E.R.
A FORMAT
In order to successfully write an E.R.A you should use the following format. Some helpful hints
include: always use PAST TENSE, always write in THIRD PERSON, never “I”, “We” etc. It
should be an analytical report that uses the appropriate psychological terms.
TITLE: A title that is relevant to the experiment. It should not just be E.R.A
ABSTRACT: This is a summary of the whole experiment. It resembles a blurb from a novel. In
approximately one hundred words you give a complete, informative summary of your report.
You must mention the aim, hypothesis, method, results and conclusions very briefly. Each word
should be meaningful and inform the reader of what is contained in the report. The abstract is
done last but should be the FIRST page of the report.
INTRODUCTION: You begin with the most general information and end with the specific. It is
best to start by defining relevant terms (ALWAYS USE OWN WORDS NEVER COPY FROM
BOOK!!) and any background information. It is helpful to include relevant examples also. Then
discuss any relevant past research that has been conducted. Once you have finished discussing all
the general information about the topic it is now time to discuss the specific. This includes the
aim, hypothesis, and variables.
AIM: A statement of intention of the purpose of investigation. What you want to find out. A
good way to begin include: The aim of this experiment is to determine……..
HYPOTHESIS: An educated guess or testable prediction of what you hope to find or the
relationship between the independent and dependent variable. It should be based on the general
information discussed. It should begin: It is hypothesised that……. will…………
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: The experimental factor that is being manipulated, the variable
whose effect is being measured.
DEPENDENT VARIABLE: The experimental factor, the behaviour or mental process that is
being measured (the effect). It usually is the one effected or the one that changes as a result of
being exposed to the independent variable.
METHOD: Has three sections with sub headings.
Participants: You must provide the following information about your participants-:
♦ How many in total there were and how many groups and how many in each group
♦ Participant selection (sample of population of population)
♦ Participant allocation (random sampling, stratified sampling)
♦ Was there a control group or experimental group?
Procedure: This can be in dot point or in paragraph format. It must be a detailed account of how
the experiment was conducted. Use past tense and 3rd person. It must be a step by step
description of what happened to the participants during the experiment. It MUST NOT include
any results. Someone should be able to read your experiment and replicate it based on the
procedure.
Materials: A list of materials used in the experiment. It does not include the participants.
E.R.A format Yr11 Psychology [Link]
RESULTS: This section will include any relevant graphs or tables. It can also include the
treatment of the data (mean, median, mode). You must also write a summary of the results in a
written paragraph. It should be detailed and very specific and should describe exactly the
information contained in the graph and tables. NEVER give conclusions or discuss what the
results mean, just STATE THEM.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Although you will be answering specific questions you must
ensure you address the following points within the answers to the questions.
Was the hypothesis supported or refuted? You MUST back up any statements you make
with evidence from the results mention exact figures from results to support or refute the
hypothesis
♦ What do the results mean? Draw valid conclusions based on the information you discussed in
the introduction, once again BACK them UP WITH YOUR RESULTS
♦ Compare the findings from your experiment with any previous research you discussed in the
introduction
♦ Mention any limitations, extraneous and confounding variables of the experiment. This could
include problems with the sample (eg not enough males), procedural problems etc.
♦ You must them refer to these extraneous variables and discuss ways to improve the
experiment, eg bigger sample size. One way to improve an experiment is to REPLICATE it.
♦ Make a generalisation or discuss the implications. This is really applying the results found to
the whole population. If this is how the participants behaved then what does it imply or
suggest how the whole population will behave. You may wish to include an example here.
Try and tie everything together and make valid conclusions. It is a big part of the E.R.A and
must therefore be detailed and analytical. Use relevant terms and never just make statements
back everything up with your results and base it on the general information discussed in
introduction
References: You must reference and do so in the appropriate way!! Refer to pg 26 of your text
E.R.A format Yr11 Psychology [Link]