1 / 37

Writing Your Research Project Report

REPORT PREPARATION for RESEARCH BASED PROJECTS. 3. 3. 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 rese

tuari
Download Presentation

Writing Your Research Project Report

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

    1. Writing Your Research Project Report A workshop brought to you by BIMTECH Rationale: Welcome to “Writing Your Research Project Report.” This 17-slide presentation is designed to help instructors familiarize students with conventions for writing a research project report in APA style. Please note, however, that the focus of this presentation is not on APA citation style. Directions: Each slide is activated by a single mouse click. Writer and Designer: Lu Liu Contributors: Chuck Calahan, Margaret Keiley, and Linda Bergmann Developed with resources courtesy of the Purdue University Writing Lab Grant funding courtesy of Rationale: Welcome to “Writing Your Research Project Report.” This 17-slide presentation is designed to help instructors familiarize students with conventions for writing a research project report in APA style. Please note, however, that the focus of this presentation is not on APA citation style. Directions: Each slide is activated by a single mouse click. Writer and Designer: Lu Liu Contributors: Chuck Calahan, Margaret Keiley, and Linda Bergmann Developed with resources courtesy of the Purdue University Writing Lab Grant funding courtesy of

    2. REPORT PREPARATION for RESEARCH BASED PROJECTS

    3. 3 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 are valid and reliable which can be acted on for their own benefit.

    4. 4 Research Process Six steps Problem definition Approach development Research design formulation Field work Data preparation and analysis Report preparation

    5. 5 Importance of Report & Presentation Tangible product of the research effort. Leaves documentary evidence Management decisions are guided by the report and the presentation. If the first five steps in the project are carefully conducted but inadequate attention is paid to the sixth step, the value of the project will greatly diminish Involvement of many users of the research findings will be limited to the written report. They will evaluate the quality of the project based on the quality of the report Management’s decision to undertake research in future will be influenced by the perceived usefulness of the report

    6. 6 Types of Research Report 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.

    7. 7 Types of Research Report 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.

    8. 8 REPORT PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION PROCESS

    9. 9 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.

    10. 10 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.

    11. 11 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.

    12. 12 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.

    13. 13 Most research reports include the following elements: I. Title page II. Letter of transmittal III. Table of contents IV. List of tables V. List of graphs VI. List of appendices VII. List of exhibits VIII. Executive summary a. Major findings b. Conclusions c. Recommendations IX. Introduction a. Background to the problem b. Statement of the problem X. Approach to the problem XI. Research design a. Type of research design b. Information needs c. Data collection from secondary sources d. Data collection from primary sources e. Scaling techniques f. Questionnaire development and pretesting g. Sampling techniques h. Field work XII. Data analysis a. Methodology b. Plan of data analysis XIII. Results XIV. Limitations and caveats XV. Conclusions and recommendations XVI. Appendix a. Questionnaires and forms b. Statistical output c. Lists

    14. 14 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..

    15. 15 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.

    16. 16 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.

    17. 17 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.

    18. 18 You write a research report to inform your readers of: Importance of the topic Your research question What you did to answer the question Your findings Your interpretation of the findings Suggested activity: The facilitator can ask students: “Why are research reports written? What is the purpose? ” They are likely to come up with some good answers. Suggested transition: To achieve these purposes, the report consists of several sections. Suggested activity: The facilitator can ask students: “Why are research reports written? What is the purpose? ” They are likely to come up with some good answers. Suggested transition: To achieve these purposes, the report consists of several sections.

    19. 19 Sections of a Research Report Suggested activity: The facilitator can select one sample research report from an issue of a research journal as an example.Suggested activity: The facilitator can select one sample research report from an issue of a research journal as an example.

    20. 20 Most research reports include the following elements: I. Title page II. Letter of transmittal III. Letter of Authorization IV. Table of contents V. List of tables VI. List of graphs VII. List of appendices VIII. List of exhibits IX. Executive summary a. Major findings b. Conclusions c. Recommendations X. Introduction a. Background to the problem b. Statement of the problem XI. Approach to the problem XII. Research design a. Type of research design b. Information needs c. Data collection from secondary sources d. Data collection from primary sources e. Scaling techniques f. Questionnaire development and pre-testing g. Sampling techniques h. Field work XIII. Data analysis a. Methodology b. Plan of data analysis XIV. Results XV. Limitations and caveats XVI. Conclusions and recommendations XVII. Appendix a. Questionnaires and forms b. Statistical output c. Lists

    21. 21 Title Page The project title Author name(s) Author affiliation Client’s name Date of release Manuscript page header Running head Page number The format follows APA style. See more explanation on the next slide.The format follows APA style. See more explanation on the next slide.

    22. 22 More about the Title Page The title should include the independent variable and dependent variable The manuscript page header consists of the first couple of main words of the title The running head: a short descriptive title should include no more than 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation) does not have to be the same as the page header Use plain type face Suggested Activity: Beginners may not remember that the running head and the manuscript header are not necessarily the same. The example used earlier may lead them to think that they are identical, so it is a good idea to show students another example where they are different. Suggested Activity: Beginners may not remember that the running head and the manuscript header are not necessarily the same. The example used earlier may lead them to think that they are identical, so it is a good idea to show students another example where they are different.

