The structure of the experimental report
1. The title of the study – in English
The name of the study, authors and their affiliations.
2. Abstract – in English
A brief summary of the research (150 – 300 words).
3. Key words – in English
The main words presenting the theme of the report. Examples: visual attention, visual search,
insight, working memory…
This part of the report should be written in English. Grammatical errors are not crucial,
the content is important. Other parts of the report can be written in English or in Russian
at your option.
4. Introduction and literature overview (Введение и обзор литературы)
A short overview of the existing literature. Should contain the main theories and empirical
research in the selected area. Papers should be cited according to APA style or GOST (ГОСТ)
style. APA style is preferable.
5. Problem statement and formulation of hypotheses (Постановка проблемы и
формулировка гипотез)
The reason why research is conducted should have outcomes in the existing theoretical basics
(consequences of the theory verification) or empirical data (controversy in the existing empirical
data). The hypothesis must be causal!
6. Method (Методика)
a. Participants (how many, who are, age…)
b. Apparatus and stimuli / Materials (e.g. psychodiagnostic techniques)
c. Design (independent variable(s), dependent variable(s), control of confounding
variables) and procedure (the sequence of stimuli presentation)
7. Processing of results (Обработка результатов)
Statistical methods used to process the results. Programs used to process the results (SPSS,
Statistica, R…). Please do not process the data with a pencil and paper.
8. Results (Результаты)
The results of the study: means, standard deviations, results of statistical tests, graphs, tables.
The results of statistical tests can be reported in APA style or in GOST (ГОСТ) style, but APA
style is preferable. Do not forget the error bars (standard deviations or standard error means).
9. Discussion (Обсуждение результатов)
The comparison of the results with the hypothesis, other empirical data and theoretical
predictions. Alternative explanations. Research prospects.
10. Conclusion (Заключение / Выводы)
A short summary of the research. Can be done in the form of listing the basic points: 1, 2, 3…
(not more than 5 points, usually).
11. References (Список литературы)
A list of papers cited in the Introduction. Can be done in APA style or in GOST (ГОСТ) style,
APA style is preferable.
Each paragraph should be labeled separately. Paragraphs 4 and 5 can be combined.
The report should be followed by title. The experimental data in .xls / .xlsx format are
required.
The guidelines for experimental report assessment
The “crucial points” (in case the report has at least one point, it is not accepted and gets “0”
points):
1. Plagiarism
2. The study is not experimental (e.g. quasi-experimental or correlational)
3. The study is a replication of the well-known research
4. Lack of any of the paragraphs listed in “The structure of the experimental report”
5. No methodological basics (e.g. testing hypotheses “from life”)
6. Poor statistical analysis (e.g. only means, no statistical tests)
7. The absence of experimental data (the data should be presented in a separate .xls / .xlsx
file).
The “assessed points” (used for assessment only in case of no crucial points):
1. Well-written title, abstract, and key words. Well-written literature overview, using a
literature corresponding to chosen topic.
2. The adequacy of the problem statement and formulation of hypotheses.
3. The adequacy of construct operationalization. Operational and construct validity of the
study.
4. The control of systematic and non-systematic errors. Internal validity of the study.
5. The adequacy of statistical methods chosen for data analysis.
6. The accuracy of the results presentation. The presence of all necessary data and graphs.
7. Well-written discussion and conclusion.
Assessment system (for “assessed points”)
Grade
«Excellent»: 10
«Very good»: 9, 8
«Good»: 7, 6
«Satisfactory»: 5, 4
«Fail»: 3, 2, 1
Criteria
The report satisfies all the criteria
The report satisfies all the criteria, but there
are minor errors or some inaccurate in
literature overview or discussion.
7 – 6 criteria, 1 criteria made partially
6 – 5 criteria, 2 criteria made partially
5 – 4 criteria, 3 criteria made partially
4 – 4 criteria, 1 criteria made partially
3 – 3 criteria, regardless to criteria made
partially
2 – 2 criteria, regardless to criteria made
partially
1 – 1 criteria, regardless to criteria made
partially