The Research Report requires you to conduct a brief review of research literature on a given research topic, formulate a testable hypothesis based on the literature, analyse a data set relevant to the topic (provided by the lecturer), interpret the results of your statistical analyses, and report your findings in APA format. This assignment involves developing all necessary skills for a researcher: data analysis using SPSS, understanding of the interpretation of the statistical analyses, and finally, to communicate information effectively in written mode by reporting the results of the analysis.

The Research Report requires you to conduct a brief review of research literature on a given research topic, formulate a testable hypothesis based on the literature, analyse a data set relevant to the topic (provided by the lecturer), interpret the results of your statistical analyses, and report your findings in APA format.

This assignment involves developing all necessary skills for a researcher: data analysis using SPSS, understanding of the interpretation of the statistical analyses, and finally, to communicate information effectively in written mode by reporting the results of the analysis.

The steps involved in completing this assignment are:

1. Reading recent research in the area as given, forming a hypothesis and then completing a focused literature review.
2. Analyzing the data and interpreting the SPSS output
3. Write up of the research. The format for this write up is the usual format for research in psychology in scientific journals. The maximum length for the research report is 2,000 word.

A data set will be made available to you through the subject interact site at least four weeks prior to the due date. You will need to formulate your own hypothesis. You will use one of the following statistical procedures to analyze your data:

1. Between-subjects factorial ANOVA, or
2. Multiple Regression

It is important that regardless of which type of statistical procedure you use to assess your hypothesis you must establish a clear rationale for your hypothesis based on previous research findings through a focused literature review in the Introduction section of your Research Report.

Writing Resources:

Discovering Statistics: Writing up Research – Andy Field.

APA Manual published by the American Psychological Association, 6th Edition (available in the library)

RATIONALE

SUBJECT LEARNING OUTCOMES

This assessment task will assess the following learning outcome/s:

• be able to explain the different types of research design used in psychological research and identify the strengths and weaknesses of different designs.
• be able to identify the wide range of statistical procedures available to the researcher.
• be able to choose the most appropriate statistical procedures for a research design.
• be able to interpret the analysis outputs of the statistical procedures covered in the subject.
• be able to evaluate research papers both from a methodological and a statistical perspective.
• be able to apply knowledge of statistics and methodology to undertake various key steps (e.g., design, data collection, screening, preparation, analysis of data, and write-up of research results) in producing research of a high quality in an area of psychology.
• be able to apply knowledge of statistics and methodology in further study and professional practice.

A fundamental part of psychology is the accumulation of knowledge by conducting research and communicating the research findings. Thus, the aims of this assignment task are to:

• Enhance your ability to conduct a literature search
• Provide an opportunity for you to build a logical rationale and appropriate hypotheses for an empirical study
• Provide you with experience in conducting an empirical study and to select appropriate data analysis.
• Provide you with an opportunity to write up the report following the APA report writing guidelines.

PRESENTATION

A research report of maximum 2000 words (excluding headings, abstract, tables and their footnotes, reference list and appendices).

• APA lab report writing format must be followed.
• The report has to be double-spaced throughout (except for the Abstract).
• The report has to be word-processed using 12 point Times Roman font and the text has to be justified to the left.
• It should have at least 2.5 cm margins on all sides.
• Any one-sentence paragraph, paragraphs that are longer than one page or side by side paragraphs must not be used.
• Each paragraph should ideally attempt to address only a single idea/theme or set of related ideas/themes.

You MUST also include output from all key analyses with the research report. This assignment must be submitted as a word document