DISSEMINATING EVIDENCE:
on the other extreme of length and completeness. It
REPORTING THE RESEARCH
by Mr. Mark Angelo T. Cristino
Organization of this lecture:
1. Reporting the Research:
a) Types of Reports
b) Components of the Research Report
c) Writing the Methods/Procedures and
Findings
d) Writing the Conclusions
e) Publishing
f) Authorship
TYPES OF REPORTS
There are many different formats for reporting
research:
• Journal articles – shorter format, estimated
to only have 2 – 3 pages compared to
manuscript in undergraduate theses
(estimated to reach 100 or 200+ pages)
• Technical research reports
• Monographs or books
• Graduate theses
• Dissertations.
Research is also reported orally at:
• Professional meetings
• Seminars
• Symposia
• Workshops.
These oral reports, however, are usually based
on previous written reports. Those literatures are our
bases/framework/backbone for our future research.
Journal articles are the most condensed form
of writing. Journals have severe space limitations
and often all the details of a complex research
project can't be presented in one article. Make sure
to include only the salient points.
They are the most "prestigious" format for
reporting disciplinary work.
- Involves a peer-review process, both in-house
peer review or blinded peer review (reviewer
doesn’t know the author of the research; the
author doesn’t know the person who reviewed
his/her work), which evaluates quality and
importance of a paper.
- They receive wide distribution to disciplinary and
subject – matter readers
To reach other audiences, other publications
must be used. It is one way of reporting to the public
or society.
Sometimes, research can be written as journal
articles as well as other formats to reach different
users. Be careful, though, not to violate exclusive
publication rights of journals – get permission!
Graduate theses and dissertations tend to be
usually consists 100 to 200 pages or more.
− Review of literature and Framework are the
lengthy parts involved in graduate theses and
dissertations.
− This is the report of the student's work to his/her
graduate committee.
− These tend to be long and sometimes more
wordy than necessary. But completeness is
considered more important than efficiency in this
writing. (In this respect, they are opposite to
journal articles.)
COMPONENTS OF A RESEARCH REPORT
The components of a research report often include:
1. Title
− Same advice as for writing Proposal Titles
− Authors, affiliations, keyword and similar
information often on title page.
− At least only 14 words.
2. Acknowledgements
− Recognize the assistance and support of
individuals and organizations, especially
funding.
− Mention individuals who contributed to your
research output
3. Abstract
− A compact summary of the research report,
sometimes called "executive summary"
− 150 – 200 words; maximum of 350 words.
However, it depends upon the publisher or
journal.
− Extremely important - it is the only thing most
people will read (in deciding to read your
paper)
− Independent; Even if you don’t read the whole
research paper, you’ll still understand as long
as you read the abstract.
− Brief introduction, specific framework used,
methodology, results, conclusions, and
recommendations.
4. Table of Contents
− A listing or outline of the organization of the
report. It shows headings, subheadings and
other divisions.
− Sometimes includes lists of Tables and
Figures (esp. in thesis or dissertation)
− Journal papers usually delete this section
5. Introductions
− Styles for introductions vary, from long and
detailed to short or even absent.
− Sometimes changed to rationale or
background of the study.
6. Review of Literature
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 − Serves the same purpose as in the research
proposal
− Backbone of the study
7. Conceptual Framework
− Likewise, serves the same purpose as in the
proposal. Sometimes used directly from the
proposal, but usually undergoes some
refinement.
− May be eliminated if readers are non-
economists.
8. Methods and Procedures
− This section explains how the analysis portion
of the research was conducted.
− It includes data collection and manipulation,
data sources, analytical procedures, models
developed and used, empirical procedures and
techniques, and analyses conducted.
− Also includes problems encountered and how
they were addressed.
− Contains research design, research
population, research environment/locale, data
gathering process, and statistical procedure
and treatment.
9. Results (Findings)
− Presents and explains the results of the
analysis.
− This is the end product of all the analyses from
which objectives were either achieved or not.
− Hypotheses have been tested and the results
reported here.
10. Summary and Conclusions
− This provided the reader with a general
understanding of the research project.
− It most often includes an overview of the entire
study. Emphasizing the problems, objectives,
methods, procedures, and results
− Conclusions represent the researcher's
interpretations of the results.
11. List of References
− A listing of all references used in every part of
the report. Often very similar to the research
proposal.
− APA style
12. Appendices
− These can be very useful, but are not always
used.
− They can be used to present material that
might disrupt the flow of thoughts in the report
(e.g., too much detail) or include information of
interest to only some readers.
− e.g., Mathematical proofs or derivations, some
statistical estimations or tests. Like pilot
testing.
− Include specific result in a tabular form,
curriculum vitae, permission letters, and etc.
