This document provides guidance on how to report test results using APA style. It recommends using a "sandwich method" of writing with a plain English opening sentence, numeric results in order, and a plain English closing sentence. Descriptive statistics like means, standard deviations, and sample sizes should be reported. Test statistics such as t-values, degrees of freedom, p-values, and effect sizes if significant should also be included. An example reporting the results of a sleep deprivation study is given to illustrate these recommendations.

1. PSY 2335 – Statistics for Professional Practice
PSY 2335
How to Report
Test Results (APA)

2. PSY 2335 – Statistics for Professional Practice
Purpose
• Readers are interested in the subject of the research, but not
in the process of carrying out the tests.
• Therefore, the report should NOT speak about the hypotheses
or rejecting and retaining them.
• When you have rejected the null hypothesis, use the word
significant. When you retained the null hypothesis, use the
phrase not significant.
• Use the “sandwich method” to write your paragraph:
– A plain-English opening sentence (like bread)
– All the numeric results in good order (the fillings)
– A plain English closing sentence (the other bread slice)

3. PSY 2335 – Statistics for Professional Practice
What numeric information to report?
• Descriptive statistics:
– The mean of each sample or group
– The standard deviation (computed for a sample) of each
sample or group
– Number of cases
• Test results
– Test statistic (t, F, 2, etc.)
– Degrees of Freedom
– p-value
– If significant result, a measure of Effect Size

4. PSY 2335 – Statistics for Professional Practice
Example: Sleep Deprivation Study (Mod 21)
• Descriptive statistics
– Mean, standard deviation (computed from SS) and N
• Sleep group (M = 40.250, SD = 3.47, n = 12)
• Awake group (M = 33.444, SD = 4.00, n = 9)
• Test statistics
– t-statistic: t = 4.170
– df = 19
– p-value (from Excel) = .00026
• Decision: Reject null hypothesis because p < .05

5. PSY 2335 – Statistics for Professional Practice
Write up (narrative in blue, numeric results in black)
• The impact of sleep deprivation on recall errors for
semantically related words was tested with a group of 24
volunteer subjects, half of whom were randomly assigned to
stay awake all night; the control group slept. Three subjects
were dropped from the awake condition. The subjects who
slept recalled about 40 words (M = 40.250, SD = 3.47, n = 12)
while those kept awake remembered about 33 words (M =
33.444, SD = 4.00, n = 9). The difference was significant,
t(19)=4.170, p = .00026 one-tailed. A night of sleep
deprivation markedly reduced the subjects’ ability to memorize
and recall words with similar meanings.

6. PSY 2335 – Statistics for Professional Practice
PSY 2335
How to Report
Test Results (APA)