrasing to quoting directly unless essential to preserve meaning.

THE REFERENCE LIST

• Includes:

  • Author information

  • Date of publication

  • Article/book titles

  • Publication details (journal name for articles, publisher for books)

  • DOI for online sources

GUIDELINES FOR TYPING OR WORD PROCESSING

• Formatting Requirements:

  • Double-spaced, one-inch margins, left-aligned, no hyphenation

  • Indent first line of paragraphs

  • Use 12-point Times New Roman font

MANUSCRIPT PAGES

• Organization with each section starting on a separate page:

  • Title page

  • Abstract

  • Text

  • References

  • Tables

  • Figures

  • Appendices

TITLE PAGE

• Elements:

  • Running head with abbreviated title and page number

  • Full paper title

  • Author name(s) and affiliations

  • Author note if necessary

AN APA-STYLE TITLE PAGE

• Presents proper formatting for the title page as per APA guidelines.

THE ELEMENTS OF AN APA-STYLE RESEARCH REPORT: ABSTRACT

• Abstract Components:

  • Statement of problem or research question

  • Brief participant description

  • Research method summary

  • Summary of results

  • Statement on conclusions or implications

AN APA-STYLE ABSTRACT

• Illustrates how to format abstract following APA guidelines.

THE ELEMENTS OF AN APA-STYLE RESEARCH REPORT: INTRODUCTION

• Introduction Components:

  • General topic introduction

  • Literature review

  • Problem or purpose statement with defined variables

  • Research strategy summary used for hypothesis evaluations.

EXCERPTS FROM AN APA-STYLE INTRODUCTION

• Provides practical examples of introductions in APA style.

THE ELEMENTS OF AN APA-STYLE RESEARCH REPORT: METHODS

• Detailed methodologies including:

  • Definitions and measurements of variables

  • Description of how the research was conducted (subsections for

    • Subjects

    • Procedure

    • Apparatus

    • Materials)

THE ELEMENTS OF AN APA-STYLE RESEARCH REPORT: RESULTS

• Summary of data and statistical analyses:

  • Begins after the method section

  • Provides factual reporting of findings, avoiding discussions.

AN APA-STYLE RESULTS SECTION

• Model for presenting results in APA format.

THE ELEMENTS OF AN APA-STYLE RESEARCH REPORT: DISCUSSION

• Discusses how:

  • Restates hypothesis

  • Summarizes results

  • Interprets implications and applications of results

• Begins immediately after results section.

AN APA-STYLE DISCUSSION SECTION

• Format guideline for discussion sections in APA style.

THE ELEMENTS OF AN APA-STYLE RESEARCH REPORT: REFERENCES

• Complete listing of references:

  • Organized alphabetically by last name

  • New page starting for the reference list

  • Include DOI where available

THE REFERENCE LIST

• Details on specific formatting and organization of references.

THE ELEMENTS OF AN APA-STYLE RESEARCH REPORT: FIGURES

• Rules for using tables and figures:

  • Should supplement without duplicating text information.

  • Mention in text by number and highlight key aspects.

  • Place tables/figures on separate pages.

THE ELEMENTS OF AN APA-STYLE RESEARCH REPORT: APPENDIX

• Contains detailed information that’s useful but disrupts narrative flow if included in body.

SUBMITTING A MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION

• Steps for submission:

  • Identify appropriate journals

  • Review submission guidelines

  • Submit with a cover letter

  • Be aware that many manuscripts are often rejected.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS: PAPERS AND POSTERS

• Differences between presentations:

  • Papers: Typically require PowerPoint presentations (10-20 minutes)

  • Posters: Display during sessions for feedback; guidelines provided by organizations.

WHY WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL?

• A proposal outlines a plan for a new study:

  • Purposes include funding, helping researchers clarify ideas, and gaining committee approval.

  • Essential components include an outline of the study's objectives, potential findings, and relation to previous research.

HOW TO WRITE A RESEARCH PROPOSAL

• Similar to writing a research report but must:

  • Use future tense

  • Optional abstract

  • More extensive literature review

  • Include combined Results/Discussion or Expected Results sections.