research reports ch 8

CHAPTER XIII

RESEARCH REPORT WRITING

Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep. 2010 1

Learning Objectives

At the end of this chapter students will be able to:

• Describe how the research is the crucial means for communicating the whole research project

• Describe the guidelines in writing a research • Outline the research report format and its

major components



Report parts

Prefatory parts Main body of the report Appended parts

8.1. Report parts


Prefatory parts

Title page

Acknowledgement

Acronyms

Table of contents

Objectives/problem

Methods

Key Results

Recommendations

Abstract


Appended parts

Data collectionforms

Detailedcalculations

General tables

Others(e.g Glossaries) if any

The Communication Process


MessageCommunicator AudienceEncoding Decoding

Communication

Field of Experience Field of Experience

9.2. Guidelines in Research Report writing• Plan the project well in advance; fix the

target and the final date of completing the report.

• The time for completing data collection and data processing should be well planned, and implemented

• The time for report writing should be planned, and the task of report writing should not be put off till the last minute.


….Guidelines in Research Report writing

• Select a structure for the report, arrange in group the data, documents, bibliography, etc

• Prepare an outline of sub-points in detail.

• Prepare a rough point-by – point skeleton for each chapter.

• Do not hesitate to discuss the skeleton with somebody who is well –versed in research and writhing


….Guidelines in Research Report writing• In the event of any doubt, get it cleared by

reading, thinking, recollecting and discussing, before going farther

• Avoid easy-going and short cut methods and don’t hesitate to write an entire first draft.

• Put the complete rough draft away for several days until you can be a fresh mind to bear up on it.

• Revise the draft thoroughly before the report is submitted.



8.3. MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A RESEARCH REPORT

Prefatories/Preliminariesi) Title page

Title of the Research (A Case Study of ……..) Purpose why the Research is conducted Name and Address of the investigator Advisor/Reader Month and Place where the research is written

ii) Abstract Objectives/rationale or problem Methods used Key findings Key recommendations

iii) Acknowledgement

iv) Acronyms (if any, abbreviations alphabetically

arranged)

v) Table of Contents

vi) List of Tables

vii)List of Figures


Components continued

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the study –Deductive orderDefinitions and Concepts Related to the topicGlobal issues and trends about the topicSituations in Less Developed Countries or in

an industryNational levelFirm/Regional level



1.2 . Statement of the Problem or (Justification of the study) Facts that motivated the investigator to conduct the

research Exactly specifying and measuring the gap Hard facts or quantitative data about the topic for some

previous years, for example three years

1.3 Research Questions, Research Objectives, and Research Hypothesis (optional)

1.3.1. Research Questions Questions to be answered to resolve the research

problem or produce implications for the hypothesis Often one main question and several specific questions


1.3.2. Research Objectives – Ends met by conducting the research

What the investigator analyzed and how; what comparisons are made and at what level

General objective often one statement directly related to the topic or title of

the researchSpecific Objectives- often 4-7 what the researcher wanted to achieve

about s/he collected data; what was analyzed and comparewhat the researcher wanted to achieve

1.3.3. Research Hypothesis ( Optional) - tentative propositions to be tested in the research



1.4. Significance of the study- Benefit of the study (Who may use the findings)

Contribution to literatureUser organizations

Other researchers

The society or the community


1.5. Scope and Limitation of the study

Scope provides the boundary or frameworkTheoretical/ConceptualMethodologicalGeographic

Limitation is the implication or effect of the scope- does not mean weakness or problems to be faced By and enlarge reflection of the scope

Limitation of the Study• No proposed research project is without limitations;

there is no such thing as a perfectly designed study. • As Patton (1990:162; cited in Marshall and Rossman,

1999) notes, "There are no perfect research designs. • There are always trade-offs".• A discussion of the study's limitations demonstrates

that the researcher understands this reality that she will make no overweening claims about generalizability or conclusiveness relative to what she has learned.

Limitation ….

• Limitations derive from the conceptual framework and the study's design.

• A discussion of these limitations reminds the reader what the study is and is not-its boundaries-and how its results can and cannot contribute to understanding.

• Framing the study in specific research and theoretical traditions places limits the research.

