Psychology: Experiment Research Project

Table of Contents

Overview..........................................................................................................................................1
Important Dates................................................................................................................................2
Required Components for Research Report....................................................................................2
Research Report Overview..............................................................................................................3
The appendix allows the researcher to provide the reader with detailed information that would be
distracting in the main body of the article. Common appendixes include mathematical proofs, a
large table, lists of words, and sample questionnaires ....................................................................7
Research Report Rubric...................................................................................................................8
Oral Presentation Overview...........................................................................................................10
PowerPoint Rubric.........................................................................................................................11

Overview

Your research team will be exploring behavior and mental processes. This is a formal research
project that involves library and field and/or laboratory work.
1. Develop a research question
2. Research background information
3. Develop a hypothesis
4. Conduct an experiment to test the hypothesis
5. Analyze the results of the experiment
6. Write a report to publicize the findings of your research
7. Present research to class in a formal presentation

Researchers may work as individuals or groups not exceeding three.

Completed research project is worth 1000 points of your project grade. The lab report will be
worth 750 points, while the presentation is valued at 250 points.

Research Report Due on 1/5/2010

Oral Presentations will be on 1/5/2010 through 1/9/2009

Important note: Late projects will not be accepted.

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Important Dates
September 16/17: Group selection and topic due
September 21: Research Question due
September 30/October 1 Computer Lab (Literature search)
October 21: Introduction (w/hypothesis) and bibliography due
November 18: Methods due
January 5: Final Project

Required Components for Research Report

Use this page as a checklist, before submitting.

The research report must contain the following sections. (See laboratory report handout)
 Title page
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 Appendix
 References with APA formatting

The research report must also conform to the following mechanical and format guidelines
 Typed, 12-point Times New Roman or Ariel
 Double-spaced
 1” margins on the top, bottom, left and right
 Every page must be numbered in top right hand corner with a running header
 Free from grammatical and spelling errors

Researchers who fail to conform to the preceding guidelines must resubmit their report the
next class period. Every time a paper is resubmitted, it will incur 15% deduction.

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Research Report Overview

A laboratory report is a write-up of an experiment or other research project and has the same
components as a published research study. The purpose of a lab report is to describe how and
why you performed your experiment, what you discovered, and your interpretation of the results.

Components

1. Title Page
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
a. Introduction of topic
b. Literature Analysis
c. Hypothesis
4. Method
a. Participants
b. Apparatus and Materials
c. Design
d. Procedure
5. Results
a. Tables
b. Figures
6. Discussion
a. Data analysis
b. Generalization of results
c. Strengths and weaknesses
d. Limitations
7. References
8. Appendix

Title Page

The title page should be the first page of your document and introduces the reader to the title and
author of the lab report.

Components

Title

Author's Name(s)

Institutional Affiliation

Page Number

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 Psychology: Experiment Research Project

Title

The title of your laboratory report is a concise description of the purpose and main focus of the
experiment.

Tips

• Make the title specific (identify the topic of investigation).

• Make a statement or ask a question.
• Include the independent variable and dependent variable.
• Keep the length to about 10 to 12 words (never more than 20 words).

Author's Name(s)

Include, in order, the author's first name, middle initial and last name.

Institutional Affiliation

Identify where the study was actually performed (e.g., West Covina High School)

Page Number

Every page of your manuscript, including the title page should have the page number in the
upper right-hand corner of the page.

Abstract

The abstract is a brief summary that highlights the main points of your lab report. It is a one
paragraph, self-contained, concise description of the problem under investigation, the
participants, the observational method, findings, and conclusions.

Tips

• Should be approximately 100 words long (A quick and easy way is to summarize each
section with one sentence.)
• Write the abstract after you have written all of the other sections of your lab report.
• Arrange the information in the same order as the lab report: Introduction, Method,
Results, and Discussion.
• Should be one paragraph with no indentions
• Use abstracts from articles in APA journals as models.
• Do not use redundant information.

Introduction

The purpose of the introduction is to describe your research question, summarize previous
research, explain why your research was necessary, and state your hypotheses.

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In their book, Writing for Psychology, Thaiss and Sanford recommend including these
components in the introduction in the following order:

1. Introduction to the topic

2. Concise discussion of previous literature that has addressed the problem being studied.
3. Statement of the hypotheses and how they were derived from previous research
4. Broad overview of the method used in the study

Tips

• Support your argument with actual research examples.

• Do not use vague references and subjective phrases like "I feel" or "I think".
• Do not arrange the research you summarize chronologically; instead arrange by topic.

Method

The method section is a detailed description of all the operations performed in the research you
are reporting. This section should provide enough information so that someone else could later
replicate the experiment. The method section is divided into the sub-sections listed below.

Participants

This section includes the number of participants used in the study and where they come from, the
selection criteria, and any other important characteristics like age, sex, education level, or
occupation. The term "subject" is no longer used when referring to human participants. Only
animals are referred to as subjects.

