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