RESEARCH REPORT

A research report is a written or spoken communication that informs the selected audience as
clearly and accurately as possible about the Research Project. A researcher will not find it
difficult to write a report if research process had been followed and recorded. The guidelines
for the production of a research report are closely connected with the phases of the research
process.

PARTS OF A RESEARCH REPORT

All reports, whether they are length dissertation, thesis or highly scientific research articles and
presentation include a core of essential information. The following parts of a report can be
identified in any report regardless of the length, competencies and level of scientific
terminology.

Title. The title should be an accurate reflection of the research. It needs to be both meaningful
and brief. As a guide a title should not exceed fifteen words, preferably less.

1. INTRODUCTION (Chapter One of Dissertation or thesis)

In the introduction, the problem to be dealt with is introduced and the area within which the
problem is situated identified.

The introduction is presented under the following sub headings.

1.1 Background to the study.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of the study is clarified concisely and precisely.

1.4 HYPOTHESIS OR RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The Hypothesis, objectives and research questions are stated clearly and concisely and logical
arguments should be provided to show that each statement is plausible. reasonable and sound.

1.5 ASSUMPTIONS

These should show your belief or feelings on answers to the research questions or hypothesis
although there is no proof.

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1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The importance of the study is emphasized.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The challenges faced during data collection and how you went round these challenges.

1.8 DEFINATION OF TERMS

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

Chapter two in dissertation or Authoritative sources including scientists are quoted to access
what is known about the particular issue and what is unclear and needs further investigation.
The Researcher should show a grasp of the theory and be able to apply knowledge to the
research. Various theoretical view points need to be taken into account. Only articles relevant
to the problem are cited and commented upon in literature review.

3. METHODOLOGY (Chapter Three of dissertation or Thesis)

The purpose of this section is to inform the reader how the investigation was carried out. The
methodology part should contain enough detail to enable another research to replicate (to copy)
the investigation.

The methodology section should incorporate the following sub headings.

3.1 RESEARCH DESIGN.

The chosen design should be specified including the order of succession of the different
activities, their duration and the instructions given to participants.

3.2 POPULATION

The subjects should be well defined who they are, how many they are and why they are
appropriate for this study. Specific information must be given concerning the population such
as their characteristic?

3.3 SAMPLE

A sample is a subset of the total population that has been well defined. State how many subjects/
respondents/ participants are picked for the sample. A sample should be at least five (5%)
percent or above of the population.

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3.4 SAMPLING PROCEDURE

A description of how the subjects were picked to enter a sampling procedure is either random
(probability) or non-random (non-probability)

3.5 DATA COLLECTION OR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS

A description of all tasks or types of activities that participants are asked to perform should be
described. Describe the instruments used in data collection. For example, if participants had to
fill a questionnaires or interview schedules these should be included in the appendix.

3.6 DATA ANALYSIS

The researcher should give an account of the methods that were used in analyzing data. If a
statistical design was used, the statistical tests applied to test the various hypothesis should be
discussed after the data has been described or summarized.

4. RESULTS (Chapter four of the dissertation or thesis)

The results section presents the findings of the study. Brink (1966) says that presentation of
results will depend on the design and the types of analysis under taken. In a quantitative study,
tables, graphs and diagrams and the outcomes of statistical tests should be used to help the
reader to understand the data. It is essential that the tables, figures and that diagrammes are
used judiciously and that they have precise tittles and that they can be easily identified.

Example: An investigation into causes of pregnancies among female students at Monze Collge
of Education.

[Link] 3 OF QUESTIONNAIRE

SER NO CAUSES RESPONSES

1 PEER PRESSURE

2 FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES

3 CO-HABITATING

4 UNPROTECTED SEX

5 ABUSE OF ALCOHOL

6 UPBRINGING

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TABLE 1: ANALYSED RESULTS OF CAUSES FROM 50 RESPONDENTS

SER NO CAUSES RESPONSES PERCENTAGE

1 PEER PRESSURE 30 24%

2 FINANCIAL 42 34%
DIFFICULTIES

3 CO-HABITATING 10 8.2%

4 UNPROTECTED SEX 9 7.4%

5 ABUSE OF ALCOHOL 25 20.6%

6 UPBRINGING 5 4.1%

TOTAL RESPONSES 121 100%

The following paragraph will discuss the findings as tabulated in figure 1.

