Research Report
A report conveys information and sometimes recommendation from a researcher
who has investigated a topic in detail. It is a final product or outcome of the research
work. That means the generalizations or findings and conclusions made by the
researcher must be communicated to others.
Functions of Research Report
The research report serves three functions.
1. A systematic record of research
will serve as an essential reference for future research along the related lines.
2. The research report helps to know the quality of the work done by the researcher.
3. The report helps the policy makers to take appropriate action and policy.
Importance of Reporting
1. The report helps the researcher to communicate the problem, the method, facts,
the conclusions and their interrelationship..
2. It helps the researcher to evaluate the success of his research effort.
3. The report reveals the research ability of the researcher.
4. The report is very much useful to the policy makers and administrators for taking
decisions and policies.
Qualities or Characteristics of Good or Essential report
1. Suitable Title:- A suitable title has to be provided to each report according to the
nature of contents.
2. Simple:- A report should be readable by an ordinary layman and in known
language. Such type of simple style of language is used in the report preparation. As
far as possible, scientific or technical language is best left out of reports, unless it
becomes unavoidable.
3. Promptness:-A report should be prepared and submitted within short span of time
or time stipulated by the request letter.
4. Comparability:- Sometimes a report is prepared with some comparative
information. In this case, a standard information is compared with actual information.
If not so, current year information is compared with last year information.
5. Consistency:- A report should be prepared for many years from the same type of
information and statistical data. If so, there is a possibility of preparing a report in
consistency.
6. Precise and Accurate:- A report should be precise, accurate and specific.
7. Relevant Information:- Relevant accurate data is alone included in the report.
[Link] to Date:- A report should contain only latest information.
[Link]: The style of presenting the report should attract the attention of
the user of the report.
TYPES OF REPORT
The type of report to be prepared depends upon the background of the potential
audience, their total research situation and their technical background and
knowledge .
The report can be classified as follows.
1. Oral Report
Reporting may be done to an administrator either orally or in written form. Oral report
has an important place in USA while reporting to government or industries. But it is
not developed in [Link] oral report is helpful to communicate continuously to
fellow [Link] is also effective when policy recommendations are important.
2. The Written Report
The written report may be three types-
a) Popular report:- Popular report is a report prepared for a layman these persons
who are not interested in technical aspects of the study to explain the broad facts,
findings and mo intended mentations. It is prepared in lucid
and simple style.
b). Report submitted to an administrator- This report is prepared for the
administrator or executive or for fellow researcher. It is intended for taking
[Link] Administrators require only the essence of the research study .So in
this type of report, some technical details and supporting data are included. It will
follow the summary and important recommendations of the study
c)Technical Report
Technical Report is a report prepared for specialists who are interested in
understanding the technical aspects of research methodology and research findings.
They are interested in hypothesis for the study, logical and statistical details that led
to the conclusions. The report is prepared in technical language.
It should contain the following four aspects:
1. The nature of the problem.
2. The research methodology adopted for study.
3. Analysis of data and the results.
4. The inference drawn from the results.
LAYOUT OF A RESEARCH REPORT
The mechanical format of a research report consists of three parts.
I. The Prefatory Parts of a Report.
II. The Body or Text
III. The reference materials
[Link] PREFATORY PARTS OF A REPORT
These parts provide key preliminary information so that readers can decide whether
to and how to read the report. Many authors named the prefatory parts as
preliminary parts. These parts are placed before the text of the report and are
generally prepared after writing the report body. The prefatory section consists of the
following parts:
[Link] page
2. Title page
3. Preface, including acknowledgements.
4. Table of contents
5. List of tables.
6. List of figures or illustrations.
7. Abstract
COVER PAGE
The very first part of a formal report is the cover page that simply writes the title of
the report. The cover should stand the title of the report in the upper center, the
name of the receiver in the middle center, and the name of the writer in the lower
center.
THE TITLE PAGE
The title should reflect the content and emphasis of the project described in the
report. It should be as short as possible and include essential key words. It should
show the following details:
1. Title of the thesis.
2. Name of the candidate or researcher
3. Name and designation of the supervisor or guide
4. Degree for which the thesis is presented
5. Name of the institution to which the thesis is being submitted
6. Month and year the thesis is being presented
PREFACE (Often used synonymously with forward) The preface may include the
purpose of conducting study by the researcher, a brief resume of background, scope
and general nature of the research upon which the report. is being based and
acknowledgements.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The table of contents is prepared to show an analytical view of the material included
in the study together with the sequence of presentation. It includes the major
divisions of the thesis such as introduction, chapters with their sub sections,
bibliography and
appendix
LIST OF TABLES
After the preparation of the table of contents the writer is required to prepare a
list of tables. The list of tables is to be centered on a separate page.
LIST OF FIGURES
The list of figures appears in the same form as the list of tables.
ABSTRACT OR SYNOPSIS
The primary objective of an abstract is to communicate to the reader the
essence of the paper.
[Link] BODY OR TEXT
The text is the most important part of a [Link] includes:
1. Introduction
2. Research procedure
3. Results
4 Discussions
5. Conclusion and summary
1. Introduction
The nature of the problem and why it is of interest should be conveyed in the
opening paragraphs. This section should describe clearly but briefly the background
information on the problem, what has been done before (with proper literature
citations), and the objectives of the current [Link] introduction should be written
with due care. Usually the introductory part contains :
1. A lucid, complete and concise statement of the problem being investigated.
2. A description of the scope of study.
3. An explanation of the need for study and importance.
4.A resume of the historical background and present importance of the problem
5. A brief statement with regard to the source of data, the technique used for
analyzing data, the assumptions used in the analysis and the technical terminologies
used in the study.
[Link] reference which we made to other books and other articles, if relevant for our
study should also be given.
ii Research Procedure
The methodology describes what was actually done. The reader is interested to
know how the study was carried out.
The researcher also gives information about the statistical tools used for study.
lii. Results
In this section, relevant data, observations, and findings are summarized. Tabulation
of data, equations, charts, and figures can be used effectively to present results
clearly and concisely
iv. Conclusions and Summary
A separate section outlining the main conclusions of the project is appropriate if
conclusions have not already been stated in the "Discussion" section.
A lengthy report, or one in which the findings are complex, usually benefits from a
paragraph summarizing the main features of the report - the objectives, the
findings,and the conclusions.
References
Literature references should be collated at the end of the report. All references
should
be checked against the original literature.
[Link] MATERIAL OR TERMINAL PARTS
(i) Bibliography.
(ii) Appendix/Appendices
(iii) Index (if any)
BIBILIOGRAPHY- A Bibiliography is a list of the sources used by the researcher to
get information for research [Link] is included at the end of the [Link] is an
essential part of the [Link] contains information about books,reports,articles and
other sources relevant to the investigation.
APPENDICES
Usually copy of questionnaire and interview schedule are included in the appendices