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.