Step-by-step guide on how to write the Findings section of a report.

1. © 2013 Sherrie Lee http://www.linkedin.com/in/orangecanton
REPORT WRITING
Writing and Presentation Skills

2. Findings

3. FINDINGS

Respondents’ Profile


Highlights significant results, e.g. gender,
age, frequency
Scope items



Each aspect of the problem or investigation
should highlight significant results
Data should be analysed / interpreted
Visuals may be used for more significant
results and should be clearly labelled

4. FINDINGS

How to analyse data


Compare


Describe
Evaluate
Format of Findings section

5. FINDINGS

Respondent’s Profile: Gender, Age
200 working adults were surveyed. 53% of respondents were
aged 30 – 45 years old while the rest were aged 18 – 29
years old. Almost half (48%) of the respondents were
women.

6. FINDINGS

Describe: Convert data into percentages (up to one
decimal point)
Example
You issued questionnaires to 200 working adults. 93
adults said they were most unhappy because they did
not save as much as they should.
1.
93 out of 200 = 46.5%
2. 46.5% of respondents said they were most unhappy
because they did not save as much as they should.

7. 46.5%

8. FINDINGS

Compare: Look for relationships among the data
Example
You issued questionnaires to 200 working adults. 93 adults said
they were most unhappy because they did not have much savings.
54 said they were worried about the economy, 46 said they were
dissatisfied with their jobs, and 42 said they did not have work-life
balance. 12 said they were unhappy with the government.
1. 93 = 46.5%; 54 = 27%; 46 = 23%; 42 = 21%
2. Respondents were asked to choose reasons for their
unhappiness. The majority of respondents (46.5%) said they
were most unhappy because they did not save as much as they
should. 27% of them said they were unhappy because they
were worried about the economy, 23% were dissatisfied with
their jobs, 21% said did not have work-life balance. A minority
(6%) said they were unhappy with the government.

9. 46.5%
23%
27%
21%
6%

10. FINDINGS

Compare: Use connectives
Most of the respondents (46.5%) said they were
most unhappy because they did not save as
much as they should. Also, 27% of them said
they were most unhappy because they were
worried about the economy, 23% were
dissatisfied with their jobs, while 21% said did not
have work-life balance. In addition, a minority
(6%) said they were most unhappy because of
the government.

11. FINDINGS

Evaluate: What is the significance of the data?
Most of the respondents (46.5%) said they were
unhappy because they did not save as much as
they should. Also, 27% of them said they were
unhappy because they were worried about the
economy, 23% were dissatisfied with their jobs,
while 21% said did not have work-life balance. In
addition, a minority (6%) said they were unhappy
with the government. Thus, the main causes of
unhappiness among Singaporeans are insufficient
savings, current state of the economy and job
dissatisfaction.

13. FINDINGS
 Format
of Findings section
Example
2. Findings
1.4 Scope
2.1 Respondents’ profile Besides respondents’profile,
the report looks into three
2.2 Insufficient savings
possible reasons for
unhappiness among
2.3 Economy
Singaporeans: insufficient
savings, the economy and job
2.4. Job dissatisfaction
dissatisfaction.

14. FINDINGS
Example
Can you write out one sub-section of
the findings based on the data?
You issued questionnaires to 200 working adults.
12 respondents said they were unhappy with the government.
42 respondents said they did not have work-life balance.
43 respondents spent more than $500 on groceries each month.
46 respondents said they were dissatisfied with their jobs
54 respondents said they were worried about the economy.
65 respondents spent more than 40% of their salary on loan repayments.
81 respondents spent more than they earned each month on credit cards.
93 respondents said they did not have much savings.
Insufficient
savings

15. 2. Findings [taking 200 as base]
2.2 Insufficient savings
The majority of respondents (46.5%) said they were most
unhappy because of insufficient savings. 40.5% of the
respondents said they spent more than they earned each
month on credit cards, 32.5% spent more than forty percent
of their salary on loan repayments, while 21.5% spent more
than $500 on groceries each month. This suggests that the
use of credit cards and the high cost of living are major
contributors to the lack of savings among Singaporeans.

16. 2. Findings [taking 93 as base]
2.2 Insufficient savings
The majority of respondents (46.5%) said they were most
unhappy because of insufficient savings. Of these, 87% said
they spent more than they earned each month on credit
cards, 69.9% spent more than forty percent of their salary on
loan repayments, while 46.2% spent more than $500 on
groceries each month. This suggests that the use of credit
cards and the high cost of living are major contributors to the
lack of savings among Singaporeans.

17. Numbered headings
2. Findings
2.2 Insufficient savings
Use 2.2 (because 2.1 is
Respondents’ Profile
The majority of respondents (46.5%) said they were most
unhappy because of insufficient savings. Of these, 87% said
that spent more than they earned each month on credit
cards, 69.9% spent more than 40% of their salary on loan
repayments, while 46.2% spent more than $500 on groceries
each month. This suggests that the use of credit cards and
the high cost of living are major contributors to the lack of
savings among Singaporeans.