# Survey research and design in psychology/Assessment/Lab report/Detailed marking criteria

These detailed guidelines describe the requirements for each section of the lab report:

#### Overview of sections

This is an overview of the requirements and weighting for each section:
| Criteria | Description | % | Suggested word count |
| Title/Abstract | Succinct, specific title. Abstract covers purpose, method, findings, and conclusions. | 5% | 10-15, 160-200 |
| Introduction | Establishes the problem, reviews theory and research, develops research question(s) and hypotheses | 10% | 400-700 |
| Method | Describes method and design, including Participants, Materials, and Procedure | 15% | 500-700 |
| Results | Screens (5%) and analyses data using EFA, internal consistency, descriptive statistics and correlations for the composite scores (20%), and MLR (20%) | 45% | 900-1500 |
| Discussion | Summarises and interprets the findings, considers implications, and makes recommendations | 25% | 500-750 |
The word count ranges per section are suggestions only. The only restriction is an upper limit on the overall word count.

#### Cover sheet

* p. 0
* Download via Lab report cover sheet - click File - Download as - Select file type

#### Running head

* APA style

#### Title page

* p. 1 (note that the running head (short title and p#) should appear differently on p. 1 than on subsequent pages)
* Follow APA style (i.e., title, author, institution) except:
** use student ID number instead of name (for blind marking)
** do not include author note or non-APA style material such as: Word count, Unit name, Date, Tutor name etc.
* Title
** ~10-15 words
** Does the title convey the content or purpose of the report? Should reflect the psychometric and hypothesis-testing aims of the study.
** Should be succinct, yet specific to the study (e.g., mentions key constructs)?
** Catchy? Memorable?
** APA style notes: Capitalise the first letters of the title; no full-stop
* Institution name

#### Abstract

* p. 2
* ~160-200 words
* Abstract heading (APA style - should not be in bold)
* Summarise (avoiding excessive detail)
** Purpose of the study
** Method, including the sample (after data screening) and sampling method
** Key findings, including:
** % of variance explained in the EFA and identified factors
** R$^2$ for the MLR and the relative contribution and meaning (consider strength, direction, and significance) of each predictor
** Conclusions about theory and method, with key recommendation(s)

#### Key words

* APA style
* 3 to 5 terms

#### Introduction

* pp. 3-
* Introduce the topic and concisely explain the study's purpose(s).
* Provide a critical overview of relevant past research and identify key issues to be addressed in this study.
* Only review constructs which are analysed in the Results - e.g., see possible topics.
* Use citations to key background literature - Wikiversity (see readings) lists some starting references, but use of additional references is recommended.
* Avoid describing methodological details about the current study, such as measurement tools - this belongs in the Method.
* Provide logically-derived and clearly-stated research question(s) and/or hypotheses (can be null and/or alternative). The derivation of the questions and hypotheses should be supported by theoretical argument and citations.
** Firstly, specify a research question about the underlying factor structure of one of the multidimensional constructs in the

## Surveys

These surveys were designed for use by an undergraduate psychology class (Survey Research and Design in Psychology, 2005-2018):
* Time and Stress Questionnaire for University Students v.1 (TSQFUS1)
* The University Student Satisfaction and Time Management Questionnaire v.9 (TUSSTMQ9)
* The University Student Motivation & Satisfaction Questionnaire v.2 (TUSMSQ2)
Students used these surveys to collect data, entry data, and conduct analyses for a lab report.

## Using these surveys

These instruments and their items are free to use, adapt etcetera under a Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 license.
However, be aware that the surveys in their current format are intentionally designed to not be "perfect" so that emerging scholars studying subjects such as "Survey research and design in psychology" can collect data and then practice exploratory factor analysis .
There is also intentionally no scoring key . Factor analysis is recommended to help determine the underlying factor structure and to identify which items to use to calculate composite scores. In other words, there is a latent structure, but you'll need to work it out. For example, for university student motivation, see these suggestions. Composite scores representing underlying constructs can then be used for descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing.

## Psychometrics

There are no reported psychometrics for newly developed items and scales in these survey instruments. Where intact, previously published measures were included, psychometrics may be available.
Users of these surveys should be prepared to conduct their own psychometric analyses (factor structure, reliability, and validity) based on their own samples.