Of all the respondents 30 (24.7%) felt that pregnancies among the female students were due to
financial difficulties white only 10 (8.2%) believed that pregnancies were due to co habiting.

From the sample, 9 (7.4%) believed that pregnancies were as a result of un protected sex,
25(20.6%) thought abuse of alcohol contributed to pregnancies. Only 5(4.1%) believed that up
bringing caused pregnancies among female students of Monze College of Education.

TABLE2: OTHER FACTORS THAT CAUSED EARLY MARRIAGES

The other factors respondents mentioned that cause early pregnancies among the female
students (not in figure 3) are as tabulated in figure 4 below?

4! OTHER FACTORS NOT IN INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

SER NO CAUSE RESPONSE PERCENTAGE

1 LACK OF SELF CONTROL 10 15.6%

2 LACK OF DRESSING CODE 7 10.9%

3 UNSUPERVISED BOARDING 22 34.3%

HOUSES

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 4 LACK OF CONDOM PROVISION 5 7.8%

5 UNLIMITED FREEDOM 20 31.2%

TOTAL NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS 64 100%

On the other factors not in the interview schedule (free response questions) out of the 64
responses 22(34.3%) added unsupervised Boarding facilities as the cause of pregnancies
among female students at Monze college of Education. Another 20(31.2) mentioned unlimited
freedom while 10(15.6%) mentioned lack of self [Link] 7(10.9%) and 5(7.8) mentioned
lack of self control and non provision of condoms respectively.

SER INTERVENTION RESPONSE PERCENTAGE

NO

1 Stablish guidance and counseling unit to work 29 19.7%

on peer pressure and abuse of alcohol and
unprotected sex

2 Appeal to parents to give sufficient funds to 20 13.6%

students

3 Build separate dormitories for male and female 37 25.1%

students to arrest co-habiting and unlimited
freedom

4 Provision of condoms 09 6.1%

5 Put in place code of conduct 42 28.5%

Total 147 100%

ACTIVITY

Discuss the above intervention in the same way causes were discussed

TABLE 4: INTERVENTIONS

Draw the table, then discuss the results as done under table 1, 2 and 3

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TABLE 5: QUALIFICATIONS

S/N QUALIFICATION RESPONSE PERCENTAGE

1 PROFESSOR 0 0

2 PHD 0 0

3 MASTERS 0 0

4 DEGREE 10 20

5 DIPLOMA 32 64

6 CERTIFICATE 8 16

7 OTHERS (PLEASE SPECIFY) 0 0

TOTAL 50 100%

Of the 50 respondents 10(20%) had first degrees, 32(64%) had diploma while only 8(16%)
hard certificate qualifications. Non of the respondents were professors or had PHD.

TABLE 6: AGE

S/N AGE RESPONSE PERCENTAGE

1 UNDER 15 2

2 16-25 10

3 26-35 25

4 36-45 6

5 ABOVE 45 7

TOTAL 50

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ACTIVITY

(1) Work out the percentage in the table 6

(2) Discuss the results as done in previous tables

TABLE 7: GENDER

S/N GENDER RESPONSE PERCENTAGE

1 FEMALE 28

2 MALE 22

TOTAL 50

ACTIVITY

(1) Work out the percentage in the table 6

(2) Discuss the results as done in previous tables

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (CHAPTER FIVE

OF THE THESIS)
A well developed discussion makes sense of the research results and must be presented in a
clear and concise language. In the discussion section, the researcher restates the research
questions and or hypothesis and discusses the results with reference to these questions or
hypothesis in the order they were posed.

The researcher indicates whether she /he found what was expected and how the present results
relate to previous research. Thus the discussion should connect the findings with similar studies
and especially with theory underlying such studies.

If unexpected, inconclusive or contradictory results were obtained, possible reasons for the
outcomes should be discussed. Limitations of the study should be identified and the researcher
should defend the validity of the findings in the light of such limitations.

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The research should come up with conclusions of the study related to the question(s)raised in
the introduction. There should be recommendations for applying the research.

In summary, the discussion, conclusion and recommendations sections incorporate.

The following elements;

1. An interpretation of the findings

[Link] related to the question(s) raised in the introduction

3. Limitations

4. Generalization of research findings

[Link] and recommendations

EXAMPLE OF DICUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON

CAUSES OF PREGNANCIES.

