The document analyzes and compares three research reports related to MBA programs. It examines the structure, content, and organization of each report. The reports are evaluated based on their inclusion of sections like introduction, literature review, methodology, findings, and conclusion. Their language, tone, literature review components, and data analysis approaches are also assessed. Tables are included to summarize the presence or absence of key elements in each report. The analysis provides a framework for understanding the structure and components of effective research reports.

1. Research Report Analysis
ASSIGNMENT 11:
Research Report Analysis
Research Methodology
Dr. Sridhar
TITLE: A Study on Pragmatic Approaches and
Quality Initiatives for Enhancing Teachers’ Caliber
in
Post Graduate Institutes offering MBA Programme
under Bangalore University
Under the Guidance of
Dr. T.V. Raju
Director, RV Institute of Management, Bangalore
CANARA BANK SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES
BANGALORE UNIVERSITY
SUBMITTED BY
Shivananda R Koteshwar
PhD Research Scholar, 2013, REG# 350051
Shivananda
R
Koteshwar,
PhD
Research
Scholar,
Bangalore
University

2. Research Report Analysis
Research Report
A research report is one type that is often used in the sciences, engineering and
psychology. Here the aim is to write clearly and concisely about the research topic so
that the reader can easily understand the purpose and results of your research. The
body of the paper comprises of the introduction, rationale of the study, limitations,
review of related literature, the sample, methods, tools and techniques, analysis and
interpretation, results, conclusion and suggestions followed by the bibliography, and
the appendices which include the tables, graphs and figures , if any. The research
paper disseminates the new contribution in the specific area. It avoids the repetition of
the problem.
Research Report Structure
In the 2 tables below are explained is the structure of a research report. Table 1 has all
the individual sections against the broad divisions, while table 2 has details on the
individual sections – and provides a framework of what needs to be included into the
individual areas. In the structure of the report, one can club the literature review with
introduction or recommendations with conclusions.
Table 1: Divisions and sections of a report
Broad Divisions
Individual Sections
Preliminary material
Title of Report
Table of Contents
Abstract/Synopsis
Body of report
Introduction
Literature Review
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Recommendations
Supplementary material
References or Bibliography
Appendices
Table 2: Content of Individual Sections
Individual Sections
Content for Each Section
Title of Report
Concise heading indicating what the report is
about
Table of Contents
List of major sections and headings with page
numbers
Abstract/Synopsis
Concise summary of main findings
Introduction
Why and what you researched
Literature Review
Other relevant research in this area
Methodology
What you did and how you did it
Results
What you found
Discussion
Relevance of your results, how it fits with other
research in the area
Conclusion
Summary of results/findings
Shivananda
R
Koteshwar,
PhD
Research
Scholar,
Bangalore
University

3. Research Report Analysis
Recommendations
References or Bibliography
Appendices
What needs to be done as a result of your findings
All references used in your report or referred to
for background information
Any additional material which will add to your
report
Steps to write a Research Report
Research writing is divided into 7 steps to give the reader a logical way of dividing
the stages to help with research, consolidation and representation.
STEP 1: Analyze task
As with any assignment task, one must first analyze what is expected of researcher.
This involves careful reading of the assignment task as outlined in your course
information book. One may find the following questions useful when analyzing the
task:
• What is the purpose of the report? (Analyzing, persuading or reporting on an
investigation)
• Who is the audience for the report?
• What is the word limit? (Most times the word limit only includes the body of the
report)
• What is the topic of the report? (The topic may be specified by the lecturer/other
times you will have a choice)
• What is the expected format of the report?
STEP 2: Develop a rough plan
Use the section headings (outlined above) to assist with drafting a rough plan. Write a
thesis statement that clarifies the overall purpose of your report. Jot down anything
one already knows about the topic in the relevant sections
STEP 3: Do the research
Steps 1 and 2 will guide one to research for this report. One may need to report on
other research on a particular topic or do some research of their own. Keep referring
to the analysis and rough plan while you are doing the research to ensure that one
remains on track
STEP 4: Draft the body of the report
• Introduction – The purpose of the report. The thesis statement will be useful
here. Background information may include a brief review of the literature
already available on the topic so that one is able to ‘place’ their research in the
field. Some brief details of the methods and an outline of the structure of the
report
• Literature Review – If asked to do a separate literature review, one must
carefully structure the findings. It may be useful to do a chronological format
where one can discuss from the earliest to the latest research, placing their
research appropriately in the chronology. Alternately, one could write in a
thematic way, outlining the various themes that they have discovered in the
research regarding the topic. Again, one will need to state where their research
fits
Shivananda
R
Koteshwar,
PhD
Research
Scholar,
Bangalore
University

