A psychology research report is essentially a piece of academic writing that examines the results of psychological research. A psychology research report can examine any aspect of psychology, including behavioural (such as cognitive psychology), clinical (such as psychoanalysis or psychotherapy), social, or biological science.
The format for a psychology research report is relatively self-explanatory; you will usually find a journal asking you to submit a report in a prescribed format (usually MS Word or PDF). You are usually given a specific word count (usually between 15,000 and 20,000 words) and a timeframe within which you need to complete the report (usually between six and nine months). You will need to submit the report to the journal as either part of the peer review process or as a standalone piece – it is not uncommon for journals to request that you submit your report as part of the review process.
Sub-fields Within Psychology
If you’re unfamiliar, psychology is a science that studies the mind and behaviour. There are many sub-fields or areas of specialization within psychology. Different sub-fields focus on different aspects of human behaviour and cognition, and as you might expect, the terminology for these sub-fields can get rather sophisticated.
Here are some examples of sub-fields and the terminology used within them: