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Research Skills

Research Skills. Week 2: Finding and reading a paper. Tutors. See StudyDirect for the names of your tutors Please remember our first names for submission of your course work Only email us for personal issues (e.g. to inform us of absence etc.). Welcome to Research Skills.

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Research Skills

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  1. Research Skills Week 2: Finding and reading a paper

  2. Tutors • SeeStudyDirectfor the names of yourtutors • Please remember our first names for submission of your course work • Only email usforpersonal issues (e.g. to inform us of absence etc.)

  3. Welcome to Research Skills • 1 hour 50 min practical weeks 2 – 12 • Please attend allocated sessions or negotiate a change directly with the Psychology office

  4. Welcome to Research Skills • Autumn term coursework submissions • Week 7: Lab report (based on fast-food data). • Week 11: Lab report (based on the maths test you did last week).

  5. Welcome to Research Skills • Course material - Graham Hole’s resources page: • Google > Graham Hole • Questions about the course/coursework: • Forum: Study Direct > Research Skills > Forum • Office Hour: (to be announced) • Emails: Do not email tutors directly about coursework, use the forum.

  6. Today • The Research Process • Scientific Writing Style • Original Article vs. Secondary source • How to Find a Paper • How to Read a Paper • Research Treasure Hunt

  7. The Research Process • Subject area • Read around the subject • Research question • Design the study • Obtain ethical approval • Conduct the study • Data analysis • Lab report

  8. Lab Reports • Report of a study that you have conducted. • Resembles structure of a journal article. • Contains title, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references. • Written in past tense (you are describing the results of a study).

  9. Scientific Writing Style • Write concisely • Write in a formal tone • Avoid jargon • Focus on relevant literature • Top tip: Read and look at published journal articles to get an idea of what you should be aiming for

  10. Original Article vs. Secondary Source From a textbook citation... “Stanley Milgram’s (1963) study of destructive obedience highlighted the dilemma facing a person ordered by an authority figure to perform an immoral act”

  11. ... to the original study • But why would I want to look at the original? • And if I did, how would I find it?

  12. Why look at original papers? I think Cuddy is very intelligent! • One simple reason: • When a textbook/paper author (or anyone else) summarises a study, they can get it wrong... • The more people between you and the study, the more chance something is wrong House Cuddy House Wilson Wilson thinks you’re intelligent ...but ugly.

  13. How to Find a Paper • At the end of textbook chapters (or sometimes the whole book) and journal articles you will find the reference section • Reference sections are ordered by first author’s surname: • Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology,67(4), 371–378.

  14. How to Find a Paper • If you know the reference for a paper:- • Go to the library website: www.sussex.ac.uk/library • Electronic Library > Online Journals > Type in journal name > Find the correct volume, issue and page numbers

  15. How to Find a Paper • If you want to do a search on a topic:- • Go to the library website: www.sussex.ac.uk/library • Electronic Library > Online Resources > Choose ‘PsycARTICLES’ or ‘PsycINFO’ > Simple or Advanced • Electronic Library > QuickSearch • Google Scholar • Top tip: be specific!

  16. How to Read a Paper • Easier to read them in this order: • Abstract • Discussion • Introduction • Methods • Results • (References) • Papers are laid out in this order: • Abstract • Introduction • Methods • Results • Discussion • References

  17. Example Paper • Discussion • Summary of purpose and results • Comparison to previous research • Possible faults • Wider implications • Future directions • Conclusions • Abstract • Summary of everything that’s in the paper • Order: Past research, methods, results, conclusions • Approx. 150 words

  18. Example Paper • Methods • Usually split into four sections: • Participants • Materials • Design • Procedure • Technical language • Introduction • Quick explanation of research area • Summary of relevant past research (and perhaps its flaws) • Purpose of study • Brief description of methods • Hypotheses

  19. Example Paper • References • Don’t need to worry about these too much when reading • If you find past research in the paper that sounds interesting, look for a full citation here • And use your new skills to find that paper • Results • Point-by-point breakdown of findings • Descriptive statistics • Inferential statistics • The magic word: ‘significant’

  20. The Handout • Work through the “Research Treasure Hunt” hand-out. • Try not to use the same search tool for each question.

  21. By Next Week • Have completed this week’s work sheet (especially question 9). • Next week: Questionnaire design

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