The document provides guidance on structuring a report, including recommended sections such as the title, abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and references. It discusses each section in detail and provides examples. The introduction should state the problem being addressed, summarize relevant previous research, and introduce the research questions or hypotheses. The methodology section should describe how the research was conducted in enough detail to allow others to replicate it. The results section should present key findings without interpretation. The discussion section should analyze the results, discuss whether they support the hypotheses, note limitations, and suggest areas for further research.
This document summarizes an internship report submitted by Aftab Ahmed to Sir Aslam Shaikh, the director of Pakistan Broadcast Corporation (PBC). Over the course of 4 weeks, Aftab gained hands-on experience in PBC's various departments including the studio, control room, and engineering. He learned about audio equipment such as microphones, audio consoles, transmitters, receivers, and how signals are transmitted and received both terrestrially and via satellite. The report details each department and type of audio equipment used at PBC.
DESIGN OF A TURBULENCE REDUCTION DEVICE FOR CANE JUICE CLARIFICATIONGimei Benedict
The document describes the design of a turbulence reduction device for clarifying cane juice at Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited. It provides background on sugarcane processing, including extraction of juice, heating, and clarification. The standard clarifier used is a Rapidor-444, which has long residence times of around 2 hours. This can lead to issues like increased sugar inversion and reduced quality. The study aims to design a turbulence reduction device that can introduce juice to the clarifier tank while diffusing turbulence, reducing residence times by up to 70% and improving separation efficiency. Computational fluid dynamics modeling is used to simulate the design.
The document discusses methodology sections in research papers. It provides examples of methodology sections and discusses what they should include. It lists things like when and where the research was conducted, the data collection procedures, criteria for including subjects, a description of surveys used to collect data, and how results will be presented. It also includes multiple links to methodology sections from published research papers that could be used as examples.
This document discusses experimental research design. It begins by defining experimental research as observation under controlled conditions where the independent variable is manipulated through interventions. True experimental designs require manipulation of the independent variable, a control group, and random assignment of subjects. Several true experimental designs are described, including post-test only, pretest-post-test, Solomon four-group, factorial, and randomized block designs. Key aspects of each design like pretesting, treatment, and post-testing are explained through examples.
The document provides guidance on structuring a report, including recommended sections such as the title, abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and references. It discusses each section in detail and provides examples. The introduction should state the problem, summarize previous relevant research, and introduce the research questions or hypotheses. The methodology explains how the research was conducted in enough detail to replicate it. The results section presents key findings without interpretation. The discussion analyzes the results in relation to previous work, conclusions, limitations, and implications.
This document provides an overview of the typical structure and components of a research paper, including:
1) An abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion section.
2) Guidance on what information should be included in each section, such as stating the objectives in the introduction and only reporting objective results in the results section.
3) Examples of how to write certain parts, like indicating the limitations of a study in the discussion rather than providing an excessive list.
This document summarizes an internship report submitted by Aftab Ahmed to Sir Aslam Shaikh, the director of Pakistan Broadcast Corporation (PBC). Over the course of 4 weeks, Aftab gained hands-on experience in PBC's various departments including the studio, control room, and engineering. He learned about audio equipment such as microphones, audio consoles, transmitters, receivers, and how signals are transmitted and received both terrestrially and via satellite. The report details each department and type of audio equipment used at PBC.
DESIGN OF A TURBULENCE REDUCTION DEVICE FOR CANE JUICE CLARIFICATIONGimei Benedict
The document describes the design of a turbulence reduction device for clarifying cane juice at Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited. It provides background on sugarcane processing, including extraction of juice, heating, and clarification. The standard clarifier used is a Rapidor-444, which has long residence times of around 2 hours. This can lead to issues like increased sugar inversion and reduced quality. The study aims to design a turbulence reduction device that can introduce juice to the clarifier tank while diffusing turbulence, reducing residence times by up to 70% and improving separation efficiency. Computational fluid dynamics modeling is used to simulate the design.
The document discusses methodology sections in research papers. It provides examples of methodology sections and discusses what they should include. It lists things like when and where the research was conducted, the data collection procedures, criteria for including subjects, a description of surveys used to collect data, and how results will be presented. It also includes multiple links to methodology sections from published research papers that could be used as examples.
This document discusses experimental research design. It begins by defining experimental research as observation under controlled conditions where the independent variable is manipulated through interventions. True experimental designs require manipulation of the independent variable, a control group, and random assignment of subjects. Several true experimental designs are described, including post-test only, pretest-post-test, Solomon four-group, factorial, and randomized block designs. Key aspects of each design like pretesting, treatment, and post-testing are explained through examples.
The document provides guidance on structuring a report, including recommended sections such as the title, abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and references. It discusses each section in detail and provides examples. The introduction should state the problem, summarize previous relevant research, and introduce the research questions or hypotheses. The methodology explains how the research was conducted in enough detail to replicate it. The results section presents key findings without interpretation. The discussion analyzes the results in relation to previous work, conclusions, limitations, and implications.
This document provides an overview of the typical structure and components of a research paper, including:
1) An abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion section.
2) Guidance on what information should be included in each section, such as stating the objectives in the introduction and only reporting objective results in the results section.
3) Examples of how to write certain parts, like indicating the limitations of a study in the discussion rather than providing an excessive list.
The document discusses the key principles of writing reports based on surveys, experiments, and scientific observations, including determining objectives, designing and revising questionnaires, gathering and analyzing data, and summarizing findings both narratively and visually. It also outlines the learning competencies around report writing, different types of reports such as survey reports and field reports, and provides examples of report writing tasks.
This document provides guidance on writing reports, including outlining the typical structure and sections of a report, how to organize content, and critical writing techniques. Key sections discussed include the introduction, literature review, discussion/findings, conclusion, and recommendations. Guidance is provided on writing summaries, using headings and numbering, incorporating evidence and examples, and the differences between reports and essays. Overall, the document offers a comprehensive overview of best practices for writing structured, well-organized reports.
How to design_research_and_methodالنسخة الأخيرة-د. سعادresearchcenterm
This document provides an overview of research methods and design. It discusses key concepts like exploratory, descriptive and causal research. Experimental and non-experimental designs are covered, including examples like surveys, case studies, and longitudinal vs. cross-sectional studies. The importance of developing specific aims, hypotheses, and determining an appropriate sample size through power analysis is emphasized. An effective research design is outlined as having a clear plan, methodology, analysis approach, anticipated results and limitations addressed.
OverviewAs a social science student, it is vitally important t.docxkarlhennesey
Overview
As a social science student, it is vitally important that you become an educated consumer of social science research, even if you never get to conduct an actual research study.
You need to have a basic understanding of the steps in the scientific process, a familiarity with commonly used social science research designs and methods, and a knowledge of procedures for collecting and analyzing social science data.
This module provides very basic information about these topics. It addresses the following subjects:
· the scientific method
· qualitative and quantitative research
· data analysis and presentation
· discipline-specific research designs and methods The Scientific Method
The scientific method is a form of inquiry that was originally developed to answer questions in the natural sciences. The scientific method uses systematic observation and measurement to confirm or disconfirm hypotheses that most often are derived from underlying theories.
