PSYCHOLOGY IAPSYCHOLOGY IA

THE DISCUSSIONTHE DISCUSSION

Important pointsImportant points

• This section carries the most marks.This section carries the most marks.• Do not discuss the behaviour of the Do not discuss the behaviour of the

participants.participants.• Think carefully about limitations of Think carefully about limitations of

methodology and don’t go for obvious methodology and don’t go for obvious things like sample size.things like sample size.

• No strengthsNo strengths• Do not forget to correctly reference any Do not forget to correctly reference any

works cited.works cited.• Remember, this is the discussion section, Remember, this is the discussion section,

therefore your job is to therefore your job is to discuss and discuss and evaluate, evaluate, rather than just describe.rather than just describe.

What to includeWhat to include• Analysis of results including Analysis of results including

descriptive statistics. A common descriptive statistics. A common mistake is to discuss the measure of mistake is to discuss the measure of central tendency but not the central tendency but not the measure of dispersion. (SL and HL). measure of dispersion. (SL and HL). Explain what they mean.Explain what they mean.

• HL must also discuss Inferential HL must also discuss Inferential statistics. statistics.

• HL relate your findings to each piece HL relate your findings to each piece of background research in the of background research in the introduction. introduction. No new No new studies or studies or theories should be introduced. For theories should be introduced. For SL, discuss in terms of the replicated SL, discuss in terms of the replicated study.study.

• SL and HL mention how your results SL and HL mention how your results differeddiffered and and where they were in linewhere they were in line with the study replicated/background with the study replicated/background studies.studies.

• To consider the limitations of your To consider the limitations of your research research methodologymethodology (identifying (identifying possible extraneous variables) AND possible extraneous variables) AND suggest suggest modificationsmodifications. Aim for 3.. Aim for 3.

• Suggest Suggest further research further research that may that may have arisen during the investigation have arisen during the investigation but was not dealt with in the actual but was not dealt with in the actual study. 1 only.study. 1 only.

• A brief conclusion summarizing the A brief conclusion summarizing the results, include stats in HL.results, include stats in HL.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIAASSESSMENT CRITERIA

HL Criterion G – 8 marksHL Criterion G – 8 marksAnalysis of results is well developed and Analysis of results is well developed and complete (e.g., descriptive and inferential complete (e.g., descriptive and inferential statistics are discussed). The findings of the statistics are discussed). The findings of the student’s experimental study are discussed student’s experimental study are discussed with reference to relevant background studies with reference to relevant background studies and theories. Limitations of the design and and theories. Limitations of the design and procedure are highly relevant and have been procedure are highly relevant and have been rigorously analysed. Modifications are rigorously analysed. Modifications are suggested and ideas for further research may suggested and ideas for further research may be mentioned. The conclusion is appropriate.be mentioned. The conclusion is appropriate.

Discussion/Analysis of resultsDiscussion/Analysis of results

• Begin by re-stating all of your results Begin by re-stating all of your results (numerically) and then explain what (numerically) and then explain what they actually mean. they actually mean.

• Do the results support or undermine Do the results support or undermine your hypothesis? Why?your hypothesis? Why?

• Point out any unusual or atypical Point out any unusual or atypical scores which might affect your scores which might affect your averages, and say why they might averages, and say why they might have happened. have happened.

Relate findings to background Relate findings to background researchresearch• Comment on your findings in relation to Comment on your findings in relation to

the previous research which you have the previous research which you have outlined in your introduction. outlined in your introduction.

• Say whether your findings support or Say whether your findings support or undermine previous findings. Explain undermine previous findings. Explain this by pointing out similarities and/or this by pointing out similarities and/or differences between these studies and differences between these studies and yours.yours.

• In particular, you need to say whether In particular, you need to say whether there are differences in methodology there are differences in methodology between your study and the others in between your study and the others in previous research.previous research.

• Make sure you comment on all Make sure you comment on all the research you have the research you have introduced earlier.introduced earlier.

• Make sure you donMake sure you don’’t introduce t introduce studies that havenstudies that haven’’t been t been included in your introduction.included in your introduction.

Limitations and modificationsLimitations and modifications• You need to You need to

criticise your own criticise your own study and say study and say whether biases or whether biases or extraneous extraneous variables could variables could have affected your have affected your results (hint! See results (hint! See your your ‘‘controlscontrols’’ section!)section!)

• E.g. Did your E.g. Did your sampling method sampling method have an effect? have an effect?

• If you used RM did If you used RM did the order in which the order in which conditions were conditions were carried out effect carried out effect results? If you results? If you used IM how did used IM how did individual individual differences affect differences affect your results? Was your results? Was the environment the environment the same each the same each time you tested time you tested participants participants (controlled)? There (controlled)? There are plenty more!are plenty more!

Suggestions for further researchSuggestions for further research

• This could include your views on the This could include your views on the consequences or implications which your consequences or implications which your research might have for people or the research might have for people or the wider society, or specific groups within that wider society, or specific groups within that society, e.g. police when interviewing society, e.g. police when interviewing witnesses, Psychologists in relation to witnesses, Psychologists in relation to current theories, teaching etc.current theories, teaching etc.

• Any ideas for follow-up studies- something Any ideas for follow-up studies- something may have happened in your study which may have happened in your study which you think is worthy of further investigation. you think is worthy of further investigation.

• Or consider culture, gender age etc. Would Or consider culture, gender age etc. Would these present opportunities for further these present opportunities for further study?study?

ConclusionConclusion

• A brief conclusion summarizing A brief conclusion summarizing the results of the experiment.the results of the experiment.