Writing a research report

Writing a Research Report Principles

Writing a research report can be quite easy if you know exactly what you are doing. If you are still stuck or have no idea of how to write a good research report, then this article is for you. We will try to explain the main principles in the simplest of ways. Furthermore, blupapers freelance experts are at your exposure to offer help at any time.

What is a Research Report?

                A research report can be described briefly as a report that is based on research. It can be based on actual field research or through a review of available literature. When writing a research report, the purpose is to explain a certain concept and come to a conclusion based on the kind of data or information that you have collected. This can be in any field including nursing, healthcare, business and management, marketing, leadership, psychology and education, among others.

The structure of a research report.

                For you to understand how to write a research report, you first need to understand its structure. Of course, the structure will depend on the specific goals of the research and the purpose of preparing the report. The major elements include the following:

  1. Title Page
  2. Contents/Index/Table of Contents
  3. Abstract/Executive Summary/Terms of Reference/Thesis
  4. Introduction
  5. Purpose
  6. Background
  7. Procedure/Methodology/Methods
  8. Issues/Implications/Results/Findings
  9. Solutions/Recommendations
  10. Solutions
  11. Bibliography
  12. Appendices
  13. References/Work Cited/Sources

Understanding Purpose and Audience/Readers

                Before writing a research report, you need to understand the purpose and the readers of the report. The purpose is the main aim for writing the report, which in turn determine the kind of report to write. Based on the purpose, you can either write a leading, instructional, or factual report. While a leading report will aim to persuade the audience, an instructional report will explain, and a factual report will inform.

When it comes to your audience, you must ensure that the report is relevant. The report should consider their interest in the topic, their understanding of the concepts, attitudes, and what they want to know. In this regard, the written research report should motivate the audience to read it without delay, understand what is being presented, and take the necessary actions recommended.

Major Steps in Research Report Writing

Step 1 – Understand the requirements and break down the task

Understand what is required and break down the task into small parts that can be covered individually. Usually, this can take the form of an introduction, body, and conclusion. Sometimes, you break it down to several topics of chapters like the introduction, literature review, methodology, results and analysis, and the conclusion and recommendations.

Step 2 – Gather data/information

You need to gather data or information for your research report. You should be guided by your topic and the purpose for conducting the research. Put the sources together and analyze them to ensure they align to the goals that you want to achieve.

Step 3 – Develop a rough draft

Draft your first draft of the research report based on the information that you have gathered. The purpose is to ensure that all the sources are relevant and that the report is meeting the goals of the research. At this point, you will need to create a thesis statement and come up with the conclusion.

Step 4 – Refine the rough draft to develop a final draft

Refine the rough draft to come up with a final copy of your research report. This step also involves proofreading and editing the report to ensure it is free of any grammatical or other errors.

Still having difficulties?

                If you are still struggling to write a research report, consult our blupapers experts who are readily available to help. Our qualified team of freelance writers are equipped with the right knowledge and resources to handle almost any type of research. Furthermore, they are always available when you are running out of time or have no resources for completing your research report. We also have a detailed guide on writing a research report.