Paper details
The PSY3041 laboratory report will focus on developing and evaluating the psychometric properties of a scale
designed to measure attitudes towards the elderly. The aim of the report is for students to develop an
appreciation of the test development process, understand the importance of reliability and validity, and think
critically about the need for rigor when developing new tests for use in the public space or in clinical practice.
This will be covered in labs 3 and 4, with additional time in lab 5.
On completion of the task, students should have increased understanding of test development, reliability andvalidity, and further develop their critical thinking skills.
The Research Report must include the following sections, with the following key points:
Title
Concise, descriptive and captures the findings of the study.
Abstract
States the principal objective and scope of the investigation.
Clearly summarises each of the sections of the report (intro, method, results, discussion).
Introduction
Similar to the introduction sections that you would have written in past Research or Lab Reports, this section
must present, synthesise and review the relevant literature on the topic.
Specific attention should be paid to establishing the reliability and validity of the construct and test under
investigation.
A strong rationale for why a measure investigating attitudes towards the elderly is important.
Method
Participants
Sample description and demographics
Materials
Scale development procedure concisely explained.
Psychometric properties explained.
Procedure
Accurate account of what the participants did to complete the data collection process.
Data Analysis
Factor Analysis
Item Analysis
Internal Consistency
Correlational Analysis
T-test
NB: it is important to understand the function of each type of analysis. You will need to understand the
purpose of running multiple types of analysis in order to explain to the reader what each type of analysis
demonstrates in the Discussion.
Results
Data handling procedures
Results for all the analysis mentioned in the Data Analysis section
Discussion
Discussion of the results in relation to the aims of the study and the past research presented in the
Introduction
A sound understanding of the current research and how it fits with/add to the existing literature on the topic.
Next steps that will continue to build on the aims of the current research.
References
shows a sound understanding of the literature base and evidence of a comprehensive literature review.
As this is a Research Report, the exact content that is covered will be different for each student.
Your report will need to be internally consistent and have a overarching flow and argument. There is no ‘right’
way to write this Research Report. The literature that you choose to include, as well as your rationale for this
study will then dictate how you select your final scale and write up the results in the Discussion.
Although your tutor will provide general guidelines for how to construct each section in class, ultimately, the
information that you include is up to you, so it is important to clearly justify and explain what you have
included and why, to maintain the overall argument and cohesion within your report.