From the findings in Tables 1 and 2, it is clear that the five main causes pregnancies among
female students at Monze College of Education are:

A. Financial difficulties

B. Peer pressure

C. Abuse of alcohol

D. Un supervised boarding house

E. Unlimited freedom

INTERVENTIONS ON HOW TO STOP PREGNANCIES

From the findings in Table 3, the main intervention that need to be implemented to stop
pregnancies among female students at Monze College of Education are (please complete this);

A.

B.

C.

D.
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C.

All the causes of pregnancies among college students found during the research fit with the
causes established in the literature and therefore support earlier research. According to
[Link] article, causes of pregnancies among students are peer pressure,
absent parents, lack of knowledge, sexual abuse or rape and teenage drinking. Peer pressure
absent parents (unlimited freedom) and teenage drinking fit into the research findings. A
research work was carried to find out the cause of teenage pregnancy among female students
in IKPOba OKha Local Government Area in Edo/state.

Findings were that some students become pregnant due to peer pressure,absent parents,
glamorization of pregnancy, lack of knowledge, sexual abuse or rape and teenage drinking.
Other reports indicate causes of pregnancies among students drugs and alcohol, low social-
economic status, peer pressure, sexual abuse and media influence. Alcohol abuse, low social-
economic status, peer pressure correspond with the research findings.

QUOTE MORE OF LITERATURE THAT PROVE THAT YOUR RESEARCH

FINDINGS ARE VALIDY ANID REALIABLE AS THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY
OTHER LITERATURE OR RESEARCH

QUOTE RELEVANT LITERATURE OFTHE INTERVANTIONS AS YOU DID

FOR CAUSES.

CONCLUSION

From the findings, it is clear that the five main causes of pregnancies among female students
of Monze College of Education are,

(1) Peer Pressure. Some female students lack self control. They follow what the peer do. In the
process, the fall pray to prostitution and get pregnant.

(2) Financial difficulties. Most students come from poor families. The funding they get from
their parents is inadequate to see them up to the end of the term

(3) Abuse of alcohol (expand/explain further as above.

(4) Unsupervised boarding houses.(do the same.

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ACTIVITY

COMPLETE THE LIST AND EXPAND.

The five main interventions that the respondents recommended in order to reduce the number
of pregnancies among female students at Monze College of Education are:

LIST THEM AND WRITE NOTE ON EACH ONE OF THEM AS YOU DID FOR
CAUSES

RECOMMENDATIONS
Taking into consideration the findings of this study, the writer would recommend the following
interventions.

1. Establishment of a guidance and counselling unit. The will offer guidance to students on
how to handle peer pressure

LOOK AT OTHER CAUSES AND INTERVENTIONS RECOMMENDED.

WRITE THE APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS THAT NEED TO BE CARRIED OUT

IN ORDER TO REDEUCE OR STOP PRGNANCIES AMONG STUDENTS, ENSURE
THAT YOU WRITE SHORT NOTES ON EACH OF THEM AS DONE IN ONE ABOVE

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REFERENCES

The researcher should refer to the literature that was consulted or used during the study. These
references should be made in a standard manner and should be used consistently through out
the report. An entry in the reference list or bibliography should feature at least the following:-

1. In the case of a book:

Surname(s) of the author(s) and initials, year of publication, title of the book, place of
publication and publisher

Eg Albers H.H (1966): Principles of Organization and Management, New York John Willeg
and sons.

Burton W.K and Associated (1981): examining Controversies in Adult Education, London
Bass Publishers.

Gilley J. and Eggland S. (1989) Principles of Human Resources Development, Reading,

Addison Wesley Publishers Company.

In the case of an Article or Journal

Surname(s) of the author(s) and the initial(s) year, title of Article, name of Journal, volume,
number of the relevant volume and the number.

Eg Kraas J. (1976) united states Army Military Review Journal Volume 1 vi no.8 pp 78

Richer D.(1982) Dissertation and Abstract international volume 43 no 7 pp 220/A

Sign K.D.(1973) United States Army Military review Journal volume Liii no 11 pp 81

ACTIVITY: what are the essential differences between a research proposal and a research
report?

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RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

You recommend research if there are gaps in your research that need further study. If any

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