Apparatus and Materials

Apparatus includes any equipment that you use during the actual data collection. Materials are
the supplies that were prepared for the experiment such as word lists, puzzles or questionnaires.

Tips

• Don't just list the apparatus and materials; you should also describe the function.
• Only include apparatus and materials that were used in data collection.

Design

In this section describe the experimental design, including; the type of design (between, within,
mixed, etc.), the independent and dependent variable(s), and the experimental hypotheses.

Procedure

This section describes sequentially the procedures employed in the experiment.

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What to include in your Procedure from the book Writing for Psychology by Thaiss and Sanford:

1. Important instructions given to participants

2. How participants were assigned to different conditions
3. What the participants did, step-by-step

Tips

• Describe procedures chronologically.

• Only include procedures for gathering data, not those for analyzing data.

Results

This section concisely summarizes the data collected and the results of the statistical analysis.

Components

1. Results of the descriptive and inferential statistical analyses.

2. Rejection or retention of the null hypothesis
3. If an effect is found, the direction of the effect
4. If necessary, include a summary table or tables of the results
5. If necessary, include a figure or figures to display the data

Tips

• Be sure to include the descriptive statistics (e.g., mean) that your inferential statistics
(e.g., t test) are based on.
• Do not include large amounts of raw data
• Make sure you include any data in this section that you are going to comment on in the
Discussion Section.
• Do not interpret your findings; save your interpretations for the Discussion.
• Do not report the same information twice (e.g., in both a figure and in the text)

Tables

Tables provide a clear way of presenting exact values such as means, standard deviations,
correlations and probabilities. Use tables to summarize data when there is too much information
to include in the text.

Figures

Figures are a way to present trends or interactions between variables graphically. Examples of
figures commonly used are bar graphs, histograms, and frequency polygons.

Discussion

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This is the section in which you interpret the results of the experiment and discuss the
implications of your findings based on your hypotheses. You might also suggest further research
and limitations of your experiment.

In the Discussion, you should:

1. Discuss the results in relation to each of your hypotheses.

2. Discuss possible explanations for your results. How do your results agree or disagree
with the ideas that you introduced in the Introduction? How do your results relate to
previous literature or current theory?
3. Identify and discuss limitations in the experimental design that may reduce the strength
of your results.
4. Introduce new ideas that your results suggest.
5. Generalize your results.
6. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of applying your results to other groups, species,
ages, or sexes.
7. Identify another experiment to be done in this research area.

Tips

• If a result didn't turn out as expected, discuss possible explanations as to why, including
unanticipated shortcomings in the design, problems such as equipment failure, or even
that the theory tested needs modification.
• Avoid overstating the importance of your findings. Be modest rather than expansive.
• Stay focused on the research question.

References

This section is where you give credit to the sources you cited in the body of your document.
Follow APA format.

Tips

• List all of the authors you cited in the document in alphabetical order.
• Use APA format for every source.
• Double-space between and within each citation.
• Indent the first line of each citation.
• Only list sources that actually appeared in the body of your paper.
• Do not cite or list sources that you did not read (For example if you read about a study in
another study's report, you should not use that source.)

Appendix

The appendix allows the researcher to provide the reader with detailed information that would be
distracting in the main body of the article. Common appendixes include mathematical
proofs, a large table, lists of words, and sample questionnaires

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Research Report Rubric

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Abstract Abstract is a concise Abstract is missing Abstract is missing Abstract is missing
summary of research one of the required two of the required three or more of the
including purpose, components components required components
hypothesis, Or exceeds 150
participants, words
methods, and
discussion of results,
not exceeding 150
words.
Introduction- The purpose of the The purpose of the The purpose of the The purpose of the
Introduction of lab or the question to lab or the question to lab or the question to lab or the question
topic be answered during be answered during be answered during to be answered
the lab is clearly the lab is identified, the lab is partially during the lab is
identified and stated. but is stated in a identified, and is erroneous or
somewhat unclear stated in a somewhat irrelevant.
manner. unclear manner.
Introduction- Several reputable A few reputable A few background Material is directly
Discussion of background sources background sources sources are used and copied rather than
previous literature were used and cited are used and cited cited correctly, but put into students
and background correctly. Material is correctly. Material is some are not own words and/or
sources translated into translated into reputable sources. background sources
student's own words. student's own words. Material is translated are cited incorrectly.
into student's own
words.
Introduction- Hypothesized Hypothesized Hypothesized No hypothesis has
Hypothesis relationship between relationship between relationship between been stated.
the variables and the the variables and the the variables and the
predicted results is predicted results is predicted results has
clear and reasonable reasonable based on been stated, but
based on what has general knowledge appears to be based
been studied. and observations. on flawed logic.
Method- Participants are Participants are Participants are Participants are
Participants clearly and concisely concisely identified; identified including identified
identified; including including number, some important
number, where they where they come information
come from, selection from, selection
criteria, and other criteria, and other
important important
characteristics like characteristics like
age, sex, education, age, sex, education,
etc. etc.
Method-Materials All materials and Almost all materials Most of the materials Many materials are
setup used in the and the setup used in and the setup used in described
experiment are the experiment are the experiment are inaccurately OR are
clearly and clearly and accurately described. not described at all.
accurately described. accurately described.
Method- Experimental design Experimental design Experimental design Experimental design
Experimental is a well-constructed is adequate to test is relevant to the is not relevant to the
Design test of the stated the hypothesis, but hypothesis, but is not hypothesis.
hypothesis. leaves some a complete test.
unanswered
questions.

