Research report format

- Abstract
- Introduction
- Method
- Result
- Discussion
Bài 1: Abstract
Purpose of an Abstract
The abstract isn’t a retelling of your paper; rather, it highlights the most important points
you address in the paper. Your abstract helps perspective readers decide if they want to
spend more time with your article. Your abstract covers four key topics:
1. What the paper is about
2. Why your research is important (what’s the gap in the literature that you’re addressing?)
3. How you conducted the research
4. Why your paper is worth reading (the "So what?" of your research)
If your paper addresses one small part of your thesis, briefly provide the context of the larger
research project. Then focus on the specifics of this particular part.
Include at least one sentence to indicate how your work fits into the scholarly discussion on
your topic and the unique contributions you’re making.
Order of typical elements included in an abstract
 Reason for writing: What is the importance of the research? Why would a reader be
interested in the larger work?
 Problem: What problem does this work attempt to solve? What is the scope of the
project? What is the main argument/thesis/claim?
 Methodology: An abstract of a scientific work may include specific models or
approaches used in the larger study. Other abstracts may describe the types of evidence
used in the research.
 Results: Again, an abstract of a scientific work may include specific data that indicates
the results of the project. Other abstracts may discuss the findings in a more general
way.
 Implications: What changes should be implemented as a result of the findings of the
work? How does this work add to the body of knowledge on the topic?

1
The ability of your abstract to encourage the researcher to read further determines whether
you have an opportunity to make an impact with your article.
So how do you ensure a quality first impression?
1) Be concise
Most abstracts are between 150-250 words in length. Summarize the key elements from
your article in a way that describes what you have written but encourages readers to read
further for the details of your research and argument.
2) Be complete
The abstract should represent the entirety of your article – introduction, methodology,
results, and conclusions. Key research questions addressed in the paper should be identified,
followed by the methods used to conduct the research, the significant results of your study,
and finally why your paper matters.
3) Be factual
The abstract should be unbiased and present the factual elements of the article. Any
arguments made by the author should be done within the article. The abstract should focus
on what research was conducted, how it was done, the results of the study, and why it matters
as a contribution to the discipline.
4) Be articulate
The abstract represents not only the content of the article, but the writing abilities of the
author. This first impression should be grammatically accurate, ideas should flow naturally
from introduction through conclusion in a logical progression consistent with the body of
the article, and unnecessary information should be eliminated to improve readability (and
meet word count requirements).
Although your abstract is often the first impression for a potential reader, it should
be the last thing you write. By writing the abstract after the paper is completely edited, you
can ensure that you are concise, complete, factual, and articulate while accurately
representing the paper as a whole.
When you write the abstract
Keep your abstract focused. The abstract identifies the gap in the literature and where your
work fits in, but it doesn’t provide the background for your paper—that information belongs
in the Introduction or Literature Review of the paper. To keep your abstract focused on your
own work; don’t discuss background or heavily cite others’ work.

2
Clarify your approach in the [Link] you’re in the sciences, you’ll include a summary
of the methods that you used. In the humanities, focus more on the objectives of your
research.
Pick helpful keywords. The words you use to describe your project (the keywords and title)
matter. These words position your work in the context of the ongoing scholarly conversation.
To get a sense for what words to use, look at the words used in the articles you read. If
you’re working with the same ideas, use the same terms. This ensures that your work will
come up when readers search for your topic.
Pay attention to word limits. Every journal has specific requirements for the abstract,
including word count. If you know where you’re submitting your article, you’ll be able to
tailor your abstract and article to the journal, rather than struggling to rewrite your work to
fit the journal.

Bài 2: Introduction
1. The introduction can be divided into five parts.
First: general statement about a field of research to provide the reader with a setting for the
problem to be reported. (the setting)
Second: More specific statememts about the aspects of the problem already studied by other
researchers. (already studied)
Third: Statement that indicate the need for more investigation. (investigation needed)
Fourth: very specific statement giving the purpose or objective of the writer’s study.
(purpose)
Fifth: Optional statement that give a value or justification for carrying out the study. (value)
Chọn 10 bài khoa học tiếng anh và 10 bài tiếng việt chuẩn, để sv xác định 5 thành phần
này
Ex: Using microcomputers in teaching
Ex: Eye movements while watching a baseball pitch
2. The first part of introduction:
It provides your readers with the background necessary to see the particular topic of your
research in relation to a general area of study.
- Begin with accepted statement of fact related to your general area (your “universe”)

3
 - Within the general area, identify one subarea (your “galaxy” which includes your
topic)
- Indicate your topic (your “star”)
EX: the uses of duckweed in waste-water treatment
Ex: the transport and sorting of diamonds by fluvial and marine processes
3. The second part of introduction:
More specific statememts about the aspects of the problem already studied by other
researchers. (already studied). Part 2 is often called the review of literature.
In part I of your introduction you establish a setting for your research topic. In part II you
review the findings of other researchers who have already published in your area of interest.
The review of literature serves three important functions.
- It provides a theoretical background to your study.
- It helps you establish the links between what you are proposing to examine and what
has already been studied.
- It enables you to show how your findings have contributed to the existing body of
knowledge in your profession. It helps you to integrate your research findings into the
existing body of knowledge.
In relation to your own study, the literature review can help in four ways. It can:
- bring clarity and focus to your research problem;
- improve your research methodology;
- broaden your knowledge base in your research area; and
- contextualise your findings.
How to review the literature
There are four steps involved in conducting a literature review:
- Searching for the existing literature in your area of study.
- Reviewing the selected literature.
- Developing a theoretical framework.
- Developing a conceptual framework.
Chọn 10 bài khoa học tiếng anh và 10 bài tiếng việt chuẩn, để sv xác định review the
literature, trong đó chú ý:
- Citation focus
+ Information + Reference (Smith, 1968)

4
 + Information + Reference number
+ Reference = Smith (1968) + Information
- Order of Citations:
+ Citations grouped by approach
+ Citations ordered from distant to close
+ Citations ordered chronologically (earliest – latest)
4. Part III of introduction:
Statement that indicate the need for more investigation. (investigation needed) = missing
information.
Part III servees to signal the reader that the literature review is finished. It sums up the
review by pointing out a gap – that is, an important research area not investigated by other
authors. Part III is accomplished in only one or two sentences.
Ex: However, few studies have reported on….
Ex: But there is little information available on….
5. Part IV of introduction:
very specific statement giving the purpose or objective of the writer’s study. (purpose)
Part IV serves to state as concisely as possible the specific objective of your research report.
This stage, the statement of purpose, thus follows directly from part III because it answers
the need expressed in part III for additional research in your area of study.
EX: the purpose of this study is to determine….
6. Part V of introduction:
Optional statement that give a value or justification for carrying out the study. (value)
In part V you justify your research on the basis of some possible value or benefit the work
may have to other researchers in the field or to people working in practical situations. We
can call this part the statement of value.
Part V is not included in every introduction. You should include Part V in your introduction
when you write a thesis, dissertation, or a thesis proposal. In reports written up as journal
articles, part V is offen omitted.
- Practical Orientation
- Theoretical Orientation