APA- Abstract, Results & Discussion (Smith & Davis, 2005; Mitchell & Jolley, 2004)

APA- Abstract, Results & Discussion(Smith & Davis, 2005; Mitchell & Jolley, 2004)

APA- Abstract • Abstract • The abstract of an experimental report consists of a brief (up to 120 words) one paragraph description of the research presented in your paper. • should include a description of the intent and procedure (including participants and method) of your project, the results you obtained, and the project’s implications or applications. • It is important to note that the abstract is typed in block form; there is not indentation on the first line. • Your proposal… same except not in past tense (future) and will not have results to report only what you predict will happen

Abstract • Brief summary of the paper • Typically, no more than 6 sentences summarizing introduction, method, results, and discussion

Results (inferential) • Results  As well as basic stats… • Descriptive statistics • In order to give a full picture of the data, it is customary to present descriptive statistics in addition to the inferential statistics. • Means and standard deviations typically allow readers to get a good feel for the data. • With a small number of groups, you can present the descriptive statistics in the text. • With many groups, it may be more efficient and clearer to present the descriptive statistics in either a table or a figure.

Sections of the APA-Format Paper • Results • Descriptive statistics • A figure is a pictorial representation of a set of results. • It is likely that the majority of figures you will use will be line graphs or bar graphs. • It may be easier to see an interaction in a line graph than in a bar graph. • Be sure to refer to your figures in the text at an appropriate place. • The advantage of a figure over a table is accessibility – the data, particularly the significant interaction, seem easier to understand and conceptualize in the pictorial presentation.

Figures & Captions

Tables • Results • Descriptive statistics • A table consists of a display of data, usually in numerical form. • To use a table, your data display should be large enough that it would be difficult or confusing to present in the text. • If you use a table in your paper, be sure to refer to it at the appropriate point.

Proposal – Results Section • Results • YOU WILL NOT REPORT RESULTS… • First list the design of the experiment A 3X4 between subjects design… • Here write: “The Independent variables are…+ list the levels. Then list the DV….”The dependent variable is…” • Then, the stats you will use…”The data will be analyzed with a two-way ANOVA • Do not forget post hocs if applicable (exact one: Bonferroni etc…) • The expected effect of your manipulations…but, do not go into the meaning or implications of your expected finding…this is left for the discussion section

APA Discussion Section • Relate predicted results to the hypothesis • Relate predicted results to previous research and theory • Discuss limitations of study • Discuss follow-up studies

Writing the Discussion Section • Did the results support the hypothesis? • What do the results mean in terms of the points you brought up in your introduction? • What are the limitations of your study or alternative explanations for your results? • What explanations do you have for any unexpected findings? • What directions do you see for future research? • What are the practical or theoretical implications of your findings?

Sections of the APA-Format Paper • Discussion • The fourth major section of the APA-format paper. • Contains a summary of the experiment’s results, a comparison of those results to previous research, and the conclusion(s) from the experiment.

Discussion • Discussion (for proposal same issues…) • You should be guided by three questions in the discussion section: • What have I contributed here? • How has my study helped to resolve the original problem? • What conclusions and theoretical implications can I draw from my study? • Typically, authors answer these three questions by: • Briefly restating their findings (hypothesis) • Comparing and contrasting their findings to previous research cited in the introduction • Giving their interpretation of their findings

Sections of the APA-Format Paper • Discussion • Interpreting the results • This portion of the discussion section gives you more of a free hand to engage in conjecture and speculation than any other portion of the experimental writeup. • It is here that you draw the bottom line to your study: • What is the overall conclusion? • What are the implications of your results for any psychological theories? • How can your results be applied in various settings – the laboratory, the real world, our body of psychological knowledge? • What new research should grow out of this study?

Proposal • Discussion • First present the expected results of your study • Start this sentence with a rehash of your hypothesis • Discuss the importance of your study • What is the overall conclusion? • What are the implications of your results for any psychological theories? • How can your results be applied in various settings – the laboratory, the real world, our body of psychological knowledge? • Discuss the limitations: Start with the measures you are taking to control for possible threats to validity (the 9 evil), then cover the threats that you were not able to control for in your design and the trade offs…maybe external vs internal validity issues • End your paper with a statement about why your study will add to existing knowledge and future directions for study in your topic area

APA- Abstract, Results & Discussion (Smith & Davis, 2005; Mitchell & Jolley, 2004)