4. Research Report Analysis
•
•
•
•
•
Methodology – Here one clearly outlines what methodology is used in their
research i.e. what they did and how they do it. It must be clearly written so
that it would be easy for another researcher to duplicate one’s research if they
wished to:
o It is usually written in a “passive” voice (e.g. the participants were
asked to fill in the questionnaire attached in Appendix 1) rather than an
“active” voice (e.g. I asked the participants to fill in the questionnaire
attached in Appendix 1)
o Clearly reference any material one has used from other sources.
Clearly label and number any diagrams, charts, and graphs. Ensure that
they are relevant to the research and add substance to the text rather
than just duplicating what has already been said. One does not include
or discuss the results here
Results – This is where one indicates what they have found in their research.
One only give the results of their research , but does not interpret them
Discussion – This is where one discusses the relevance of the results and how
their findings fit with other research in the area. It will relate back to the
literature review and the introductory thesis statement
Conclusion – This is a summary of the most significant results/findings. One
should not include any new material in this section. Sometimes one could
indicate some areas where their research has limits or where further research
would be useful
Recommendations – This includes suggestions for what needs to be done as a
result of your findings. Recommendations are usually listed in order of
priority
STEP 5: Draft the supplementary material
• References or Bibliography – This includes all references used in one’s
report or referred to for background information. This must be done using the
referencing convention specified by one’s lecturer /tutor
• Appendices – These should add extra information to the report. If one
includes appendices they must be referred to in the body of the report and
must have a clear purpose for being included. Each appendix must be named
and numbered
STEP 6: Draft the preliminary material
• Title of Report – Make sure this is clear and indicates exactly what one is
researching
• Table of Contents – List all sections, sub headings tables/graphs appendices
and give page numbers for each
• Abstract/Synopsis – This gives a very brief overview of the report in a
condensed form.
STEP 7: Polish your report
• The final step is checking the report to ensure one has followed all of the
guidelines as outlined in your course information.
Shivananda
R
Koteshwar,
PhD
Research
Scholar,
Bangalore
University

5. Research Report Analysis
Research Reports selected
1. Thesis 1: An Exploratory Study of Factors affecting MBA Students’ Attitude
towards Learning via Case Study Pedagogy: Insights from Advertising Literature
By: Ramendra Singh and Piyush Kumar Sinha
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Nov 2006
Abstract of the paper: Case based pedagogy has become popular in most business
schools today, since the pioneering efforts made by Harvard Business School, several
decades ago. Although the case method approach stands firmly on grounds its
effectiveness in ‘simulating reality of the business world’ in the classroom, yet it has
its own limitations and cannot be used in all learning situations This article delves
into both sides of the debate on the efficacy of case method for learning and through
an exploratory study, models the attitude of MBA students towards the perceived
learning aspects of the pedagogy. The premise of our beliefs-only attitude model rests
on the conceptual analogy between a case study and an advertisement message as two
similar forms of communication technology. Drawing heavily from the insights
available in the advertising literature, the article suggests several hypotheses for
future empirical validation.
2. Thesis 2: Measuring MBA Student Learning: Does distance make a difference?
By Mark Kretovics and Jim McCambridge
Kent State University and Colorado State University, Oct 2002
Abstract of the paper: This article reports on an exploratory research effort in which
the extent of MBA student learning on twelve specific competencies relevant to
effective business performance was assessed. The article focuses on the extent to
which differences in student learning outcomes may be influenced by one of three
different types of instructional delivery: on-campus, distance, and executive MBA. It
affirms the high quality of learning that can occur via distance education and proposes
a strategy to conduct summative, program-level assessment. Specific findings include
participants in all three groups self-reporting significantly higher scores on seven of
twelve outcomes (e.g., goal setting, help, information gathering, leadership,
quantitative, theory, and technology skills). It also notes that distance MBA students
self-reported significantly higher scores than on-campus students on the learning
outcomes related to technology, quantitative, and theory skills, and higher scores on
technology skills than the executive MBA group. Implications for further research are
discussed.
3. Thesis 3: The motivation and satisfaction of the students towards MBA at
Karlstad University
By Sochipan Chantasuwanno and Sineenat Suasungnern
Karlstad Business School, 2011
Abstract of the paper: This study shows the motivation and satisfaction factors
influencing international students to continue study Master of Business
Administration (MBA) and the reasons of international students to select Karlstad
University as their alternative. Theoretical framework had been collected form
Shivananda
R
Koteshwar,
PhD
Research
Scholar,
Bangalore
University

