research report format thiyagu

Research Report

@ Dr. K. Thiyagu 1Dr. K. Thiyagu, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala

“Research report is a research document that contains basic aspects of the research project”.

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Research Report Format

A. Preliminary Section

B. Main Section

C. Reference Section

[adapted from: John W. Best, Research in Education, 2nd ed., (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1970)].

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• Cover Page

• Title Page

• Certificate

• Declaration

• Acknowledgments (if any)

• Table of Contents / Index

• List of Tables (if any)

• List of Figures (if any)

• Abbreviations

• Abstract / Summary Report

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B. Main Section

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Chapter 1: Introduction / Conceptual Framework

• Conceptual framework of the study

• Need and Significance of the Problem

• Purpose or score of the study

• Statement of the Problem

• Definition of Terms

• Objectives of the study

• Hypotheses of the study

• Assumptions

• Limitations / delimitations

• Chapterization @ Dr. K. Thiyagu 7

Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature / Studies

• Studies related to foreign

• Studies related in India

• Critical Review

• Gap Identified

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Chapter 3: Design of the Study / Methodology

• Description of Research Design

• Population and sample

• Sampling Procedures

• Sources of Data

• Tools / instruments used

Pilot study

Item analysis

Reliability

validity

• Date gathering

• Statistical Treatment@ Dr. K. Thiyagu 9

Chapter 4: Analysis of Data / Data Analysis

• Descriptive statistics

• Differential statistics

• Text with appropriate

• Tables and

• Figures

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Chapter 5: Summary and Conclusions

• Restatement of the Problem

• Description of Procedures

• Major Findings (reject or fail to reject Ho)

• Interpretation

• Discussion

• Conclusions

• Recommendations for Further Investigation

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• End Notes (if in that format of citation)

• Bibliography or Literature Cited or References

• Appendix / Appendices

A copy of questionnaire

Detail of sampling and rate of response

Photos of data collection

Master table / master matrix

Statement of expenses

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Pagination

Format

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Paper

A4 Sheet: 8.27’’ x 11.69’’

Letter: 8.5 x 11"

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Page Margins

Research Paper:

1" on all sides (top, bottom, left, right)

Research Report:

Top – 1”

Bottom – 1”

Left – 1.25 to 1.4”

Right – 1.2 to 1.25”

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Font

Text:

Times Roman

Courier.

Tables and Figures:

sans serif

Arial.

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Font Size

12 Point Times New Roman

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Alignment

Justified

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Paragraph Indentation

5–7 spaces

Ms word: Click page layout, indent

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Binding

Hard Board Binding

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Particulars Descriptions

Paper A4 Sheet: 8.27’’ x 11.69’’

Letter: 8.5 x 11"

Page Margins

Research Paper:

1" on all sides (top, bottom, left, right)

Research Report:

Top – 1”

Bottom – 1”

Left – 1.25 to 1.4”

Right – 1.2 to 1.25”

Margins: MS word Setting:

Use 1-inch margins throughout (top, bottom, left, right)

Click File, Page Setup, Margins. Fill the appropriate blanks with “1”.@ Dr. K. Thiyagu 24


Font

Times Roman

Courier.

For figures, however, use a sans serif font such as

Arial.

Font Size 12 Point Times New Roman

Spacing Double-space entire document

Alignment of Text Justified

Paragraph

Indentation

5–7 spaces

Ms word: Click page layout, indent@ Dr. K. Thiyagu 25


End of Sentence Leave one space after a period unless your teacher prefers two.

Binding Hard board binding

Section Headings

Top level headings should be centered on the page, using upper and lower

case.

Second level headings should be flush left, italicized, using upper and lower

case.

Highlighting

For highlighting or emphasis, use italics. Bold print can also be used for

clarity if necessary (for instance if you use a lot of linguistic examples that

require italics).

Additional

Information

Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL) -

APA Style Guide@ Dr. K. Thiyagu 26

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

FIGURESTABLES GRAPHS

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TABLES, FIGURES AND GRAPHS

• Use tables, figures and graphs only to display main andsignificant results.

• Present information only when it is of value to the reader.

• Number every table, figure and graph in the sequence in whichthey will be referred to.

• Tables should be numbered and captioned above the table.

