Research Report

RESEARCH
REPORT
A RESEARCH REPORT
“is a completed study that reports an investigation or

exploration of a problem, identifies questions to be
addressed and includes data collected, analysed and
interpreted by the researcher” (Creswell, 2012)
A research report is composed according to audiences and varies in length
and format.
Faculty members
Practicing educators Clarity
What audience Journal reviewers Simplicity
will read the report? Board of examiners Utility for
Thesis advisor practice
People from non Formality
academic contexts
Dissertations / Theses
Research proposals
Types of research reports Conference papers
Journal articles/papers
Review articles
JOURNAL ARTICLE/PAPER
 It´s a polished, shorter research report published in an

issue of a journal.
 The editor of a journal arranges for 2 or 3 reviewers to

provide comments about the study. Then his decision,
based on these comments falls into one of these
categories: accept, revise and resubmit or reject.
 It´s much shorter than a thesis because of page

limitations imposed by publishers and editors of
journals.
A REVIEW ARTICLE
Review articles provide a critical summary of the existing

literature to explain the current state of scientific evidence on a
particular topic (Erol, 2022).
 It´s based on previously published research and is

considered a secondary source.
 Unlike research papers, it does not contain new results,

but can propose new inferences based on the findings.
A review article can:
 summarize key research findings,

 reference must-read articles,
 describe current areas of agreement as well as

controversies and debates,
 point out gaps in current knowledge,
 depict unanswered questions,
 suggest directions for future research
 evaluate the ideas the author has presented,

 make judgments, positive or negative, about
the content of the article.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/00336882211053052
THESIS STRUCTURE
Introduction
(It sets the scene and provides the reader with background
information about the topic area)
Statement of the problem (the topic, the problem, justification for

studying it, importance)
Theoretical framework (or conceptual framework)

Framework skeletal, structural frame, foundation
Theoretical theory
It refers to the theory or focus in which the research is framed. It

becomes the basis of the research problem. It includes the definition
of concept/s to be investigated.
Literature Review
It includes previous relevant studies about the subject matter under investigation. They
are presented using a central thread, for example: in chronological order, by times, by
theories, by countries or continents, by populations, by contradictory ideas…
This central thread is used to write a topic sentences so as to present brief summaries of
previous studies.
Niche – gap
Purpose of the study
It is major intent or objective of the study used to address the problem.

Overall/ objective
Specific objectives
Overall research question
Specific research questions
Hypothesis (optional)
E.g.: What is the EFL learners' attitude towards the use of songs in the English class at Madre Tierra
Agrotechnical School?
Obj: To describe the EFL learners´ attitude towards the use of songs in the English class at Madre Tierra
Agrotechnical School.
Methodology / Paradigm
(Quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods approach)
Type of research/scope of research

(Exploratory, descriptive, correlational, explanatory)
Type of research design

(According to the methodology employed)
Operationalization – variables (In quantitative studies)
It involves providing working definitions of variables known as

operationalization. Operational definitions allow the researcher to operate or
work with variables, to measure them.
Sample and participants
In this section it is mentioned the way in which participants were selected, who
they are, how many and some characteristics of them (gender, age, native
language, proficiency level, etc.)
Instruments
It includes the instruments that will be used to answer the research questions and all
the materials used to conduct the study.
Every research question should have its own instrument to collect data so as for the
question to be answered. One instrument may be used to answer more than one
question and can be divided into part A, part B, part C, etc.
Pilot test
This section includes a description of the pilot test procedures, how it was carried
out, who participated and the results of it. This test is essential to assess the
usefulness and feasibility of the instruments and check for any necessary changes
to be made.
Data collection procedures
This section informs about the logistical issues of what was actually done, how the
instruments were used to collect data, and all the steps in which the data collection
was carried out. It starts with the administration of the consent form (which is
included in the appendix).
Data analysis procedures
It includes the mode of analysis of the data collected, such as the statistical
procedures to analyse the data.
Results
The results are presented with verbal descriptions of data, which are also often
displayed in charts, figures or tables. This section provides objective
descriptions of the raw data gathered without interpretation.
Discussion/Conclusions
These sections are often two separate sections and are primarily interpretive
and explanatory in nature.
The main idea of the study may be restated and the results or findings
summarized. Then the results are interpreted in light of the research questions
and an explanation is attempted
This section may compare results of earlier studies with those of the present study.
They could support or extend earlier findings.
Implications
Comments about the significance of the results or implications for either

