Title Page
Your title must include the variables and some articulation of relations between them(e.g.,
“difference between…”; “effects of x on y”).
Your running head is a shortened but complete title within the character limit.
Include all relevant parts of the title page.
Be sure to follow APA style
Abstract
Your abstract includes
the research question,
variables,
number and type of participants,
major results, and
implications/limitations of those results stated clearly and concisely within the limit of 250
words.
Introduction
Topic and Context
Your paper (i.e., first paragraph or two) should begin in a broad manner and clearly explain the
problem to be investigated.
Literature review:
Describe at least 3 studies in enough detail so that their relation to other studies and to the
relevant theoretical and methodological issues can be understood by the reader.
The review is in your own words, and the focus is on the research, rather than the researchers.
Present limitations of prior research and contrasting views/positions if any exist
Provide a clear explanation of how the proposed study will answer this question or fill a research
gap.
Hypothesis
End your introduction with a clearly stated hypothesis, and
Offer directional predictions based on the previous literature.
The hypothesis is testable. It is clear what the experimental groups will be and what will be
measured.
Method
Participants
Describe the sample including a number of participants and all necessary characteristics.
Procedure
Describe what was done, in order, with enough detail that a reader could replicate the study;
Include the instructions and protocol.
Data management
Describe how the dependent variable was measured (i.e., scoring, quantification)
Results
Descriptive statistics
Provide the number of men and women, age range
Inferential Statistics
Provide means and SD for each DV.
For each t-test, describe the type of t-test and state findings in “plain English.”
Discussion
Interpretation
Restate the findings briefly.\
Note patterns in the data and relations among the variables
Make sure that your conclusions do not go beyond the data.
Connect your explanation/ interpretation back to the hypotheses and to the broader
psychological problem as represented in the introduction.
Explain any discrepancies between the expected results and the actual data
Summarize your take-home message clearly at the end.
Evaluation
Discuss the extent to which the results are conclusive and can be generalized.
Discuss potential confounds or methodological limits
Describe future research.
References
Include all and only cited articles.
Articles are appropriately scholarly and appropriate to the topic.
Sufficient recent sources make the review current, and classic studies are included if applicable
and available.
Make sure that you make clear in your introduction how these papers are relevant.