Research Methods Exam 2

Once a revised version of a report has been accepted for publication, when is the next time you will see this report? Explain with reference to the steps involved in publishing a peer- reviewed article.

2-3 months. The editor may make changes and the author remains responsible for all associated paperwork including copyright transfers, disclosures, and permissions.

What is a figure?

A figure may be a chart, a photograph, a drawing, or any other illustration or non textual depiction.

Distinguish between the following types of notes: (a) general note, (b) specific note, and (c) probability note.

A general note qualifies,explains,or provides information relating to the table as a whole and ends with an explanation of any abbreviations, symbols, and the like. A specific note refers to a particular column, row, or cell. A probability note indicates how asterisks and other symbols are used in a table to indicate p values and thuis the results of tests of statistical hypothesis testing.

What is the difference between figure legends and figure captions?

A legend explains the symbols used in the figure but a caption is a concise explanation of the figure that is placed directly below the gurgure and serves as the title.

Do you indent the first line of the abstract? What is the page number of the title page? What is the page number of the abstract? On what page does the introduction begin?

Do not indent the first line of the abstract. The page number of the title page is 1. The page number of the abstract is 2. The introduction starts on page 3.

Distinguish between graphs, charts, maps, drawings, and photographs.

Graphs typically display the relationship between two quantitative indices or between a continuous quantitative variable which is usually displayed as the y-axis and groups of subjects displayed along the x-axis. Charts generally display nonquantitative information such as the flow of subjects through a process ,for example,flow charts. Maps generally display spatial information.Drawings show information pictorially. Photographs contain direct visual representation of information.

If more than two different shadings are required on a graph, what might be a better alternative than a graph?

If more than two different shading are required on a graph a table may be a better presentation of the data.

According to section 5.23, where in a manuscript do you place figure captions?

In a manuscript you place figure captions directly below the figure and serves as the title of the figure.

20. The title of your report of a meta-analysis of the sleeper effect in persuasion is: The Sleeper Effect in Persuasion. What, if anything, is wrong with this title?

It is too simple.

Who has access to a broader scientific audience: an author or a journal?

Journal because it includes different authors about the same relatively broad subject.

Here are the details of an article that appears only online: Its authors are André Marques-Smith and Armando Machado from the University of Minho; it was published September 1, 2008 in the journal PsyCrit; the article's title is "Attention to intention: Fact or fiction?" Write the reference for this article. (You can see the article by going to http://escola.psi.uminho.pt/unidades/lca/artigos/others/SmithMachado2008.pdf)

Machado, A. & Marques-Smith, A. (2008). Attention to intention: Fact or fiction? PsyCrit.

What is the primary function of a data display in scientific publications? Briefly describe this function.

The communication function is the primary function of a data display in scientific publications. Communication is when you have discovered the meaning contained in the data and want to tell others about it.

List five basic rules for the design and preparation of a data display.

The five basic rules for the design and preparation of a data display are: place items that are to be compared next to each other, place labels so that they clearly about the elements they are labeling, use fonts that are large enough to be read without the use of magnification, include all of the information needed to understand it within the graphical image avoid novel abbreviations, use table notes, and label graphical elements, and keep graphical displays free of extraneous materials, no matter how decorative those materials may make the graphic look.

What are the four standards for good figures?

The four standards for good firgures are simplicity,clarity,continuity, and information value.

What is a masked review?

The identity of the author of a manuscript is concealed from reviewers during the review process. (226)

Who owns the copyright to most published articles? Can authors post online copies of the published article? If not, what can they post?

The journal publisher. Yes, once they obtain permission. Once permission is granted, also include a permissions notice in the manuscript

What three pieces of information can you find in most journals' instructions to authors?

The journal's area of coverage (what kinds of manuscripts are appropriate for that journal), the current editor's name and address, and instructions for manuscript preparation and submission specific to that journal, including whether the journal routinely uses masked review.

What is wrong with the underlined portion of the following reference? Silva, K. M., Silva, F. J., Quinn, M. A., Draper, J. N., Cover, K. R., & Munoff, A. A. (2008). Rate My Professor: Online Evaluations of Psychology Instructors. Teaching of Psychology, 35, 71-80.

The only capitalized words should be "Rate" and "Online"

As a general rule, what range of font sizes is appropriate for figures?

The size of lettering should be no smaller than 8 points and no larger than 14 points.

Imagine that a student in planning to write a research report using 1-inch margins, 10-pt Courier font, and justified alignment. As the student's professor, you recommend some changes to the format. What three changes do you recommend?

The student should use 12-point, times new roman font. The alignment should be flushed left and ragged on the right side.

What three pieces of information do you need to provide when quoting directly?

The three pieces of information you need to provide when quoting is author,year, and specific page citation or paragraph number for non paginated material in the text and include a complete reference in the reference list.

What part of a table is normally italicized?

The title is normally italicized in a table.

Which typefaces (i.e., fonts) are recommended for figures?