When a hypothesis is confirmed, it lends support to the underlying theory. When it is not confirmed, researchers must reformulate the theory and come up with other explanations. Scientists share their findings by presenting at conferences or publishing in peer-reviewed journals. Sharing results with the research world is an important part of the scientific method because science is an iterative activity.
As social scientists, we have a great challenge. Because we cannot exert complete control over human behavior, it is not possible to conduct true experiments. Real life cannot be captured in a lab, and human behavior cannot be explained by one or even two causes. This makes it difficult to determine "cause and effect." For example, if we are interested in knowing why poor people have compromised health outcomes, we would need to account for an impossibly large number of factors or variables such as race, ethnicity, genetic markers, income, education level, access to health care services, and living conditions.
Steps for Conducting a Research Study
Figure 4.1
Steps for Conducting a Research Study
Source: UMUC PSYC 100.
The use of the scientific method allows researchers to develop explanations of social science phenomena. The steps of the research process are explained from a psychological perspective in this tutorial (Bradley, 2000).
Step 1: Make an Observation
The starting place for any research study is an observation (idea) regarding a topic of interest to you, the researcher. It may come from a conversation with a friend, a book or television program, or the conclusion of a related research project. All that is needed at this point is your interest in pursuing the topic further.
Let's take an example that we will use for all of the steps in the process. You observe that you are able to memorize items such as telephone numbers better when you eat candy. Because of this, you wonder if there is a connection between the primary component of candy (sugar) and memory.
Step 2: Propose a Hypoth ...
Unpacking Nutrition Research and being an effective Science CommunicatorTim Crowe
Understand what can make nutrition research confusing in the conclusions it reaches and appreciate the key questions to ask when critiquing a research study. Then discover the principles of clear and effective science communication and how to maintain credibility and engage people in different ways on social media,
The document discusses various types of research studies and common problems in research reporting. It describes basic and applied research, as well as animal studies, case studies, clinical trials, correlational studies, cross-sectional surveys, epidemiological studies, experimental studies, literature reviews, longitudinal studies, meta-analyses, and problems that can occur in writing research proposals and reports. Common issues include plagiarism, poor formatting, weak structure of sentences, and improperly organizing the different sections of a research report.
The document outlines the seven steps of the sociological research process: 1) defining the problem, 2) reviewing previous research, 3) developing hypotheses, 4) determining research design, 5) defining the sample and collecting data, 6) analyzing and interpreting data, and 7) preparing the research report. It discusses key concepts like independent and dependent variables, and the four main research methods: surveys, participant observation, experiments, and secondary analysis. It also covers issues of validity, reliability, research bias, sampling, and ethical concerns in sociological research.
Written assignment 1 trace the scientific method in a primary scientific articlecoursesexams1
The document provides instructions for a written assignment asking students to analyze a primary scientific article describing a study investigating whether coffee prevents high blood sugar in diabetic mice. It describes the study where one group of mice was given water and one group was given coffee-water mixture for 5 weeks. Blood glucose was monitored weekly, finding a 30% lower level in the coffee group. Students are asked to outline the scientific method used, form a hypothesis, describe the study design and results, and critique the study limitations and relevance.
Written assignment 1 trace the scientific method in a primary scientific articlecoursesexams1
The document provides instructions for a written assignment asking students to analyze a primary scientific article describing a study investigating whether coffee prevents high blood sugar in diabetic mice. Students are asked to: 1) outline the scientific method steps used in the study and describe the experimental design; 2) critique the study methodology; 3) discuss the relevance of the research; and 4) submit their response of 300-400 words following APA style guidelines. The study described gave one group of mice water and another group diluted coffee for five weeks, monitoring blood glucose levels weekly. Results showed the coffee group had 30% lower blood glucose than the water group, indicating coffee may reduce diabetes risk.
Written assignment 1 trace the scientific method in a primary scientific articlecoursesexams1
The document provides instructions for a written assignment asking students to analyze a primary scientific article describing a study investigating whether coffee prevents high blood sugar in diabetic mice. It describes the study where one group of mice was given water and one group was given coffee-water mixture for 5 weeks. Blood glucose was monitored weekly, finding a 30% lower level in the coffee group. Students are asked to outline the scientific method used, form a hypothesis, describe the study design and results, and critique the study limitations and relevance.
This document provides guidance on developing a research protocol as a resident. It discusses identifying a research problem, formulating a hypothesis and research question, reviewing study designs, developing methodology, and addressing ethical considerations. Key elements of a protocol include the research question, study design, population, sample size calculations, data collection methods, management and analysis plans, and discussing strengths/limitations. The protocol establishes the framework and justification for a research study.
This document provides guidance on writing a health research proposal. It discusses key components such as the problem statement, objectives, methodology, variables, study design, data collection procedures, and ethics. A well-written proposal clearly explains the research question and plan to answer it. The methodology section should provide operational definitions of variables and detail how the study will be conducted and data analyzed. Considering ethics is important when researching human subjects. Overall, a strong proposal demonstrates the value and feasibility of the proposed research.
Use the Capella library to locate two psychology research articles.docxdickonsondorris
Use the Capella library to locate two psychology research articles: a quantitative methods article and a qualitative methods article. These do not need to be on the same topic, but if you have a research topic in mind for your proposal (see Assessment 5), you may wish to pick something similar for this assessment. Read each article carefully.
Then, in a 2–3-page assessment, address the following elements:
1 Summarize the research question and hypothesis, the research methods, and the overall findings.
2 Compare the research methodologies used in each study. In what ways are the methodologies similar? In what ways are they different? (Be sure to use the technical psychological terms we are studying.)
3 Describe the sample and sample size for each study. Which one used a larger sample and why? How were participants selected?
4 Describe the data collection process for each study. What methods were used to collect the data? Surveys? Observations? Interviews? Be specific and discuss the instruments or measures fully—what do they measure? How is the test designed?
5 Summarize the data analysis process for each study. How was the data analyzed? Were statistics used? Were interviews coded?
6 In conclusion, craft 1–2 paragraphs explaining how these two articles illustrate the main differences between quantitative and qualitative research.
Additional Requirements
· Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
· APA formatting: Your assessment should be formatted according to APA (6th ed.) style and formatting.
· Length: A typical response will be 2–3 typed and double-spaced pages.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Research Methods
There are many different types of research studies, and the type of study that is done depends very much on the research question. Some studies demand strictly numerical data, such as a comparison of GPA among different college majors or weight loss among different types of eating programs. Others require more in-depth data, like interview responses. Such studies might include the lived experience of people that have been through a terrorist attack or understanding the experience of being physically disabled on a college campus. While there are a number of different types of studies that can be done, all of them fall under two basic categories: quantitative and qualitative.
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research deals with numerical data. This means that any topic you study in a quantitative study must be quantifiable—grades, weight, height, depression, and intelligence are all things that can be quantified on some scale of measurement. Quantitative data is often considered hard data—numbers are seen as concrete, irrefutable evidence, but we have to take into account a number of factors that could impact such data. Errors in measurement and recording of such data, as well as the influence of other factors outside those in the study, make for ...
