Laboratory Reports
During the semester, the CD, Exploring Perception, by Colin Ryan will be on reserve in the library. The CD demonstrates a number of perceptual phenomena, in a series of modules. For four of these modules, design, create data, and communicate the results of an experiment of your choice, and then write it up in a lab report.
The purpose of these exercises is not to require you to generate original experiments. Instead, the experiment and lab report should demonstrate to me that you understand a concept on the CD, and that you can tie that concept together with original, peer reviewed research. It should acquaint you with the type of method that perceptual scientists might use.
For example, there are modules on motion perception. A good lab exercise and report might want to examine the parameters that affect the appearance of motion. You may have some well formed hypothesis about how a variable such as the proximity of two flashing dots and the rate at which they flash will affect the perception of motion.
Your lab report should contain that hypothesis, your reason for forming that hypothesis, how your hypothesis would be borne out, and how your pseudo-results and experiment relate to at least two peer reviewed journal articles. Specifically, each laboratory report should contain the following.
If the CDs are not available, or if it is your preference, please feel free to generate an experiment without the use of the CDs. The purpose of the CDs is to demonstrate what results might look like IF you were to actually conduct and experiment, and to keep you focussed on the course material.
Title Your report should include the name of the lab experiment, the names of the lab partners, the date, and the topic.
Abstract The abstract is a brief summary of the whole report in one, precise and concise paragraph (about 100 words). Please include the research problem, the method, the pseudo-results, and major conclusions. It is easiest to write this after the body of the report is completed.
Introduction The introduction acquaints the reader with the experiment, and the context and significance of why it is being performed. It provides background theory or previous research. Be sure to define all of your terms here. Make sure that everything is properly referenced. Tell your reader exactly what hypothesis you are testing, what variables you are studying, what results you expect, and why you expect these results. This should be about one page.
Experimental Method and Procedure This section is a descriptive narrative. Be complete, accurate, and precise, listing all steps in the correct order. State what you really did. Include the subjects, apparatus, and procedure. There should be enough information here to allow someone to replicate your experiment.
Results Describe your imagined results. Refer to your predictions from your introduction statement. Summarize quantitative information. Include graphs and tables. Do not interpret results here.
Discussion Explain and interpret your results. What do your results imply? Were they consistent with your predictions? Be sure to include any problems you encountered, and make recommendations for improvement and future experiments.
References Use APA style references. Your report should contain
a minimum of two references. For every additional lab partner, an additional
reference should be included. For example, if two people are working together,
the report should contain three references, for three people, four reference,
for four people five, etc.