The typefaces that are recommended for figures are Ariel,Futura, or Helvetica with enough space between letters to avoid crowding.

If you received a letter from an editor that said, "Your manuscript has high potential for publication, but is not yet ready for acceptance." Given this information, what do you think is likely to be the editor's decision regarding the manuscript? Be sure to justify your answer by referring to specific content in the Publication Manual.

This is a rejection with invitation to revise and resubmit. If the author revises in a certain time, it may be considered for publication again.

What is the preferred typeface and font size for APA publications? What is a sans serif typeface? Where is this typeface commonly used in manuscripts?

Times new roman 12. Sans Serif typeface has short lines projecting from the top or bottom of a main stroke of a letter to improve readability and reduce eye fatigue. Commonly used in figures.

According to the sample papers in the Publication Manual, which of the following headings should not be in bold typeface: (a) title on title page, (b) Author Note, (c) Abstract, (d) title at the beginning of the introduction, (e) Method, (f) Results, (g) Discussion, (h) References, (i) Footnotes?

Title on title page, author note, abstract, title at the beginning of the introduction, references, footnotes.

For the following reference, what is the issue number and what is the volume number? Widman, D. R., Sermania, C. M., & Genismore, K. E. (2004). Evidence for time- place learning in the Morris water maze without food restriction but with increased response cost. Behavioural Processes, 67, 183-193. .

Volume 67, issue not included

Oliveira, L., & Machado, A. (2008). The effect of sample duration and cue on a double temporal discrimination. Learning and Motivation, 39, 71-94. Pear, J. J., & Martin, T. L. (2004). Making the most of PSI with computer technology. In D. J. Moran & R. W. Malott (Eds.), Evidence-based educational methods (pp. 223-243). San Diego, CA: Elsevier & Academic Press. Roche, J. P. (1997). The biology and conservation of migrant birds: Past discoveries and future directions. Ecology, 78, 328-329.

Year of publication, Journal title, article title

subject variable

a difference between subjects that cannot be controlled but can only be selected

experimenter bias

a phenomenon that occurs when a researcher's expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained is the tendency to see what we expect to see, or what we want to see. When a researcher studies a certain group, they usually come to an experiment with prior knowledge and subjective feelings about the group being studied.

threats to internal validity

ambiguous temporal precedence- although two variables are. related, it is not clear which one is the cause and which ones are the effect history- events that occur outside of the experiment that could influence the results of the experiment maturation- a source of error in an experiment related to the amount of time between measurement(has to do especially with children)

confounding variable

error that occurs when the effects of two variables in an experiment cannot be seperated. is an outside influence that changes the effect of a dependent and independent variable

demand characteristics

refers to an experimental artifact where participants form an interpretation of the experiment's purpose and unconsciously change their behavior to fit that interpretation.

Most likely to publish a paper when

stat sig results no or mininal methodolgical flaws findings are consistent with current established theoyr findings are consistent with reviewer theoretical orientation more likily to get published if your findings add to your literature more complicated a study the more likely youre to get it published

internal validity

the extent to which a study provides evidence of a cause-effect relationship between the independent and dependent variables

Complete the following sentence: "Number all tables and figures with (a) ______ numerals in the order in which they are first (b) ______ in (c) ______, regardless of whether a more detailed discussion of a (d) ______ or (e) ______ occurs (f) ______ in the (g) ______."

"Number all tables and figures with (a) arabic numerals in the order in which they are first (b) mentioned in (c) text, regardless of whether a more detailed discussion of a (d) table or (e) figure occurs (f) later in the (g) paper."

15. A sentence begins with the following citation: "The behavior systems view of learning and performance (Timberlake, 2007; 2004a; 2004b) contends that an animal's behavior is organized around important biological functions." Is there anything wrong with this citation? If so, correct it.

(Timberlake, 2007a, 2004b, 2004c)

Complete the following sentence: "Cite the work of those individuals whose (a) ______, (b) ______, or (c) ______ have (d) ______ (e) ______ your work."

Cite the work of those individuals whose (a) _ideas_____, (b) _theories_____, or (c) __research____ have (d) _directly ____ (e) __influenced____ your work."

25. What three features, in combination, define a primary publication?

Primary publications have not been previously published, contribute to the archive of scientific knowledge, and have been reviewed by a panel of peers.

1. List the 5 major pieces of information that should be included in the abstract of a manuscript that reports an empirical study.

Problem under investigation Participants or subjects Study method Findings Conclusions and the implications or applications

Briefly summarize the three major types of editorial decisions related to a peer-reviewed manuscript.

Acceptance: once accepted, goes to publication and no further changes can be made other than those recommended by the copyeditor Rejection: rejected if it falls outside of journal domain, contains severe flaws, or does not make a novel contribution to the field. Rejection with invitation to revise and resubmit: when manuscripts are judged to have a high potential for eventual publication in the journal but are not yet ready for final acceptance. Also referred to as conditional acceptance

On what pages of a manuscript do the running head appear?

