Essay

Based on the provided example study examining mood, self-esteem, and unprotected sex, describe how an APA-style table for means and standard deviations is structured to organize descriptive statistics. Specifically, identify how the independent variables and outcome variables are positioned (in terms of column headings, subheadings, and rows) and describe the lines used to format the table.

Question: Based on the provided example study examining mood, self-esteem, and unprotected sex, describe how an APA-style table for means and standard deviations is structured to organize descriptive statistics. Specifically, identify how the independent variables and outcome variables are positioned (in terms of column headings, subheadings, and rows) and describe the lines used to format the table.

Sample answer: In an APA-style table for this design, the independent variables are placed in the columns using a hierarchical structure: the primary column headings represent mood (positive mood and negative mood), which are then subdivided by column subheadings for self-esteem (high self-esteem and low self-esteem). The rows list the outcome variables, which are intentions and attitudes toward unprotected sex. The table cells are filled with the corresponding means (MM) and standard deviations (SDSD). Formatting relies on clean, standard horizontal lines without any vertical lines.

Key points:

  • Overarching column headings represent positive and negative mood.
  • Column subheadings subdivide the columns by high and low self-esteem.
  • Row labels list the outcome variables (intentions and attitudes toward unprotected sex).
  • Table cells are filled with means and standard deviations.
  • The table structure is defined by standard horizontal lines.

Rubric: A complete response must correctly state that: (1) mood serves as the overarching column headings, (2) self-esteem serves as the column subheadings, (3) intentions and attitudes toward unprotected sex are listed as row labels, (4) means and standard deviations populate the cells, and (5) the table is formatted using standard horizontal lines.

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Updated 2026-05-27

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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU

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