Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Presentation
Writing and
Formatting of Reports
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Research Reports
Types of Research Reports
Guidelines for writing a report
Report Format
Report Presentation
Practical Tips for Doing Research
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You write a research report to inform your
readers of:
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Sections of a Research Report
Title Page
Abstract
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
References and Appendix
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Title Page
The article title
Author name(s)
Author affiliation
Manuscript page header
Running head
Page number
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Other rules
Title page should contain the title of your
paper (not a topic, but a title that reflects the
content of the paper), your name, the course
name the paper is for, and the date you wrote it
You may use headers and footers (Ex:
Running head: CMC and loneliness)
Headings
Using headings makes it easier to navigate your
paper. In a short paper like your lit review,
you’d probably only use the first-level heading,
but this is what they look like in order:
First-Level Heading
Second-Level Heading
Third-level heading. Begin text of paragraph…
Abstract: A complete and concise one-
paragraph summary
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Methods: What you did to try to solve the
problem
Subsections
Subjects/Participants
Procedures
Measurement
Research Design
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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
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Citing while quoting
You need to put the author last name(s) and
date, like while paraphrasing, but also the
PAGE NUMBERS or PARAGRAPH NUMBERS
(for online sources).
Example: “the research findings clearly
indicate support for the hypotheses”
(Douglass, 1986, p. 55).
Warning
Keep quotations to a minimum (less than 3 per
paper)
Don’t forget the quotation marks and page
numbers (or paragraph numbers), or you will
be guilty of plagiarism!
If you have references, tables, and
appendices…
They go in this order…
1. Title page
2. Paper
3. References
4. Appendices
5. Notes
6. Tables, Figures, etc.
Subjects/Participants
Demographics
Age
Gender
Location
Race
Socioeconomic status
Number (sample size)
Adequacy of sample size
Maintain confidentiality
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Procedures
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Procedures
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Research Design
Discuss appropriateness
of the design for the
research question
Address validity
internal validity
external validity
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Results: What you found
For qualitative research For quantitative
present organized or research
categorized data in order restate the hypothesis
to answer the research state whether you were
question able to support it
present newly discovered
present a summary of the
consideration or variables results for the statistical
tests
(if applicable) use tables, figures, graphs
or charts to present the
results if necessary
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Discussion: What you think your findings
mean
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References and Appendix
References:
-- start on a separate page
-- follow APA style
Appendix:
-- consent form
-- survey
-- charts, figures, graphs
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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
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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
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Research Reports
Presentation of research findings to a specific audience which may be
either technical or popular in orientation. The methodology, findings,
conclusions and recommendation differ considerably in terms of detail,
writing style, use of technical terms and length.
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Report Format
Title Page
Table of Contents
List of Tables (or figures, graphs,
etc.)
Executive summary
Objective
Results
Conclusions
Recommendations
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Body
Introduction
Methodology
Results
Limitations
Conclusion and Recommendation
Appendix
Sampling plan
Data collection forms
Supporting tables not included in the body
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TRANSMITTAL
The function of the transmittal is to introduce the report
and say the kind of things that we might may say if we
were to deliver it ion a person. It must contain:
A mention of the authorization
A carbon copy notation of receiver
Any other specific comment regarding this
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Title Page
The title page should contain a title which conveys the
essence of the study, the date, name of the organization
submitting the report and the name of the recipient
organization. The title should be descriptive and catchy.
Example:
“Profile of car owners in Delhi city”
“Hard contact lenses: is the market softening”
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Table of Contents
Background, purpose and method
Statistical Methodology
Marketing conclusion and recommendation
Research conclusion and summary of findings
Statistical section
Index of statistical tables
Appendix
Questionnaire
Exhibits
Summary
Abstract and key word
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CONTENTS OF EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
Objective of the research reports
Nature of the decision problem
Key results
Conclusion
Recommendation for action
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Report Presentation
Researchers should plan their report
presentation carefully making sure that
they have suitably designed visual aids
which clearly project salient findings.
Clients cannot be expected to digest a
range of quantitative and qualitative data
merely given verbally.
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Checklist for Researchers
Is the title of the research relevant?
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Don’t get tied up in knots…
Ask your instructor if you’re unsure about anything..