Choose a topic and design the research project by writing a short research proposal. Write a research question related to the debates on perception and be clear on how you aim to address these debates with data collection and analysis. Confirm the feasibility of the project with the professor or instructor prior to beginning.
Conduct the research by gathering data. Use a field notebook and ballpoint pen to take notes about the processes, blinds, double-blinds, assumptions or grievances that may limit the conclusions.
Research and write a literature review that documents scholarly work in the field of social psychology directly related to your research on interpersonal perception and realities.
Write the methods section by detailing how you went about conducting the research. Use subheadings to clearly identify subjects, materials and procedures as well as noting any limitations of the methods.
Summarize the results. Organize and analyze your data using a statistical analysis program to include standard deviation, raw correlations and comparisons as well as presenting charts, graphs and figures as necessary. Explain how the data are significant.
Return to the research question in a discussion section that follows the presentation and analysis. Suggest conclusions, limitations and implications of the study and how it helps scholars in social psychology better understand debates around interpersonal perception.
Write the introduction and insert it at the beginning of the paper. Explain to the reader what the problems are related to theories explaining interpersonal perception and how your paper will help resolve one of the pieces of this theoretical puzzle. State the research question guiding the study then lay out clearly the organization and findings included in the paper.
Finish the paper with a conclusion that summarizes the main message of the paper and echoes the tone of the introduction.
Compile a bibliography following American Psychological Association (APA) form guidelines.
Write a title page with a title that sums up the paper, list your name, the date, and on the following page give an abstract that summarizes the paper, research, methods and conclusion in less than 200 words.
Print the paper and edit for grammar, spelling and general clarity. Revise as needed then print, staple and hand in to the professor by the due date.