Report writing sometimes may be a challenge to learners, this presentation gives all the necessary concepts to guide report writing.

1. PART 2.8
WRITING A RESEARCH
REPORT
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2. THE RESEARCH PROCESS cont...
REPORT VERSUS RESEARCH REPORT
REPORT:
 Refers to a spoken or written account of something
that summarizes findings and recommendations
about a particular matter based on what someone
has observed, heard, done, or investigated.
— That is; report is used as a means of
conveying information about an event, subject
or situation in the form of an official document.
WHILE;
RESEARCH REPORT:
 A research report can be based on practical work,
research by reading or a study of an organisation. 2

3. THE RESEARCH PROCESS cont...
To Conclude:
• Report (both report and research report) is used
as a guiding tool for higher authorities including
company executives, directors, managers:
— to make timely and informed decisions, and
— follow up actions.
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TYPES OF REPORTS
 Report can be classified into four possible groups
based on their structure:
— Technical reports
— Consultancy reports
— Business reports
— Research reports
 In our current discussion:
— We are going to have a look on research
reports in terms of critical aspects to be
considered and not to be considered in writing4

5. THE RESEARCH PROCESS cont...
THE RATIONALE OF A RESEARCH REPORT
 As the last part of the research process, research
report enables the researcher to communicate with
audiences interested in the research outcome by
serving the following purposes:
1. Acquaint the reader with the problem that has
been researched and explain its implications.
2. Express the justification for carrying out the study
and how the study was conducted.
3. Present and interpret information derived from the
data; fully and adequately for readers.
4. Demonstrate exactly how the data revolve around
the problem. 5

6. THE RESEARCH PROCESS cont...
GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH REPORT WRITING
 The following are the key guidelines that should be
considered in writing a research report:
1. Finding a regular and good writing space or
environment.
2. Write the report when you have time; if you don’t
have the time, you have to create the appropriate
time.
3. Never submit a research report before someone
else has read it.
— That is, getting someone to read your work.
4. Avoid plagiarism and excessive paraphrasing.
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5. Write the report when your mind is fresh.
6. Generating a plan for writing.
7. Setting goals (targets or purposes) and achieving
them.
 Other possible guidelines to be considered:
—Keep it brief and clear.
—What to write first, next and last.
—Thinking on the screen when writing a report by
using word processor.
—Thinking about your audiences.
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THE COMPONENTS OF A RESEARCH
REPORT/PAPER
Part 1: Preliminary Pages
 Cover Page followed by Title Page
 Certification
 Declaration and Copyright
 Acknowledgement
 Dedication (if any)
 List of Abbreviations or Acronyms
 Abstract or Synopsis or Executive Summary
 Table of Contents
 List of Tables, and 8

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Part 2: Main Body
Chapter 1: Introduction
 Background of the study
 Statement of the problem
 Objectives of the study
 Research questions and/or Hypotheses
 Significance of the study
 Organization of the study
Chapter 2: Literature Review
 Theoretical literature review
 Empirical literature review
 Conceptual framework/model 9

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Chapter 3: Research Methodology
• Type of the study
• The study area
• Study population
• Units of analysis
• Sample size and sampling techniques
• Types and sources of data
• Data collection methods
• Validity and reliability issues
• Measurement of the research variables
• Data analysis methods
• Expected results 10

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Chapter 4: Research Findings and Discussions
 Presentation of research findings with a
thorough analysis of the data collected.
— no interpretation under this
subsection
— testing of hypotheses (if any)
 Presentation of an interpreted and
evaluated results related to the research
objectives, questions and/or hypothesis.
— Draw together different aspects of
the findings: Existence of the
problem and relevance of the
results as how they fit with other11

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Chapter 5: Conclusions and Recommendations
• Conclusions: Brief statement of what was
found by drawing a conclusion made form
the study without forgetting policy
implications.
• Recommendations: Suggest suitable
changes or solutions.
• Limitation(s) of the study.
• Suggestions for further studies.
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Part 3: Back or Supplementary Pages
•References:
List of all references used in the research report.
•Appendices:
Attachments of any additional material or
information (e.g. questionnaires, interview
guides, glossary, tabulations, charts, maps, etc)
that were mentioned but not included in the main
body of the research report are supposed to be
included in this section.
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RECOMMENDED WRITING STYLE
 In order for the research report to be understood by
the intended audience or readers the following writing
styles should be observed:
a)The researcher should try to be short (not too long
not too short), clear (logical arguments) and simple
in terms of the use of jargons as well as the use
long sentences and paragraphs to avoid
confusions.
b)The use of quotations from the literature should be
minimized.
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d) When writing a report confidentiality and anonymity
should be preserved (if requested) with respect to
individuals or organizations that volunteered
information or were part of the study.
e) It is important to provide all information that is
required by the reader.
f) Proper use of visual aids like maps, figures and
charts when writing a report.
g) Make sure that the audience in which the report is
being written is known. 15

16. THE RESEARCH PROCESS cont...
h) While you are writing a report make sure that it is
containing more facts than opinion (unless report
dictates that).
i) It is important to check for facts if they are accurate
as well as spelling and grammar used in the report.
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Key Competence Required in Writing the Research
Report:
 In order for the report to be understood by the
intended audience apart from the writing styles; there
are key areas of competence that a researcher needs
to develop for the same:
1) Technical expertise and adequate knowledge in
the field or discipline one is writing upon is
important:
— Education, experience and personal skills
2) Transparency in allowing others to read, evaluate
and criticize.
3) Communication skills. 17

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THE MAJOR RESEARCH REPORT
CHARACTERISTICS
1. There should be no exhortation
— You should describe issues rather than
convince readers or audiences.
2. It should be creative, short, simple, clear and
concise.
3. Avoid personal pronouns like I, We, Me.
— Use such phrases like the researcher or the
author or the investigator believes...
4. When citing any researcher, use the last
name/surname only; or as recommended in the
manual of citation style. 18

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6. Writing is not an easy task and, therefore do not
hurry writing your report but think critically
7. It is recommended to present computations in the
appendices.
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EVALUATING THE FIRST DRAFT
 There are key issues to be considered in evaluating
the first draft of a research report whether it is
satisfactory enough for submission:
a)Check if the research title reflect the contents.
b)Check if the report is having a clear structure.
c) Check if there is a clear storyline in the report.
d)Check if the abstract reflect accurately the
contents of the report.
e)Check if the introduction address clearly the
background to the problem at hand.
f) Check if the literature review informs later
contents of the report. 20

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g) Check if the methods applied in the study are
clearly explained.
h)Check if the researcher has made a clear
distinction between research results, findings and
conclusions in relevant chapters.
i) Check if all references are presented in the
required manner as suggested in the manual of
citation style.
j) Check if there is any material which should be in
the appendices and vice versa.
k) Check if the report has divided the text throughout
with suitable headings.
l) Check if you are happy with the clarity, simplicity21

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m) Check if each chapter have a preview and summary.
Concluding Remark:
“Writing never ends, it is a continuous
process.”
Consequently;
People will judge the report writers based on
the quality of their work.
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Food for thought:
“It is easier to build strong
children than to repair broken
men”
– Frederick Douglass
(1818 – 1895)
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