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.

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