Writing Skills for Research Reports in Psychology

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Questions and Answers

What should be done when stating the findings of a study?

Interpret the data extensively.

Include complex statistical analyses.

Describe the findings without interpretation. (correct)

State only the hypothesis.

In discussing research findings, what should the opening paragraph address?

Specific methodologies used.

The research problem or question. (correct)

The limitations of the study.

Detailed statistical results.

What does the term 'operational terms' refer to in the context of hypothesis rewording?

Quantifiable or measurable concepts. (correct)

Broad generalizations about findings.

Subjective interpretations of results.

Theoretical implications.

When evaluating a study's limitations, what aspect should be considered?

Threats to the study's internal validity. Signup and view all the answers

What should conclusions drawn from research generally link back to?

The research question or problem. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of the abstract in a study?

It summarizes key elements and allows the study to stand alone. Signup and view all the answers

What is a crucial characteristic of a well-constructed title for a research study?

It must be informative, concise, and avoid ambiguity. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is not typically included in the abstract of a research study?

An extensive literature review. Signup and view all the answers

What approach should researchers take to test the implications of their findings?

Apply findings to real-world problems or different investigation areas. Signup and view all the answers

When writing an abstract, what should the authors ensure about its standalone nature?

It should summarize critical aspects that allow it to stand alone. Signup and view all the answers

What personality traits were found to correlate positively with sales success in British employees?

Bold, Mischievous, Imaginative Signup and view all the answers

What methodology was used to measure the association between media exposure and symptom severity in the study?

Daily diary methodology Signup and view all the answers

Which type of media was hypothesized to have a stronger negative impact on mental health symptoms?

Social media Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the study, what was evaluated regarding childhood maltreatment?

Its effect on media consumption behaviors Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential characteristic of the method section in reporting a study?

Detailed enough for replication Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of research design is emphasized when presenting quantitative results?

Restating hypothesis in conceptual terms Signup and view all the answers

What should be included in the comprehensive method description of a study?

Participants, measures, and procedures Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a focus within the study’s methodology?

Future research predictions Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aim of a scientific report?

To describe an experiment and communicate results Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of scientific writing?

Use of emotional language Signup and view all the answers

What should the introduction of a scientific report include?

A brief overview of the research problem and previous studies Signup and view all the answers

When writing in a scientific report, which aspect of language should be avoided?

Colloquial expressions or slang Signup and view all the answers

Which section of a scientific report provides a summary of current knowledge and methodological issues?

Literature Review Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the rationale in the introduction?

To justify the hypothesis using previous research Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the 'Method' section of a scientific report?

A detailed account of the research methodology used Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of following style guidelines in scientific writing?

To create a narrative flow and avoid inconsistencies Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Developing Skills for Psychologists/Neuroscientists 1 - Writing Skills - Research Reports

The course focuses on developing writing skills for psychologists and neuroscientists, specifically for research reports.
The lecture materials cover the basic structure and sections of a report, as well as the qualities of scientific writing.
Scientific writing in reports and essays should be concise, objective, and precise.
A scientific report aims to describe an experiment, communicate results, and adhere to scientific conventions.
A clear title is crucial, capturing the topic, aim, and research question within informative and concise words.
The abstract should stand on its own, containing key aspects of the literature review and the research problem. It must also include the hypothesis/hypotheses, methods, study design, participant sample size, results, and implications.
The introduction needs a clear opening paragraph. The background, rationale, and hypotheses should be clearly presented and linked to existing research. A concise literature review is required, summarising existing knowledge and highlighting important conclusions.
The method section must comprehensively describe the study's conduct, specifying participants, materials, procedure, and ethical considerations. The procedure should be described in chronological order and with sufficient detail for replication by others.
The results section presents the findings of the data analysis in a clear and unbiased way, restating the hypotheses operationally and summarising them. Tables and figures should support the results.
The discussion interprets the results. This section compares the findings with prior research and theoretical models, offering reasonable explanations for unexpected findings. Discussion of limitations, future research areas, and implications are part of this section.
The method and results sections are crucial to scientific writing, as they focus on research design, the collection of data, its analysis, and reporting the results.
Scientific writing needs to be objective, accurate, clear, and the writer needs to know their audience. Jargon should be used appropriately and the style follows established guidelines, including correct verb tense (past tense for the method), active vs. passive voice, self-reference, unbiased language, parallel forms, and enumeration.

Report Assessments

The course covers assessments from LC (Level) to LH (Level).
Assessments include RMA, RMB Report 1 & 2 as well as a cognitive psychology related aspect.
Other similar assessments are RMC and RMD, and a LH project.
Developing report writing skills has practical value.

Report Marking Criteria

Report marking considers elements such as the title and abstract, results, introduction, methodology, and overall comments.

Structure of Research Reports

A research report typically follows a structure with the introduction, method, results, and discussion sections. Ideally, introduction and discussion will lead into each other.

Introduction

A concise literature review should be included.
It should introduce the research problem/question, scope of previous research, and relevant statistics/quotations/examples, leading into the research rationale and study's hypothesis.

Method

The method section provides a detailed description of how the research was conducted, encompassing the participants, materials used, procedure, and ethical considerations.

Results

Findings of the data analysis are presented. The reporting is clear, concise, and impartial, supported by appropriate tables and figures.

Discussion

The discussion section interprets results, comparing findings with existing research, theory, and logical explanations. This section should emphasize implications of the findings and suggest directions for future research.

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Description

This quiz focuses on developing writing skills essential for psychologists and neuroscientists, specifically in creating research reports. It covers the structure, quality, and conventions of scientific writing, including important components like the title, abstract, introduction, and results. Mastering these skills will enhance your ability to communicate research effectively.