RESEARCH REPORT
Report writing guidelines
1. Begin writing up the report as soon as you can. Do not
leave it until you have finished your data collection before
you start writing up. Many sections, can be drafted during
or even before data collection.
2. Write down ideas as soon as you get them, rather than
leaving them to the writing-up stage. Keep a research
diary where you can safely note any ideas. Not all of your
ideas will be useful, but it is certain that some of them will
be! Do not imagine that you will be able to remember
these ideas at a later date.
Report writing guidelines
3. Be aware of the nature of the report and the intended
audience. If it is for a student research project, then
ensure you have read and understood the criteria laid
down by your institution in terms of content, presentation,
length and so on.
4. If you are writing for a journal, ensure that your
research fits within the scope of that journal’s objectives
as well as its editorial requirements. If you are producing
a report or piece of consultancy, ensure that you are clear
about the requirements of your audience.
Report writing guidelines
5. You will not be able to write the final report out first
time. You will need to rewrite it a number of times before
it reaches completion. You should allow for this when
planning your research timetable, and not become
discouraged when the first draft is not perfect.
Report writing guidelines
6. Make sure before you begin writing up that you
make backups of your work at every available
opportunity. Whatever you do, do not assume that
whatever you save on a hard drive will be safe!
7. You should keep your backups in a separate
location. As a further safety measure, print out what
you have written so far at regular intervals.
STAGES OF WRITING A REPORT
1. First clarify the nature of the planned report, and its
intended audience. If any examples of past reports are
available, read as many as you can – both good and bad!
2. Identify any predetermined requirements, for example
maximum word length, formatting, such as double spacing
or required referencing style, and so on. Ideally you should
familiarise yourself with past projects, etc. so that you
have an idea of the final product before you start.
STAGES OF WRITING A REPORT
3. Throughout the duration of the research you should be
collecting together the information necessary to complete
the report, such as your review of literature, analysis of the
primary data, list of references and so on.
4. Prepare an outline plan of the report. At the bare
minimum, this should be a list of chapter headings. Ideally
you should be able to have more detail – include likely
subheadings as well. The more detailed your initial outline,
the easier you will find the process of writing up the first
draft of the report.
STAGES OF WRITING A REPORT
5. Write a first draft of the report. You should not
anticipate the first draft being your final submission!
6. Evaluate the content of the first draft, either through
reading it yourself or, preferably, getting somebody else
to read it with a critical eye.
7. Rewrite and re-evaluate the report as appropriate. You
may need to do this more than once!
STAGES OF WRITING A REPORT
8. Final editing and proof reading. Once you have got
this far, the temptation is to skip over the final proof
reading and simply submit the project. Do carefully
read over to check spelling and grammar.
9. Submission of the report!
TYPICAL RESEARCH REPORT
STRUCTURE
1. Title Page
2. Abstract
3. Acknowledgements (optional)
4. Contents
• List of Tables
• List of Figures
5. Introduction
6. Literature Review
7. Methodology
8. Results
9. Discussion
10. Conclusions + Recommendations
11. Reference List
12. Appendices
ABSTRACT
• What your research aim was.
• Key background theory.
• What data were collected from whom, and how.
• How it was analysed.
• Key findings.
INTRODUCTION
• WHAT you have done – aims/objectives.
• WHY you have done it – justification.
• HOW you have presented the report – structure/
signposting.
LITERATURE REVIEW
• What do we know.
• What we do not know (research gap).
• How your study fits the research gap.
• What you may expect to find (hypotheses).
• Relate the literature to your study.
Be critical if appropriate.
METHODOLOGY
• Information needs.
• Research design.
• Research strategy.
• Methods.
• Sample.
• Procedure.
• Analysis.
Is it repeatable to the reader?
METHODOLOGY
Have you explained the rationale behind your chosen means of
collecting information?
Are your research methods the most appropriate given your
chosen hypothesis or research question, and your subsidiary
questions or objectives?
Are you making assumptions? You know what you did in terms of
research methods – have you expressed yourself clearly and
given adequate details? Would someone else be able to replicate
your study on the basis of the information you have given?
Any limitations? Anything you might have done differently?
RESULTS
There is no one correct way to present your results. Some ways
could be:
Address each of your hypotheses, research
questions.
By independent and dependent variable.
By research method.
By participant (qualitative interviews).
RESULTS
• Tables essential for quantitative data.
• Graphs only if they add to understanding.
• Use quotes sparingly for qualitative data.
• Only report relevant results.
PRESENTING TABLES
Table 5.2.1: Summary of t-test for paired sample results comparing
Gluten Free Diet Totals with Recommended Nutrient Intake Literature
Values
Significance Level for two- Significant
Nutrient Value of t tailed test p≤0.05
Protein 6.456 0.000 Yes
Calcium 4.415 0.000 Yes
Iron 1.902 0.073 No
Riboflavin 4.858 0.000 Yes
Folate 1.281 0.216 No
These results show a significant difference for Protein, Calcium and
Riboflavin. Gluten Free Diet participants consumed significantly more protein
and calcium than is recommended by the Committee on Medical Aspects of
Food Policy (1991, cited Department of Health, 1991).
WRITING THE DISCUSSION
Discuss the implications of your results in light of your
research objectives.
Can be combined with results for a qualitative study.
Common error = Discussing your own findings without any
reference to existing knowledge.
Your research should build on existing knowledge so refer back
to the literature review.