Note the similarities to the project proposal-
sometimes sections of the proposal can be used
directly in the report. The above sections apply
mostly to graduate theses and dissertations, not
journal articles which tend to be much briefer.
WRITING THE METHODS/
PROCEDURES AND FINDINGS
⚫ Writing this section in a research report can
have some important differences from the
proposal.
⚫ First, the methods are largely written for other
economists. Others may be interested-- but will
tend to leave judgments of the validity of
methods and procedures to the economists.
⚫ The effectiveness of this sections (methods and
procedures) depends on organization and
thoroughness. The procedures need to be
described in a logical sequence.
⚫ Explain the data used, their source, and any
manipulations or adjustments of the data.
⚫ Explain and justify your analytical assumptions.
Also explain models you may have used and be
explicit about assumptions made.
⚫ Describe the problems you may have
encountered and how they are resolved.
⚫ Also, note unsuccessful approaches,
techniques and procedures-- this may help
others to avoid problems or mistakes in their
future researches.
⚫ Be sure readers know how calculations were
made and estimates derived.
⚫ Define all variables, including units of
measurement. (These details are easily
overlooked, but are important.)
⚫ Use graphs or other visual aids where
appropriate to increase understanding by the
reader.
- e.g., A diagram of a multisector model may
help to make linkages and equations used
in the model more clear.
RESULTS (FINDINGS)
⚫ This presents and explains the results of the
study.
⚫ Validity of hypotheses are discussed, along with
various test of validity used.
⚫ Don’t just present empirical estimates-- these
must be analyzed, interpreted and possibly
tested to make findings complete.
⚫ The empirical results are often only the
beginning of the most meaningful part of the
research-- economic understanding, expertise
and insight are needed to fully interpret the
meaning and implications of the estimates.
⚫ Tables and figures are often effectively used to
present findings.
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⚫ They help to organize and emphasize
information in the findings.
⚫ A recommended approach to writing this section
is to construct the tables and figures that form
the core of the findings first-- then write the
narrative which describes and explains the
tables and figures.
WRITING THE CONCLUSIONS
⚫ Sometimes people confuse conclusions and
results (findings).
⚫ Findings address and test hypotheses, while
conclusions are concerned with implications or
tests of hypotheses. Conclusions address the
question of “so what?”
⚫ Conclusions extrapolate beyond the findings--
examining and interpreting the implications of
the study,
⚫ Conclusions allow judgment of the researcher
about implications of the study. This judgment
must be supported by logic, but is subjective.
⚫ “Conclusions are a final inductive phase of the
research, which are a matter of judgment…
generally it is wiser to understate rather than to
overstate.”
⚫ You may offer insights about the implications of
your study and findings of other studies.
⚫ Policy implications of your study may be
considered- even if these were not among the
objectives of the study.
⚫ Conclusions may specify what the study implies
as well as what it does not imply.
⚫ Researchers may see a need to avoid improper
use of the research results.
PUBLISHING
⚫ Written research reports communicate
knowledge within the research and scientific
community. Publications are the primary means
of disseminating research knowledge.
⚫ Once published, research results become public
knowledge-- however, original ideas must
always be recognized.
⚫ In addition to journal publications, other outlets
include, technical bulletins or reports,
proceedings papers, symposia, and workshop
papers.
⚫ Among the common reasons that proposed
refereed publications fail to be accepted are:
1. Inadequate identification of a research
problem
2. Inappropriate or unclear methods and
procedures
3. Inappropriate material for the proposed
publication
4. Failure to communicate what is important
and original
5. Poor organization.
The most highly respected publisher is Skopos
Index Publisher
AUTHORSHIP
⚫ This can be a sensitive matter which deserves
careful consideration.
⚫ Credit in research paper is recognized in three
ways:
1. Citations or references
2. Authorship
3. Acknowledgment
⚫ Authorship is the most prestigious type of credit,
and all persons “directly” involved in the
research and making “substantive”
contributions should be included as authors.
⚫ Interdisciplinary research may result in special
difficulties in recognizing contribution and
authorship.
- Laboratory and field sciences, place
special emphasis on the generation of data
(sometimes as end product of research)
- Economists are likely to view such data as
“inputs” to their research, which only
requires acknowledgments.
- Conversely, laboratory and field scientists
may assume that activities (such as
determining economic implications) are not
part of “research” and thus don’t deserve
inclusion in authorship.
⚫ Order of authorship can be a difficult issue. First
author is generally assumed to have had the
greatest involvement in the research.
⚫ The inclusion of administrators or advisors as
authors, even if they had little to do with the
research, can be a contentious issue.
⚫ It is best to discuss authorship up front and
openly among all involved in the research.
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