Components of the Research Report

Components of the Research Report
Developed for
Istanbul Bilim University
26 February 2013

Report Structure
Abstract
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion & Conclusion
References
Participants
Design
Apparatus/Materials
Procedure

 Readers expect to read about your research in
the sequence in which the research
developed:
o
What question you set out to answer
o
How you sought the answer
o
What was found
o
What your answer is
 A research paper gives information in 4 steps
The Conventional Format

 Title Page
 Abstract or Summary
 Introduction
 Discussion
I. Methods
II. Findings or Results
 Conclusion
 Attachments
(References and/or Appendices )
The Usual Sequence

 We will devote an entire session to this so will leave it
for now, except to say that today a Structured Abstract is
used.
The Abstract

 Tell the reader why the research was started
 Do not explain what can be found in any textbook
in the field
 Do not elaborate on terms used in the title of the
paper
 Make clear what question the research was designed
to answer
The Introduction

 Most authors close an Introduction with a statement
of purpose.
 Some may include a short summary of the study
design
 Some may also close the Introduction a short
statement of the research findings- do not do this
The Introduction

Methods- Organization
 Study design is selected (after the hypothesis is
stated)
 The subjects to be studied are defined
 Interventions (such as treatments are decided on in
detail
 Measurements and other observations to be made
are specified, including the methods
 Statistical procedures for assessment of data are
selected

Study Design
 Those that are well known need be specified by title
only
 Those that are unusual but have been described
should have a citation to the source
 New designs should be described in detail

Subjects
 Characterize subjects as fully as possible
 Ethical controls should be noted as well
o
Informed consent
o
IRB approval

Intervention/Treatment
Describe the intervention fully
o
Control
o
Experimental

Measurements and Other
Observations
 Standard methods for laboratory or other
procedures need to be identified only by name
and citation
 Variations from these should be described in
enough detail to enable duplication by another
person
 Unpublished methods must be described in
detail and evidence they have been validated
presented.

Methods- General Comments
 You can always use subheadings in this
section, ie:
o
Study Design
o
Subjects
o
Experimental Protocol
o
Statistical Analysis

 Describe your evidence as efficiently as
possible
 Numerical data should be presented in tables
of graphs
 The text usually will present no more than
group differences

Discussion
 The first need is to give the answer to your
research question
 Evidence from other papers may not be the
only evidence you have to present in the
Discussion; there may be counter-evidence to
be presented and assessed.

THE Discussion
 According to Robert Day (How to Write and Publish
a Scientific Paper), a Discussion should:
o
Try to present the principles, relationships, and
generalizations shown by the Results. (Keep in
mind that you discuss; you do not recapitulate the
Results).
o
Point out any exceptions or any lack of
correlation, and define unsettled points

THE Discussion
 According to Day (Continued):
o
Show how your results and interpretations
agree or contrast with previously published
work
o
Don’t be shy; discuss the theoretical
implications of your work, as well as any
possible practical applications

THE Discussion
 And more from Day:
o
State your conclusion, as clearly as possible
o
Summarize your evidence for each conclusion.
Or, as the wise old scientist will tell you, “Never
assume anything except a 4% mortgage.”
 In simple terms, the primary purpose of the
Discussion is to show the relationship among
observed facts

THE Discussion
 Too often, the significance of the results is
not discussed or addressed adequately.
 End the Discussion with a short summary or
conclusion regarding the significance of the
work

The Conclusion
 Too often, the significance of the results is
not discussed or addressed adequately.
 End the Discussion with a short summary or
conclusion regarding the significance of the
work

The Conclusion
 (Cont)”…and its structure should be built on
the natural sequence of question, evidence,
and answer fitted into a format that
reproduces the sequence of steps in the
research.”

The Conclusion
 This summarizes your findings and your
thoughts as to the importance of the work you
did.

Sezer SARIÖZ
English Teacher | Free-lance Interpreter
Sezer SARIÖZ
English Teacher | Free-lance Interpreter
www.sezersarioz.com sezer@sezersarioz.com
sezersarioz sezer.sarioz.5

Components of the Research Report

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