Skip to main content
University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
    • Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni & Community
    • Email
    • Blackboard
    • Campus Connection
    • Employee Self-Service (HRMS)
    • Dropbox
    • Rooms & Scheduling
    • Zoom
    • Employee Remote Access
  • Events
  • Directory
  • Contact Us
  • SMHS COVID info
  • Scope of this search:
School of Medicine & Health Sciences
School of Medicine & Health Sciences
  • About
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Research
  • Service
University of North Dakota
  • About
  • Admissions
  • Academics
  • Research
  • Service
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
Scope of this search:
  • Request Info
  • Visit
  • Apply
Scope of this search:
School of Medicine & Health Sciences
  • Home
  • Education Resources
  • Epidemiology
  • Report Writing
Skip Section Navigation
  • Education Resources
  • Medical Education Show/hide children
    • Phase 1
    • Phase 2
    • Phase 3/Year 4
    • Campus Offices
    • Curriculum Changes
    • Interprofessional Healthcare Course (IPHC)
    • Epidemiology
    • Patient Safety/Quality Improvement
    • Service Learning & Community Service
    • Planning your 4th year and beyond
  • Teaching, Learning and Scholarship (TLAS) Show/hide children
    • Instructional Design
    • Faculty Development
    • Online Resources
  • Contact

Report Writing

  • Define a need for new or continued research in an area of interest.
  • Develop questions that a study may answer.
  • See Article on Writing

Introduction

  • Explain the general problem or describe the need.
  • Describe previous studies.
    • Review what is known about topic from prior studies
    • Draw generalizations from the literature
  • State the purpose and research problem/questions (hypothesis).
  • Often last paragraph in the Introduction section
  • Provide rationale for the study

Methods

  • Explain what was done.
    • Allows reader to judge the validity of the study & its findings
  • Allow for independent replication of the study.
    • Include:
      • Description of research design
      • Delimitations regarding selection of subjects or collection of data
      • Describe participants of the study
      • How subjects were selected
      • What instrumentation was used
      • What measurements or observations were made
      • Describe how study data were analyzed and reported

Results

  • Begin with an overview of only relevant data using research questions as a guide.
    • Not necessary to review all data collected
  • Do not present data if it does not relate directly to answering the research questions.
  • Include specific findings.
  • State data as facts without interpretation.
  • Tables and figures should stand alone; no narrative is needed to interpret results.
    • Use tables for data too lengthy for clarity
    • Should supplement, not duplicate, the text

Discussion

  • Concise statements of findings.
    • Facts presented previously as results are interpreted, along with any identified relationships.
    • Describe meaning and implications of the study findings
  • Relate findings to earlier cited literature
    • Compare and contrast with findings of others to highlight areas of support and conflict.
  • Generalize results to the larger population of interest.
  • Describe any limitations or biases that may have affected study outcomes.
  • Suggest issues for further research.
  • Draw conclusions about the topic of focus.

Sources:

  • Gabel, Lawrence(1991, Feb). Research Process: Reporting Results of the Research. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. V81, n2, p.93-97.
  • Hitchcock, Maurice (1988, Fall/Winter). Writing and Publishing Research Articles. Family Practice Research Journal. V8, n1, p.3-16.
  • Coleridge, Samuel (1993, Sept). Teaching residents to write a research paper. JAOA. V93, n9, p.936-940.
Education Resources
1301 N Columbia Rd Stop 9037
Suite E438
Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037
P 701.777.3800
F 701.777.6290
    We use cookies on this site to enhance your user experience.

    By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies, Privacy Information.

    School of Medicine & Health Sciences

    1301 N Columbia Rd Stop 9037
    Grand Forks, ND 58202-9037

    701.777.2514

    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Map & Parking
    • Events Calendar
    • Office of Medical Accreditation and LCME
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • HIPAA Training
    • Needle Stick / Blood Pathogen Exposure
    • Policies
    • Information Resources
    • Make a Gift
    University of North Dakota

    © 2022 University of North Dakota - Grand Forks, ND - Member of ND University System

    • Accessibility & Website Feedback
    • Terms of Use & Privacy
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Student Disclosure Information
    • Title IX
    ©