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You have just finished analyzing the data for your psychology experiment and need to write your APA style Results section. Your analyses include the following elements: (1) an exploratory test of memory recall differences by age, (2) the main hypothesis test of mood effects on overall memory, (3) a manipulation check to see if the mood induction video worked, (4) the exclusion of two participants who fell asleep, and (5) the creation of a 'Total Memory Score' by summing recall across three different tasks. Write a brief outline of your Results section applying the standard logical progression, explaining where each of these five elements should be placed and why.
Question: You have just finished analyzing the data for your psychology experiment and need to write your APA style Results section. Your analyses include the following elements: (1) an exploratory test of memory recall differences by age, (2) the main hypothesis test of mood effects on overall memory, (3) a manipulation check to see if the mood induction video worked, (4) the exclusion of two participants who fell asleep, and (5) the creation of a 'Total Memory Score' by summing recall across three different tasks. Write a brief outline of your Results section applying the standard logical progression, explaining where each of these five elements should be placed and why.
Sample answer: First, I would report the preliminary issues. I would start by mentioning the exclusion of the two participants who fell asleep and the rationale for doing so. Next, I would explain how the 'Total Memory Score' was computed by combining responses from the three memory tasks. Then, I would report the outcome of the manipulation check for the mood induction video. Finally, once these preliminary issues are established, I would tackle the primary research questions, starting with the most general main hypothesis test regarding mood effects on overall memory, followed by the more specific exploratory test of age differences.
Key points:
- Report participant exclusions and the rationale first.
- Explain how primary variables were computed from multiple responses second.
- Report the outcomes of the manipulation check third.
- Tackle the main, general research hypothesis next.
- End with the more specific exploratory research question.
Rubric: Full credit requires identifying the two main stages (preliminary issues followed by primary research questions) and correctly sequencing all five elements: exclusions, variable creation, manipulation check, general hypothesis, and specific hypothesis.
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Research Methods in Psychology - 4th American Edition @ KPU
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