Writing Your Research

Project Report
You write a research report to
inform your readers of:

 Importance of the topic

 Your research question
 What you did to answer the
question
 Your findings
 Your interpretation of the findings
Sections of a Research Report

 Title Page
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References and Appendix
Title Page

 The article title

 Author name(s)
 Author affiliation
 Manuscript page header
 Running head
 Page number
More about the Title Page
 The title should include the independent variable and
dependent variable
 The manuscript page header consists of the first
couple of main words of the title
 The running head:
– a short descriptive title
– should include no more than 50 characters (including spaces and
punctuation)
– does not have to be the same as the page header
 Use plain type face
Abstract: A complete and concise
one-paragraph summary

 State the research question or

hypothesis
 Describe the method used
 Describe the subjects/participants
 Mention the research procedures
 State findings
 Include implications
Introduction: Justifying the
importance of the problem
 Provide historical background
 Argue for significance of the topic
 Review relevant research and identify
gaps/flaws
 Apply a theoretical/conceptual framework (if
applicable)
 State your research question/hypothesis
 Operationally define your variables
The Literature Review: What others
did to solve the problem

 Review important relevant sources

 Identify
– Theoretical framework
– Variables
– Methodological or conceptual gaps/flaws of previous
research
 Leads to your research question/hypothesis
Methods: What you did to try to
solve the problem

Subsections

 Subjects/Participants
 Procedures
 Measurement
 Research Design
Subjects/Participants
 Demographics
– Age
– Gender
– Location
– Race
– Socioeconomic status
 Number (sample size)
 Adequacy of sample size
 Maintain confidentiality
Procedures

 Describe how the data

were collected
 Describe each step in
sequence
 Provide enough details
for replication
Measurement

 Identify all variables in the

study
 Describe how the variables
are operationalized or
measured
 Briefly address validity and
reliability of the measurement
instruments (if applicable)
Research Design

 Discuss appropriateness
of the design for the
research question
 Address validity
– internal validity
– external validity
Results: What you found
 For qualitative research  For quantitative research
– present organized or
categorized data in order
to answer the research
question
– present newly discovered
consideration or variables
(if applicable)
– restate the hypothesis
– state whether you were
able to support it
– present a summary of the
results for the statistical tests
– use tables, figures, graphs or
charts to present the results
if necessary
Discussion: What you think your
findings mean
 Summarize and interpret the
results
 Answer your research question
 Discuss your findings in the
context of previous research
 Discuss implications
 Identify limitations
 Suggest directions for future
research
References and Appendix

References:
-- start on a separate page
-- follow APA style
Appendix:
-- consent form
-- survey
-- charts, figures, graphs
 Thank you