Section RECAP/OVERVIEW Reports generally include these sections in this order: Abstract Introduction Literature Review Methodology Results Discussion Conclusion
Research Report Methods The method describes the steps that you followed in conducting your study and the materials you used in each step. The methods section of the report clearly describes these materials and procedures. The elements included in the method section and the order in which they are presented may differ from department to department. However, the list in the following box is typical and provides you with a good model. Research Report Methods ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN METHODS SECTION Overview of the Experiment Population/Sample Location Restrictions/Limiting Conditions Sampling Technique Procedures* Materials* Variables Statistical Treatment (* always included) (Weissberg & S. Buker, 1990, p. 92).
Structure of Methodology Section First describe how the data was collected Details of how you collected the data From your own experiences and recollections Details of how your data source collected the data (secondary analysis) From the article or report Second describe how you analyzed the data Statistical procedures used How those procedures test your hypothesis or answer your research question Details of How You Collected Your Data Target Population Type of people residing in what geographical area Method of Sampling or Subject Selection Sampling Frame Sampling Method Random Sampling Systematic Sampling Purposive Sampling Snowball Sampling Sample Size Response Rate (%) = # Responding X 100 # Sampled
Details of How You Collected Your Data Method of Observation Self-Report Survey (Quantitative) Mail, email, telephone, face-to-face Questionnaire Construction Include a copy in the Appendix Details of Data Collection Method Any special precautions taken to maximize validity or minimize harm to respondents Any unanticipated problems with method How data was entered into statistical analysis data base Details of How You Collected Your Data Structured Interviews (Qualitative) Telephone or face-to-face Number of subjects and method of selection General goals of the interview Basic questions that were asked How response data was recorded Any unanticipated problems that occurred as a result of the method Details of How Your Data Source Collected the Data (Secondary Analysis) Get information for methodology section of sources article or report Do not copy or duplicate article text (plagiarism) Cite publisher and publication information of article If data are not associated with a published article Attempt to contact data source and solicit any information you can Describe the limitations and strengths of your data for testing your hypothesis
Describe How You Analyzed the Data Quantitative Analysis Describe the statistical procedures used Univariate Variable Frequencies Measures of Central Tendency (Mean/Median) Measures of Variation (Standard Deviations) Bivariate Crosstabulations Measures of Association (Pearsons r, Chi 2 ) T Test Longitudinal Time Lines Multivariate Regression, ANOVA, Second Order Crosstabs Describe how the procedure tests your hypothesis
Describe How You Analyzed the Data Qualitative Analysis Describe how you organized your response data Categorization of comments How you used spontaneous comments from subjects to formulate new questions Describe how you analysis method will answer or address your research question Language Passive voice is common and so is past tense: Telephone interviews were conducted. The interviews were conducted for a state agency. A split ballot design was employed .Each quarter of the sample was asked. Three open-end and one closed-end question formats were investigated. Each question format was drawn from previous research and was selected to be illustrative of one approach to asking age. The particular question format ... was randomly determined prior to the interview. All interviews were conducted from a centralized location. Language The interviewer then introduced himself/herself and stated who was conducting the study and asked for the potential study participants cooperation. The questionnaire consisted of 20 questions, of which the age question was number 15. Actual age data were available from the state agency for 1,324 of the individuals interviewed. Therefore, following the completion of an interview it was possible to compare an individuals reported age with his or her actual age. This in turn permitted inferences as to which question format produced the most accurate age data as well as which format resulted in the lowest refusal rate or nonresponse rate. This section should include some text, mainly to describe the tables and graphs containing the data. Short tables can be included directly in the text, but extensive tables and graphs are put on separate pages following the one on which they are first mentioned in the text. Units should be given in the heading of each data column and not after the individual values listed in the table. All tables and graphs should have titles. Graphs should be neatly and carefully drawn on graph paper or plotted with a computer, and axes must be properly labeled and scaled. Raw data and sample calculation are normally placed in an appendix. A comment on the accuracy and reproducibility of the results is also appreciated in this section.
Research Report Results ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN RESULTS SECTION statement showing where the results can be found- an overview statement presenting the most important findings statement commenting on the results this may include: generalising from the results explaining possible reasons for the results comparing the results with what was expected or with results from other studies
Language: Referring to a diagram, chart etc. As can be seen from in the chart, diagram, table, graph, figures, statistics, ... It can be seen We can see that ...
From Table 1 Figure 2 it can
may be seen concluded shown estimated calculated inferred that ... the figures chart diagram