Research Reports

BHV 390: Research MethodsKimberly Porter Martin, Ph.D.

Components of a Research Report

• Title Page• Abstract• Literature Review• Methods Section• Results Section• Discussion Section• References

Title Page in APA Format 

 

  

 

RISK AND POLITICS:

AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN A

MULTICULTURAL U.S. NEIGHBORHOOD

 

  

 

 

 

Susie Q. Student

 

 

Submitted to the Sociology and Anthropology Department

University of La Verne

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOCIOLOGY

 

 

 

 

 

May, 2008

 

 

 

•

AbstractAn abstract is a brief summary of what is in a paper or report.

Abstracts are between 150 and 350 words long and begin on their own new page with the heading “Abstract.”

They are written after the research is completed. Components of an abstract include: • One or two sentences introducing the topic and/or population

on which the study focused. • One or two primary hypotheses addressed by the study.• Methods including the sample size, sampling technique and

sex, age and ethnicity statistics on the participants. • Data collection methods sources for measures of major

variables. • A brief general statement of the most important findings,

usually from one or two hypotheses

Sample Abstract Abstract

 

Tens of thousands of Vietnamese Amerasian immigrants entered the United States following the 1988 Homecoming Act. This population experienced poverty, abuse and severe discrimination growing up in Vietnam, and intensive culture shock and disconfirmed expectations after arriving in the United States. Participants were one hundred female and fifty-nine male Vietnamese Amerasian immigrants living in or near the Little Saigon area of Orange County, California in 1995 and 1996 Twenty-one of the participants were Afro-Amerasian. Participants ranged from 19 to 43 years of age (M=25). Structured interviews including the Vietnamese language version of the Harvard Trauma Scale and the State-Trait Anger Inventory were used to elicit data. Data was collected on conditions of life in Vietnam, life trauma, psychological symptoms of trauma, and anger. Male participants were found to have significantly higher levels of life trauma and trait anger than females. Afro-Amerasian individuals had significantly higher life trauma levels than other participants. More than 30 percent of participants had scores indicating clinical signs of posttraumatic stress disorder for at least one of two PTSD scales calculated.

Methods Section• Participants – Gives the demographic profile (using

frequency statistics) of the age, gender, ethnicity and any other important demographic information about participants, along with the sample size and the sampling technique.

• Measures – Tells which variables were measured using single item demographic questions, and then how each major variable is measured including the name of any composite scales or indices that come from the literature.

• Procedures – Tells the steps you took in doing your research in enough detail so that others could replicate your research exactly.

Results SectionGives the results of your study in one of two

formats:

Explanatory/Quantitative: One to three sentences for each SPSS analysis that gave you a significant result using the wording given in the workbook.

OR

Descriptive: Results summarized and described with specific quotes and/or examples described to show the kinds of information people gave.

Discussion SectionThe discussion section explains and interprets the

results. The Discussion Section might include:• What your results mean.• What the implications for action or change

based on these results might be. • The relationships between results. • How your results contradict or support one

another. • Whether your results support or contradict what

the literature review said.• What went well in your study, and what would

you do differently next time? • What are your suggestions for future research

on your topic or in your population.

References• A “References” section beginning on a

new page.• APA, ASA or AAA format for references• Only references cited in your paper

should go here. • For this class, you should have a

minimum of 8-10 references that you have cited and that are included in the reference section.

Study Guide

Title PageAbstractLiterature ReviewMethods SectionResults SectionDiscussion SectionReferences