Starting the Research ProcessFormulating a specific, applica.docxbryanwest16882
Starting the Research Process
Formulating a specific, applicable research problem statement is an important step in beginning a research process. The problem statement defines the focus of the research study, dictates what methods and tools will be used, and sets the stage for all subsequent elements of the research process. Because of this, it is necessary to put a great deal of thought into the problem statement to ensure that the rest of the research process will be well planned and appropriate to the problem at hand.
This week’s Discussion asks you to identify evidence-based practice problems that can be addressed using quantitative research methods. Based on the practice problem you select, formulate a quantitative research problem statement. In this Discussion, you are also given the opportunity to evaluate your colleagues’ problem statements. Please refer to this week’s Learning Resources for appropriate and scholarly examples of research problem statements and how they inform the rest of the research process.
To prepare:
Determine a nursing practice problem that is of interest to you and that is appropriate for a quantitative research study.
Note:
You will continue to use this problem in the Discussions over the next several weeks.
Using the Walden Library and other credible sources, locate and read two or three articles that address your practice problem.
(you must cite the articles read in this assignment)
With your practice problem in mind, review the Learning Resources and media presentations focusing on the strategies presented for generating a research problem statement.
Ask yourself: What is the importance of my practice problem to nursing, research, and theory? How might addressing this problem bring about positive social change? How will investigating this problem support evidence-based practice?
By Tomorrow 09/06/17, write a minimum of 550 words in APA format with a minimum of 3 references from the list below which include the level one headings as numbered below:
Post
1) A proposed research problem statement (it has to be related to nursing for example: could be on diabetes, heart failure or more …)
2) Including sufficient information to make your focus clear and explaining how addressing this problem may bring about positive social change.
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Research methods for evidence-based practice: Selecting a research topic and developing a hypothesis. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 13 minutes.
In this week’s video, Dr. Leiyu Shi discusses the characteristics of a good research hypothesis and details the steps in developing a hypothesis that can be tested through research.
Laureate Education. (2011). Important events in clinical research history. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/CLRA/6100/01/mm/timel.
PurposeStudents will conduct one brief research exercise that w.docxamrit47
Purpose:
Students will conduct one brief research exercise that will be written up as a research report using APA style. Please note: It needs to be written in paper format, not answers to questions. This paper will give the student practical experience in defining explanatory/independent and response/dependent variables, selecting the appropriate statistical technique, conducting data analysis, and writing up research results in APA format. One important note: This assignment will NOT include collecting data from people or animals. Use the data provided by the instructor in the attached spreadsheet. The data was collected from selected foods in a US commissary in Germany.
Content of the Paper:
Following APA guidelines for laboratory reports, your paper must contain the following:
1. Title Page
2. Abstract
3. Introduction – one to two paragraph introduction based on information from one source provided by the instructor. Must include the research question, statement of the research hypothesis, and identification of the explanatory/independent and response/dependent variables.
4. Method – including procedures and information collected.
5. Results – this section describes the statistical analysis used and presents the results in text, statistical, and graphic formats
6. Discussion – including the strengths and limitations of the design and ethical concerns, if any.
7. References
Content of the Paper:
Your paper must contain the following:
Title Page
1. Abstract – Brief (200 words) summary of the study. This should describe:
a. The problem under investigation, in one sentence, if possible
b. The participants (in this case, it would describe the Soups)
c. Essential features of the study method
d. The basic findings
e. Conclusions and implications or applications
2. Introduction – one to two paragraph introduction. Read the "Limit Fat and Sugar" article available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/eat-right/limit-fat-sugar.htm. Based on this information contained in this article, develop a research question and hypotheses regarding the data collected from the commissary. Be sure to answer all ofthe following questions:
· What is the research question? Specifically, what is the researcher interested in determining from this study? Please be sure to use the information from the article in your report as background information to justify the research question.
· What are the hypotheses being tested? Describe both the null and alternative hypothesis for each of the four nutrients.
· What are the explanatory/independent and response/dependent variables?
3. Method – brief description including procedures and information collected.
· Are the samples independent or dependent? Please explain.
· How was the data collected? (ex. How was the data obtained for the samples?) Note: the data was collected from nutrition fact labels from selected Soups. For more information on Nutritional Food Fact labels, please go to: http://ww ...
Research Topics in Health AdministrationAssignment 1 Final Proj.docxmackulaytoni
Research Topics in Health Administration
Assignment 1: Final Project Part II: Reading a Study.
Using this checklist read and evaluate the article
“Diagnosed with Breast Cancer While on a Family History Screening Programme: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.”
Research Evaluation Checklist
Complete the checklist below for the study/article you are to evaluate.
Definetopicand
need.
·
Whatphenomenon does the study investigate?
·
Isthe phenomenon a problem, an opportunity, or a dilemma?
·
Whatsymptoms (easily observable signs) indicate thatit is a problem, opportunityor a dilemma?
·
How do people who know this organ
i
zation ex
p
l
ain these symptoms? Whatdo administrators wanttoknow about the phenomenon?
·
How can it be expres
s
ed in manageable terms?
Assessrelevant
kn
o
w
ledge.
·
How much is already known?
·
Isadditional background information neces
s
ary? Should this
r
esearch be conducted?
·
Isthe topic a special
c
ase ofa broader, more fundamental and important problem?
Identify
variables
and
measures,
a
ndresearch
questions
and
h
y
potheses.
·
Whatvariables associated with the phenomenon arein
v
estigated? How are the variables measured?
·
Whatare the research question
s
?
·
Whatspecific hypotheses are formulated?
Identify
and
ana
l
y
ze
t
heresearch
design.
·
Whatis the research design—explorato
r
y,d
e
scriptive, or causal research? Isthis non-experimental, quasi-experimental, or experimental research? Whatis the nature ofdata—primary or secondary?
·
Whatis the source ofdata—interviews,questionnaires,existi
n
g databases? Are answers obtained through interviews and questionnaires objective?
Ana
l
yzethe
sample.
·
Whatis the population from which the respondents have been sele
ct
ed? How large is the sample?
·
Isit random, stratif
i
ed,or other sample?
Gather
data
.
·
How are data gathered?
·
Does the procedure ofgathe
r
ing data ensure objectivity?
Ana
l
yze
d
a
ta.
·
Are the data words (qualitativedata) or numbers (quantitative)? How are qualitative da
t
a analyzed?
·
How are quantitative data rec
o
rded and checked foraccuracy? Whatstatistical methods are used toanalyze data?
Assess
results.
·
Whatare the answerstoresearch question
s
? Are hypotheses supported?
·
Whatevidence did the study produce thathelps answer research questions or support/refute hypotheses?
Evaluate
recomme
n
dations
.
Whatrecommendations can be made on the basis ofresults?
Whatrecommendations are made thatcannot be supported with results?
Evaluatethe
stu
d
y
.
·
Whatlimitations does the study have?
·
Whatimprovements in research design can be recommended?
