RESEARCH REPORT
PSYC2017 – Semester 2, 2023
Due: 11:59pm on Friday 15 September 2023 (Week 7)
Weight: 45% of your PSYC2017 course mark
Your task is to write a 2000-word research report based on the study you participated in during
your Week 2 tutorial. This study examined the relationship between intergroup contact,
conceptualisations of racism, and willingness to take collective action in support of racial equality.
Content
The Method and Results sections of the report have been written for you already (these can be
found in the Assessments folder on Canvas). Therefore, you are required to write and submit the
other sections of the report. Specifically, your research report must include all of the following
sections:
1. A title that provides a concise summary of your report
2. An abstract (no more than 120 words) summarising the report
3. An introduction (approximately 940 words) that includes:
a. A critical review of the relevant theoretical and empirical literature
b. A clear rationale for the study
c. A set of justified research hypotheses
4. A discussion (approximately 940 words) that includes:
a. A critical interpretation of the findings in relation to the aims and hypotheses of the
study and the findings of others
b. The theoretical and practical implications of the research
c. A critical evaluation of the strengths and limitations of the research
d. Suggestions for future research
5. A reference list
Word count
The abstract, introduction, and discussion sections, including in-text citations, count towards the
word count. The title and reference list do not count towards the word count. Students who exceed
the 2000-word count by more than 5% will be penalised.
Format
The entire research report, including the reference list, should be formatted in complete APA 7th
style. That means you should include separate title and abstract pages, page numbers, and a
running header. Your report must be written in 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced, with
2.5cm margins all round, with the first line of every paragraph indented. Refer to the APA Style
Central database and APA 7th Style Referencing on Canvas for more information.
Plagiarism
It is critical that you write the research report in your own words. Any attempt to present another
author or student’s work as your own is plagiarism and is treated very seriously (see the PSYC2017
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Unit of Study Outline for more information). If you draw on someone else’s work or ideas, it is
critical that you correctly reference them using standard APA-style referencing. We will be running
your report through plagiarism software that will detect matches to other students’ work (both
past and present), as well as the published research literature and materials from the internet. To
avoid plagiarising, think about the information you read and integrate it into your report in your
own words, and always cite your sources.
Generative AI
Using Generative AI in PSYC2017 is not permitted.
The University’s Academic Integrity policy states, “we do not generally permit use of artificial
intelligence content generators and tools to create or modify your assessable work. You can only
use these tools if your unit of study coordinator has expressly permitted your whole class to do so.
This means that the unapproved use of AI tools in the completion of assignments is considered to
be a breach of academic integrity.” (See: https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/academic-
integrity/new-policy.html).
Please note that the use of generative AI tools in Psyc2017 assessments is not permitted.
The reason for this is because we want Psyc2017 students to write their research report and learn
how to apply their critical thinking skills without assistance. Being an independent critical thinker is
a significant graduate attribute. As educators, we also want to be able to assess how well Psyc2017
students have understood the relevant literature, been able to extract appropriate content, write
and formulate their own arguments, and cite related sources to support their independent
arguments: all necessary research skills needed at university and beyond.
Therefore students who use generative AI in their Pscy2017 assessments will be reported for a
breach of academic integrity.
Submission
You will be submitting your report to Turnitin via the PSYC2017 Canvas site. It is your responsibility
to ensure you correctly submit your report on time. The submission time is recorded electronically,
and even one second past the due date is recorded as being late. See the School of Psychology’s
Undergraduate Student Guide for further instructions.
Do not include the Method and Results sections in your submission.
Getting Started
To help you start your report, we have provided you with some important starter references below.
In addition to these starter references, you are expected to use databases and search engines, such
as PsycINFO, Web of Science, or Google Scholar, to find additional peer-reviewed literature for your
report.
The Week 3 webinar and tutorial notes also provide important background information on this
topic, so listen to and read them carefully as well.
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Starter references
Hässler, T., Uluğ, Ö. M., Kappmeier, M., & Travaglino, G. A. (2020). Intergroup contact and social
change: An integrated Contact‐Collective Action Model. Journal of Social Issues, 77(1), 217-
241. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12412
Reimer, N. K., Becker, J. C., Benz, A., Christ, O., Dhont, K., Klocke, U., Neji, S., Rychlowska, M.,
Schmid, K., & Hewstone, M. (2017). Intergroup contact and social change: Implications of
negative and positive contact for collective action in advantaged and disadvantaged groups.
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 43(1), 121-136.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167216676478
Miller, S. S., O’Dea, C. J., & Saucier, D. A. (2021). “I can’t breathe”: Lay conceptualizations of racism
predict support for Black Lives Matter. Personality and Individual Differences, 173, 110625.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110625
Assessment Criteria
Tutors will use the marking rubric criteria below to mark each research report. It is a good idea to
use these criteria as a checklist for your report to make sure you have included all the necessary
components before you submit it.
Note: Your final mark cannot be mathematically derived from the indicators used below.
For more information regarding the requirements for obtaining each grade level (e.g., high
distinction), see the PSYC2017 Unit of Study Outline.
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Marking Rubric
1. TITLE:
Excellent Good Satis. Poor Wrong Absent N/A
Concise and relevant
2. ABSTRACT: Excellent Good Satis. Poor Wrong Absent N/A
Concise (must not exceed 120 words)
Briefly summarises context, issues
States hypotheses and whether they were supported
Summarises methods and results
Summarises implications and conclusions
3. INTRODUCTION: Excellent Good Satis. Poor Wrong Absent N/A
Reviews relevant theory
Defines key terms where necessary
Reviews relevant empirical literature (research studies)
Develops rationale for study
States aim and hypotheses
Justifies each hypothesis based on previous
theory/research
3. DISCUSSION: Excellent Good Satis. Poor Wrong Absent N/A
Describes and interprets results appropriately
appropriately
Evaluates hypotheses in light of findings
Discusses implications for issues raised in Introduction;
demonstrates critical thinking & insight
Critically evaluates experiment (strengths and
limitations)
Proposes future research based on findings
4. APA REFERENCING & FORMAT: Excellent Good Satis. Poor Wrong Absent N/A
Citations in body of report in APA format
Reference List in APA format
Overall format consistent with APA format
5. OVERALL: Excellent Good Satis. Poor Wrong Absent N/A
Conciseness / Clarity of expression
Spelling / Grammar/ Vocabulary
Student’s own writing: Quotations and close paraphrase
used sparingly
Arguments and facts referenced accurately
Word length On or under word limit Over word limit