 KNOWING ABOUT THE RESEARCH REPORTS

Research reports are recorded data prepared by researchers or statisticians after

analysing the information gathered by conducting organized research, typically
in the form of surveys or qualitative methods.
A research report is a reliable source to recount details about a conducted
research. It is most often considered to be a true testimony of all the work done
to garner specificities of research.

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  WRITING A RESEARCH REPORT (HOW)

To write a research report we have to know about the Common components of a

research report by which we can write a research report. These are:
1. Title
2. Abstract
3. Introduction
4. Literature Review
5. Methodology (Materials and Methods)
6. Results
7. Discussion
8. Conclusion
9. Reference List / Bibliography
10.Appendices

These are described below:

 Title
Your title should be brief, topic-specific and informative, clearly indicating the
purpose and scope of your study. Include key words in your title so that search
engines can easily access your work. For example: Impact of Globalization in
the business of 21st century

 Abstract
An abstract is a concise summary that helps readers to quickly assess the
content and direction of your paper. It should be brief, written in a single
paragraph and cover; the scope and purpose of your report; an overview of
methodology; a summary of the main findings or results; principal conclusions
or significance of the findings; and recommendations made.
The information in the abstract must be presented in the same order as it is in
your report. The abstract is usually written last when you have developed your
arguments and synthesised the results.
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 Introduction
The introduction creates the context for your research. It should provide
sufficient background to allow the reader to understand and evaluate your study
without needing to refer to previous publications. After reading the introduction
your reader should understand exactly what your research is about, what you
plan to do, why you are undertaking this research and which methods you have
used. Introductions generally include:
o The rationale for the present study. Why are you interested in this
topic? Why is this topic worth investigating?
o Key terms and definitions.
o An outline of the research questions and hypotheses; the
assumptions or propositions that your research will test.
 Literature Review
Not all research reports have a separate literature review section. In shorter
research reports, the review is usually part of the Introduction.
A literature review is a critical survey of recent relevant research in a particular
field. The review should be a selection of carefully organised, focused and
relevant literature that develops a narrative ‘story’ about your topic. Your
review should answer key questions about the literature:
o What is the current state of knowledge on the topic?
o What differences in approaches / methodologies are there?
o Where are the strengths and weaknesses of the research?
o What further research is needed? The review may identify a gap in
the literature which provides a rationale for your study and
supports your research questions and methodology.
The review is not just a summary of all you have read. Rather, it must develop
an argument or a point of view that supports your chosen methodology and
research questions.

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 Methodology (Materials and Methods)
The purpose of this section is to detail how you conducted your research so that
others can understand and replicate your approach.
You need to briefly describe the subjects (if appropriate), any equipment or
materials used and the approach taken. If the research method or method of data
analysis is commonly used within your field of study, then simply reference the
procedure. If, however, your methods are new or controversial then you need to
describe them in more detail and provide a rationale for your approach. The
methodology is written in the past tense and should be as concise as possible.
 Results
This section is a concise, factual summary of your findings, listed under
headings appropriate to your research questions. It’s common to use tables and
graphics. Raw data or details about the method of statistical analysis used
should be included in the Appendices.
Present your results in a consistent manner. For example, if you present the first
group of results as percentages, it will be confusing for the reader and difficult
to make comparisons of data if later results are presented as fractions or as
decimal values.
In general, you won’t discuss your results here. Any analysis of your results
usually occurs in the Discussion section.
Notes on visual data representation:
o Graphs and tables may be used to reveal trends in your data, but
they must be explained and referred to in adjacent accompanying
text.
o Figures and tables do not simply repeat information given in the
text: they summarise, amplify or complement it.
o Graphs are always referred to as ‘Figures’, and both axes must be
clearly labelled.
o Tables must be numbered, and they must be able to stand-alone or
make sense without your reader needing to read all of the
accompanying text.

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 Discussion
The Discussion responds to the hypothesis or research question. This section is
where you interpret your results, account for your findings and explain their
significance within the context of other research. Consider the adequacy of your
sampling techniques, the scope and long-term implications of your study, any
problems with data collection or analysis and any assumptions on which your
study was based. This is also the place to discuss any disappointing results and
address limitations.

Checklist for the discussion:

o To what extent was each hypothesis supported?
o To what extent are your findings validated or supported by other
research?
o Were there unexpected variables that affected your results?
o On reflection, was your research method appropriate?
o Can you account for any differences between your results and other
studies?
 Conclusion
Conclusions in research reports are generally fairly short and should follow on
naturally from points raised in the Discussion. In this section you should discuss
the significance of your findings. To what extent and in what ways are your
findings useful or conclusive? Is further research required? If so, based on your
research experience, what suggestions could you make about improvements to
the scope or methodology of future studies?
Also, consider the practical implications of your results and any
recommendations you could make. For example, if your research is on reading
strategies in the primary school classroom, what are the implications of your
results for the classroom teacher? What recommendations could you make for
teachers?

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 Reference List / Bibliography
A Reference List contains all the resources you have cited in your work, while a
Bibliography is a wider list containing all the resources you have consulted (but
not necessarily cited) in the preparation of your work. It is important to check
which of these is required, and the preferred format, style of references and
presentation requirements of your own department
 Appendices
Appendices (singular ‘Appendix’) provide supporting material to your project.
Examples of such materials include:
o Relevant letters to participants and organisations (e.g. regarding the
ethics or conduct of the project).
o Background reports.
o Raw data.
o Detailed calculations.
Different types of data are presented in separate appendices. Each appendix
must be titled, labelled with a number or letter, and referred to in the body of the
report.
Appendices are placed at the end of a report, and the contents are generally not
included in the word count.

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REFERENCES:
1. https://kidadl.com/quotes/research-quotes-to-inspire-the-academic-in-you
2. https://www.questionpro.com/blog/research-reports
3. https://mindtoolsbusiness.com/research-and-reports
4. https://www.canstockphoto.com/images-photos/research.html
5. https://www.assignments4u.com/research-paper-topics
6. https://students.unimelb.edu.au/academic-skills/resources/report-
writing/research-reports

Shanta Akter
17FB022

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