Assignment 2: Final Project Part III: Designing a Study
You are the hospital administrator in a medium-sized, urban, for-profit hospital that caters to middle-income groups. You wonder if patients' satisfaction with the hospital stay will increase significantly if they are given better and more flexible meal options. You decide to conduct .
This document discusses various components of medical research articles and evaluating evidence from research. It begins by describing different types of articles such as original research, case reports, reviews, and editorials. It then discusses levels of evidence, with randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews considered the strongest levels. The document outlines how to read articles, including preparing, understanding different sections, and evaluating conclusions. It concludes by discussing signs of dubious data, such as misleading graphs, broad definitions, and convenient time frames.
This document discusses how to read and understand medical research articles. It begins by outlining the common components of articles, including the abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion sections. It then describes different types of articles like case reports, reviews, and editorials. Next, it covers levels of evidence in medical research and systems for grading evidence. It provides guidance on how to effectively read articles, including preparing, understanding the structure and content, and evaluating the findings. Finally, it discusses signs of dubious or unreliable data in articles. In summary, the document provides a comprehensive overview of medical research articles and how readers can critically analyze and understand their content and conclusions.
a. Introduction and Key Points: Identifying those at risk for malnutrition is an important public health issue. Malnutrition prevalence increases with age and can be identified through nutritional screening tools. This summary examines nutritional screening methods for the elderly.
b. Article Search: A search of the PubMed database was conducted using the terms "malnutrition" and "elderly." This retrieved the article "Beyond malnutrition screening: Appropriate methods to guide nutrition care for aged care residents" published in 2012.
c. Article Findings: This Australian study compared three nutritional screening tools - the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST), and the Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS 2002
The document discusses the key principles of writing reports based on surveys, experiments, and scientific observations, including determining objectives, designing and revising questionnaires, gathering and analyzing data, and summarizing findings both narratively and visually. It also outlines the learning competencies around report writing, different types of reports such as survey reports and field reports, and provides examples of report writing tasks.
This document provides guidance on writing reports, including outlining the typical structure and sections of a report, how to organize content, and critical writing techniques. Key sections discussed include the introduction, literature review, discussion/findings, conclusion, and recommendations. Guidance is provided on writing summaries, using headings and numbering, incorporating evidence and examples, and the differences between reports and essays. Overall, the document offers a comprehensive overview of best practices for writing structured, well-organized reports.
How to design_research_and_methodالنسخة الأخيرة-د. سعادresearchcenterm
This document provides an overview of research methods and design. It discusses key concepts like exploratory, descriptive and causal research. Experimental and non-experimental designs are covered, including examples like surveys, case studies, and longitudinal vs. cross-sectional studies. The importance of developing specific aims, hypotheses, and determining an appropriate sample size through power analysis is emphasized. An effective research design is outlined as having a clear plan, methodology, analysis approach, anticipated results and limitations addressed.
OverviewAs a social science student, it is vitally important t.docxkarlhennesey
Overview
As a social science student, it is vitally important that you become an educated consumer of social science research, even if you never get to conduct an actual research study.
You need to have a basic understanding of the steps in the scientific process, a familiarity with commonly used social science research designs and methods, and a knowledge of procedures for collecting and analyzing social science data.
This module provides very basic information about these topics. It addresses the following subjects:
· the scientific method
· qualitative and quantitative research
· data analysis and presentation
· discipline-specific research designs and methods The Scientific Method
The scientific method is a form of inquiry that was originally developed to answer questions in the natural sciences. The scientific method uses systematic observation and measurement to confirm or disconfirm hypotheses that most often are derived from underlying theories.
When a hypothesis is confirmed, it lends support to the underlying theory. When it is not confirmed, researchers must reformulate the theory and come up with other explanations. Scientists share their findings by presenting at conferences or publishing in peer-reviewed journals. Sharing results with the research world is an important part of the scientific method because science is an iterative activity.
As social scientists, we have a great challenge. Because we cannot exert complete control over human behavior, it is not possible to conduct true experiments. Real life cannot be captured in a lab, and human behavior cannot be explained by one or even two causes. This makes it difficult to determine "cause and effect." For example, if we are interested in knowing why poor people have compromised health outcomes, we would need to account for an impossibly large number of factors or variables such as race, ethnicity, genetic markers, income, education level, access to health care services, and living conditions.
Steps for Conducting a Research Study
Figure 4.1
Steps for Conducting a Research Study
Source: UMUC PSYC 100.
The use of the scientific method allows researchers to develop explanations of social science phenomena. The steps of the research process are explained from a psychological perspective in this tutorial (Bradley, 2000).
Step 1: Make an Observation
The starting place for any research study is an observation (idea) regarding a topic of interest to you, the researcher. It may come from a conversation with a friend, a book or television program, or the conclusion of a related research project. All that is needed at this point is your interest in pursuing the topic further.
Let's take an example that we will use for all of the steps in the process. You observe that you are able to memorize items such as telephone numbers better when you eat candy. Because of this, you wonder if there is a connection between the primary component of candy (sugar) and memory.
Step 2: Propose a Hypoth ...
Unpacking Nutrition Research and being an effective Science CommunicatorTim Crowe
Understand what can make nutrition research confusing in the conclusions it reaches and appreciate the key questions to ask when critiquing a research study. Then discover the principles of clear and effective science communication and how to maintain credibility and engage people in different ways on social media,
The document discusses various types of research studies and common problems in research reporting. It describes basic and applied research, as well as animal studies, case studies, clinical trials, correlational studies, cross-sectional surveys, epidemiological studies, experimental studies, literature reviews, longitudinal studies, meta-analyses, and problems that can occur in writing research proposals and reports. Common issues include plagiarism, poor formatting, weak structure of sentences, and improperly organizing the different sections of a research report.
The document outlines the seven steps of the sociological research process: 1) defining the problem, 2) reviewing previous research, 3) developing hypotheses, 4) determining research design, 5) defining the sample and collecting data, 6) analyzing and interpreting data, and 7) preparing the research report. It discusses key concepts like independent and dependent variables, and the four main research methods: surveys, participant observation, experiments, and secondary analysis. It also covers issues of validity, reliability, research bias, sampling, and ethical concerns in sociological research.
Written assignment 1 trace the scientific method in a primary scientific articlecoursesexams1
The document provides instructions for a written assignment asking students to analyze a primary scientific article describing a study investigating whether coffee prevents high blood sugar in diabetic mice. It describes the study where one group of mice was given water and one group was given coffee-water mixture for 5 weeks. Blood glucose was monitored weekly, finding a 30% lower level in the coffee group. Students are asked to outline the scientific method used, form a hypothesis, describe the study design and results, and critique the study limitations and relevance.
Written assignment 1 trace the scientific method in a primary scientific articlecoursesexams1
The document provides instructions for a written assignment asking students to analyze a primary scientific article describing a study investigating whether coffee prevents high blood sugar in diabetic mice. Students are asked to: 1) outline the scientific method steps used in the study and describe the experimental design; 2) critique the study methodology; 3) discuss the relevance of the research; and 4) submit their response of 300-400 words following APA style guidelines. The study described gave one group of mice water and another group diluted coffee for five weeks, monitoring blood glucose levels weekly. Results showed the coffee group had 30% lower blood glucose than the water group, indicating coffee may reduce diabetes risk.