6. Research Report Analysis
secondary data. The study had explained the main factors those lead students decide
to study MBA at Karlstad University. The factor such as requirement of MBA
increases because of globalization change. Organizations prefer efficiency business
solving-problem skill, at the same time people need to improve their professional
career. In addition to labor market and human need, secondary data did not provide
other reasons affecting student’s decision making.
The study explains reasonable impacts on student’s decision making related to
secondary data which are European education system, education system in Sweden,
MBA in Europe, Europe and the world-wide boom in MBA program, trend Master of
business administration toward affects labor market , human motivation theory,
satisfaction measurement theory, and decision making/reasoning skill. To survey
population sampling, interviews of ten international students were conducted as
primary data. The result has both related and unrelated to the previous study.
The result indicated that the reason of respondent to continue study MBA was
because they needed to improve their specific knowledge skill, career advancement,
increased their value. This is the internal factor while external factor is labor market.
While the factors leading students to choose Sweden for their higher education are
free tuition fee, location and environment such as a place of famous business or
cultural differences. On the other hand, they selected Karlstad University because of
its marketing, for example, it provides specific programs and courses which match
their requirements, its location is nice, and it has partnership in host countries.
Satisfaction aspect indicated that students were satisfied with the flexible education
system, open class for discussion and non-focus on grade. At the same time, there
were some unsatisfied points. There were problems about insufficient communication
for international students, about teaching style that lacks of motivation, and about the
support from teachers, these are what should be improved in the perspective of the
students.
Shivananda
R
Koteshwar,
PhD
Research
Scholar,
Bangalore
University

7. Research Report Analysis
Research Reports Analysis
Research report sections on the order of inclusion
Report Modules
Title page
Authorization
signature
Thesis 1
Thesis 2
Prefatory information
Y
N
N
N
Table of Contents
Introduction
Problem Statement
Research
Objectives
Background
Methodology
Sampling Design
Research Design
Data Collection
Limitations
Findings
Thesis 3
Y
N
Executive summary
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Conclusions
Summary and
conclusions
Recommendations
Appendices
Bibliography
Reports analyzed on language and tone
Language/ Tone parameters
Reading ease
Passive voice
Average sentence length
(approx. 15 words)
Average word length (1.50 syl)
Average paragraph length
(about 5 sentences)
Thesis 1
Thesis 2
Grammar and style
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Thesis 3
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Tone
Y
Y
Y
Thesis 1
Thesis 2
Thesis 3
Y
Y
Y
Positive
Reports analyzed on literature review
Literature review
parameters
Identify literature to review
Shivananda
R
Koteshwar,
PhD
Research
Scholar,
Bangalore
University

8. Research Report Analysis
Analyze literature
Summarize literature
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Reports analyzed based on data analysis
Data analysis parameters
Data preparation for analysis
Data summarization and
visualization
Data
analysis
and
modelling
Paragraph
format
Thesis 1
Y
Y
Thesis 2
Y
N
Thesis 3
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Appendix
1. Writing a Research Report
(http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/learning_guides/learningGuide_wri
tingAResearchReport.pdf)
2. Business Research Methods textbook – By Donald R Cooper and Pamela S
Schindler
3. An Exploratory Study of Factors affecting MBA Students’ Attitude towards
Learning via Case Study Pedagogy: Insights from Advertising Literature
(http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/publications/data/2006-11-05_rsingh.pdf)
4. Measuring MBA Student Learning: Does distance make a difference?
(http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/108/188)
5. The motivation and satisfaction of the students towards MBA at Karlstad
University (http://www.divaportal.org/smash/get/diva2:427345/FULLTEXT01.pdf)
Shivananda
R
Koteshwar,
PhD
Research
Scholar,
Bangalore
University