Sections of a Research Report (College Board AP® Psychology): Study Guide

What is a research report?

• A research report is a standardized written document that presents the design, findings, and conclusions of a piece of psychological research

• Research reports follow a specific structure that is consistent across all published psychological research — this standardization allows other researchers to:

  • evaluate the quality of the research during peer review

  • replicate the study using the same methodology

  • locate and interpret specific information quickly and efficiently

• The APA publishes guidelines for the structure and formatting of research reports

  • All psychological research submitted for peer review must adhere to these guidelines

Abstract

• The abstract is a brief summary of the entire research report, appearing at the very beginning

• The abstract provides an overview of the:

  • aim of the study

  • hypothesis being tested

  • method used

  • key results found

  • main conclusions drawn

• Reading the abstract allows researchers and peer reviewers to quickly determine whether the study is relevant to their purposes without reading the full report

• The abstract is the first section evaluated during peer review

  • If the methodology or conclusions appear flawed at this stage, the reviewer will scrutinize the full report carefully

Introduction

• The introduction provides the theoretical and empirical context for the study

• The introduction includes:

  • a review of theories relevant to the research topic

  • a summary of previous research findings related to the study

  • a clear statement of the aim of the study

  • the experimental hypothesis and the null hypothesis

• The introduction establishes why the study is necessary and how it builds on or challenges existing psychological knowledge

  • This is directly relevant to how conclusions evolve through peer review and replication

Method

• The method section describes exactly how the study was conducted in sufficient detail for another researcher to replicate it precisely

• The method section includes:

  • Participants:

    • The total number of participants in the sample

    • Relevant demographic details (e.g. age, gender)

    • The sampling method used and justification for its use (e.g. convenience sampling, random sampling)

  • Design:

    • The research methodology used (e.g. lab experiment, naturalistic observation, survey)

    • The experimental design if applicable (e.g. between-subjects, within-subjects)

    • Identification and operationalization of the IV and DV (experimental studies) or co-variables (correlational studies)

  • Materials:

    • A description of any materials, apparatus, or measurement instruments used (e.g. standardized questionnaires, Likert scales, behavioral categories)

  • Procedure:

    • A step-by-step account of exactly what participants were asked to do

    • The standardized instructions given to participants

    • How ethical guidelines were implemented (e.g. informed consent obtained, right to withdraw explained, debrief conducted)

Results

• The results section presents a summary of the data collected during the study

• The results section includes:

  • Descriptive statistics:

    • Measures of central tendency (mean, median, or mode) summarizing the typical score per condition

    • Measures of dispersion (range or standard deviation) summarizing the spread of scores per condition

    • Visual representations of the data — tables, bar charts, histograms, or scatterplots

  • Inferential statistics:

    • The outcome of statistical testing — whether the results are statistically significant or not

    • The effect size — indicating the practical significance of the findings

    • A statement of whether the null hypothesis is rejected or retained based on the statistical findings

Discussion

• The discussion section interprets the results in the context of the study's aim and the broader theoretical and empirical literature

• The discussion includes:

  • an interpretation of the findings in light of the original aim and hypothesis

  • An evaluation of the strengths and limitations of the study's methodology

    • e.g. validity, reliability, sampling bias, ethical issues

  • a consideration of how the findings relate to existing theories and research

  • suggestions for future research based on the limitations identified

  • real-world applications of the findings

    • e.g. in clinical, educational, or social contexts

• The discussion is the section most scrutinized during peer review

  • Reviewers evaluate whether the conclusions drawn are justified by the data and whether the limitations have been honestly acknowledged

How report structure connects to peer review & replication

• The standardized structure of a research report is what makes peer review possible

• Reviewers can navigate directly to the sections most relevant to their evaluation:

  • The method section is evaluated for replicability

    • Is the procedure described in sufficient detail for another researcher to repeat it exactly?

  • The results section is evaluated for accuracy

    • Are the descriptive and inferential statistics correctly calculated and appropriately interpreted?

  • The discussion section is evaluated for validity

    • Are the conclusions supported by the data, or has the researcher overclaimed?

• The standardized structure also makes replication possible

  • A clearly written method section allows independent researchers to repeat the study under the same conditions and test whether the original findings hold up

• When a study survives peer review and is subsequently replicated with consistent findings, this strengthens confidence in its conclusions and contributes to the evolution of psychological knowledge