Written assignment 1 trace the scientific method in a primary scientific articlecoursesexams1
The document provides instructions for a written assignment asking students to analyze a primary scientific article describing a study investigating whether coffee prevents high blood sugar in diabetic mice. It describes the study where one group of mice was given water and one group was given coffee-water mixture for 5 weeks. Blood glucose was monitored weekly, finding a 30% lower level in the coffee group. Students are asked to outline the scientific method used, form a hypothesis, describe the study design and results, and critique the study limitations and relevance.
This document provides guidance on developing a research protocol as a resident. It discusses identifying a research problem, formulating a hypothesis and research question, reviewing study designs, developing methodology, and addressing ethical considerations. Key elements of a protocol include the research question, study design, population, sample size calculations, data collection methods, management and analysis plans, and discussing strengths/limitations. The protocol establishes the framework and justification for a research study.
This document provides guidance on writing a health research proposal. It discusses key components such as the problem statement, objectives, methodology, variables, study design, data collection procedures, and ethics. A well-written proposal clearly explains the research question and plan to answer it. The methodology section should provide operational definitions of variables and detail how the study will be conducted and data analyzed. Considering ethics is important when researching human subjects. Overall, a strong proposal demonstrates the value and feasibility of the proposed research.
Use the Capella library to locate two psychology research articles.docxdickonsondorris
Use the Capella library to locate two psychology research articles: a quantitative methods article and a qualitative methods article. These do not need to be on the same topic, but if you have a research topic in mind for your proposal (see Assessment 5), you may wish to pick something similar for this assessment. Read each article carefully.
Then, in a 2–3-page assessment, address the following elements:
1 Summarize the research question and hypothesis, the research methods, and the overall findings.
2 Compare the research methodologies used in each study. In what ways are the methodologies similar? In what ways are they different? (Be sure to use the technical psychological terms we are studying.)
3 Describe the sample and sample size for each study. Which one used a larger sample and why? How were participants selected?
4 Describe the data collection process for each study. What methods were used to collect the data? Surveys? Observations? Interviews? Be specific and discuss the instruments or measures fully—what do they measure? How is the test designed?
5 Summarize the data analysis process for each study. How was the data analyzed? Were statistics used? Were interviews coded?
6 In conclusion, craft 1–2 paragraphs explaining how these two articles illustrate the main differences between quantitative and qualitative research.
Additional Requirements
· Written communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
· APA formatting: Your assessment should be formatted according to APA (6th ed.) style and formatting.
· Length: A typical response will be 2–3 typed and double-spaced pages.
Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
Research Methods
There are many different types of research studies, and the type of study that is done depends very much on the research question. Some studies demand strictly numerical data, such as a comparison of GPA among different college majors or weight loss among different types of eating programs. Others require more in-depth data, like interview responses. Such studies might include the lived experience of people that have been through a terrorist attack or understanding the experience of being physically disabled on a college campus. While there are a number of different types of studies that can be done, all of them fall under two basic categories: quantitative and qualitative.
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research deals with numerical data. This means that any topic you study in a quantitative study must be quantifiable—grades, weight, height, depression, and intelligence are all things that can be quantified on some scale of measurement. Quantitative data is often considered hard data—numbers are seen as concrete, irrefutable evidence, but we have to take into account a number of factors that could impact such data. Errors in measurement and recording of such data, as well as the influence of other factors outside those in the study, make for ...
Starting the Research ProcessFormulating a specific, applica.docxbryanwest16882
Starting the Research Process
Formulating a specific, applicable research problem statement is an important step in beginning a research process. The problem statement defines the focus of the research study, dictates what methods and tools will be used, and sets the stage for all subsequent elements of the research process. Because of this, it is necessary to put a great deal of thought into the problem statement to ensure that the rest of the research process will be well planned and appropriate to the problem at hand.
This week’s Discussion asks you to identify evidence-based practice problems that can be addressed using quantitative research methods. Based on the practice problem you select, formulate a quantitative research problem statement. In this Discussion, you are also given the opportunity to evaluate your colleagues’ problem statements. Please refer to this week’s Learning Resources for appropriate and scholarly examples of research problem statements and how they inform the rest of the research process.
To prepare:
Determine a nursing practice problem that is of interest to you and that is appropriate for a quantitative research study.
Note:
You will continue to use this problem in the Discussions over the next several weeks.
Using the Walden Library and other credible sources, locate and read two or three articles that address your practice problem.
(you must cite the articles read in this assignment)
With your practice problem in mind, review the Learning Resources and media presentations focusing on the strategies presented for generating a research problem statement.
Ask yourself: What is the importance of my practice problem to nursing, research, and theory? How might addressing this problem bring about positive social change? How will investigating this problem support evidence-based practice?
By Tomorrow 09/06/17, write a minimum of 550 words in APA format with a minimum of 3 references from the list below which include the level one headings as numbered below:
Post
1) A proposed research problem statement (it has to be related to nursing for example: could be on diabetes, heart failure or more …)
2) Including sufficient information to make your focus clear and explaining how addressing this problem may bring about positive social change.
Required Media
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Research methods for evidence-based practice: Selecting a research topic and developing a hypothesis. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 13 minutes.
In this week’s video, Dr. Leiyu Shi discusses the characteristics of a good research hypothesis and details the steps in developing a hypothesis that can be tested through research.
Laureate Education. (2011). Important events in clinical research history. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/CLRA/6100/01/mm/timel.
PurposeStudents will conduct one brief research exercise that w.docxamrit47
Purpose:
Students will conduct one brief research exercise that will be written up as a research report using APA style. Please note: It needs to be written in paper format, not answers to questions. This paper will give the student practical experience in defining explanatory/independent and response/dependent variables, selecting the appropriate statistical technique, conducting data analysis, and writing up research results in APA format. One important note: This assignment will NOT include collecting data from people or animals. Use the data provided by the instructor in the attached spreadsheet. The data was collected from selected foods in a US commissary in Germany.
Content of the Paper:
Following APA guidelines for laboratory reports, your paper must contain the following:
1. Title Page
2. Abstract
3. Introduction – one to two paragraph introduction based on information from one source provided by the instructor. Must include the research question, statement of the research hypothesis, and identification of the explanatory/independent and response/dependent variables.
4. Method – including procedures and information collected.
5. Results – this section describes the statistical analysis used and presents the results in text, statistical, and graphic formats
6. Discussion – including the strengths and limitations of the design and ethical concerns, if any.
7. References
Content of the Paper:
Your paper must contain the following:
Title Page
1. Abstract – Brief (200 words) summary of the study. This should describe:
a. The problem under investigation, in one sentence, if possible
b. The participants (in this case, it would describe the Soups)
c. Essential features of the study method
d. The basic findings
e. Conclusions and implications or applications
2. Introduction – one to two paragraph introduction. Read the "Limit Fat and Sugar" article available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/eat-right/limit-fat-sugar.htm. Based on this information contained in this article, develop a research question and hypotheses regarding the data collected from the commissary. Be sure to answer all ofthe following questions:
· What is the research question? Specifically, what is the researcher interested in determining from this study? Please be sure to use the information from the article in your report as background information to justify the research question.
