Report Writing - Topic 1

1. By Zachariah Aidin Druckman

2.  Have you ever read a research report before?
 If yes, what was the research about?
 Have you ever carried out a research?
 If yes, what topic did you research on?
 What are the major differences between an
essay and a research report?

3.  Written by different people (engineers,
scientists, academicians, students etc)
 To communicate the findings of a research (or
an experiment)
 A research report – an orderly and objective
communication of factual information that
serves some purposes which can be directed to
internal and external audience of an
organization
 Also a proof of your research activity

4.  Value of research – depend on the quality of
the research report written
 When writing a repot, ensure the:
 Clarity of ideas
 Organization of content
 Correctness of grammar and mechanics
 Fairly consistent format

5.  Key parts of a research:
 Introduction
 Literature review
 Methodology
 Findings and analysis
 conclusion

6. CONDUCTING A
RESEARCH
WRITING A RESEARCH
REPORT
1. Identify the problem,
purpose, hypothesis
and objectives
2. Review literature
3. Collect data / conduct
experiment
4. Analyse data
5. Draw conclusions
1. Write the introduction
2. Write the literature
review section
3. Write data collection
method section
4. Write the result and
discussion section
5. Write the conclusion
and recommendations
section

7.  Ask yourself this:
1. What is the issue or problem that you would
like to study?
2. Why are you conducting the research?
3. Where will you collect the data?
4. Who will be your respondents?
5. How will you collect the data?
6. What is the time frame for you to conduct the
research?

8. 1. Identifying the issue or problem
2. Determining the purpose
3. Drawing a plan or strategy
4. Searching and collecting data
5. Analyzing data

10.  Understand and define issues / problems
clearly
 If no problem = no need for study
 No issue = no need for study
 “I just felt like it” “Just for fun” “Saja saja” are
all unacceptable

11.  ISSUE: Smoking campaign in Permata University
 What do I want to know? The effectiveness of non-smoking
campaigns
 Who are involved? University staff and students
 Where? Permata University
 Why? To evaluate the campaign
Other relevant matters:
1. Declaration of non-smoking environment, fine, warning,
campaign, posters, talks, etc
2. Many still smoke and many new smokers among students
3. Environmental problem

12.  ISSUE: Academic dishonesty among undergraduates
 What do I want to know? The factors of academic
dishonesty among undergraduates
 Who are involved? University staff and students
 Where? Various institutions
 Why? Cheating leads to various long term problems
Other relevant matters:
1. Frequency of cheating
2. Method of cheating
3. Factors of cheating
4. Integrity policies

13.  There has been an increase in academic
dishonesty recently. Some are reported while
some are based on rumors. However, it is
important that the issue of academic
dishonesty is addressed as it negatively affects
academic institutions and also a student’s
integrity. Therefore the question here is, what
motivates the student to commit academic
dishonesty?

15.  Issue: Declining participation in sports
among students
 What do I want to know:
 Who:
 Where:
 Why:
 Other relevant matters:
 Problem statement:

16.  Issue: The hazards of using hand phones
among students
 What do I want to know:
 Who:
 Where:
 Why:
 Other relevant matters:
 Problem statement:

17.  Issue: (your own topic)
 What do I want to know:
 Who:
 Where:
 Why:
 Other relevant matters:
 Problem statement:

19.  After identifying the PROBLEM, focus on the
PURPOSE
 Here are some tips:
1. What exactly do you want to do here?
2. What do YOU want to know?
 Problem statement – you STATE THE
PROBLEM; it differs from the purpose

20.  The purpose of this study is to identify the
factors of academic dishonesty among
Malaysian undergraduates. In addition, the
study intends to analyze the reasoning of the
undergraduates on what motivates them to
commit such dishonest acts.

21.  Using infinitives is the most effective way to
write purpose statement.
to + base form of verb
 Eg: to + investigate, to + study, to + analyze
 “This study is to investigate the factors…”
 “The researchers decided to study the concept
of andragogy among…”
 Other examples: to evaluate; to compare; to
recommend

23.  Now you have to prepare your proposal
 Consider who and what are going to be
involved
 Identify ways to collect data
 Prepare your plan!

25.  Data – the most important part of a research
 Imagine a research with no data…
 Types of data: 1) PRIMARY DATA, and 2)
SECONDARY DATA
 Primary Data – comes from your investigation
 Secondary Data – from reading books, journals,
newspapers etc (aka library research)
 Identify the method

27.  Having the data is one thing
 But can you make sense of it?
 Primary Data – gathered from surveys,
interview transcripts, observation checklist
 Secondary Data – notes from your reading
 Focus on meanings, relationships etc

28.  Data must be recorded, analyzed and interpreted
 Chapter 4 – Analysis
 Chapter 5 – Discussion
 They are DIFFERENT
 Analysis – “Based on the questionnaire, 68% of the
respondents claimed that they cheat due to
parental pressure”
 Discussion – “As reported, 68% claimed to have
cheated due to parental pressure. One probable
explanation is as most parents believe that their
children are the opportunities for the family to
improve financially”

29.  Then you must present your ENTIRE
RESEARCH JOURNEY.
 Present your steps in GREAT DETAIL
 THAT….is Report Writing

31.  Complete the following statements below
using the appropriate infinitives.
 EXAMPLE:
 QUESTION: Health inspector-carried out
research: Purpose-determine the source of the
disease
 ANSWER: The health inspector carried out a
research to determine the source of the disease

32. Question 1:
 QUESTION: Technician-read instruction:
Purpose-assemble the machine
 ANSWER:
Question 2:
 QUESTION: Engineering students-write notes:
Aim-collect important information
 ANSWER:

33. Question 3:
 QUESTION: Scientist-perform experiment:
Purpose-(place verb here) theory
 ANSWER:
Question 4:
 QUESTION: Civil engineer-inspect collapse
terrain: Aim-______________ cause of collapse
 ANSWER:

34. Question 5:
 QUESTION: Environmental engineer-examine
effluent: Aim-________ damage to the
environment
 ANSWER:

35.  Complete the following statements of purpose
below using appropriate infinitives>
1. The purpose of the study is to investigate the
effectiveness of the campaign.
2. The objective of the investigation is ______ the
cause of the road accidents.
3. The aim of the report is ______ the effects of stress
on employees.
4. The study intends ______ the cause of the
landslide.
5. The research hopes ______ the reasons behind
students’ lack of moral values.