Dr. Gass
HCOM 308
Summer 2009
The main sections of a published
empirical study:
Rationale
Review of Literature
Methods
Results
Discussion
Detailed breakdown of a published
experimental study
Title
Abstract: summary or synopsis of the
study
Introduction/Rationale: problem statement, definit=
ions
of key concepts, justification for undertaking the investigation, theoretic=
al
backdrop for the study. (Note: in many scholarly journals, the introduction,
rationale, and literature, are combined and truncated)
Review of Literature=
: review of previous researc=
h in
the topic area, analysis and integration of studies, critique of studies,
relationship of studies to experiment in question
Hypothesis or Research Ques=
tion: formal statement of the
predicted relationship between the independent and dependent variables. (No=
te:
the location of the hypotheses or research questions varies somewhat from s=
tudy
to study)
Methods:
Design Statement:
typically a one sentence description of type of experimental design. (Note: not all experiments include=
a
design statement).
Subjects/Participants:
description of the sample group(s), method of selection/recruitment, proced=
ure
for obtaining voluntary informed consent, demographic data regarding subjec=
ts.
Equipment/Apparatus:=
description of specialized equipment, measurement devices, scales, standard=
ized
instruments. (Note: this is usually only included if complex equipment such=
as
a polygraph or augmentative communication device is being used)
Procedures: =
step
by step description of the procedures in sufficient detail to allow another
researcher to replicate the experiment
cover story (optional) and
instructions to subjects
operationalization of
independent variable(s): description of the stimulus conditions, or how the
independent variable was manipulated.
measurement of dependent
variable(s): how the dependent variable was measured, what type of data was
gathered.
debriefing (dehoaxing,
desensitizing)
Results
Data Treatment: coding of d=
ata,
transformations of data
Analysis
of Data: statistical tests performed on the data
Tables, Graphs, Charts: tab=
ular
summaries and/or graphic representations of the data
Significance/Non-Significance
of Results: answers to research questions or hypotheses
Discussion: implications of the study, limitations or qualifications of the study, directions for future research<= o:p>
References<= o:p>
Appendix:
sample subject consent form, copies of scales and standardized tests,
additional material such as scripts used in various stimulus conditions, et=
c.
(Note: not all experiments include appendices)