· What are the hypotheses being tested? Describe both the null and alternative hypothesis for each of the four nutrients.
· What are the explanatory/independent and response/dependent variables?
3. Method – brief description including procedures and information collected.
· Are the samples independent or dependent? Please explain.
· How was the data collected? (ex. How was the data obtained for the samples?) Note: the data was collected from nutrition fact labels from selected Soups. For more information on Nutritional Food Fact labels, please go to: http://ww ...
Research Topics in Health AdministrationAssignment 1 Final Proj.docxmackulaytoni
Research Topics in Health Administration
Assignment 1: Final Project Part II: Reading a Study.
Using this checklist read and evaluate the article
“Diagnosed with Breast Cancer While on a Family History Screening Programme: An Exploratory Qualitative Study.”
Research Evaluation Checklist
Complete the checklist below for the study/article you are to evaluate.
Definetopicand
need.
·
Whatphenomenon does the study investigate?
·
Isthe phenomenon a problem, an opportunity, or a dilemma?
·
Whatsymptoms (easily observable signs) indicate thatit is a problem, opportunityor a dilemma?
·
How do people who know this organ
i
zation ex
p
l
ain these symptoms? Whatdo administrators wanttoknow about the phenomenon?
·
How can it be expres
s
ed in manageable terms?
Assessrelevant
kn
o
w
ledge.
·
How much is already known?
·
Isadditional background information neces
s
ary? Should this
r
esearch be conducted?
·
Isthe topic a special
c
ase ofa broader, more fundamental and important problem?
Identify
variables
and
measures,
a
ndresearch
questions
and
h
y
potheses.
·
Whatvariables associated with the phenomenon arein
v
estigated? How are the variables measured?
·
Whatare the research question
s
?
·
Whatspecific hypotheses are formulated?
Identify
and
ana
l
y
ze
t
heresearch
design.
·
Whatis the research design—explorato
r
y,d
e
scriptive, or causal research? Isthis non-experimental, quasi-experimental, or experimental research? Whatis the nature ofdata—primary or secondary?
·
Whatis the source ofdata—interviews,questionnaires,existi
n
g databases? Are answers obtained through interviews and questionnaires objective?
Ana
l
yzethe
sample.
·
Whatis the population from which the respondents have been sele
ct
ed? How large is the sample?
·
Isit random, stratif
i
ed,or other sample?
Gather
data
.
·
How are data gathered?
·
Does the procedure ofgathe
r
ing data ensure objectivity?
Ana
l
yze
d
a
ta.
·
Are the data words (qualitativedata) or numbers (quantitative)? How are qualitative da
t
a analyzed?
·
How are quantitative data rec
o
rded and checked foraccuracy? Whatstatistical methods are used toanalyze data?
Assess
results.
·
Whatare the answerstoresearch question
s
? Are hypotheses supported?
·
Whatevidence did the study produce thathelps answer research questions or support/refute hypotheses?
Evaluate
recomme
n
dations
.
Whatrecommendations can be made on the basis ofresults?
Whatrecommendations are made thatcannot be supported with results?
Evaluatethe
stu
d
y
.
·
Whatlimitations does the study have?
·
Whatimprovements in research design can be recommended?
Assignment 2: Final Project Part III: Designing a Study
You are the hospital administrator in a medium-sized, urban, for-profit hospital that caters to middle-income groups. You wonder if patients' satisfaction with the hospital stay will increase significantly if they are given better and more flexible meal options. You decide to conduct .
This document discusses various components of medical research articles and evaluating evidence from research. It begins by describing different types of articles such as original research, case reports, reviews, and editorials. It then discusses levels of evidence, with randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews considered the strongest levels. The document outlines how to read articles, including preparing, understanding different sections, and evaluating conclusions. It concludes by discussing signs of dubious data, such as misleading graphs, broad definitions, and convenient time frames.
This document discusses how to read and understand medical research articles. It begins by outlining the common components of articles, including the abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion sections. It then describes different types of articles like case reports, reviews, and editorials. Next, it covers levels of evidence in medical research and systems for grading evidence. It provides guidance on how to effectively read articles, including preparing, understanding the structure and content, and evaluating the findings. Finally, it discusses signs of dubious or unreliable data in articles. In summary, the document provides a comprehensive overview of medical research articles and how readers can critically analyze and understand their content and conclusions.
a. Introduction and Key Points: Identifying those at risk for malnutrition is an important public health issue. Malnutrition prevalence increases with age and can be identified through nutritional screening tools. This summary examines nutritional screening methods for the elderly.
b. Article Search: A search of the PubMed database was conducted using the terms "malnutrition" and "elderly." This retrieved the article "Beyond malnutrition screening: Appropriate methods to guide nutrition care for aged care residents" published in 2012.
c. Article Findings: This Australian study compared three nutritional screening tools - the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST), and the Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS 2002
How to Setup Warehouse & Location in Odoo 17 InventoryCeline George
In this slide, we'll explore how to set up warehouses and locations in Odoo 17 Inventory. This will help us manage our stock effectively, track inventory levels, and streamline warehouse operations.
A review of the growth of the Israel Genealogy Research Association Database Collection for the last 12 months. Our collection is now passed the 3 million mark and still growing. See which archives have contributed the most. See the different types of records we have, and which years have had records added. You can also see what we have for the future.
Walmart Business+ and Spark Good for Nonprofits.pdfTechSoup
"Learn about all the ways Walmart supports nonprofit organizations.
You will hear from Liz Willett, the Head of Nonprofits, and hear about what Walmart is doing to help nonprofits, including Walmart Business and Spark Good. Walmart Business+ is a new offer for nonprofits that offers discounts and also streamlines nonprofits order and expense tracking, saving time and money.
The webinar may also give some examples on how nonprofits can best leverage Walmart Business+.
The event will cover the following::
Walmart Business + (https://business.walmart.com/plus) is a new shopping experience for nonprofits, schools, and local business customers that connects an exclusive online shopping experience to stores. Benefits include free delivery and shipping, a 'Spend Analytics” feature, special discounts, deals and tax-exempt shopping.
Special TechSoup offer for a free 180 days membership, and up to $150 in discounts on eligible orders.
Spark Good (walmart.com/sparkgood) is a charitable platform that enables nonprofits to receive donations directly from customers and associates.
Answers about how you can do more with Walmart!"
This presentation includes basic of PCOS their pathology and treatment and also Ayurveda correlation of PCOS and Ayurvedic line of treatment mentioned in classics.
How to Build a Module in Odoo 17 Using the Scaffold MethodCeline George
Odoo provides an option for creating a module by using a single line command. By using this command the user can make a whole structure of a module. It is very easy for a beginner to make a module. There is no need to make each file manually. This slide will show how to create a module using the scaffold method.