    23. 23 Use client language in title – Not researcher's language For example “Practices Followed in Selecting Long-Distance Carriers” is a better title than “Long-Distance Carrier Service Study” “Customers’ Reactions to an Expanded Financial/Insurance Relationship” will be preferred over “Relationship Study in Insurance Sector” More about the Title Page

    24. 24 Letter of Transmittal A formal letter that delivers the report to the client and summarizes the researcher’s overall experience with the project, without mentioning the findings The letter should also identify the need for further action on the part of the client

    25. 25 Letter of Authorisation It is a letter from the client to the researcher authorising the researcher to proceed with the project and specifies its scope and terms and condition of contract

    26. 26 Executive Summary Extremely important portion Often the only portion that executives read State concisely the problem, approach, research design Devote some sentences to describe major results, conclusions and recommendations Executive summary strictly should be of one page and should be written after the rest of the report has been completed Describe What has been done? Why has been done? What is found? How much resources spent? But don’t describe How the project has been done! Suggested activity: The facilitator may start by asking students why abstracts are needed for research reports. In other words, why do we put an abstract before the body of a research report? When students understand the purpose, it is easier for them to understand the product of writing. Again, the facilitator can choose a sample abstract and show them what it is like.Suggested activity: The facilitator may start by asking students why abstracts are needed for research reports. In other words, why do we put an abstract before the body of a research report? When students understand the purpose, it is easier for them to understand the product of writing. Again, the facilitator can choose a sample abstract and show them what it is like.

    27. 27 Problem Definition State the background of the problem Highlight discussions with the decision makers and industry experts Discusses the secondary data analysis Any qualitative research conducted Factors that are considered It should have clear statements of Management decision problem Marketing research problem

    28. 28 Introduction: Justifying the importance of the problem Provide historical background Argue for significance of the topic Review relevant research and identify gaps/flaws Apply a theoretical/conceptual framework (if applicable) State your research question/hypothesis Operationally define your variables In many cases, the researcher has multiple research questions and hypotheses. For brevity’s sake, this presentation uses the singular form of these nouns, but it is important to point this out. In many cases, the researcher has multiple research questions and hypotheses. For brevity’s sake, this presentation uses the singular form of these nouns, but it is important to point this out.

    29. 29 The Literature Review: What others did to solve the problem Review important relevant sources Identify Theoretical framework Variables Methodological or conceptual gaps/flaws of previous research Leads to your research question/hypothesis The literature review may be the toughest part to write for beginners. The facilitator may suggest to students that they can look at research reports in a journal in their own field (possibly an article that is part of the literature they need to read for the research report any way) and examine literature reviews by experienced researchers. It is usually part of the introduction and may not be a separate section. The literature review may be the toughest part to write for beginners. The facilitator may suggest to students that they can look at research reports in a journal in their own field (possibly an article that is part of the literature they need to read for the research report any way) and examine literature reviews by experienced researchers. It is usually part of the introduction and may not be a separate section.

    30. 30 Methods: What you did to try to solve the problem Subsections Subjects/Participants Procedures Measurement Research Design Suggested activity: This slide and those that follow it work best when students have a sample research report. The facilitator can talk about each slide and ask students to identify the relevant section and what is and is not covered. Suggested activity: This slide and those that follow it work best when students have a sample research report. The facilitator can talk about each slide and ask students to identify the relevant section and what is and is not covered.

    31. 31 Subjects/Participants Demographics Age Gender Location Race Socioeconomic status Number (sample size) Adequacy of sample size Maintain confidentiality

    32. 32 Procedures Describe how the data were collected Describe each step in sequence Provide enough details for replication

    33. 33 Measurement Identify all variables in the study Describe how the variables are operationalized or measured Briefly address validity and reliability of the measurement instruments (if applicable)

    34. 34 Research Design Discuss appropriateness of the design for the research question Address validity internal validity external validity

    35. 35 Results: What you found For qualitative research present organized or categorized data in order to answer the research question present newly discovered consideration or variables (if applicable) For quantitative research restate the hypothesis state whether you were able to support it present a summary of the results for the statistical tests use tables, figures, graphs or charts to present the results if necessary

    36. 36 Discussion: What you think your findings mean Summarize and interpret the results Answer your research question Discuss your findings in the context of previous research Discuss implications Identify limitations Suggest directions for future research

    37. 37 References and Appendix References: -- start on a separate page -- follow APA style Appendix: -- survey -- charts, figures, graphs

    38. 38 For More Help with Writing Research Reports Contact your faculty guide Consult Chapter 22: Marketing Research by Naresh Malhotra Suggested activity: For a writing project like the research report, sessions with a writing tutor at various stages such as brainstorming, drafting, outlining, and revising, can all prove to be extremely helpful to students. The facilitator may encourage students to schedule a tutorial at any stage of his/her writing process. Suggested activity: For a writing project like the research report, sessions with a writing tutor at various stages such as brainstorming, drafting, outlining, and revising, can all prove to be extremely helpful to students. The facilitator may encourage students to schedule a tutorial at any stage of his/her writing process.

More Related