All pages except the references.

Give an example of a poor title for a table and then give a better title for this table.

An example of a poor title is Relation Between College Majors and Performance, the reason this is a poor title is because it is unclear what data are presented in the table.

Which rules (lines), vertical or horizontal, are used in tables published in APA journals? What is an effective substitute for rules?

Appropriately white space can be effective substitute for rules; for example, long, uninterrupted columns of numbers or words are more readable if a horizontal line of space is inserted after every fourth or fifth entry.In the manuscript, use spacing between columns and rows and strict alignment to clarify relationships within a table.

What do the underlined portions of the following references refer to? (Answer in the order that the references appear.) Alstott, J., & Timberlake, W. (2009). Effects of rat sex differences and lighting on locomotor exploration of a circular open field with free-standing central corners and without peripheral walls. Behavioural Brain Research, 196, 214- 219. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.09.001 Machado, A., & Silva, F. J. (2004). The psychology of learning: A student workbook. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Martin, G. L. (2007). Applied sport psychology: Practical guidelines from behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: Sports Science Press. Morrow, K. M., Eldridge, G. D., Nealey-Moore, J., Grinstead, O., & the Project START Study Group (2007). HIV, STD, and hepatitis risk in the week following release from prison: An event level analysis. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 13, 27-38.

Doi, place of publication, publisher, pages

What line spacing should you use throughout a manuscript? Should you ever insert extra line spaces (or carriage returns)? If so, when?

Double-space. May use extra line spaces in special circumstances such as immediately before and after a displayed equation.

26. Summarize the jobs of each of the following people involved in the peer review process: (a) editor, (b) associate editor, (c) consulting editors, and (d) ad hoc reviewers.

Editor: responsible for quality and content of journal. Has final editorial decision Associate editor: assume responsibility for a specific content area of the journal or for a portion of the manuscripts submitted to the journal. Consulting editor/ad hoc reviewers: review manuscripts and make recommendations to editors or associate editors concerning the disposition of manuscripts.

What alignment should you use for all text in a manuscript?

Flush left style and leave the right side uneven.

14. A sentence ends with the following citation: "(Martin & Pear, 2010; Machado & Arantes, 2006; Burkitt, Widman, & Saucier, 2007)." Is there anything wrong with this citation? If so, correct it.

Needs to be organized by year of publication and only use surname. (Machado & Arantes, 2006; Widman & Saucier, 2007; Martin & Pear, 2010)

Should you (manually) type the running head and page numbers on each page? If not, what (automated) function of a word-processing program should you use?

No, do not manually type the running head and page numbers on each page. Insert a header on word-processing for this.

16. Is there anything wrong with the following reference (assuming there is no DOI): Roche, J. P., Timberlake, W., & McCloud, C. (1997). Sensitivity to variability in food amount: Risk aversion is seen in discrete-choice, but not in free-choice, trials. Behaviour, 134, 1259-1272. If so, correct it.

Nothing wrong.

What must you do before you can use someone's photograph in a publication or presentation?

Obtain a signed release from that person to use the photograph. If you use a photograph from another source, try to obtain the original photograph because photographs of photographs do not print clearly. Obtain written permission for reuse and you may need to obtain permission from the photographer as well.

12. On what page of a manuscript does the author note appear?

Page 1 (title page)

What do the underlined portions of the following references refer to? (Answer in the order that the references appear.) Springer, C. R., & Pear, J. J. (2008). Performance measures in courses using computer-aided personalized system of instruction. Computers & Education, 51, 829-835. Timberlake, W. (2007). James A. Dinsmoor (1921-2005): Questions of science and Life. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 87, 1-4. White, W., Sherrill. L. K., & White, I. M. (2007). Time-dependent effects of amphetamine on feeding in rats. Brain Research, 1171, 75-82.

Periodical title, author, volume

19. Should figure captions and table notes be single- or double-spaced? Justify your answer with reference to the sample paper in Chapter 2 of the Manual.

Single spaced.

Why is there no excuse for a manuscript to contain spelling errors? (Hint: The answer has to do with a feature common to all modern word processors.)

Spell check

Is a table a figure? Why or why not?

Tables and firgures enable authors to present a large amount of information efficiently and to make their data more comprehensible.

What is a table?

Tables usually show numerical values or textual information(e.g.,lists of stimulus words) arranged in an orderly display of columns and rows.Tables are almost always characterized by a row-column structure, any type of illustration other than a table is referred to as a figure.

13. On what page of a manuscript does the abstract begin and end? Do you indent the first line of the abstract? On what page of a manuscript do the keywords appear? Do you indent the line with the keywords?

The abstract begins and ends on page two. Do not indent the first line of the abstract. Key words also appear on page two. Yes, indent the line with the keywords.

sequence effects

changes in a subject's performance resulting from interactions among the conditions themselves

order effects

changes in a subject's performance resulting from the position in which a condition appears in an experiment