pedagogy or theory should be included – utility for practice.
Limitations/recommendations
It includes the limitations of the study and suggests ways of remediating the
limitations.
Possible topics for future research may also be included.
References
All the sources cited in the report appears in the reference list.
APA manual, 7th edition
Appendix
It is divided in parts: Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C, etc.
It includes samples of the instruments used.
ASPECTS RELATED TO THE UNDERLYING
STRUCTURE OF THE RESEARCH REPORT
The underlying organization of topics should be clear, easy to read and

understand even though the subject matter may be complex.
 Headings should convey the major points in the study
 For every question asked, researchers should pose an answer.
 Interconnect sections using linking devices that tie together sections of a

research report.
 Write a concise title that summarizes the major idea of the study in a
concise and a clear manner.
It should be able to stand alone in clarity and be self-explanatory.

 Use an appropriate point of view.
In a quantitative study the researcher is on the background narrating the study – an

omniscient 3rd person.
No use of 1st person pronoun but impersonal style .

The form of writing creates distance between the writer and the report.
No use of first names of participants- emphasis on the objectivity of the results.
In a qualitative study the researcher is in the foreground narrating the study- he/she is
present in the study.
Use of 1st person pronouns I- we as well as personal experiences of the author. E.g.
One of the difficulties in collecting the data was…
The writing is done in a lively manner using metaphors, similes, contradictions,

ironies, etc.
The form of writing brings the writer and the reader close together.
Use of first names of participants (typically aliases to protect their identity)
 Use of verb tenses
Present simple 70%

Past simple 23%
Present perfect 50 %
Active voice 75%

Passive voice 25%
(Bilber et al., in Caplan 2012, p. 66)
Past tense is used to :
--- introduce a completed study

E.g. Researchers carried out the study at Ifakara Health Institute (IHI) and relied
completely on outside observers …
--- describe methods and data gathered in the research

E.g. Participants completed a 10-item evaluation scale for each method.
---- mark time with specific time markers.

E.g After 10 minutes of training, most users were able to log on without
problems.
Present perfect tense is used to :
----- summarize previous research

E.g. Previous research has focused on memory processes and language, ...
----- describe previous findings
E.g. A few studies have shown that individual differences in empathy influence
some aspects of language interpretation.
Present simple is used to:
------- frame the study
-------- write the introduction
------- describe what is already known about the topic
-------- make general statements
-------- to write conclusions or interpretations

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RESEARCH

“is a completed study that reports an investigation or

 It´s a polished, shorter research report published in an

 The editor of a journal arranges for 2 or 3 reviewers to

 It´s much shorter than a thesis because of page

Review articles provide a critical summary of the existing

 It´s based on previously published research and is

 Unlike research papers, it does not contain new results,

 summarize key research findings,

 describe current areas of agreement as well as

 depict unanswered questions,

 suggest directions for future research

 evaluate the ideas the author has presented,

Statement of the problem (the topic, the problem, justification for

Theoretical framework (or conceptual framework)

It refers to the theory or focus in which the research is framed. It

Purpose of the study

It is major intent or objective of the study used to address the problem.

Type of research/scope of research

Type of research design

Operationalization – variables (In quantitative studies)

It involves providing working definitions of variables known as

Sample and participants

Data collection procedures

Comments about the significance of the results or implications for either

The underlying organization of topics should be clear, easy to read and

 Headings should convey the major points in the study

 For every question asked, researchers should pose an answer.

 Interconnect sections using linking devices that tie together sections of a

It should be able to stand alone in clarity and be self-explanatory.

In a quantitative study the researcher is on the background narrating the study – an

No use of 1st person pronoun but impersonal style .

No use of first names of participants- emphasis on the objectivity of the results.

The writing is done in a lively manner using metaphors, similes, contradictions,

Use of first names of participants (typically aliases to protect their identity)

 Use of verb tenses

Present simple 70%

Active voice 75%

--- introduce a completed study

--- describe methods and data gathered in the research

---- mark time with specific time markers.

Present perfect tense is used to :

----- summarize previous research

Present simple is used to:

------- frame the study

-------- write the introduction

------- describe what is already known about the topic

-------- make general statements

-------- to write conclusions or interpretations

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