1. Research Reports

2. Research Reports
• These reports are common in subjects like
engineering, psychology, and life science.
• You will be expected to identify a scientific
problem and solve it by carrying out
research.

3. Research Reports
• To be able to write the report you need to
identify a problem and critically analyse it
by using your knowledge and reading.
• You need to carry out some kind of
experiment or investigation to see which
solution is best in your particular context.

4. Research Reports
• You need to explain your method of
investigation and describe your results.
• You have to evaluate your findings.
• You have to justify any conclusions you
come to.

5. Research Reports
• The main section of most scientific reports
are organized according to the IMRAD
system.
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results and
• Discussion

6. Research Reports
• The IMRAD sections are usually signalled
with headings and subheadings.
• Diagrams and charts are used as necessary.

7. Experimental/Research Reports
• Introduction: this section justifies the
research by explaining why the study was
undertaken.
• Methods: this section reports on how the
study was done. It normally includes
procedures and materials. The two parts are
sometimes given separate sections.

8. Research Reports
• Results: this reports what the study found.
• Discussion: this section discusses what the
findings might mean, and why they matter,
especially in relation to what other
researchers have found. It clearly connects
the results with your conclusion.

9. Research Reports
• Conclusion: this section, which may be part
of the discussion, summarizes the findings
and points the research forward to the next
stage.
Tip: Some subjects, especially in life
science, do not need much in the methods
section as all the methods are well known.
Check what is required.

10. Research Reports
Note: Of course the report will have a title
page, an abstract, perhaps a content page,
references and possibly appendices.

11. Research Reports
Organization of the report
Preliminaries

12. Research Reports
Introduction
 Description of the
background.
 Explanation of
why the research
was necessary.
 Description of how
research will be
undertaken.

13. Research Reports
Methods
 Overview of the research.
 Report of who took part and
where.
 Report of what procedures
were used.
 Report of what materials
were used.
 Report of any statistical
analysis used.

14. Research Reports
Results
 Report of findings.
 Reference to any diagrams
used.

15. Research Reports
Discussion
 Summary of main purpose of
research.
 Review of most important
findings.
 Evaluation of findings.
 Explanation of findings.
 Comparison with other
researcher’s findings.
 Description of implications
and recommendations.

16. Research Reports
End Matter