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CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Method- Procedures are listed Procedures are listed Procedures are listed Procedures do not
Procedures in clear steps. Each in a logical order, but are not in a accurately list the
step is numbered and but steps are not logical order or are steps of the
is a complete numbered and/or are difficult to follow. experiment.
sentence. not in complete
sentences.
Results-Data Professional looking Accurate Accurate Data are not shown
and accurate representation of the representation of the OR are inaccurate.
representation of the data in tables and/or data in written form,
data in tables and/or graphs. Graphs and but no graphs or
graphs. Graphs and tables are labeled tables are presented.
tables are labeled and titled.
and titled.
Discussion Discussion includes Discussion includes Discussion includes No Discussion was
whether the findings whether the findings what was learned included in the
supported the supported the from the experiment. report OR shows
hypothesis, data hypothesis, data little effort and
analysis, possible analysis and what reflection.
sources of error, and was learned from the
what was learned experiment.
from the experiment.
Terminology Makes extensive use Makes adequate use Makes some use of Makes minimal use
of appropriate of appropriate appropriate of appropriate
terminology in terms terminology in terms terminology in terms terminology OR
of experimental of experimental of experimental uses terminology
design AND content design AND content design OR content incorrectly

References All sources All sources All sources Some sources are
(information and (information and (information and not accurately
graphics) are graphics) are graphics) are documented.
accurately accurately accurately
documented in APA documented, but a documented, but
format. few are not in APA many are not in APA
format. format.

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Oral Presentation Overview

The second component of this research project is an oral presentation. Students are encouraged
to use PowerPoint as the method to deliver the visual aid.

Your PowerPoint presentation should summarize the research process and findings. Essentially,
you should have at least one slide highlighting each of the major points in the research report,
including:
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion

In order to make your presentation as effective as possible, do the following:

• Use a standardized font and color scheme.
• Use contrasting, easy to read colors.
• Use large fonts. Your fonts must be at least 40-point. If you cannot fit everything you
want to say on one slide using 40-point font, you are writing too much and must either
condense information or add another slide.
• Do not use overly animated text or added sounds. I will make you turn it off.
• Graphics should naturally support the material presented. Do not try to be overly witty or
clever, this usually comes across as contrived.
• The text on your slide should highlight main points or concepts. You should never use
complete sentences. Remember, this program is PowerPoint, not PowerEssay.
• Assume your audience can read. Do not read long tracts of information too them from
the slide.
• Face the audience and make eye contact. You should never read anything from the slide.
Have notes in front of you.
• Speak loudly and clearly. When giving presentations, you should speak twice as loud
and half as fast as you normally would speak.
• Incorporate additional elements to enhance your presentation (i.e., video of your
experiment, demonstration of procedures, etc.)

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PowerPoint Rubric

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Components of the All required All required One required Several required
report elements are present elements are present. element is missing, elements are
and additional but additional missing.
elements that add to elements that add to
the report (e.g., the report (e.g.,
thoughtful thoughtful
comments, graphics) comments, graphics)
have been added. have been added.
Preparedness Student is Student seems pretty The student is Student does not
completely prepared prepared but might somewhat prepared, seem at all prepared
and has obviously have needed a but it is clear that to present.
rehearsed. couple more rehearsal was
rehearsals. lacking.
Content Shows a full Shows a good Shows a good Does not seem to
understanding of the understanding of the understanding of understand the topic.
topic. topic. parts of the topic.
Text - Font Choice Font formats (e.g., Font formats have Font formatting has Font formatting
& Formatting color, bold, italic) been carefully been carefully makes it very
have been carefully planned to enhance planned to difficult to read the
planned to enhance readability. complement the material.
readability and content. It may be a
content. little hard to read.
Use of Graphics All graphics are A few graphics are All graphics are Several graphics are
attractive (size and not attractive but all attractive but a few unattractive AND
colors) and support support the do not seem to detract from the
the theme/content of theme/content of the support the content of the
the presentation. presentation. theme/content of the presentation.
presentation.
Spelling and Presentation has no Presentation has 1-2 Presentation has 1-2 Presentation has
Grammar misspellings or misspellings, but no grammatical errors more than 2
grammatical errors. grammatical errors. but no misspellings. grammatical and/or
spelling errors.

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