Writing a research report
in APA-style
Vesalius College
SOC-203
Scientific research
Descriptive
Secundary sources
Natural observation
Case studies
Correlational studies
Ex Post Facto
research
Survey
Participant observation
Experimental
Cause and effect
relations through
Controlled experiments
Main features of the scientific method
Control

External (intermediating) variables are excluded
OR kept constant in order to understand causes
ofobservations
Operational definitions


Terms defined by operations required to measure
them
improves communication, minimal ambiguity
Replication

Reliability of results: does replication lead to the
same results? (inter-group, inter-subject, intrasubject, …)
Operational definitions
Not-operational
Hunger
Good salesman
Fear
Operational
8h without food
Sells a lot, provides
client with correct
information, helpful, …
Answers to fear
questionnaire, Galvanic
Skin Response, Amount
of droppings in rats
Problem is established in verbal concepts (notoperational), then operationalised. Conclusions are
stated in verbal concepts
Goals of science
DESCRIBE and EXPLAIN phenomena and so be
able to
PREDICT and CONTROL them
DESCRIBE (ex Piaget, Freud)
EXPLAIN (antecedents and causes)
PREDICT (ex “weather”, “succeeding in
college”)
CONTROL (trigger wanted phenomena by
manipulation of causes)
Scientific method
research is a stepwise process
Problem identification – Hypothesis formation
Make research problem “researchable”
Experimental design
control / measurement of all relevant variables
Execution of experiment
participants, instructions, staff, debriefing, data
Hypothesis testing
“suitable” data-analyse, interpretation of results
Communication of results
scientific publication
Research process and research report
Research process
Hypothesis
Design
Experiment
Testing
Reporting
Problem
definition
Approach to
problem
Research
design
Field
work
Data
preparation
& Analysis
Report
preparation
&
Presentation
Results
Conclusion
Research report
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
References
Appendix
Figure 19.3 The Report Preparation and Presentation Process
Problem Definition, Approach, Research Design, and Field Work
Data Analysis
Interpretation, Conclusions, and Recommendations
Report Preparation
Oral Presentation
Reading of the Report by the Client
Research Follow-up
A report in APA-style
Title page
Abstract
Body (introduction, method, results,
conclusion)
References
Tables and Pictures
Extras: content / index, appendix, …
APA-formatted references
Journal articles

Roy, A. (1982). Suicide in chronic schizophrenia. British Journal
of Child and Family Studies, 141, 171-177.
Book

Struck, W., Jr., & White, E. B. (1979). The elements of style (3rd
ed.). New York: Macmillan.
Web page, no author, no date

GVU’s 8th WWW user suvey. (n.d.) Retrieved September 19,
2001, from http://www.cc.gatech.edu/gvu/user_surveys/survey1997-10/
APA-formatted figure
Figure Caption
Figure 1. JPEG image of child and bipolar adjectives rating scale.
Please rate the child [Laurie, Larry, no
name] on each of the following items,
placing a mark in
the space nearest the adjective you feel
best describes the child.
firm:__:__:__:__:__:soft
big:__:__:__:__:__:little
strong:__:__:__:__:__:weak
hardy:__:__:__:__:__:delicate
well-coordinated:__:__:__:__:__:awkward
beautiful:__:__:__:__:__:plain
Figure 19.4 Pie Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales
Other 3%
IT Services 14%
Imaging and
Printing Systems
41%
Computing
Systems 42%
Figure 19.5 Line Chart of Total Hewlett Packard Sales
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Figure 19.6 A Pictograph of Hewlett Packard Sales
Figure 19.7 Histogram of Hewlett Packard’s Sales
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
APA-formatted table
Table 19.2
Hewlett-Packard Sales: 19962000
Year
Net Revenue (Billions of Dollars)
1996
31.6
1997
35.5
1998
39.4
1999
42.4
2000
48.8
Source: The 2000 Annual Report, Hewlett-Packard Company
Information & LINKS
Publication manual of the APA

American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association. - 5th ed. - Washington (D.C.) : APA
439 p. : ill. ISBN 1-55798-790-4
VUB library: Centrale Bibliotheek: 159.9 B APA 2001
Essentials

http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/ddegelman/index.cfm?doc_id=796
Summary of Publication Manual

http://www.wooster.edu/psychology/apa-crib.html
General information

http://www.apastyle.org
Q&A

http://webster.commnet.edu/apa/apa_index.htm
Examples for references


http://www.crk.umn.edu/library/links/apa5th.htm
http://www.lib.usm.edu/~instruct/guides/apa.html