PSY4131 Quasi-Lab Report FAQs Where can I find the results? Including graphs

PSY4131

Quasi-Lab Report FAQs

Where can I find the results?

Including graphs or tables

Starting references

How many references?

Can instructors read a draft?

Number of hypotheses

Defining key terms

Order of aims and hypothesis

Example

Working Memory – type

Sleep scale

Do we use the results provided to us in class 2?

Yes, this is correct.

Do we need to include tables/graphs for the results or just describe them in the report?

Given that this is only a quasi-lab report, you will not be writing up the results so there is no need for tables or graphs. The assignment consists of a Title, Introduction, Discussion, and References. You will be interpreting the results in the Discussion section.

Are we able to use the starting references as some of our citations?

Yes, you can use starting references as a beginning point. It is also expected that you will find other relevant articles.

How many references in total should I include?

As a rough guide, we recommend you aim for a minimum of 10 good quality sources (i.e., peer-reviewed research reports and literature reviews).

Can I send my instructor a draft of my report before I submit?

No, your instructor cannot look at drafts. However, they can offer guidance on elements of the report during the live office hour.

How many hypotheses should be included?

You should end up with hypotheses that address daytime tiredness (the ESS) and one WM (total score). If you look at the speaker notes of Slide 21 on the week one post-class slides (you’ll find these slides on Moodle’s ATI forum). Keep in mind, you need to put the hypothesis, rationale, aim etc from these slides in your own words for the lab report.

Is it necessary to define working memory, daytime tiredness, and phone use in the intro?

Things that are key definitions and not everyday terms, you will need to define for the reader. A quick sentence on each will suffice.

Is there a particular order in which the aim and hypothesis should appear?

There is not a concrete answer as to whether you should have the aim and hypothesis in the same paragraph or as separate paragraphs, either is fine as long as the aim and hyp are clearly stated. Typically the hypothesis follows the aim. It may be helpful to review Findlay & Kaufmann (2019).

Can I get an example report?

You will find some examples of good (and bad) research reports in the Kaufmann and Findlay (2021) text. Each component is also outlined in chapter 5 of the same book. The APAstyle.org website also contains resources that may be of use.

Are you ok with us breaking down the impacts of sleep deprivation on different types of working memory, or is the emphasis more on the blue light from mobile phones? the filtering or not filtering and impact on sleep and working memory, or can we delve a little deeper?

First of all, be aware we are looking at daytime tiredness, rather than sleep deprivation – a nuanced but important distinction.

Regarding working memory types, this is a decision for each of you, as the researcher to make. There are pros and cons to both. Keeping it broad to working memory will help with a limited word count assignment. Attempting to separate and discuss the type of WM, shows attention to detail. So, you have to weigh those considerations up.

Verbal and visual information are two distinct types of information that can be processed and stored in working memory. Verbal working memory primarily deals with the storage and processing of linguistic or auditory information. It involves mentally rehearsing or manipulating verbal material, such as words, sentences, or auditory instructions. For example, when you mentally repeat a phone number to remember it before dialling, you are using your verbal working memory. Verbal working memory primarily deals with the storage and processing of linguistic or auditory information. It involves mentally rehearsing or manipulating verbal material, such as words, sentences, or auditory instructions. For example, when you mentally repeat a phone number to remember it before dialling, you are using your verbal working memory.

With respect to our study, it might be worth considering- do you think the Corsi Block Tapping Task measures visual or verbal WM?

Where is the sleep scale from?

The sleep scale used in the study was loosely based on Exelman paper,

which is why we said ‘adapted from’. If you would like to check where it came from, you can look at that paper in section “2.2.6. Bedtime mobile phone use: Respondents were asked to indicate on a 6-point scale (1 = never, 2 = occasionally, 3 = sometimes, 4 = regularly, 5 = often, 6 = (almost) every day) how frequently they (1) received or (2) sent text messages, and (3) received or (4) made phone calls after lights out. Additionally, respondents indicated at what time they usually sent or received text messages/phone calls using a five-point scale with only the endpoints labelled (1 = right after bedtime, 5 = right before rise time).