Research Report Writing
General Information
The lecture is divided into two parts:
A PowerPoint presentation detailing how to effectively write each section of a research report. This includes guidelines on structuring content, presenting data, and adhering to academic standards.
A thorough review of a document available on MyLearn. This document contains research report results, with a focus on identifying which results are most relevant for analysis and how to seamlessly integrate these findings into the provided templates.
Templates:
A specific APA correlation table template is provided to ensure standardized reporting of statistical correlations.
Various templates are included within the lecture slides to guide the structure of the results section, helping to organize and present data clearly.
Communication:
An email address is provided for students to ask questions. However, it is highly recommended to post questions on the MyLearn assignment forum. This allows other students to benefit from the answers and fosters a collaborative learning environment.
Mid-Trimester Quiz
Availability:
The mid-trimester quiz is accessible until the specified Sunday.
Mandatory Requirement:
Attempting the quiz is a mandatory requirement for passing the unit. Failure to complete the quiz will result in not passing the course.
Content:
The quiz comprises 40 multiple-choice questions. These questions cover topics discussed from weeks one through four of the course.
Time Limit:
Students have a 70-minute time limit to complete the quiz.
Grading:
The quiz contributes to 10% of the overall grade for the unit.
Format:
The quiz is an open-book format. Students are permitted to use all available resources, including the textbook, lecture notes, and other relevant materials.
Attempt Limit:
Only one attempt is allowed for the quiz. Students must complete the quiz in one sitting, as it cannot be paused or resumed once started.
Sections of the Research Report
Abstract
Definition:
The abstract is a concise summary of the entire research paper. It provides readers with a comprehensive overview of the study, enabling them to understand its purpose, methods, results, and conclusions without needing to read the entire document.
Content:
The abstract includes brief descriptions of the method used in the study, the key results obtained, and the main conclusions drawn from the findings.
Introduction
Purpose:
The introduction establishes the theoretical and logical foundation of the study. It provides context and background information necessary to understand the research.
Key Components:
Defines key concepts, theories, and variables relevant to the study.
Discusses and synthesizes relevant background research, providing a literature review.
States the specific aims and hypotheses of the study, outlining the research questions to be addressed.
Structure:
The introduction follows a funnel-down approach. It begins with broad, general information and progressively narrows down to the specific hypotheses being tested.
Method
Purpose:
The method section details the procedures and techniques used in the study. It provides enough information to allow other researchers to replicate the study.
Characteristics:
Should be concise and formulaic, following a standardized structure.
Often, sections can be adapted from other similar papers, with modifications to fit the current study.
Results
Purpose:
The results section presents the data collected and the statistical analyses performed.
Content and Structure:
Similar to the method section, information can be adapted from other papers. However, the specific numbers and data should be unique to the current study.
Focuses on presenting the facts without interpretation or discussion of their significance.
Discussion
Purpose:
The discussion section interprets the findings of the study and compares them with previous research.
Key Elements:
Discusses the implications of the findings, including practical applications and suggestions for future research.
Structure:
The discussion section mirrors the introduction. It starts by addressing the specific hypotheses and expands to broader implications, providing a comprehensive interpretation of the study's significance.
Method Section Details
Subsections:
The method section typically includes three main subsections:
Participants: Detailed information about the individuals who participated in the study (needs to be written).
Materials: A list of the surveys, questionnaires, and other materials used (provided, to be copied and pasted).
Procedure: A step-by-step description of how the data was collected (provided, to be copied and pasted).
Participants Subsection:
Includes key demographic information about the participants:
Total number of participants (N).
Number and percentage of participants in each gender category.
Age range.
Mean age.
Standard deviation of age.
Group affiliation (e.g., those meeting an exercise threshold).
Materials Subsection:
Lists all surveys and questionnaires used in the study.
The exact text of this subsection will be provided verbatim.
Procedure Subsection:
Describes the chronological sequence of events during the data collection process.
The exact text of this subsection will be provided verbatim.
Statistical Analysis:
Ordinarily, a description of the statistical analysis would be included. However, it is not required for the current assignment.
Participants Section Example
Template:
A template is provided for the participants section. This template mirrors the structure and language that should be used.
Modifications:
Numbers and group descriptions will need to be modified to accurately reflect the specifics of the study.
APA Guidelines:
APA guidelines regarding the use of numerals and words for numbers are mentioned:
Numbers one to nine should be written out as words.
Sentences should not begin with a numeral.
Measures Section
Provided Document:
The exact document for the measures section will be provided for students to copy and paste into their papers.
Typos:
There may be a few typos in the provided document, but students are instructed not to correct them.
Procedure Section
Provided Document:
The procedure document will also be provided for students to copy and paste directly into their papers.
Word Count:
The materials and procedure sections are not included in the word count. Therefore, 484 words should be subtracted from the total word count to account for these sections.
Results Section Details
Overview:
The results section summarizes the collected data and the statistical analyses conducted.
Descriptive Statistics:
Provide means and standard deviations of the data, typically displayed in tables.
Present correlations of data between variables to show the relationships between different data sets.
Inferential Statistics:
Refer to the statistical tests used to test the hypotheses (e.g., t-tests, correlations).
Describe important effects and differences between groups.
