Report Writing

In Research Method
 INTRODUCTION

• Report writing is a formal style of writing elaborately on a research topic.

• Research report is a brief description of the research work done by the
researcher.
• Report involves several steps to present the report in the form of thesis.
 SIGNIFICANCE OF REPORT WRITING

• Research report is considered a major component of the research study for

the research task remains incomplete till the report has been presented
and/or written.
• As a matter of fact even the most brilliant hypothesis, highly well designed
and conducted research study, and the most striking generalizations and
findings are of little value unless they are effectively communicated to
others.
• The purpose of research is not well served unless the findings are made
known to others.
 STEPS IN WRITING REPORT
Research reports are the product of slow, painstaking, accurate inductive work
1. Logical analysis of the subject matter
a) Logically
b) Chronologically
2. Preparation of the final outline
3. Preparation of the rough draft
4. Rewriting and polishing of the rough draft
5. Preparation of the final bibliography
6. Writing the final draft
 TYPES OF REPORTS

1. Technical Report
2. Popular Report
 Technical Report

In the technical report the main emphasis is on

a) the methods employed,
b) assumptions made in the course of the study,
c) the detailed presentation of the findings including their limitations and
supporting data.
 Technical Report
A general outline of a technical report,
1. Summary of results: A brief review of the main findings just in two or three pages.
2. Nature of the study: Description of the general objectives of study, formulation of
the problem in operational terms, the working hypothesis, the type of analysis and
data required, etc.
3. Methods employed: Specific methods used in the study and their limitations. For
instance, in sampling studies we should give details of sample design viz., sample
size, sample selection, etc.
4. Data: Discussion of data collected, their sources, characteristics and limitations. If
secondary data are used, their suitability to the problem at hand be fully assessed. In
case of a survey, the manner in which data were collected should be fully described.
 Technical Report
5. Analysis of data and presentation of findings: The study with supporting data in the
form of tables and charts be fully narrated. This, in fact, happens to be the main body
of the report usually extending over several chapters.
6. Conclusions: A detailed summary of the findings and the policy implications drawn
from the results be explained.
7. Bibliography: Bibliography of various sources consulted be prepared and attached.
8. Technical appendices: Appendices be given for all technical matters relating to
questionnaire, mathematical derivations, elaboration on particular technique of
analysis and the like ones.
9. Index: Index must be prepared and be given invariably in the report at the end.
 Popular Report
The popular report is one which gives emphasis on simplicity and
attractiveness.
A general outline of a popular report are,
1. The findings and their implications: Emphasis in the report is given on the
findings of most practical interest and on the implications of these findings.
2. Recommendations for action: Recommendations for action on the basis of
the findings of the study is made in this section of the report.
3. Objective of the study: A general review of how the problem arise is
presented along with the specific objectives of the project under study.
 Popular Report
4. Methods employed: A brief and non-technical description of the methods
and techniques used, including a short review of the data on which the study is
based, is given in this part of the report.
5. Results: This section constitutes the main body of the report wherein the
results of the study are presented in clear and non-technical terms with liberal
use of all sorts of illustrations such as charts, diagrams and the like ones.
6. Technical appendices: More detailed information on methods used, forms,
etc. is presented in the form of appendices. But the appendices are often not
detailed if the report is entirely meant for general public.
 LAYOUT OF THE RESEARCH REPORT

The layout of the report means as to what the research report should contain.
A comprehensive layout of the research report should comprise of 3 stages,
1. Preliminary Pages
2. Main Text
3. End Matter
 Preliminary Pages

In preliminary pages the report should carry a title and date, followed by
acknowledgements in the form of ‘Preface’ or ‘Foreword’. Then there should
be a table of contents followed by list of tables and illustrations so that the
decision-maker or anybody interested in reading the report can easily locate
the required information in the report.
 Main Text

The main text of the report should have the following sections:
a) Introduction
b) Statement of findings and recommendations
c) Results
d) Implications drawn from the results
e) Summary
 Introduction

• The purpose of introduction is to introduce the research project to the readers.

• It should contain a clear statement of the objectives of research i.e., enough
background should be given to make clear to the reader why the problem was
considered worth investigating.
• A brief summary of other relevant research may also be stated so that the present
study can be seen in that context.
• The hypotheses of study and the definitions of the major concepts employed in the
study should be explicitly stated in the introduction of the report.
• The methodology adopted in conducting the study must be fully explained.
 Findings and Recommendations

• The research report must contain a statement of findings and

recommendations in non-technical language so that it can be easily
understood by all concerned.
• If the findings happen to be extensive, at this point they should be put in the
summarised form.
 Results
• The main body of the report, extending over several chapters. The result section of
the report should contain statistical summaries and reductions of the data rather
than the raw data.
• All the results should be presented in logical sequence and splitted into readily
identifiable sections.
• All relevant results must be included in the report.
• Quite often guidance comes primarily from the research problem and from the
hypotheses, if any, with which the study was concerned. But ultimately the
researcher must rely on his own judgement in deciding the outline of his report.
• Nevertheless, it is still necessary that he states clearly the problem with which he
was concerned, the procedure by which he worked on the problem, the conclusions
at which he arrived, and the bases for his conclusions.
 Implications of the Result
• Researcher should write their results clearly and precisely.
• A statement of the inferences drawn from the present study which may be
expected to apply in similar circumstances.
• The conditions of the present study which may limit the extent of legitimate
generalizations of the inferences drawn from the study.
• The relevant questions that still remain unanswered or new questions raised
by the study along with suggestions for the kind of research that would
provide answers for them.
• Finish the report with a short conclusion which summarises and
recapitulates the main points of the study.
• The conclusion drawn from the study should be clearly related to the
hypotheses that were stated in the introductory section.
 Summary

• Conclusion of the research report with brief summary.

• Resting in brief the research problem, the methodology, the major findings
and the major conclusions.
• Finally what you drawn from the research results should write it in this
section.
 End Matter
• At the end of the report, appendices should be enlisted in respect of all
technical data such as questionnaires, sample information, mathematical
derivations and the like ones.
• Bibliography of sources consulted should also be given.
• Index (an alphabetical listing of names, places and topics along with the
numbers of the pages in a book or report on which they are mentioned or
discussed) should invariably be given at the end of the report. The value of
index lies in the fact that it works as a guide to the reader for the contents in
the report.
Presented by 13th team

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