Grading Key (Double Points for Paper 2)Points Part of Paper (see details below) 5 Title Page 60 TOTAL Points for APA format and style will focus primarily on the items listed in the next column.
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Here is a list of the elements that your paper should include. Those elements that are specifically marked under APA format are indicated with an asterisk (*). General Formatting:
1. Write in the active voice. Avoid the
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2. Abstract
a) Brief, comprehensive non-evaluative summary of
contents
b) Define abbreviations (if any)
c) Less than or equal to 960 characters (120 words)*
d) Report the problem under investigation, participant
characteristics, experimental method,
findings, conclusions and
implications or applications.
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3. Introduction
a) Introduce the problem in a clear and intriguing
manner (first paragraph).
b) Citation format (you are required to include at least 5 articles in the introduction)* .
c) Literature review - brief, integrated summaries
of the articles.
d) Clear link between literature review and your
hypothesis.
e) State the hypothesis clearly (but do not state
the null hypothesis).
f) Ensure that the reader understands what the dependent
and independent variables are
(including all levels of the independent
variables).
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4. Method
a) Participants
- number of participants;
- ages (mean and range), gender breakdown ;
- explanation of dropped
participants (if any);
- explain where participants
come from, how selected and how assigned to groups;
- state how informed consent
was collected;
- explain why people participated.
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b) Apparatus or materials (e.g., stimuli)
- briefly describes the
apparatus and/or materials and/or stimuli used, and their function
in the experiment.
c) Procedure
- descriptive enough to
allow another researcher to repeat the experiment;
- includes important details
(e.g., participants were tested separately) and excludes unimportant
details (e.g.,
the room number in which participants were tested);
- include a brief description
of the instructions to participants, formation of groups,
experimental
manipulations;
- include randomization,
counterbalancing (if any) or other control features;
- briefly describe the questionnaires,
surveys, etc., used in the experiment.
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5. Results
a) State whether the hypothesis was supported
or not.
b) Include descriptive stats indicating the
direction of the effect.
c) (OPTIONAL) Include a full statistical report
for each hypothesis tested including the kind and value of each
statistic used, degrees
of freedom, error variance and probability level. What is included
here
depends on the type of statistic
used. Check the APA manual if you are in doubt.
d) Take care not to interpret or explain the
results, just state the results.
e) For this exercise, all data and all analyses
(by computer and by hand) must be included in an appendix (see below).
Include only the analyses
in your Results section. Make sure to refer your reader to their
location.
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6. Discussion
a) Restate the findings in words only, that is,
do not include any numbers or statistics. Indicate
whether your hypothesis(es)
were supported or not supported.
b) Link your findings to the literature review.
Point out similarities and differences.
c) Interpret or qualify your findings and/or draw
inferences from them where relevant. Explain
how the findings contribute
to general knowledge.
d) Comment (but do not dwell) on shortcomings in
your work. Suggest wayts to overcome
them in subsequent research.
e) Identify practical and theoretical implications
of your research and suggest what the next
logical step in a research
program on this topic would be.
f) for unsupported hypotheses, suggest reasons why
the desired results were not obtained.
Note: Do NOT focus on the shortcomings of the study.
You want to "sell" your results.
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7. References*
a) A reference for each citation that appears in the paper. You are required to include at least five (this will change for the second paper).
b) Use appropriate APA format for books, chapters from books or journal
articles.
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8. Tables/Figures
(a) At least one table and/or figure for your
result(s) should be included.
(b) Formatting is marked under APA format
while content is marked out of the 5 points that
are assigned for the Table
or Figure.
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9. Appendices
a) All analyses done in SPSS or by hand THAT YOU
DISCUSS IN YOUR PAPER.
b) APA format does not apply for the contents of
the appendices.
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(Acknowledgement: This information is based on the work of Prof. Helena Kadlec at the University of Victoria)