Neuropsychology Psychology 162, Fall 2008

Meeting Times: Class: MWRF 2:00 pm Laboratory: R 8-10 or 10-12
Instructor: John H. Krantz Office: Science Center 151
Text: Physiology of Behavior 9th Ed.  by Carlson Phone: x7316

Announcements
Introduction
Objectives
Organization/Expectations
Schedule
Class Assignments
End of Term Project
Lab Schedule
Lab Assignments
Research Participation
Grading and Policies

Neuroscience Animations
Web Notes
Lab Report Format

Department Home
Email Me

Use the box below to
unpack acronyms:

Search For
Medical Abbreviations
Scientific Articles
Pharma-Lexicon Medical Abbreviations for Palm Pilot

 

Format and Guidelines for Laboratory Write-up

Format:

  1. General Issues
    1. Documents must be Word 97-2003 (.doc) or Word 2007 format (.docx)
    2. The document file name must have the following structure:
      1. lastnameF-labname.doc (or .docx)  (The F at the end of lastname stands for the first initial.  You don't all have different last names.)
    3. Labs are to be emailed prior to the lab session one week after completing the lab.
  2. Page Layout
    1. All pages must be double spaced
    2. Pages must have margins of 1"
    3. The font must be either Times New Roman or Ariel or Calibri
    4. The font size must be 12 point
    5. Page numbers must be in the upper right hand corner of the page and start on the title page
    6. Headings
      1. Main headings (e.g. Method, Results) should be centered on their own line and in bold.  No extra lines should be used before or after this heading.
      2. Secondary Headings (e.g., participants) should be left justified in bold.  No extra lines should be used before or after this heading
  3. Sections of a Lab Report: Unless otherwise instructed, each lab report must have the following sections:
    1. Title Page which has the following elements:
      1. Title
      2. Your name
      3. Both are centered  about 1/3 the way down the page.
      4. The first page number shows up on this page.
    2. Introduction
      1. begins with the main heading title Introduction
      2. This section gives the background for the study
    3. Method (note that this is singular)  This section has the following subsections (each is a secondary heading).
      1. Participants
        • This section describes those that participated in the experiment
      2. Stimulus (if necessary)
        • Describes in clear, precise detail the stimulus that was presented to the participant. 
      3. Materials (if necessary)
        • Describe any non-stimulus, non-equipment materials  used in the experiment
      4. Equipment
        • Describe the equipment used in the experiment
        • Includes both software and hardware
        • Only include items that are not general purpose and well known - like a ruler should not be in this section. 
        • Can come before the stimulus section
      5. Procedure
        • Describe in a simple direct manner, the method used to collect the data.
        • The actual collection of the data is a real part of the method and should be described.  It is vital that what data is collected (the dependent variable) is absolutely clear to the reader - not just in your head.
    4. Results
      1. A clear description of the data collected, how it has be manipulated, and what it means.
      2. It is not sufficient just to put the data out there.  This is the time to interpret the data
      3. Figure is capitalized when it is a figure name as in Figure 1 as it is a proper noun (a specific thing).
    5. Discussion
      1. What did you find?
      2. What does it mean? 
      3. Interpret the results in light of the introduction.

Guidelines:  Here are some general guidelines to help you write a better report.

  1. General
    1. Forget about how you have written other lab reports.  These are not lab reports but papers.
    2. Think more about how you write papers in other classes.  If you find yourself writing in lab report language, stop and start over.
    3. Your audience is a person who has never been in the lab.
    4. The lab report is an act of communication to someone who has never been in your lab, not a simple recitation of what you have done.
    5. You might need help with some of the concepts.  Waiting till the last night will not allow you to seek help.  Do not put these reports off so I can give you help.  Not understanding a concept is no excuse.
    6. Always give the units for every measure unless instructed otherwise.  You will only not give measures if the measure is a ratio of two numbers that have the same units so that the units cancel.
    7. Do not use first person pronouns.  The reader knows who you are and it gets very redundant to use it.
    8. Do not use rhetorical questions.  It is a cheap rhetorical device.
    9. Only use quotations if the words are actually significant.  Usually paraphrase.
    10. Do not begin sentences with numerals.
    11. As in all academic writing make sure you cite all sources and give proper reference.
  2. Introduction
    1. The point of the introduction is to clearly explain the point of the study and give the background ideas.
    2. Discuss what is being studied, such as depth, or critical bands
    3. Discuss what is the question, such as if stereopsis can support size constancy or if critical bands are the same everywhere.
    4. End with your hypothesis, but it must make sense based upon the information you provide.
    5. You should use sources, but in most cases the text is fine.
  3. Method:
    1. The point of the methods is that how an experiment is done determines how the data may or may not be interpreted.
      1. In science quite literally it is the means justifies the end not the other way around.
      2. Below are some comments on each section:
      3. Participants
        • Need to indicate those characteristics of the participants that are important to know and might influence the outcome of the study. 
        • Exactly what will be needed will depend on the study.
        • Consider how variations in the person could alter the outcome of the study
      4. Stimulus (if necessary)
        • The reader should be able to reproduce the stimulus at their end, even and especially if they do not have the equipment that you use.
        • Share with others not in this class and see if they can describe the stimulus as you experienced it - in all its variations.
        • Specific measures should be given unless told not to.
      5. Equipment
        • Do not describe generally known equipment - like a ruler
        • However, little research is done with general purpose equipment.
        • So the equipment and how it works should be described - not all features but enough to give a general idea
        • Computers and monitors are not general purpose equipment because they vary so much from model to model
        • The maker and model number, when possible, should be given
      6. Procedure
        • This should describe the sequences of events performed to collect the data.
        • Any steps that require intimate knowledge of the software or equipment - like move this slider - should be described in terms of the impact - like the stimulus intensity was controlled by the participant.*
        • The steps to set up the software is not part of the procedure.  You have described the end result above in the stimulus section and equipment section - that is enough.*
        • You are describing the psychophysical method here.
        • The whole point of the method is to collect data.  Therefore, tell me what the data is and how it was collected.  To leave this information out is to waste your time and your readers as you have ignored the whole point of the experiment - to collect data.*
  4. Results:
    1. Any significant changes to the data from the form it is collected should be told to the reader.  They need to trace what has happened to the data.
    2. If data is in a graph or table, include it directly in this section
    3. If a figure or table are used, the table should be introduced - tell the reader what is in it - and then tell the reader what it means - there should be something you are trying to tell the reader in the table or graph - well, tell the reader*
    4. You are telling a story.  The story of your data.
  5. Discussion:
    1. First, tell the reader what you conclude from your data based upon your hypothesis you have.  Do you support or reject your hypothesis?
    2. So, what does this experiment tell us about our sensory systems?  That is the point of the experiment to learn something.  So what has been learned?  Think broadly and speculate.
    3. Notice limitations of the study.