Sections Of A Psychological Report

Question 1

What are the different sections of a psychological report?

Answer 1

Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
References

Question 2

Describe the abstract section of a psychological report

Answer 2

Provides the reader with a summary of the study including its findings
- purpose is to provide a short summary of the study
- and provide sufficient information to establish if full report is worth reading

Question 3

Describe the introduction section of a psychological report

Answer 3

Contextualises the research

It is an important part of the report
- provides background information on theories and studies relevant to the investigation
- explains how current aims/ hypothesis were derived

Question 4

Describe the method section of a psychological report

Answer 4

States what was done in the investigation allowing replication
Will include standardised instructions

Question 5

What are the separate sections involved in the method section of a psychological report?

Answer 5

Design - design stated e.g. repeated measures
Participants - the target population
Apparatus/ materials - a description of all apparatus and materials used - source of materials should be given
Procedures - what was carried out

Question 6

Describe the results section of a psychological report

Answer 6

Summary of findings

• includes descriptive statistics such as graphs, tables, measures of central tendency, dispersion
• also includes choice of test, calculated and critical values, level of significance etc.

Question 7

Describe the discussion section of a psychological report

Answer 7

Findings are discussed in relation to previous research

• researchers will discuss limitations of the study + how it can be improved

Question 8

Describe the references section of a psychological report

Answer 8

Inform reader of sources of previous research

• includes:
  author
  year of publication
  title
  place of publification
  Publisher for books
  Name of journal etc.