LAND USE LAND COVER AND NDVI OF MIRZAPUR DISTRICT, UPRAHUL
This Dissertation explores the particular circumstances of Mirzapur, a region located in the
core of India. Mirzapur, with its varied terrains and abundant biodiversity, offers an optimal
environment for investigating the changes in vegetation cover dynamics. Our study utilizes
advanced technologies such as GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and Remote sensing to
analyze the transformations that have taken place over the course of a decade.
The complex relationship between human activities and the environment has been the focus
of extensive research and worry. As the global community grapples with swift urbanization,
population expansion, and economic progress, the effects on natural ecosystems are becoming
more evident. A crucial element of this impact is the alteration of vegetation cover, which plays a
significant role in maintaining the ecological equilibrium of our planet.Land serves as the foundation for all human activities and provides the necessary materials for
these activities. As the most crucial natural resource, its utilization by humans results in different
'Land uses,' which are determined by both human activities and the physical characteristics of the
land.
The utilization of land is impacted by human needs and environmental factors. In countries
like India, rapid population growth and the emphasis on extensive resource exploitation can lead
to significant land degradation, adversely affecting the region's land cover.
Therefore, human intervention has significantly influenced land use patterns over many
centuries, evolving its structure over time and space. In the present era, these changes have
accelerated due to factors such as agriculture and urbanization. Information regarding land use and
cover is essential for various planning and management tasks related to the Earth's surface,
providing crucial environmental data for scientific, resource management, policy purposes, and
diverse human activities.
Accurate understanding of land use and cover is imperative for the development planning
of any area. Consequently, a wide range of professionals, including earth system scientists, land
and water managers, and urban planners, are interested in obtaining data on land use and cover
changes, conversion trends, and other related patterns. The spatial dimensions of land use and
cover support policymakers and scientists in making well-informed decisions, as alterations in
these patterns indicate shifts in economic and social conditions. Monitoring such changes with the
help of Advanced technologies like Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems is
crucial for coordinated efforts across different administrative levels. Advanced technologies like
Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems
9
Changes in vegetation cover refer to variations in the distribution, composition, and overall
structure of plant communities across different temporal and spatial scales. These changes can
occur natural.
The simplified electron and muon model, Oscillating Spacetime: The Foundation...RitikBhardwaj56
Discover the Simplified Electron and Muon Model: A New Wave-Based Approach to Understanding Particles delves into a groundbreaking theory that presents electrons and muons as rotating soliton waves within oscillating spacetime. Geared towards students, researchers, and science buffs, this book breaks down complex ideas into simple explanations. It covers topics such as electron waves, temporal dynamics, and the implications of this model on particle physics. With clear illustrations and easy-to-follow explanations, readers will gain a new outlook on the universe's fundamental nature.
2. Information
Check whether your
organisation uses a
particular structure for
reports. If not, then
include the following,
in this order.
Title
Acknowledgements
Abstract
List of Contents
List of tables and illustrations
Introduction
Review of the literature
Method
Measurement criteria
Present the results
Discuss the results
Conclusions
Recommendations
References
Bibliography
Appendices
3. Structuring reports
Title: Write this on its own in the centre of the first
page, with your name, the title and the date.
Acknowledgements: List people you wish to thank
for help given.
Abstract: Give a brief summary or overview of
your report, including its conclusions. Restrict this
(usually) to one paragraph. Omit details or
examples, except main experimental data.
Report abstracts may be reproduced and read
separately from the rest of the report, so they
often contain information also included on other
sections.
4. Structuring reports
List of contents: List the main sections of the
report and the page on which each begins
(including any appendices).
List of tables and illustrations: List any
illustrations, charts, maps and so on, giving the
page number for each.
Introduction: Briefly discuss what the research
is about - why is it important or significant?
State your proposals or hypotheses briefly:
what are you going to show or prove?
5. Structuring reports
Review of the literature: Discuss briefly some of
the most important writings on the subject,
discussing other researchers’ main findings. Do
you agree or disagree with them? Focus on how
previous research connects with and leads up to
your research. Introduce your experimental
hypothesis, if you have one.
Method: How did you conduct your research?
What methods did you use? Did you replicate
methods used by other researchers? Even if you
are told to use certain methods, include these in
the report. Exactly what were the conditions of
the experiment? How many people or items were
included? How did you select them? What
instructions did you give to participants?
6. Structuring reports
Measurement criteria: Discuss the kinds of data you
gathered. How did you analyse them? How reliable or
accurate are your data?
Present the results: Present your main findings briefly,
under headings if appropriate. Give results in the
order in which you conducted any experiments or start
with the most important.
Discuss the results: This is a longer section. Analyse
and explain your findings. Were they what you had
expected? Did they fit the theory or seem to disprove
it? Were they consistent with your hypothesis? How
are they significant? How could the research have
been improved? What follow-up research would be
useful?
7. Structuring reports
Conclusions: In some subjects, a conclusion is
inappropriate. Otherwise, summarise your key points
and show why your hypothesis can be maintained or
rejected.
Recommendations: In subjects such as social policy
or health, you may be asked to give a numbered list of
suggestions for action to resolve problems.
References: List all your sources, in alphabetical
order.
Bibliography: If required, list relevant further reading,
again in alphabetical order.
Appendices: Present together any essential extra
material, such as instructions to participants, copies of
materials used, or tables and graphs of data. Number
each item. Do not include items unless they are
mentioned in the report.
8. Writing the report: Opening
Sections
The Introduction:
States the problem or issue covered by
the report
Summarises the main themes in the
research literature, drawing out the main
points and showing how each piece of
research builds on previous work
Shows how your project uses and builds
upon previous research
Different
kinds of
writing are
used in
each
section of a
report.
9. Writing the report: opening
sections
The following introduction would suit a report of
1500-2000 words. A longer report might refer to
more sources, but would not usually include more
about each, unless some were very highly
significant.
10. Example: an introduction to a
report
It has been argues (Ayer 199, Bea 1992) that diet can be affected by the colour
of food. For example, Bea found that 15% of participants in a series of six
experiments, showed strong aversions to certain food colour combinations.
People were less likely to eat food if they disliked that colour combination. Dee
(1994) found that food colour preferences are affected by age, with green being
the least popular food colouring amongst children. However, Evans challenged
Dee’s results. Evans (1996,1997) found that children's preferences for colour
only applied to certain types of food. For sweet food for example children showed
a strong preference for red products but chose green as frequently as other
colour options. Jay extended this area of research to non-natural food colours.
Early indications (Jay 2000a) suggest children are likely to select blue coloured
foods even though blue foods do not occur naturally. This research was
replicated by Kai (2001). Similar results were also found for adults (Jay 200b).
However, Jay’s research included only sugar-based products. As Evans has
shown here are different colour preferences for sweet and savoury produce, Jay
and Kai’s finding may not hold true across all food products, especially for
savoury foods.
Jay’s research (2000b) indicted strong adult preferences for sweet food
coloured blue: Jay argued this was probably due to its ‘novelty value’. The aim of
the current research was to see whether adults showed the same preferences for
blue food colouring when presented with savoury food options. The research
hypotheses were that … [see section below]. It was assumed that the ‘novelty
effect’ would hold true for savoury products.
