Brm unit v - cheet sheet
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This document discusses different types of research reports and their key components. It covers short reports which are 5 pages or less and focus on conveying information quickly. Long reports have two types - technical reports which include full documentation and details, and management reports which present conclusions and recommendations first for non-technical audiences. Effective reports consider the audience, ensure readability at the appropriate level, maintain objectivity through facts over opinions, and follow proper research ethics.
Brm unit v - cheet sheet
- 1. Hallmark Business School www.hbs.ac.in UNIT VReport Design, Writing And Ethics in Business Research Research Report: Research report contains findings, analyses of findings, interpretations, conclusions, and sometimes recommendations. The researcher is the expert on the topic and knows the specifics in a way no one else can. Because a written research report is an authoritative one-way communication, it imposes a special obligation for maintaining objectivity. Reports may be de ned by their degree of formality and design. The formal report follows a well- delineated and relatively long format. This is in contrast to the informal or short report. Different Types of RR: 1) Short reports: are appropriate when the problem is well de ned, is of limited scope, and has a simple and straightforward methodology. Most informational, progress, and interim reports are of this kind. Short reports are about five pages. If used on a website, they may be even shorter. At the beginning, there should be a brief statement about the authorization for the study, the problem examined, and its breadth and depth. Next come the conclusions and recommendations, followed by the findings that support them. Section headings should be used. A five-page report may be produced to track sales on a quarterly basis. The report should be direct, make ample use of graphics to show trends, and refer the reader to the research department for further information. Detailed information on the research method would be omitted, although an overview could appear in an appendix. The purpose of this type of report is to distribute information quickly in an easy-to-use format. Short reports are also produced for clients with small, relatively inexpensive research projects. 2) Long reports: are of two types, the technical or base report and the management report. The choice depends on the audience and the researcher’s objectives. Many projects will require both types of reports: a technical report, written for an audience of researchers, and a management report, written for the nontechnically oriented manager or client. Although some researchers try to write a single report that satisfies both needs, this complicates the task and is seldom satisfactory. The two types of audiences have different technical training, interests, and goals. Technical report:This report should include full documentation and detail. It will normally survive all working papers and original data files and so will become the major source document. It is the report that other re- searchers will want to see because it has the full story of what was done and how it was done.Although completeness is a goal, you must guard against including nonessential material. A good guide is that sufficient procedural information should be included to enable others to replicate the study. This includes sources of data, research procedures, sampling design, data gathering instruments, index construction, and data analysis methods. Most information should be attached in an appendix. A technical report should also include a full presentation and analysis of significant data. Conclusions and recommendations should be clearly related to specific findings. Technical jargon should be minimized but de ned when used.Management report:In contrast to the technical report, the management report is for the nontechnical client. The reader has little time to absorb details and needs a prompt exposure to the most critical findings; thus the report’s sections are in an inverted order. After the prefatory and introductory sections, the conclusions with accompanying recommendations are presented. Individual findings are presented next, supporting the conclusions already made. The appendices present any required methodological details. The order of the management report allows clients to grasp the conclusions and recommendations quickly, without much reading. Then, if they wish to go further, they may read on into the findings. The management report should make liberal use of visual displays. Contents of a report:Pls refer exhibit 19-2. Need of executive summary:An executive summary can serve two purposes. It may be a report in miniature (sometimes called a topline report), covering all the aspects in the body of the report but in abbreviated form. Or it may be a concise summary of the major findings and conclusions, including recommendations. Two pages are generally sufficient for executive summaries. Write this section after the rest of the report is finished. It should not include new information but may require graphics to present a particular conclusion. Expect the summary to contain a high density of significant terms since it is repeating the highlights of the report. Chapterization:Pls refer exhibit 19-2. Contents of a chapter:Pls refer exhibit 19-2. Report writing:Prewriting concerns: questions to ask What is the purpose of this report? who will read the report. What are the circumstances and limitations under which I am writing? Is the nature of the subject highly technical? Do you need statistics? Charts? What is the importance of the topic? A crucial subject justifies more effort than a minor one. What should be thescope of the report? How much time is available?How will the report be used? Try to visualize the reader using the report. How can the information be made more convenient? How much effort must be given to getting the attention and interest of the reader? Will the report be read by more than one person? If so, how many copies shouldbe made? What will be the distribution of the report? The role of audience:Will make to build the relationship between the writer and the reader. Audience’s knowledge will greatly improve the quality of the report. Audience’s agreement or disagreement to the report, will affect the reachability of the report. Based on what audience will do with the report, will determine the breath and length of the report. Readability:Sensitive writers consider the reading ability of their audience to achieve high readership. You can obtain high readership more easily if the topic interests the readers and is in their field of expertise. In addition, you can show the usefulness of the report by pointing out how it will help the readers. Finally, you can write at a level that is appropriate to the audience’s reading abilities. To test writing for difficulty level, use a standard readability index. The Flesch Reading Ease Score gives a score between 0 and 100. The lower the score, the harder the material is to read. The Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level and Gunning’s Fog Index both provide a score that corresponds with the grade level needed to easily read and understand the document. Although it is possible to calculate these indexes by hand, some software packages will do it automatically. Comprehension: Good writing varies with the writing objective. Research writing is designed to convey information of a precise nature. Avoid ambiguity, multiple meanings, and allusions. Take care to choose the right words—words that convey thoughts accurately, clearly, and efficiently. When concepts and constructs are used, they must be de ned, either operationally or descriptively. Words and sentences should be carefully organized and edited. Misplaced modifiers run rampant in carelessly written reports. Subordinate ideas mixed with major ideas make the report confusing to readers, forcing them to sort out what is important and what is secondary when this should have been done for them.Finally,Pace which is the rate at which the printed page presents information to the reader. Tone:Review the writing to ensure the tone is appropriate. The reader can, and should, be referred to, but researchers should avoid referring to them- selves. A message prepared for the reader conveys sincerity, personalization, warmth, and involvement on the part of the author.To accomplish this, remove negative phrasing and rewrite the thought positively. Do not change your recommendations or your findings to make them positive. Instead, review the phrasing. Final proof: Question which will improve the final proof of the report: Does the writing flow smoothly? Are there transitions where they are needed? Is the organizationapparent to the reader? Do the findings and conclusions adequately meet the problem statement and the research objectives? Are the tables and graphics displaying the proper information in an easy-to-read format? After assuring yourself that the draft is complete, write the executive summary. Report format: Title of the report:Pls refer the sample report format in pdf file given in “Cooper 12E Resources” folder Ethics in research& Ethical behavior in research: Parameters which will ensure good ethics & ethical behavior in research are: 1) Honesty 2) Objectivity 3) Integrity 4) Carefulness 5) Openness 6) Respect to intellectual property 7) Confidentiality 8) Responsible publication 9) Respect for colleagues 10) Social responsibility 11) Non-discrimination 12) Competence 13) Legality 14) Animal care 15) Human subjects protection. Subjectivity and objectivity in research:Objectivity is personal neutrality; it allows the facts to speak for themselves and not be influenced by the personal values and biases of the researcher. It can also be interpreted as mind-independent, because it is information that is not being altered based on an opinion. For example, when looking at a painting, a person would use objectivity to describe the texture, color, and form. These are all facts that are common and can not be changed.Subjectivity is judgment based on individual personal impressions and feelings and opinions rather than external facts. This can be considered mind- dependent, because one is not using a fact, they are using their personal opinion. For example, if your favorite color is blue, then you are more likely to buy a blue sweater versus a purple sweater.