Research Report: Basic Sections and Evaluation

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Table of Contents

Research concept and its outline
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Background
Methodology
Results, conclusions and recommendations
Summary, appendix and references
Works Cited

Research concept and its outline

Research is a systematic process of collecting data and analyzing information in order to increase the understanding of a phenomenon under study. Research involves the extension of knowledge about things that we already know. In this case the researchers seek to improve the information of different phenomenon that we encounter in every day. They contribute in increasing our understanding and also enhance the communications of occurrence of event (Sorenson 2002:23).

Research also involves the comparison of ideas of different researchers who may have written on similar topics or events.

This helps to bridge the gap of knowledge that occurs as life changes to the technological improvements that occur in the society. Research also involves the examination of different aspects of life and giving answers or solutions to the problems that occur. It involves the investigation of how this aspects influence our lives and also how they can be improved in the future.there are different types of research such as qualitative research, quantitative research, applied research (Sorenson 2002:27).

All research reports generally have the basic structure and format that consists of various sections. The basic sections include the following:

title
abstract
introduction
Background/literature review
methodology
findings
conclusions
summary and recommendation
appendix and references.

Title

The title of a document provides the readers with the idea of what is contained in the article. For any reader to make a choice whether to read an article or not, they are first influenced by the title. This then calls for careful assessment of choosing titles for the documents since they basically market the contents of the author’s books. A good title should therefore have adequate information of the contents of any document. The title page should be arranged in such a manner that the readers can read and understand easily (Sorenson 2002:33). For example, one can place the title on the top end and the details of the author at the bottom end.

Abstract

The abstract gives a short summary of the contents of a book, a journal or a report. The abstract usually has a length of 100-500 words. An abstract can either be informative or descriptive. Informative abstract provides the readers with the basic information of the contents. A Descriptive abstract is written to indicate to the reader whether the article would be of any interest to him/her (Bordens et al1988:12).

Introduction

An introduction helps the reader to familiarize him/herself with the kind of information he/she expects to find in an article. The introduction therefore sets the stage for the paper. Within the introduction the author should also give the statement of the problem. This refers to the main problem that the author is trying to answer within the study. The statement of the problem is normally expressed in single sentence within the body of the introduction. For example an author could state the problem as follows:

“The lack of automated programs in the stock market is creating ineffectiveness in the trading of shares” (Bordens et al 1988:15)

The statement is then elaborated using few sentences to make it clear to the readers. The reader should give the opinions of other authors and why it is important to address the issue. This section should also give the significance of the problem to other sectors within the economy.

The introduction should also give the purpose of the study. This is also given as a single sentence for example: “This study discovers the historic and current problems facing the stock market and provides an interpretation of the implications in the market.” (Berry 2004:56)The introduction should finally give the research hypothesis and the significance of the study. Study hypothesis refers to the research questions that the study will focus on. For example, one can state the hypothesis as follows: “Are the economic policies in place effective to solve….”

Significance refers to giving explanations why your study is important, to whom it will be of significance and the benefits that will result from such a study.

Background

The background or literature review refers to the analyses of the studies that have been done by the previous scholars within the same field. It gives an overview of what the scholars have found in their previous studies. The length of the literature review largely depends on the area of study. If the area is relatively new then the review may be having very few scholars who have written on that particular area.

Methodology

This section gives the fundamental plan of undertaking the research. It should give the methods of data collection such as secondary and primary sources. Primary sources refer to methods such as questioners that collect raw data from the respondents. Secondary data on the other hand is using the data sources such as books and journals that have been written by other scholars. Methodology should also give the method of data analyses such as the statistical methods of data analyses (Berry: 2004:57).

Results, conclusions and recommendations

These sections generally give the out come of the investigations of the study. The conclusion basically refers to the general interpretation of the author in reference to the topic. The author also gives the recommendations which refer to his judgment on the findings and what he would like to be implemented based on the findings (Patton 2002:112).

Summary, appendix and references

Summary refers to the view that the readers get from the document they have read. It reminds them of where they started to the final section of the document. Appendix refers to the section of flow chats that may have been referred to by the author and also glossary of words that the author thinks are not familiar with the readers.

In evaluating a report one should check whether the report is well defined with a clear purpose. The report should also scrutinize of the testable hypothesis. One should also evaluate whether the data that was used in the analyses is relevant to the purpose of the study. The evaluation should also involve the source of the data used and whether it was used appropriately. One should also check whether the data was appropriately studied and analyzed. The evaluation should also involve the investigation of whether the results of the study were based on the analyzed data and whether the interpretation of such results gives a sensible conclusion (Patton 2002:118).

Works Cited

Bordens, K.S. & Abbott, B.B. 1988 Research design and methods: A process approach. Mayfield 11-19.

Michael Quinn Patton, 2002, Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods Published by SAGE, 112-128.

Ralph Berry: 2004, The Research Project: How to write it, Published by Rutledge, 56-57.

Sharon Sorenson 2002, How to Write Research Papers Published by Peterson’s, 20-44.

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