1. CHAPTER XIII
RESEARCH REPORT WRITING
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
1
2010

2. Learning Objectives
At the end of this chapter students will be able
to:
• Describe how the research is the crucial
means for communicating the whole research
project
• Describe the guidelines in writing a research
• Outline the research report format and its
major components
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
2
2010

3. 8.1. Report parts
Report parts
Prefatory parts Main body of the report Appended parts
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
3
2010

4. Prefatory parts
Title page Abstract
Objectives/problem
Acknowledgement
Methods
Acronyms Key Results
Table of contents Recommendations
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
4
2010

5. Appended parts
Data collection
forms
Detailed
calculations
General tables
Others(e.g Glossaries) if any
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
5
2010

6. The Communication Process
Field of Experience Field of Experience
Communicator Encoding Message
Decoding Audience
Communication
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
6
2010

7. 9.2. Guidelines in Research Report writing
• Plan the project well in advance; fix the
target and the final date of completing the
report.
• The time for completing data collection and
data processing should be well planned, and
implemented
• The time for report writing should be
planned, and the task of report writing
should not be put off till the last minute.
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
7
2010

8. ….Guidelines in Research Report writing
• Select a structure for the report, arrange in group
the data, documents, bibliography, etc
• Prepare an outline of sub-points in detail.
• Prepare a rough point-by – point skeleton for each
chapter.
• Do not hesitate to discuss the skeleton with
somebody who is well –versed in research and
writhing
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
8
2010

9. ….Guidelines in Research Report writing
• In the event of any doubt, get it cleared by
reading, thinking, recollecting and discussing,
before going farther
• Avoid easy-going and short cut methods and
don’t hesitate to write an entire first draft.
• Put the complete rough draft away for several
days until you can be a fresh mind to bear up on
it.
• Revise the draft thoroughly before the report is
submitted. Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
9
2010

10. 8.3. MAJOR COMPONENTS OF A RESEARCH REPORT
Prefatories/Preliminaries
i) Title page
 Title of the Research
 (A Case Study of ……..)
 Purpose why the Research is conducted
 Name and Address of the investigator
 Advisor/Reader
 Month and Place where the research is written
ii) Abstract
 Objectives/rationale or problem
 Methods used
 Key findings
 Key recommendations
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
10
2010

11. iii) Acknowledgement
iv) Acronyms (if any, abbreviations alphabetically
arranged)
v) Table of Contents
vi) List of Tables
vii)List of Figures

12. Components continued
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study –Deductive order
 Definitions and Concepts Related to the topic
 Global issues and trends about the topic
 Situations in Less Developed Countries or in
an industry
 National level
 Firm/Regional level
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
12
2010

13. Components continued
1.2 . Statement of the Problem or (Justification of
the study)
 Facts that motivated the investigator to conduct the
research
 Exactly specifying and measuring the gap
 Hard facts or quantitative data about the topic for some
previous years, for example three years
1.3 Research Questions, Research Objectives, and
Research Hypothesis (optional)
1.3.1. Research Questions
 Questions to be answered to resolve the research
problem or produce implications for the hypothesis
 Often one main question and several specific questions
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
13
2010

14. 1.3.2. Research Objectives – Ends met by
conducting the research
 What the investigator analyzed and how;
 what comparisons are made and at what level
General objective
 often one statement directly related to the topic or title of
the research
Specific Objectives- often 4-7
 what the researcher wanted to achieve
about s/he collected data;
what was analyzed and compare
what the researcher wanted to achieve
1.3.3. Research Hypothesis ( Optional) - tentative
propositions to be tested in the research
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
14
2010

15. Components continued
1.4. Significance of the study- Benefit of the
study (Who may use the findings)
Contribution to literature
User organizations
Other researchers
The society or the community
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
15
2010

16. 1.5. Scope and Limitation of the study
 Scope provides the boundary or framework
Theoretical/Conceptual
Methodological
Geographic
 Limitation is the implication or effect of the
scope- does not mean weakness or
problems to be faced
 By and enlarge reflection of the scope
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
16
2010

17. Limitation of the Study
• No proposed research project is without limitations;
there is no such thing as a perfectly designed study.
• As Patton (1990:162; cited in Marshall and Rossman,
1999) notes, "There are no perfect research designs.
• There are always trade-offs".
• A discussion of the study's limitations demonstrates
that the researcher understands this reality that she
will make no overweening claims about
generalizability or conclusiveness relative to what
she has learned.

18. Limitation ….
• Limitations derive from the conceptual framework
and the study's design.
• A discussion of these limitations reminds the reader
what the study is and is not-its boundaries-and how
its results can and cannot contribute to
understanding.
• Framing the study in specific research and
theoretical traditions places limits the research.
• Limitation reminds the reader that the study is
bounded and situated in a specific context.

