Report

What is a Report?
Reports are documents which present detailed interpretation and content, and critical analysis of the results of an
experiment, investigation and project on a particular topic. A report usually contains different sections, such as
introduction, methods, results, discussion and conclusion. There may be a specific writing style and format for the
report. Each discipline may have its specific format. There are various types of reports across different subjects, such
as analytical reports in business field, and practical reports in some sciences subjects. Report writing is an important
skill for students, as it is often used in all work fields.

Structure of Report Writing

In general, a report is made up of different sections with specific information.

Abstract: A brief summary (sometimes known as executive summary) of the report which is approximately 100 to 150
words. It includes the aim of the report, a brief research methodology used, summary of key findings, a short
discussion, and conclusion.

Introduction: The objective, rationale and background information of the research/experiment/project. It could cover
some aspects such as the theoretical perspectives, a brief review on previous and existing knowledge, limitations of
previous work, hypotheses and expected outcomes.

Method: Outline the approaches and procedures that were used to carry out the research/experiment/project. This
section also mentions the specific materials and equipments used for the experiment/research. In some scientific
reports, instructions of the experiments and some labeled diagrams are included to give more information of the
practical work.

Results: Describe the findings and observations. Data can be presented in tables, graphs and even through
calculation. In some scientific reports, the results section also shows if the hypothesis of a theory is supported or not.
This section is a summary of the key findings. However, it would not cover any explanation of the findings and
observations.

Discussion: Provide the interpretations and evaluations of the findings and observations; analyze the findings in
relation to the theoretical background and objective of the study; comment on any unexpected outcomes;
acknowledge any problems and limitations with possible reasons; give suggestions for future studies.

Conclusion: It can be either a separate section or integrated with the discussion (always at the end of the discussion).
It is usually made up of a few sentences to summarize the key findings relating to the aim of the research/ project.
Appendix: Provides extra supporting information in relation to the report, such as diagrams, charts, sample
questionnaire, calculations, and raw data (e.g. raw SPSS data).

References: A list of all the sources referred to in the report. It is presented in alphabetical order with full
bibliographical details of the sources used in the report.

Declarative
Y Functioning
Take Time to Set
Take Time to Answer
Take Time to Correct
Take Time to provide Feedback
Y Suitable for Large Class
Y Can substitute with Computers
Y Passive
Active
Y Process Oriented Method
Y Product Oriented Method
P = Possibly Y =Yes

Advantages of Report Writing

• Develop techniques in data collection, analysis and reporting
• Develop judgments about experiment procedures, results and limitations
• Enhance writing skills in presenting practical work
• Report writing can assess different levels of cognitive knowledge

Disadvantages of Report Writing

• It is a time-consuming assessment for both students and teachers.

How to design a good Report Writing Assessment?

• If you require students to follow a specific report format, it must be clearly specified. Different disciplines may
have their own style of format. For example, psychology report has to follow the APA format.
• Remind students to be aware of the use of technical terms and symbols. People from the discipline can
understand the meaning of these jargons. However, readers who are not from the discipline may not be familiar
with those terms. Therefore, students are required to provide definitions of the technical terms.
• Again, if English grammar and language are part of the marking criteria, this must be clearly specified.
• Provide some guidelines on reporting numbers, units of measurement and scientific diagrams for students.
• Provide a report checklist for students. There are different sections in a report format, and each section has its
specific content in it. A checklist would help students include all the essential content in each section.
• Make sure students understand the assessment criteria. Students have to be aware what aspects are going to be
assessed, such as the writing style, analysis, diagrams and referencing.

Marking Rubrics
Here is an example of the marking rubrics for Report.

MARKING RUBRICS Excellent Proficient Average Poor

The purposes and aim The purposes and aim The purposes and aim The purpose and aim
of the study were of the study were of the study were were not stated; briefly
clearly stated; an in- clearly stated; some briefly stated; only mentioned the
depth coverage of the in-depth background covered the background
background; showed was shown; Previous background at a basic information and
the previous and and recent knowledge level; only described knowledge of the
Introduction recent knowledge of was showed in a the previous and study; hypothesis was
the topic to support the descriptive way with recent knowledge; stated without
aims of the study; little support to the hypothesis was only explanation
hypothesis was clearly aims of the study; described without
stated in a testable hypothesis was clearly explanation
form with detailed stated with basic
explanation explanation

Precisely and clearly Clearly outlined the Briefly outlined the Briefly outlined the
outlined the method; method; reported the method; briefly method; procedures of
reported the detailed procedures of the described the the study/experiment
procedures of the study/experiment but a procedures; only were described
study/experiment; few points were not mentioned some ambiguously;
Materials and specified the use of detailed enough; materials and materials and
Methods particular materials mentioned most of the equipments; diagram equipments were
and equipments in materials and was not labeled in briefly mentioned and
details; diagram was equipments; diagram details some were missed
clear, simple, was simple and clear
accurate, titled and but some labels were
labeled missed

Data were illustrated in Data were showed in a Data were shown in an Data, calculations and
a concise, clear and clear way; showed ambiguous way with tables were hard to
systematic way; clearly most of the key steps some non-significant follow; poor
showed the formula of the calculations but findings included; presentation of the
and details of the a few steps missed; calculations were not results
Results calculations; tables tables and graphs clear and detailed;
and graphs were were presented with tables and graphs
presented mirror errors were poorly presented
appropriately
(including title,
headings and units)

A detailed An basic interpretation Only described the Only described the

Discussion interpretation and and evaluation of the data with a little data without
evaluation of the data; data; identified and explanation and explanation
identified and discussed some of the evaluation; the
 discussed the relationship among relationship among
significance and data and the aim of data and the aim of
relationship among the study; identified a the study was
data and the aim of few limitations of the discussed at a general
the study; recognized data and method; level; limitations and
and discussed the attempted to make a suggestions for future
limitations of the data few suggestions but studies were not
and methods; provided not practical enough stated
practical suggestions
for future studies

Referencing and Referencing citation Some references were Many references were
citation style was style was consistent inconsistent between inconsistent between
correct and consistent between the text and text and list; reference the text and the list; a
Reference between the list and the list; reference list list with some mistakes number of mistakes in
the text; reference list with only a few mirror the reference list
was completely mistakes
concise without errors

Writing was well Writing was organized Writing lacked of an Chaotic in organization
organized and and mostly followed organized flow and not and presentation of
followed the specific the specific report followed the specific technical terms,
report format; clear format with a few report format; only numbers and units of
and concise mirror mistakes; clear described the measurements
explanations of the explanations of the technical terms without
Presentation
technical terms; technical terms; explanations; number
number, specific specific symbols, and units
symbols and units of number and units of measurements were
measurements were measurements were presented not
accurately presented presented with a few accurately presented
mirror mistakes

Web References and Resources

• Reports and Essays: Key Differences, University of Portsmouth

https://www.port.ac.uk/student-life/help-and-advice/study-skills/written-assignments/reports-and-essays-key-
differences
• Poarch, M. (2000). Investigation written report rubrics, Accessed: 07 July 2010.
http://www.science-class.net/Photosynthesis_Cell_Resp/Project/Investigation%20Report%20Rubric.pdf

To Reference these pages

Copy and paste the text below:

Chan C. (2009) Assessment: Report, Assessment Resources@HKU, University of Hong Kong

[http://ar.talic.hku.hk]: Available: Accessed: DATE