Statistical Tests
Types of Tests:
Tests about relationships between variables (regression, correlation).
Tests about differences between groups (t-tests, ANOVAs).
Key Point:
Indicate whether the results support each hypothesis.
Starting the Results Section
Introduction:
Begin with an introduction that includes a table presenting means, standard deviations, and correlations of key variables.
Redundancy:
Avoid redundancy by not restating the table’s content in the text.
Hypothesis Testing:
In the introduction, state the statistic that will be used to test the hypothesis. The choice of statistic will affect the test (i.e., Pearson's product-moment coefficient is used when hypothesizing a positive or negative association).
Template:
Copy the provided template and fill in the data accordingly.
Table
Content:
The table will consist of three variables with correlations shown.
Underneath, means, standard deviations, and the range will be displayed.
H2 and H3
Independent Samples T-Tests:
Used to see if those who engage in mindful meditation differ from those who do not in variables like well-being and sleep quality.
Reporting:
State that an Independent Samples T-Test was used.
Report the mean and standard deviations for both groups.
Report the results of the test with their values.
State whether or not the hypothesis was supported.
T-Test Values:
A T-Test can be positive or negative, depending on the direction of the relation.
P-Value:
The P-Value shows whether or not the test is statistically significant.
Always compared to
If p < 0.05, the test is significant.
Independent Samples T-Test Template
Usage:
There is a template to copy and paste into the report and fill in the values provided by your data.
Discussion Section Details
Purpose:
Relate hypotheses and whether or not the results supported them to previous research.
Restate Aims:
First, restate the study aims in one to two words, using the exact wording from the introduction.
Hypothesis Support:
After, state whether or not the study and findings supported each hypothesis.
Relating to Previous Research
Paragraph Structure:
State if the statements were supported one by one by making a paragraph. Then, relate the findings to a previous study, citing the previous studies in the discussion.
Citation Restriction:
Do not cite anything that was not included in the introduction.
Limitations:
Discuss the limitations of the study, such as:
Generalizability (e.g., only a limited sample was studied).
Methodological factors (e.g., measures used or the fact that measures were self-reported rather than objective).
Recommendations for Future Research:
Suggest how future research can address the limitations and what that research should entail.
Conclusion:
Provide a short paragraph summarizing the key findings in light of the hypothesis.
Summarize the implications of the key findings.
Discuss what is novel about the findings.
Explore the practical implications for future research or treatment.
Example Discussion
Aims:
The aims should closely mirror the first couple of words from the introduction.
Consistency:
Refer to past studies consistently, indicating whether the findings support or contradict them.
Conclusion:
The conclusion should be a short paragraph that summarizes what the study found with its results.
Highlight the importance of the findings by tying them to how the information can be used.
Abstract Details
Overview:
The abstract is a brief summary of the entire report.
Content:
It should include background, aim, participants, results and key findings, and conclusion and recommendations.
Formatting:
There is no indentation.
Should be written in the past tense.
No citations are needed.
Each section should be only a couple of sentences.
Recommendation:
The abstract is often the hardest part of the paper to write and is recommended to be written at the end.
Hourglass Model of the Research Paper
Structure:
Introduction and discussion sections serve as mirror images within the structure.
The introduction ends with a statement of aims and hypotheses and the discussion starts with that.
The discussion ends with a conclusion summarizing the implications of the findings and why they are important.
Content Flow:
Introduction: Why we should care, what do we know, gap in our knowledge.
Results Document
Purpose:
The results document contains the data that students copy and paste into the participants section of the method and the results section.
Age Information:
The result contains the minimum and maximum age of the sample (age range).
Mean and standard deviation for age.
Gender Information:
Information about gender, including the number and percentage in each category.
The total sample size is also provided.
Group Information:
Shows the number of participants in each group.
For filling in data for H2 and H3, the first and second groups are shown. Report them by their mean and standard deviation.
Correlation Table
Pearson's Correlation:
Pearson's correlation for each study will be displayed here, often marked with asterisks to indicate the P-Value, where the most asterisks (\\\* which is p < .001).
Input this data using the correlation table template.
Example
Template Filling:
Filling in the correlation table template with the given information.
APA Style:
For APA style, use Times New Roman size 12.
Correlation Values:
When correlating, note what happens when variables are correlated with themselves (a correlation of one).
When reporting correlations in APA style, report to two decimal places.
Copying/Pasting to APA Report Template
Paste Options:
Pasting special to a document like Word offers different paste options. To maintain formatting, use "Keep Source Formatting" to preserve the original appearance.
T-Test Templates:
T-Test templates display the difference. When hypothesis two sections are copy and pasted, ensure tabs and spacing before and after paragraphs are zero, and line spacing is double.
Reporting Results:
After using an independent samples T-test, report how it was conducted and the standard variations on well-being. Use concise language, but avoid doing this in the discussion section. When stating the hypothesis, state it fully, but not in the discussion.
Tips
Statistical Sections:
Refer to the tests or equations provided in the document when performing them so as not to reinvent the wheel with statistical sections.
Conciseness:
Be as concise as possible with your tests and state if there were statistically significant differences.
Numbers:
Use the numbers given in the studies and highlighted in the document. Do not state percentages if provided, or calculate the percentages of how many people are in each test.