19. 1.6 Definition of key Terminologies and
Concepts (Optional)
Conceptual definitions – general and
related to dictionary meaning
Operational – in the context of the
research paper and in measurable
terms

20. CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE.
 Deductive Order (General to specific)
 Concepts and definitions of terminologies directly
related to the topic.
 Global issue and trends
 Regional or continental or industrial facts
 Best experiences, if relevant
 Problems and challenges related to the topic
 Important points in the literature
 Adequacy- Sufficient to address the statement of the
problem and the specific objectives in detail
 Logical flow and organization of the contents
 Adequate citations
 The variety of issues and ideas gathered from many
authors
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
20
2010

21. CHAPTER III
THEORETICAL/CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWQORK.
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
21
2010

22. CHAPTER IV
Research Methods and Data Collection
4.1. Description of the Study Area (Use only data
relevant to your study)
4.2. Data Type and Source (Decide one of them or both by
giving justifications)
 Qualitative V/s Quantitative ( Give reasons)
 Primary Sources (Specifying who were the sources of
the primary data)
Respondents
Interviewees
Key informants
Focus group participants, etc.
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
22
2010

23. Components continued
Secondary Sources (Who and Which sources were
used by stating justifiable reasons) and exactly state
the sources from which you got the data
 Reports, manuals, Internal publications, data base
systems
 Journals and Publications for assessing existing
findings and
 Internet
 Books for assessing theories and principles related to
the topic etc.
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
23
2010

24. 4.3. Research Designs and Strategies
 Qualitative vs Quantitative Strategies
 Stating appropriate reasons for your choice/decisions
 Choice among the basic designs of the research techniques
 Census Vs Survey (which one was used and why)
 Survey design ( which survey designs were used by clearly
stating the reasons for your decision
 Sample Size( Use appropriate sample size determination
formula and or the commonly used sample size used by
other researchers in the area of your topic, with due regard
to the target population and the homogeneity or
heterogeneity of the population characteristics
 Sampling Design( Show how and why you used the different
techniques of probability and/or nonprobability sampling
techniques
 Sampling Procedure( clearly state the steps you followed in
actually taking the samples)
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
24
2010

25. Steps in Sampling Design
 Determine the universe/target population
 Determine the sampling unit
 Determine source list/sampling frame
 Determine size of sample (( Use the sample size
determination formula as a base and make adjustments
with due regard to the target population and the
homogeneity or heterogeneity of the population
characteristics)
 Sampling procedure ( Show how and why you used the
different techniques of probability and/or nonprobability
sampling techniques)
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
25
2010

26. Components continued
4.4. Data collection
4.4.1. Data collection instruments
 State the data collection tool or tools were used with
necessary justifications.
– Interview,
– Questionnaire,
– Observation,
– Focus group discussion, etc
 Questionnaire pretesting details if you had
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
26
2010

27. 4.4.2. Data Collection Procedures ( show in detail)
 How the Questionnaire was administered
 Who was involved?
 How many people were involved?
 When was data collected?
 Where was data collected?
 How Data collection was administered?
 How other methods were applied in combination
(Triangulation)
Focus Group discussions
Interviews
Observation
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
27
2010

28. 4.5. Data Processing and Analysis.
4.5.1. Data processing
• Coding
• Editing
• Data entry
4.5.2. Data analysis
• Methods used
• Descriptive analysis
• Inferential statistics.
• SPSS/ SAS/STATA/SYSTAT
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
28
2010

29. CHAPTER V
FINDINGS or RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS.
• Shows which data deserve further illustration and
explanation
• Show appropriately those data that are highly
relevant to the research problem, research
objectives and research questions
• Show the relationship between variables, that may
have implications to the problem and its solutions
• It is not advisable to include your own
interpretations at this level, for it may lead to
premature conclusions
• Use cross tabulations asMekelle University, Sep.
Tesfay Aregawi,
much as possible
29
2010

30. CHAPTER VI
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
6.1. Summary
– Provides basic facts that are having implications
or likely conclusions
– It is directly taken from the analysis but focuses
on the most important data
– You can include your own interpretations for each
basic fact but you can also have a separate topic
for conclusion
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
30
2010

31. 6.2. Conclusion/Interpretation
• Deals with the implication of the data for the
problem or solution
• Basically the interpretation of the researcher
and the relationship between the data and
the real world and the respective principles
are included here
• The implication should be worked out in a way
it leads to recommendations
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
31
2010

32. 6.3. Recommendation
• The possible solutions to the problem
• But these potential solutions should be made
ready made solutions
• They should not be assignments to the reader
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
32
2010

33. • References/Bibliography
• Annexes/Appended parts
• Questionnaire
• Forms of data collection
• Detailed calculations
• General tables
Tesfay Aregawi, Mekelle University, Sep.
33
2010