Final Research Paper
Required Sections
• Title page
• Abstract*** (only new section- 250 word summary)
• Introduction (3 pages)
• Methods
• Results
Appendix is not required
(from methods section)
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• References – 10 minimum (8 from intro and 2 from methods)
Title page
• Full descriptive title
• More descriptive the better!
• By reading your title I should be able to know:
• Dependent variable
• Independent variable(s)
• Sample
• Review titles of the articles that you found for inspiration
Abstract
• 200-300 word summary of all of your sections
• This is a single paragraph (no headings)
• Introduction
• Include 1-2 sentences on the overall significance and what is missing from the literature? (what does your study add?)
• Your last sentence should state “the purpose” (specific summary of your 3 RQs)
• Methods
• Include 1-2 sentences stating it was a cross-sectional survey and the sample, the specific name of your DV and and IVs
• Results
• 1-2 sentences summarizing demographic variable (1-2)
• State the last sentence of your results in correct APA form (t of F, df, p and effect size) for EACH 3 research question
• Discussion
• 1 sentence comparing your results to similar studies (no references needed)
• 1 sentence describing the limitations
• 1 sentence for future directions.
Introduction
• Review powerpoint for the structure
• Review the feedback I provided on your initial Introduction
• Focus on consistent summary of studies
• Focus on re-organization of studies (should not have a separate
paragraph for each study)
• See the powerpoint on how to correctly use in-text citations for APA
• Rules for in-text citations are different than the rules for the references at the
end
Problem and Significance
Prevalence
Review of Dependent Variable
(specific studies)
Connect Dependent with
Independent Variable 1
Independent variable
Gaps Within
the Literature
Purpose
Your paper should
start off broad and
get more specific as
you write.
Introduction Headers
End your Introduction with a specific statement of your studies
purpose
Include only 2 sub headers (bold and left aligned)
• Research Questions
• Are there significant differences [insert specific measurable DV] between
[state the groups]?
• Hypothesis
• Include a directional hypothesis
• Ex: The group receiving the guided mediation will have significantly lower
scores compared to the group randomized to yoga.
Introduction: In-text citations
• Need to have 8 references of 8 different peer-reviewed journal
articles
• For each of these you need a in-text reference AND the full APA
reference at the end of the paper
Methods Section
• Methods sections are separated in 4 subheadings:
•
•
•
•
Participants
Procedures
Measures
Data Analysis
Participants
• Everyone is using the same pool of data; therefore, we will all have a
similar participants & procedure section
• Include the following information in your participant's paragraph
• do not copy and paste- needs to be reworded in paragraph form
• Purposive sampling was used
• All participants were University of South Florida undergraduates
• Students enrolled in Dr. Johnson’s research methods course(n = 90) completed an
anonymous survey as part of their class research project.
• Students completed a large pool of questionnaires related to health and psychology
topics.
Procedures
• Everyone is using the same pool of data; therefore, we will all have a similar
participants & procedure section
• Include the following information in your procedure’s paragraph (do not copy and
paste- needs to be reworded in paragraph form)
• Cross-sectional survey design was used
• During week 1 of the Fall 23 semester all students completed the Qualtrics survey posted in
Canvas.
• Students completed a large pool of questionnaires related to health and psychology topics.
• Students only completed the survey once during week 1.
• Survey took approximately 30 minutes.
• Students selected a single dependent variable and 1-2 independent variables to develop
specific research questions and hypotheses.
Measures
Review APA Formatting
using the Examples –
this section typically
has the most
formatting mistakes
• Review your Lab 1 assignment (review the specific names of your 2
questionnaires
• Locate the questionnaire in the “Project Questionnaire List & Scoring
Information” document
• For Each Questionnaire (DV and IV) have a paragraph summarizing the
following information:






Name and reference (provided for you at the bottom of the project questionnaire list)
Number of items
2 sample items
Response scale (forced choice, Likert)
Include what the responses mean (1= strongly agree….)
Find an article that used this questionnaire and report the reliability estimates (alpha = XX).*
 ** Example in next slide
Cronbach’s alphaLook in article’s
methods section
Data Analysis
• In this part of the method section, you should
describe:
• Statistical software used?
• SPSS version 28
• How each of your variables will be scored?
• Use the project questionnaire list & scoring information (Should
have been provided in Lab 1)
• For each DV and IV, state if there are subtotals and if so, which are
you using
• Report reverse coded items
• How are total scores created?
• The specific statistic used to analyze each research question
Data Analysis
Which statistic to use?
* Depends on the wording of your research questions
• RQ1- frequency analysis
• Which measure of central tendency is in your question? (mean, median, mode)?
• Count = frequency (n or %)
• RQ2- prediction
• 1 IV = simple linear regression
• 2 of more IVs = multiple linear regression
• RQ3- Group comparison
• One-way ANOVA
Results
• You will follow the same format as your initial results section
• See comments and revisions from your initial section
• See the results section powerpoint for more detail
References
• 10 references minimum (these must be peer-reviewed scientific
articles)
• 8 from Introduction
• 2 from methods (your 2 questionnaires- provided for you)
• 1-2 from discussion (can re-use references from the Introduction or add new
studies)
• You may include more but only if it make sense and the references
are actually used in the paper.
• Do not add more without discussing the articles.
References
• This is the only section that needs to start on its on page
• All of the other sections should be continuous(do not start on their
own page)
• See the powerpoint on how to format in correct APA
Resources within Canvas
• Introduction & APA citations
• Module 5 & 6
• Methods Section
• Module 7 (quiz 3 page)
• Module 8
• Results
• Module 10 (quiz 5 page)
• Module 12
• Discussion
• Module 13 (quiz 6 page)
• Module 14