RESEARCH REPORT PREPARATION

AND PRESENTATION
RESEARCH REPORT
 A research report is:
 a written document or oral presentation based on a
written document that communicates the purpose,
scope, objective(s), hypotheses, methodology,
findings, limitations and finally, recommendations of a
research project to others.
 The last stage of a marketing research process.;

 It is more than a summary of findings; rather it is a

record of the research process.

 The researcher has to convince the client [and others
who may read the report] that the research findings can
be acted on for their own benefit.

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Types of Research Report I
 Any research report contains:
 descriptions on methodology,

 results obtained,

 and recommendations made.

 The basic orientation of a research report depends on

its audience. Before writing the report
 the researcher must know his or her audience;

 he/she may have to make assumptions about the

composition, background and interests of the target

readers.

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Types of Research Report II
 Two types of reports:-
 Technical Report: suitable for a target audience of
 researchers, research managers or other people familiar
with and interested in the technicalities such as research
design, sampling methods, statistical details etc.,
 Popular Report: suitable for:
 a more general audience, interested mainly in the
research findings as it is non-technical in nature.
 The writing style is designed to facilitate easy and
rapid reading and understanding of the research
findings and recommendations.

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REPORT PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION PROCESS

Problem Definition, Data Pre-report

Research Design Analysis
and Methodology Writing
Activities

Interpretation of
Research
findings

Report
Report
Preparation Writing
Activities

Oral
Presentattion

Post
RESEARCH Reading of the
Report by the Report
FOLLOW-UP
client Writing

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The first step in the process involves..

 the interpretation of the results of data analysis

in light of:
 the marketing research problem investigated,
 and the research design and methodology followed.
 The research report is a means of
communication that can be understood,
believed, trusted by everyone who are likely to
be affected by the research, and acted upon by
the decision maker.

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Before writing the report…
 the researcher should discuss: the major
findings, conclusions, and recommendations
with the key decision makers.
 necessary to ensure that the report meets the
client's needs and is ultimately accepted.
 The entire marketing research project:
 should be summarized in a single written report or in
several reports addressed to different readers.
 should present the findings in such a way that they
can be used directly as input into decision making.

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Oral Presentation
 Generally, an oral presentation
supplements the written report.
 The client should be given adequate time to
read the report.
 If necessary, the researcher should assist
the client in understanding the report,
implementing the findings, undertaking
further research, and evaluating the research
process in retrospect.

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Report Format
 No universally accepted standard format or style
for research writing. Different researchers may
prepare their reports differently.
 The personality, background, expertise, and
responsibility of the researcher and those of the
decision maker for whom the report is written interact
to give each report a unique character.
 Report formats are likely to vary with the nature of the
project itself. However, the research report closely
resembles the steps of the marketing research
process.

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Most research reports include the following elements:

I. Title page XI. Research design

II. Letter of transmittal a. Type of research design
b. Information needs
III. Table of contents
c. Data collection from secondary sources
IV. List of tables d. Data collection from primary sources
V. List of graphs e. Scaling techniques
VI. List of appendices f. Questionnaire development and
pretesting
VII. List of exhibits g. Sampling techniques
VIII. Executive summary h. Field work
a. Major findings XII. Data analysis
b. Conclusions a. Methodology
c. Recommendations b. Plan of data analysis
IX. Introduction XIII. Results
a. Background to the
XIV. Limitations and caveats
problem
b. Statement of the problem XV. Conclusions and recommendations
X. Approach to the XVI. Appendix
problem a. Questionnaires and forms
b. Statistical output
c. Lists

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The results...
 may be presented in several chapters of the report.
 For example, a Malaysian researcher conducting a
national survey, may perform the data analysis in
two stages.
 First, he or she may analyze the overall national

sample followed by nine separate analysis for each

of the states.
 The results may then be presented in ten chapters

[ one overall plus nine state based] instead of one.

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 Conclusions
Generalizations that answer the questions raised by
the research objectives
Formulating Recommendations
Recommendations
Conclusions applied to marketing strategies
Differential Advantage—true benefit

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Interpreting the Findings and Formulating
Recommendations
Executive Summary
Explains:
• Why the research was done
• What was found
• What the findings mean
• What action management should undertake

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Report Writing I
 Effective report writing is an art.
 Some basic points to note in writing a report.
 Readers: The report should take into account the level of
readers' technical sophistication, their interest in the
project, ability to understand as well as the circumstances
under which they will read the report and how they will use
it..
 Adherence to study objectives: A research report must
show that the research objectives have been accomplished..
 Easy to follow: The most basic characteristic of a good
report is that it is easy to follow.
 It should be well organized, logically structured, and clearly and
lucidly written. Headings and sub-headings should be used for
different topics and subtopics respectively..

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Report Writing II
 Objective: Report writing should always be guided by
objectivity.
 Should accurately present the methodology, results, and

conclusions of the project, without slanting the findings

to conform to the expectations of management.
 Selectivity: A researcher must use his or her discretion in
deciding what should be included in the report.
 Concise: A report should be concise. Yet brevity should not
be achieved at the expense of completeness.
 Presentation: The report should be professionally done with
quality paper, good typing, and attractive binding.

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Report Writing III
 Visual aids: Key information presented in the text of a research
report should be reinforced with tables, graphs, pictures, maps, and
other visual devices.
 Guidelines for Tables: Statistical tables are a vital part of the report
and deserve special attention.
 Every table should have a number and brief but clear title.
 Basis or unit of measurement should be clearly stated to facilitate
understanding.
 The arrangement of the data item should emphasize the most important
aspect of the data being presented.
 If necessary, explanations, comments etc. should be provided as
footnotes.
 If the table presents secondary data, the source(s) must be cited clearly.

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Oral Presentation
 Should be carefully prepared keeping the audience in mind.
 A good presentation does not mean a lengthy presentation.
 Carefully selected visual aids such as graphs, tables,
charts, maps etc. help presentation.
 However, Too many visual aids, particularly statistical

tables, could often be boring and may not serve any

purpose.
 During oral presentation, people may seek clarification.
 The speaker must be patient and should not show signs of

anger or frustration. He or she should be natural, establish

eye contact with the audience, and interact with them.
 Body language and descriptive gestures are also quite

useful.

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