1
Lecture, Micro lecture notes, some reading material & extra information
Pre-Master Research Practical (2025-1B)
202000444-1B
Written by: MRAA
Contents
Week 1 – Scientific reporting ...................................................................................................2
Guidance document for writing methods ..................................................................................8
Week 2 – Scale analysis............................................................................................................9
Week 2 – Factor analysis........................................................................................................ 11
Reading material: Summated rating scale construction by Paul Spector .................................. 14
The classical test theory ......................................................................................................... 16
Week 2 – Psychometric analysis ............................................................................................. 17
Some definitions and cut-off criterion .................................................................................... 19
Measuring internal consistency .......................................................................................... 19
Construct validity .............................................................................................................. 20
Content analysis .................................................................................................................... 21
APA basis.............................................................................................................................. 23
Definitions ............................................................................................................................ 25
, 2
Week 1 – Scientific reporting
Lecture notes
Using first person in science writing
Use the first person when describing the work you did as part of your research and when expression
your own views
• In the method section this is okay
• When drawing conclusions in the discussions
• You don’t have to do it
Complexity shows authority
A paper with too much jargon or terminology familiar to only a few specialists does not sufficiently
contribute to the literature because its meaning is obfuscated
• Clear, concise and simple makes you more clever
Apa warnings
• Wordiness
➔ ‘at the present time’ vs ‘now’
• Redundancy
➔ ‘four different groups saw’ OR ‘it was previously shown’
• Tone should be professional and accessible to non-experts
The summary
Be a guide for your reader
• Arguments should be totally understandable from your document alone
Apa style
1. Headers should be same font as everything
2. Times new roman, size 12
3. All paragraphs are indented, except the first paragraph in an abstract
4. Line spacing is 2 point
5. Apa is a baseline, there could be deviations
, 3
Scientific structure
Lecture notes
The structure of a scientific report
In a scientific report you need to use these exact headings so school can see that you understand what
these headings mean and should include
1. Introduction
2. Methods
➔ Participants
➔ Materials
➔ Procedures
➔ Data analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion & conclusion
• Hourglass structure
Introduction
The introduction is a funnel within the hourglass
➔ The introduction covers the theoretical framework
1. Current situation
• Introduce the topic
• Describe what has been done and detail the research
2. Niche
• Demonstrate the relevance for new knowledge by showing gaps or inconsistencies in current
literature
3. Goal
• What is your goal?
• What is your contribution?
• Research questions / hypotheses
Tips
- Outline the introduction before writing it: heading, subheadings, one topic per paragraph
➔ Check the first and last sentences of paragraphs for a clear narrative
- Phrase bank http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
- Reference check http://reciteworks.com
- Consider using a reference manager https://www.zotero.org/
Methods
The reader should be able to
• Understand the thing that they don’t
• Evaluate what you have done
• Replicate your study based on your methods section
In order to do that
• Give sufficient detail but not excessive
• Transparency (don’t hide your mistakes)
• Clarity remains key
Lecture, Micro lecture notes, some reading material & extra information
Pre-Master Research Practical (2025-1B)
202000444-1B
Written by: MRAA
Contents
Week 1 – Scientific reporting ...................................................................................................2
Guidance document for writing methods ..................................................................................8
Week 2 – Scale analysis............................................................................................................9
Week 2 – Factor analysis........................................................................................................ 11
Reading material: Summated rating scale construction by Paul Spector .................................. 14
The classical test theory ......................................................................................................... 16
Week 2 – Psychometric analysis ............................................................................................. 17
Some definitions and cut-off criterion .................................................................................... 19
Measuring internal consistency .......................................................................................... 19
Construct validity .............................................................................................................. 20
Content analysis .................................................................................................................... 21
APA basis.............................................................................................................................. 23
Definitions ............................................................................................................................ 25
, 2
Week 1 – Scientific reporting
Lecture notes
Using first person in science writing
Use the first person when describing the work you did as part of your research and when expression
your own views
• In the method section this is okay
• When drawing conclusions in the discussions
• You don’t have to do it
Complexity shows authority
A paper with too much jargon or terminology familiar to only a few specialists does not sufficiently
contribute to the literature because its meaning is obfuscated
• Clear, concise and simple makes you more clever
Apa warnings
• Wordiness
➔ ‘at the present time’ vs ‘now’
• Redundancy
➔ ‘four different groups saw’ OR ‘it was previously shown’
• Tone should be professional and accessible to non-experts
The summary
Be a guide for your reader
• Arguments should be totally understandable from your document alone
Apa style
1. Headers should be same font as everything
2. Times new roman, size 12
3. All paragraphs are indented, except the first paragraph in an abstract
4. Line spacing is 2 point
5. Apa is a baseline, there could be deviations
, 3
Scientific structure
Lecture notes
The structure of a scientific report
In a scientific report you need to use these exact headings so school can see that you understand what
these headings mean and should include
1. Introduction
2. Methods
➔ Participants
➔ Materials
➔ Procedures
➔ Data analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion & conclusion
• Hourglass structure
Introduction
The introduction is a funnel within the hourglass
➔ The introduction covers the theoretical framework
1. Current situation
• Introduce the topic
• Describe what has been done and detail the research
2. Niche
• Demonstrate the relevance for new knowledge by showing gaps or inconsistencies in current
literature
3. Goal
• What is your goal?
• What is your contribution?
• Research questions / hypotheses
Tips
- Outline the introduction before writing it: heading, subheadings, one topic per paragraph
➔ Check the first and last sentences of paragraphs for a clear narrative
- Phrase bank http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/
- Reference check http://reciteworks.com
- Consider using a reference manager https://www.zotero.org/
Methods
The reader should be able to
• Understand the thing that they don’t
• Evaluate what you have done
• Replicate your study based on your methods section
In order to do that
• Give sufficient detail but not excessive
• Transparency (don’t hide your mistakes)
• Clarity remains key
