Chapter 10 - Writing a Research Report

Question 1

What are the six Proposal Contents you should put together before any data is collected (or shortly after)?

Answer 1

1. Broad Research Goal/Problem
2. Background Info/Literature (Limitations & Bounds)
3. Questions / Hypotheses (Subproblems)
4. Proposed Methods to answering questions / testing hypotheses
5. Possible Outcomes
6. Significance: How possible outcomes will address the problem.

Question 2

What are the six Report Contents you should put together after you have completed the project?

Answer 2

1. Broad Research Problem / Goal
2. Background of Info / Literature (Limitations & Bounds)
3. Questions / Hypotheses (Subproblems)
4. Methods (How you collected data and analyzed it to answer question)
5. Results (Tables, graphs, and statistical results)
6. Discussion (Meaning of what you found and how it will address the problem)

Question 3

What are three tips for writing your Introduction / Literature review?

Answer 3

• Your reader needs to understand the broad problem right away
• Assume the reader knows little about the topic
• Clearly outline the limitations or bounds of your project early on so that the reader knows what to expect from your results.

Question 4

What are two key tips when writing the Questions / Hypotheses portion of your report?

Answer 4

• Divide your project into a set of specific questions that are directly answerable with the data you collected
• Think carefully about the order you present your questions in.

Question 5

Provide three key tips for writing the Methods portion of your Research Report:

Answer 5

• Always explain why you’re using specific data collection methods and analysis techniques
• Define Technical Terms
• Keep the methods for each question separate.

Question 6

What four things should you do when writing the Results section of your Research Report?

Answer 6

• Keep the results for each question / subproblem separate.
• Pull out the ‘story’ the data are telling you instead of just explaining it.
• Stick to impartial descriptions of the output of statistical results.
• Think very carefully about how to present the results both in writing and visuals.

Question 7

What are the three main sections of the Discussion portion of your Research Report?

Answer 7

1. Opening Paragraph
2. Main Body
3. Last Paragraph

Question 8

When writing the Opening Paragraph of the Discussion portion for your research report, what should you do?

Answer 8

Restate the problem and questions / hypotheses to remind the reader what they were and briefly summarize key results.

Question 9

When writing the Main Body of the Discussion portion for your research report, what should you do?

Answer 9

Walk the reader through your interpretations of your results in detail (what do they mean).

Question 10

Ensure your __________________ are directly supported by the data you collected.

Answer 10

interpretations

Question 11

In the main body of your Discussion portion from you research report, you should compare your ______________ to your predictions / expectations throughout.

Answer 11

results

Question 12

When writing the Last Paragraph of the Discussion portion for your research report, what should you do?

Answer 12

Describe how your results can be used to help address the broad problem. (conclusion/significance)

Question 13

What are the five key considerations fro the style, readability, and format of your proposal or report?

Answer 13

• Always try to use past tense in the Intro, Methods, & Results.
• Ensure Margins, typeface, line spacing, underling, and bolding is consistent.
• Consistent spacing
• Consistent headings
• Keep researcher anonymous
• Write with crisp precision

Question 14

Where in your research report should you not include direct quotes?

Answer 14

Introduction / Background

Question 15

Figures and tables should be placed _____________ in the research report.

Answer 15

strategically

Question 16

To keep the writing of a research report simple and straightforward, what three things should you do?

Answer 16

• Craft a topic sentence for each and every paragraph that tells the reader what you’re going to say.
• Maintain a logical progression of ideas both within and between paragraphs.
• Use simple sentences throughout.

Question 17

Do not merely present the raw data without _______________, it will be little help to the reader in deriving meaning from those data.

Answer 17

interpretation

Question 18

The first part of the research proposal or Project Report should create a “________________” between the writer and the reader.

Answer 18

meeting of minds

Question 19

The Centered Heading is used to_________________.

Answer 19

announce a major division of thought

Question 20

The Free Standing side Head is used to _____________.

Answer 20

break ideas and components of one major thought or section.

Question 21

Where and why should you Re-state your Hypothesis?

Answer 21

In your problem statement, because it could be pertinent to the discussion and results.

Question 22

Why is the Rationale for Analysis important?

Answer 22

Because providing purpose for analyzing the data can help clarify for the reader.

Question 23

What is the most important part of a Research Report?

Answer 23

Interpretation

Question 24

True or False: Your Research Report is an extension of your abilities, talents, expertise, and hard work.

Answer 24

True