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Writing a research report in APA-style. Vesalius College SOC-203. Scientific research. Descriptive. Experimental. Secundary sources Natural observation Case studies Correlational studies Ex Post Facto research Survey Participant observation. Cause and effect relations through
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Writing a research report in APA-style Vesalius College SOC-203
Scientific research Descriptive Experimental Secundary sources Natural observation Case studies Correlational studies Ex Post Facto research Survey Participant observation Cause and effect relations through Controlled experiments
Main features of the scientific method • Control • External (intermediating) variables are excluded OR kept constant in order to understand causes ofobservations • Operational definitions • Terms defined by operations required to measure them • improves communication, minimal ambiguity • Replication • Reliability of results: does replication lead to the same results? (inter-group, inter-subject, intra-subject, …)
Not-operational Hunger Good salesman Fear Operational 8h without food Sells a lot, provides client with correct information, helpful, … Answers to fear questionnaire, Galvanic Skin Response, Amount of droppings in rats Operational definitions Problem is established in verbal concepts (not-operational), then operationalised. Conclusions are stated in verbal concepts
Goals of science DESCRIBE and EXPLAIN phenomena and so be able to PREDICT and CONTROL them • DESCRIBE (ex Piaget, Freud) • EXPLAIN (antecedents and causes) • PREDICT (ex “weather”, “succeeding in college”) • CONTROL (trigger wanted phenomena by manipulation of causes)
Scientific method research is a stepwise process • Problem identification – Hypothesis formation • Make research problem “researchable” • Experimental design control / measurement of all relevant variables • Execution of experiment participants, instructions, staff, debriefing, data • Hypothesis testing “suitable” data-analyse, interpretation of results • Communication of results scientific publication
Abstract Title Appendix References Research process and research report Research process Hypothesis Design Experiment Testing Reporting Problem definition Approach to problem Research design Field work Data preparation & Analysis Report preparation & Presentation Research report Introduction Methods Results Conclusion
Figure 19.3 The Report Preparation & Presentation Process Figure 19.3 The Report Preparation and Presentation Process Problem Definition, Approach, Research Design, and Field Work Data Analysis Interpretation, Conclusions, and Recommendations Report Preparation Oral Presentation Reading of the Report by the Client Research Follow-up
A report in APA-style • Title page • Abstract • Body (introduction, method, results, conclusion) • References • Tables and Pictures • Extras: content / index, appendix, …
APA-formatted references • Journal articles • Roy, A. (1982). Suicide in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal of Child and Family Studies, 141, 171-177. • Book • Struck, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (1979). The elements of style (3rd ed.). New York: Macmillan. • Web page, no author, no date • GVU’s 8th WWW user suvey. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19, 2001, from http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey-1997-10/
APA-formatted figure Figure Caption Figure 1. JPEG image of child and bipolar adjectives rating scale. Please rate the child [Laurie, Larry, no name] on each of the following items, placing a mark in the space nearest the adjective you feel best describes the child. firm:__:__:__:__:__:soft big:__:__:__:__:__:little strong:__:__:__:__:__:weak hardy:__:__:__:__:__:delicate well-coordinated:__:__:__:__:__:awkward beautiful:__:__:__:__:__:plain
Figure 19.4 Pie Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales Figure 19.4 Pie Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales Other 3% IT Services 14% Imaging and Printing Systems 41% Computing Systems 42%
Figure 19.5 Line Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales Figure 19.5 Line Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales Billions of Dollars
Figure 19.6 A Pictograph of Hewlett Packard Sales Figure 19.6 A Pictograph of Hewlett Packard Sales
Figure 19.7 Histogram of Hewlett Packard’s Sales Figure 19.7 Histogram of Hewlett Packard’s Sales Figure 19.7 Histogram of Hewlett Packard’s Sales 60 50 40 30 Billions of Dollars Billions of Dollars 20 10 0 1999 1996 1997 1998 2000
Information & LINKS • Publication manual of the APA • American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. - 5th ed. - Washington (D.C.) : APA 439 p. : ill. ISBN 1-55798-790-4VUB library: Centrale Bibliotheek: 159.9 B APA 2001 • Essentials • http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/index.cfm?doc_id=796 • Summary of Publication Manual • http://www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.html • General information • http://www.apastyle.org • Q&A • http://webster.commnet.edu/apa/apa_index.htm • Examples for references • http://www.crk.umn.edu/library/links/apa5th.htm • http://www.lib.usm.edu/~instruct/guides/apa.html