• Figures and graphs should be labelled below with their numberand descriptive title.

• Refer to every table, figure and graph included in the text byusing the present tense.

• Cite references if applicable.

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Tables

Unique Table

NumberBold

Heading

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Graphs

• Unique Graph Number

• Unique Caption

• Label Axes

• Label Units

• Label Scale

• Label Parameters

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Writing Style in Research Reporting / Academic Writing

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WRITING STYLE

• A scientific paper is a formaltext written in animpersonal, objective,neutral and professionalway.

• The writing is concise withspecific wordings andformulations. Thewriting should be clear aswell and lead to a deeperunderstanding of the subject.

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Avoid colloquial or informal language

• Eliminate all 'filler' and needless words.

• Biased language is not acceptable in academic writing.

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Avoid personal or familiar language

• Do not directly address the reader and do not ask rhetoricalquestions.

• Remember that the use of personal pronouns (I, You, me,him, her, us etc) does not fit into an objective, scientificpaper. @ Dr. K. Thiyagu 34

Avoid ambiguous, imprecise or vague words

Beclear, concrete, specific,

precise and direct.

If possible, choose specific wordings

which will lead to more concise writing.

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Do not use 'wordy' expressions either

To illustrate: X• 'Since' or 'because' are easier to read than 'for the

reason that' or 'owing to the fact that'.

• 'Although' is easier to read than 'despite the fact that'or 'regardless of the fact that'.

• 'If' is easier to read than 'in the event that'.

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Abbreviations and Contractions

• Limit the use of abbreviations inacademic writing. Explain theabbreviations you are using.

• Avoid contractions such as 'doesn't','haven't'. Always write full forms.

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Written Language

• Scientific Papers should bewritten with correctgrammar, spelling andpunctuation.

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Reporting Numbers

• Write out numbers at the beginning ofa sentence.

• Spell out cardinal numbers from one tonine and ordinal numbers from first toninth. (1-9)

• Numbers below 10 are usually writtenas words. Also write out hundred,thousand and million in words.

• Usually, a space is inserted betweenthe number and the unit. (5 CM)

• Percentages require numerals, exceptwhen beginning a sentence.

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Punctuation

Do not forget punctuation.

Do not use commas instead of full

stops.

To separate items in a list, use a colon.

Commas are used between each item

Do not use excessive

punctuation.

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Structure

• A scientific paper or text should have a logical structure andorganization.

• Typically, an academic text comprises of different chapters andsections of about equal length flowing smoothly into each other.

• Sections consist of associated paragraphs that are carefullyformatted in a consistent page lay-out.

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• Paragraphs are more or less evenly distributed.• Develop a paragraph in a systematic way, for

instance working from general to specific or fromtheory to practice.

• Be consistent in tense use throughout paragraphs.• Pay attention to transitions between and within

paragraphs• Link sentences within paragraphs using signal

phrases, connecting phrases as well as referencewords. Paragraphs should be coherent and presentedas a whole.

Writing Paragraphs

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Transition Words

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• Avoid complex sentence structures makingyour text difficult to follow.

• Use correct, simple and compoundsentences.

• Break up long sentences

• Creating multiple sentences in order toimprove readability.

• Focus on one idea per sentence andemphasize the most important element.

• Avoid using first person pronouns('I', 'we') as well as personal experience inacademic writing.

• Never begin a sentence with conjunctionssuch as 'for', 'and', 'or', 'but'.

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Tenses and Structures

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Bibliography

• The term bibliography is the term used for a list of sources(e.g. books, articles, websites) used to write an assignment(e.g. an essay). It usually includes all the sources consultedeven if they not directly cited (referred to) in theassignment.

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References usually come at the end of a text

(essay or research report) and should

contain only those works cited within the text. So,

use the term 'References' to cover works cited.

A Bibliography is any list of references at the end of a text, whether cited

or not. It includes texts you made use of, not only texts you referred to in

your paper, but your own additional background reading, and any other

articles you think the reader might need as background reading.

Reference Vs Bibliography

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Footnotes

• Footnotes are placednumerically at the foot of thevery same page where directreferences are made.

• Endnotes are placednumerically at the end of theessay on a separate pageentitled Endnotes or Notes.

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Thank You

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