11. Other types of Introduction
If your report was
comissioned by a
business or an
agency, the
introduction would
usually give more
background about:
Who commissioned the report
Why the report was commissioned
The scope of the report: what it will
cover
Definitions of any terms
The methodology
An overview of finding and
recommendations
12. The research hypothesis
The research hypothesis must be worded very
clearly and precisely. It usually states that
something will or will not happen.
13. Example: research hypothesis
The research hypothesis was that adults
would show a preference for savoury food
coloured blue over savoury food coloured with
food dyes simulating natural colourings. The
second hypothsis was that there would be no
significant difference in the preference of men
and women.
14. Methodology or ‘research
design’
The methodology section gives the details that
the reader needs in order to know how you
gained your data and analysed it. You should
provide sufficient explanation that readers
could repeat your research for themselves if
they wished to. The writing is descriptive and
follows the order of your own actions “First this
was done, then that was done…”
15. Example methodology
Participants
The research participants were 32 adult students, all aged over 25.
There were equal number of men and women.
Materials
Four types of food were pre[red (potato salad, chapati, rice,
couscous) and each was divided into 4. Four different food dyes
were used: three were dyes used in the food trade designed to look
like a ‘natural’ food colour, the fourth food dye was pale blue. A
quarter of each of the four food types was dyed a different colour so
that all foods were available in each colour, to give 16 possible
options.
Method
Firstly, participants were told that all of the food was coloured using
artificial dyes. Each person was then allowed to choose three items
to eat. This meant they could not select one of each colour. A record
was kept of the colours selected by each person. The results were
then calculated according to food colour preferences overall and
preferences by gender.
16. Results
Reports usually include a table of key results.
Other data and tables are attached as an
appendix. The results section simply presents
the data: the data are not discussed. Keep this
section short; include only relevant and
representative data.
State whether or not your results support your
research hypothesis. Often results do not
support the hypothesis: this is neither ‘good’
nor ‘bad’.
19. Example: results
24 of the 32 participants (75%) did not select a
blue food item. The findings do not support the
research hypothesis. However, 7 of the 8
participants who did select a blue option were
women. 44% of women selected a blue option
to 6.25% of men. This does not support the
research hypothesis.
20. Discussion
Critical, analytical writing is used in the discussion
section. The discussion section analyses the data
and draws out interesting findings. It includes:
The significance of your results and whether these
confirm or differ from previous research.
Your conclusion and the evidence for these
A note of whether or not the research hypotheses
was supported.
Any improvements that could be made to the
research method and further research that is
needed.
How your results could be applied elsewhere.
21. Discussion
For the research described above, for example the
discussion might include an analysis of:
The sample: was it representative? Could the ethnic
mix or age range have made a difference?
The method: Could this have been improved? Did the
blue food look unpleasant rather than simple
‘unnatural’? Is blue just an odd colour for food? Would
there have been different responses to an unnatural-
looking green?
Future research: What research is needed to clarify
these results further? For example, do colour
preferences apply to all foods or only to some? How
long does the ‘novelty factor’ last?
22. Example: part of the discussion
section
The research indicated that even when
participants were told that all food options
were artificially coloured, they still choose
savoury food that looked ‘natural’ rather than
food dyed blue. This suggests that adults
havea preference for food colours that look
natural. However, blue is not a colour
associated with food; this might have distorted
the results.
23. Conclusions
Conclusions sum up your research, setting out its
significance and your findings. No new information or
references are included. The conclusions are also
included in the abstract, the introduction and the
discussion.
For the research above, the conclusions might
include:
A note that your research findings are not consistent
with previous research findings
A brief summary of why your results may be different
(for instance, adult participants rather than children
and savoury food rather than sweet.)
Notes of any shortcomings of the research (the use of
blue colouring may have distorted results).
24. Example: conclusions
The research suggests that adults do not
select savoury foods dyed blue, if given the
choice of of other options of dyed food. The
‘novelty effect’ of blue products, suggested by
previous research, did not hold true for
savoury foods. The research suggest that
people choose savoury food on a different
basis to sweet food. However, this hypothesis
would need to be tested further by researching
the choices made for sweet and savoury
products by a single group of participants (etc.)
25. Recommendations
The purpose of recommendations is to
suggest ways forward. They might propose
how to improve current ways of working, or
action that needs to be taken. They are
numbered.
For example, if you were undertaking research
for an agency, your recommendations might
be:
1. Undertake further research using a larger
sample.
2. Avoid use of blue food dyes in the
manufacture of savoury food products for
26. Abstracts
The abstract is placed before the contents
page of the report. Although it is presented at
the beginning, it is usually easiest to write if
you leave it until last. Leave plenty of time to
write it – it usually takes longer than expected.
The abstract sums up your aims, your
research hypothesis, your methodology, your
findings and your conclusions. An abstract
needs to be both brief and concise.
27. Example: Abstract
Example 1: Abstract (50 word limit)
This report suggests that research into truancy has neglected the
critical role of school play-time. In depth interviews with 6 former
truantism now students, highlight the pivotal role of group dynamics
within the playground. The interviews suggest that ‘feeling like an
outsider’ at play-time encourages initial acts of truancy.
Example 2: Abstract (100 word limit)
This report presents an analysis of adult responses when given the
choice of foods dyed blue, or foods dyedd with traditional
colourings. The initial hypothesis based on research by Jay
(2000b), was that adults would show a preference for food dyed
blue over foods that looked more natural. This project replicated the
methods used by Jay, by substituted sweet for savoury foods. 32
adults, all aged over 25, were asked to select three items from a
selection of 16 possible choices. Their responses indicate that
adults are less likely to select blue food for savoury items. The
results were statistically significant.
28. Summaries
Some subjects require a summary rather than
an abstract. This is usually longer than an
abstract but still no more than a page.
The summary contains the aims and
objectives, a brief outline of the research
problems, the methodology, the key findings,
the conclusion and the main
recommendations.
29. Reports: layout, presentation and
style
Presenting the text
Number the pages in order. On the contents page,
give the page number for each section.
Use fonts that are easy to read.
Leave clear margins at each side.
Avoid fancy graphics, unless the project brief
requires these.
Use a clear layout. Avoid cluttering the report with
tables and diagrams unless these are essential.
Place most tables, data and examples of
materials (if these are needed) in the appendices
at the end of the report.
30. Reports: layout, presentation and
style
Writing style
All writing in a report is:
Formal – avoid slang and abbreviations
Focused – address only the project brief
Concise – avoid tangents and unecessary
examples
Subject-specific – follow the style appropriate
to your subject
31. Reports: layout, presentation and
style
Writing for a purpose
The contents will depend on the purpose of the report. For example,
the report above is written about research undertaken on campus.
However, if you undertook similar research for a company or
organisation, the research and report would reflect those different
purposes. For example:
The introduction would state briefly what the organisation wanted
the research to achieve
The sample would possibly be bigger, focusing on members of the
public
If the sample were bigger, the method should be simpler, and
followed by fewer questions.
The discussion would focus on future implications of the results for
any proposed changes.
You would probably make recommendations.