RESEARCH METHODOLOY
An Introduction
The Discussion, or body, of the report (the content)
Your Conclusion
Any Recommendations
An Appendix or Appendices
And your Reference list.
Title Page:
The title page will contain:
• The report title, which clearly states the topic of the report
• Full details of the person or persons for whom the report is intended
• Full details of the person or persons who prepared the report
• Date of the presentation of the report (or the date submitted if you are not presenting it).
Abstract:
The abstract is one of the most important components of the report. It will be read by vastly
more people than those who will read the whole report, and needs to provide enough
information to invite the audience to read on.
Although the audience will read this first, you should leave the writing of your abstract as the
last step. This will allow you to summarise the content of your report in a concise and clear
format.
Depending on the length of your report, an abstract is usually no longer than 10% of the
paper, or 100-200 words.
An abstract aims to:
Provide a brief overview of the whole report
Give concise, complete, specific and self -sufficient information that can be easily
understood
Offer recommendations for executives and managers to base their decisions on.
Introduction:
Your introduction will:
Provide background information on the topic
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State the purpose of the report
Indicate the scope, including limitations
Outline the methods used to gather information
Clarify key terms
Inform the reader of what your report will cover
Give the reader a preview of how the information will be presented.
It will also include your literature review of any publications you have used for your report.
For tips on how to write a literature review, follow the link below this slide to Grammarly's
post on How to Write a Literature Review.
Content:
The content of your report will depend on its purpose.
Your report should contain primary sources if possible (such as observations and
interviews), as well as secondary sources to provide explanations of theory and
background.
You should further detail the methods of your investigation, including what you did and
why, and any issues encountered in the process.
In the body content you will explain the findings gathered from your research, and discuss the
implications they hold.
Remember to separate your key ideas and concepts into clear headings and subheadings, so
that you break up your report into digestible pieces of information for the reader.
Conclusion:
Your conclusion will be a summary of the key points you have raised in your discussion.
In this, you will need to:
Contextualise your observations, findings, and analyses
Remind the reader what you have informed them in the body content (i.e. what you
researched, what you discovered, what implications or problems this raises)
Do NOT include new information here
Recommendations:
Think of this as an action plan for how to resolve or improve the issue.
Try to make your recommendations as realistic as possible, and identif y
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clear paths of how these recommendations could be achieved by the
responsible parties.
Appendix/Appendices:
This is a section where you can include further information that is relevant to your
topic but did not fit in the body of your report
This can include (but is not limited to) graphs, tables, and raw data collected as part of your
investigation.
Writing a Research Report
Section Content
Cover page Student name and assignment details.
Table of contents List of main sections and sub-sections, with page numbers,
including tables, illustrations, reference list, and appendices.
Abstract A one-paragraph overview of aims, methods, results, and conclusions.
OR One or more pages divided into the same sections as the report.
Introduction Research aims and objectives, including any hypothesis.
Rationale for the study, i.e., why the issues for investigation were
important or significant. Might define technical or specialist terms.
Outlines scope of the report. Briefly states how report is organised.
Background to study: Survey of key literature: summary of major themes, concepts and/or
Literature Review trends. Situates current research in relation to existing literature;
How your study fits in e.g., how it will add to current knowledge, or address existing gap.
Methods: Gives precise details of methods and procedures, e.g.,
How the study was study's participants, and how they were chosen;
carried out; how data collection methods (e.g. surveys, interviews,
data was analysed questionnaires, personal observation, case study);
process of ethical consent if applicable.
data analysis methods.
Results* Presents results objectively, without discussion.
Can include explanatory or supporting data (e.g., extracts from
interviews). Include illustrations, figures or tables.
Discussion* Evaluation and discussion of results.
Comments on significant findings, and implications.
(*Results and Might also include:
Discussion might • whether any initial hypothesis was supported;
be combined) • whether or not the findings met the aims of the study;
• a comparison of your findings with other research;
• limitations, flaws or problems in study design or methods.
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Conclusion Clearly and concise conclusion to study.
Briefly re-states how well the study design met the study's aims.
Emphasises major findings and implications of findings as
addressed in discussion section.
Briefly re-caps any faults or limitations covered in full in the
discussion section.
If applicable, suggests future research directions.
Recommendations Summarises and lists in order of importance.
(if applicable) Might also be numbered.
References Alphabetical list of references. Start on new page, attach to end
of report, before appendices.
Appendices Relevant and necessary material not included elsewhere,
e.g., copy of questionnaires or survey forms; participant consent
form; large tables referred to but not included in the body of
report; raw data. Start each appendix on a new page.
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