• Limitation reminds the reader that the study is bounded and situated in a specific context.

1.6 Definition of key Terminologies and Concepts (Optional)

Conceptual definitions – general and related to dictionary meaning

Operational – in the context of the research paper and in measurable terms


CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE.

Deductive Order (General to specific) Concepts and definitions of terminologies directly

related to the topic. Global issue and trends Regional or continental or industrial facts Best experiences, if relevant Problems and challenges related to the topic Important points in the literature Adequacy- Sufficient to address the statement of the

problem and the specific objectives in detail Logical flow and organization of the contents Adequate citations The variety of issues and ideas gathered from many

authors


CHAPTER III

THEORETICAL/CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWQORK.


CHAPTER IVResearch Methods and Data Collection

4.1. Description of the Study Area (Use only data

relevant to your study)

4.2. Data Type and Source (Decide one of them or both by giving justifications)

Qualitative V/s Quantitative ( Give reasons) Primary Sources (Specifying who were the sources of

the primary data)RespondentsIntervieweesKey informantsFocus group participants, etc.



Secondary Sources (Who and Which sources were used by stating justifiable reasons) and exactly state the sources from which you got the data

Reports, manuals, Internal publications, data base systems

Journals and Publications for assessing existing findings and

InternetBooks for assessing theories and principles related to

the topic etc.


4.3. Research Designs and Strategies Qualitative vs Quantitative Strategies

Stating appropriate reasons for your choice/decisions Choice among the basic designs of the research techniques

Census Vs Survey (which one was used and why) Survey design ( which survey designs were used by clearly

stating the reasons for your decision Sample Size( Use appropriate sample size determination

formula and or the commonly used sample size used by other researchers in the area of your topic, with due regard to the target population and the homogeneity or heterogeneity of the population characteristics

Sampling Design( Show how and why you used the different techniques of probability and/or nonprobability sampling techniques

Sampling Procedure( clearly state the steps you followed in actually taking the samples)


Steps in Sampling Design Determine the universe/target population Determine the sampling unit Determine source list/sampling frame Determine size of sample (( Use the sample size

determination formula as a base and make adjustments with due regard to the target population and the homogeneity or heterogeneity of the population characteristics)

Sampling procedure ( Show how and why you used the different techniques of probability and/or nonprobability sampling techniques)



4.4. Data collection

4.4.1. Data collection instruments State the data collection tool or tools were used with

necessary justifications. – Interview, – Questionnaire, – Observation, – Focus group discussion, etc

Questionnaire pretesting details if you had


4.4.2. Data Collection Procedures ( show in detail)

How the Questionnaire was administered Who was involved? How many people were involved? When was data collected? Where was data collected? How Data collection was administered? How other methods were applied in combination

(Triangulation)Focus Group discussionsInterviews Observation

4.5. Data Processing and Analysis.4.5.1. Data processing• Coding• Editing• Data entry4.5.2. Data analysis • Methods used• Descriptive analysis• Inferential statistics.• SPSS/ SAS/STATA/SYSTAT


CHAPTER VFINDINGS or RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS.

• Shows which data deserve further illustration and explanation

• Show appropriately those data that are highly relevant to the research problem, research objectives and research questions

• Show the relationship between variables, that may have implications to the problem and its solutions

• It is not advisable to include your own interpretations at this level, for it may lead to premature conclusions

• Use cross tabulations as much as possible


CHAPTER VISUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1. Summary– Provides basic facts that are having implications

or likely conclusions– It is directly taken from the analysis but focuses

on the most important data– You can include your own interpretations for each

basic fact but you can also have a separate topic for conclusion


6.2. Conclusion/Interpretation• Deals with the implication of the data for the

problem or solution• Basically the interpretation of the researcher

and the relationship between the data and the real world and the respective principles are included here

• The implication should be worked out in a way it leads to recommendations


6.3. Recommendation• The possible solutions to the problem• But these potential solutions should be made

ready made solutions• They should not be assignments to the reader


• References/Bibliography• Annexes/Appended parts

• Questionnaire• Forms of data collection• Detailed calculations• General tables


research reports ch 8

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