WRITING THE DISCUSSION
•Do your findings find support in the literature?
•Were your findings predicted by the literature?
•How does your research add to the literature?
•If your findings differed from expectations, then are there any
possible explanations why?
•Does the particular theory or model you have used still hold true in
light of your research?
•If the theory or model seems flawed, then how can it be refined in
light of your research?
CONCLUSION
• What the key findings were.
• Should relate to aims/objectives in introduction.
• May include recommendations for future research.
REFERENCES
Must be consistent with text.
APPENDICES
Must relate to the research, but not be directly related.
KEY WEAKNESSES
• Abstract – lacks specific detail.
• Introduction – no justification, aim and objectives
unclear.
• Literature review – not related to the research question,
no critical awareness, limited sources, limited relevance,
inappropriate theory.
• Methodology – lacking specific detail, justification,
limited awareness of reliability, validity, generalisability.
KEY WEAKNESSES
• Results – focus on graphs, limited analysis, lacking
relevance.
• Discussion – not revisiting the literature, simply
repeating results, lack of awareness of the implications
of the findings.
• Conclusions – unrelated to results/discussion.
GENERAL PRESENTATION WEAKNESSES
• Word limits not adhered to.
• Inappropriate formatting.
• Inappropriate use of visual material.
• Incorrect spelling and grammar.
• Lack of signposting/linking.
ASSESSING YOUR RESEARCH REPORT
SETTING THE SCENE
Does your abstract give a clear idea of what is in the
report? Has it clearly described your objectives, the
methodology adopted, and the main conclusions that
have emerged?
Is your table of contents well structured and does it give
a picture of what is included? Have you included a list
of tables and a list of figures if appropriate?
In your introduction have you introduced your research
adequately?
FOCUS AND JUSTIFICATION
Have you a clear focus? Is your research report tightly
defined and contained or does it sometimes lack direct
relevance, or stray off the point?
Have you got a clearly constructed and suitable
research question or hypothesis which leads to a set of
clear and related subsidiary questions or objectives?
YOUR USE OF THE LITERATURE
• Is your issue or focus underpinned by theory? Is it clear
which theory or model you have adopted?
• How up to date are your references? Have you included
the most up to date work in your area?
• Have you managed to identify and get hold of the work of
key writers in your particular area? Have you ensured that
you have paid due attention to ‘classic’ sources?
YOUR USE OF THE LITERATURE
• Have you used a variety of sources or are you over-reliant upon
certain authors? Have you included or acknowledged competing
theories or viewpoints, or simply selected literature that supports
your hypothesis?
• Is it clear to the reader how your research relates to what has been
done before, or builds upon existing knowledge?
• In your literature review do you merely identify and describe, with
no real critical edge? Have you been analytical enough?
• How well have you researched the literature on your topic and on
your specific focus?
• Have you explored all possible sources?
YOUR METHODOLOGY
• Do you clearly identify and explain your choice of
research design?
• Are your research methods the most appropriate given
your chosen hypothesis or research question, and your
subsidiary questions or objectives?
• Have you made it clear who the subjects are? And to
what population these subjects belong? Is it clear how
they were selected?
YOUR METHODOLOGY
•Have you explained the rationale behind your
chosen means of collecting information? If it is an
existing instrument, whose is it? Why did you
choose it? Is it clear to the reader why your
methods were the most appropriate ones for your
research question?
• Are you making assumptions? You know what
you did in terms of research methods, but would
the reader? Have you expressed yourself clearly
and given adequate details? Would someone else
be able to replicate your study on the basis of the
information you have given?
• Have you clearly identified the strengths of your
methodology? Are there any limitations to your
RESULTS, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
• Are your findings clearly presented? Have you
included tables for your descriptive and inferential
analysis of quantitative data?
• If you have included graphs, charts and so on, are
these appropriate? Is the content of each chart
clear? Is it clear how each chart relates to your
research objectives?
• How have you analysed your findings? If you
have undertaken quantitative analysis, which
statistical tests have you used? Are you sure these
are the correct tests? Have you interpreted the
results correctly?
• For qualitative analysis, have you demonstrated
RESULTS, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
• In your discussion, do you adequately revisit the literature
and relate your findings to the literature, or do you simply
discuss what you found?
• Are your arguments coherent, logical and sound? Are
they consistent with the evidence that you have collected?
• Have your conclusions clearly emerged from the
evidence collected and discussed? Have you
acknowledged unexpected evidence, or evidence that
contradicts your chosen theory or model?
RESULTS, DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
• Do you return to your research question or hypothesis?
• Do you evaluate the research? Have you identified the
strengths and the limitations of the project?
GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT
• Is your content well planned and logically structured?
• Is the work well presented?
• Have you made appropriate use of supportive materials to
enhance presentation, i.e. graphs, tables, illustrations?
• Have you conducted a thorough read through, to eliminate
careless spelling and typographical errors, poor grammar
and poor sentence construction?
• Do you link your various chapters and make use of
signposting to help the reader? Do you set out your
intentions clearly in your introduction?
GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT
• Have you set out your references and/or bibliography
with the required detail and in the recommended format?
• Have you acknowledged all sources used, and made it
clear when it is your views that are being expressed, or
the views of others?
• Have you made appropriate use of appendices? Are
there any unnecessary appendices?
• Have you ensured that your report is as stimulating and
as interesting as possible? Have you conveyed your
enthusiasm to the reader throughout the project?