Why was the study done?
What background info is relevant?
This refers to information that may be theoretical or technical that
your reader needs to know to understand the rest of your summary
What are the variables?
Independent
Dependent
What is the hypothesis?
Method: 3 parts
(1) Participants?
Participants: age, sex, ethnicity, SES, any other relevant demographic information?
Where was the study conducted?
(2) Materials?
What manner of equipment was used?
Surveys? Physiological measurements? Brain Imaging?
(3) Procedure?
Briefly describe the procedural aspects of the study.
What statistical analysis was used to determine the results?
Were the results significant? p < .05
Was the hypothesis supported?
Do not use the word “prove.” Since statistical tests are based on
probability and can be in error, they do not really prove
Interpretation of the results
Limitations of the study
Is there anything that the researchers could not control for?
Was there anything about the study that could be improved?
Implications of the study
What does this study mean for the everyday behavior?
What has this study contributed to the overall understanding of
psychology?
What has this study contributed to the overall understanding of
psychology?
Provide an in-text citation of the article