74 Structuring a Research Report

74.1 Introduction

In this section, we’ll identify the main components of a research report (or dissertation) and highlight some of the qualities that characterise a high-quality report.

74.2 Components of a Research Report

Almost every research report, dissertation or journal article follows the same basic structure.

The Title Page

Serves as the ‘face’ of your research report.
Should present the title of the research in a clear and concise manner, capturing the essence of the study.
Include author/s’ name/s (to attribute authorship) and (if appropriate) the name of your institution (to provide context regarding the academic or professional setting in which the research was conducted).
The title should not only be indicative of the content of the research but also be engaging enough to draw the reader’s interest.

The Abstract

A succinct summary of the research report.
In approximately 200 to 300 words, it should capture the essential aspects of the research, such as the rationale, methodology, major findings, and the conclusions drawn.
The abstract must be coherent and standalone, allowing readers to quickly ascertain the purpose and outcomes of your study, and decide whether to continue to the full report.
Often written last, despite appearing first in the report, to ensure it accurately reflects the content.

The Introduction

Sets the ‘stage’ for your research.
It usually begins by providing a background to the research topic, which helps to situate the study within a broader context.
It should then articulate the problem statement, presenting the specific issue or question that the research aims to address.
This section must also delineate the scope of the study, clearly stating what is included and, perhaps more importantly, what is not. This helps to ‘manage’ the reader’s expectations and provides a roadmap for the subsequent chapters.

The Literature Review

A critical examination of existing research relevant to your study.
Its primary purpose is to establish a foundation for the research by situating it within the existing body of knowledge.
It involves synthesising previous studies to identify trends, conflicts, and gaps in the literature.
A well-crafted literature review not only acknowledges the work of others but also demonstrates how your research will contribute to the ongoing academic conversation. It should justify the necessity of your study and ‘pave the way’ for an outline of the research methodology.

The Methodology

Describes and justifies the methods used in conducting the research.
It should explain how data was collected, which methods were chosen for analysis, and why these methods were suitable for the research questions.
The methodology should be detailed enough to allow replication of the study.

The Results

Presents the findings of the research without interpretation.
It usually includes statistical analysis, data visualisation, and raw data presentation.
The results should be clear and concise and are typically organised according to the research questions or hypotheses.

The Discussion

Here, you interpret your findings, explaining how they fit into the wider context of the field.
This section should link back to the literature review, comparing and contrasting your results with previous studies.
It’s also the place to explore the implications of your findings, discuss any limitations of the study, and suggest areas for future research.

The Conclusion

Summarises the main findings and their significance.
It should restate the research problem and offer a concise synthesis of the study, encapsulating the implications of the findings and the contribution to knowledge in the field.

The References/Bibliography

A comprehensive list of all the sources cited in the research report.
This section follows a specific citation style and is crucial for maintaining academic integrity (including avoidance of accusations of plagiarism).

Appendices

Use of appendices vary, but may include supplementary material that’s not integral to the body of the report but supports the research (e.g., raw data, detailed methodologies, computer code, or instruments used in the study).

74.3 Structuring the Report/Dissertation

Sequential Flow

A good research report has a ‘seamless’ sequential flow to guide the reader effortlessly from the beginning to the end.
This is key to maintaining the reader’s engagement and understanding. Each section should segue logically into the next, with each part building upon the previous one.
This logical progression embodies the research process itself, which moves from the identification of a problem (introduction), through the synthesis of existing knowledge (literature review), to the revelation of new knowledge (results and discussion), culminating in a resolution (conclusion).

Headings and Subheadings

Headings and subheadings are signposts that lead the reader through the text.
They should be clear, descriptive, and reflective of the content within each section.
They not only enhance readability, but also allow readers to ‘navigate’ the document more effectively.
Careful consideration should be given to the hierarchy of headings, using different levels to indicate the structure and relative importance of sections.
Consistent formatting of these headings also helps in the visual delineation of your report’s structure.

Consistency

Consistency in a research report is a subtle yet powerful element that contributes to its professional presentation.
It includes uniformity in formatting, which includes font size, margins, and spacing, as well as citation style, which must adhere to one recognised academic convention (e.g., IEEE) throughout the document.
Terminology should also be used consistently; if a term is defined in a specific way in the introduction, the same definition should apply in subsequent sections. This helps to prevent confusion and maintain clarity.

74.4 Writing Tips and Best Practices

Clarity

Clear and logical writing is essential in a research report.
This means articulating your ideas in a straightforward and direct manner. Avoid overuse of jargon, acronyms, or overly complex sentence structures that could obfuscate the meaning.
When technical terms are necessary, they should be defined when first used. Similarly, acronyms should be clearly defined, for example “A 10-period moving average (MA) was used…”.
Clarity is achieved not only through the choice of words but also through the logical arrangement of ideas and the use of illustrative examples where appropriate. The aim is to communicate your findings in such a way that they are accessible to both experts and novices in the field.

Active Voice

Using the active voice can contribute to the strength and clarity of your writing.
Sentences in the active voice are often more concise and dynamic, making for a more compelling read.
They emphasise the subject performing the action, which can make your arguments more direct and assertive. For instance, “The study was intended…” is preferable to “It was intended in the study…”
While the passive voice can be appropriate in certain scientific contexts, overuse can make the text seem impersonal and vague.

Revising and Editing

As you’re aware, initial drafts are seldom perfect. Continuous revision and editing are crucial processes that hone and refine the manuscript.
This includes correcting grammatical errors, improving sentence structure, ensuring consistency, and clarifying ambiguous passages.
It’s also an opportunity to tighten the prose, removing unnecessary words or redundant phrases.
Each revision should move the document closer to its final, polished form, enhancing the overall quality and coherence of the research report.

Getting Feedback

Getting feedback on your work is an invaluable part of the writing process.
Peer reviews, comments from advisors or supervisors, and insights from mentors can provide new perspectives and might highlight areas that may need further development or clarification.
Constructive criticism can challenge your assumptions and encourage you to approach your work from different angles, hopefully leading to a more robust and rigorously vetted research report.
Be open to feedback but also discerning, integrating suggestions that align with the research objectives and contribute to the document’s academic rigour.

74.5 Finalising and Submitting the Report

Formatting

It’s vital to format your report in accordance with the specific guidelines provided by your university or publisher (failing to do so might result in your paper being rejected without review).
This includes adherence to styles regarding margins, fonts, headings, line spacing, and pagination.
The citation format for sources must also be consistent throughout the document and follow the required style guide (e.g., APA, MLA, Harvard). Different academic journals have different submission formats, so using a software bibliographic management programme like Zotero can be incredibly useful.

Submission Requirements

Each institution or publication has its own set of submission requirements, and it it’s vital to comply with these.
Requirements may include the method of submission (electronic or hard copy), specific document formats, and any accompanying forms or cover sheets (as is the case for the MSc SDA).
There may also be stipulations about the inclusion of an ethics statement, or declarations of originality or author contributions.

Backup

Creating backups of your drafts and final document should not be overlooked!
Data loss can occur due to a multitude of unforeseen circumstances, such as hardware failure, software corruption, or human error.
Maintaining multiple copies of the report in different locations (such as an external hard drive, cloud storage, or a USB flash drive) safeguards against the loss of your hard work.
It is also prudent to keep a version history, in case you need to revert to a previous version of the document (also a good protection against claims of plagiarism and/or prohibited use of AI).