1. Welcome

2. Tutorials
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3. Dates of tutorials 11 Oct 17:30-20:00 18 Oct 17:30-19:30
26 Oct EXAM

4. The research process Stage 1: Definition of the problem
Stage 2: Obtaining the information
Stage 3: Analysing and interpreting the data
Stage 4: Communicating the results

5. The research process STAGE 1: DEFINING THE PROBLEM
Deciding on the research topic
Conducting a literature review
Specify a research question
Formulating a hypothesis
Operationalizing concepts

6. The research process STAGE 2: Obtaining the information Ethics
Research design
Sampling
Data collection
STAGE 3: Analysing and interpreting the information
Describing and interpreting quantitative data
Analyses and interpretation of qualitative data

7. The research process
STAGE 4: Communicating the results
Report

8. Writing and evaluation research reports

9. Outcomes The functions of a research report
The characteristics of a research report
The difference between the various types of research reports
The need for evaluating research reports
Critically evaluating a research report

10. Research report Functions
communicates scientific data and ideas to an audience
contributes to the general body of scientific knowledge
stimulates and directs further inquiry
Report your research as accurately as possible
The research report is not only a record of the research process, but also a summary of what you found

11. Research report
4. In quantitative research, you need to provide sufficient info so that your research can be replicated.
In your report, you argue for your specific point of view or hypothesis
The reports is a concrete way of putting forward arguments and reasons (empirical and theoretical) in support of a specific finding
Research has to comply with scientific norms such as reliability, validity and objectivity

12. Research report Types of reports Written assignments Presentation
Journal articles
Commissioned research
The dissertation and the thesis
Newspaper reports

13. Research report Written assignments Research at an elementary level
The assignment takes on the form of a research report

14. Research report Presentation
An oral presentation before an audience at a seminar or conference
Because of limited time, your reports need to be highly focused and you need to prioritise what info to include

15. Research report Presentation Mostly an oral presentation
Focus mostly on your findings and your conclusions.
Usually present findings in graphics formats
Followed by a question and answer session

16. Research report Journal articles
When you publish in a journal, length is limited
Data is usually not included
Well written and organised - info has to be accurate, easy to find, relevant and comprehensive
Write according to the format laid down by the editor
Your target audience will be your peers

17. Research report Commissioned research
Deals with applied research where a practical problem needs to be resolved – for resolving problems in the workplace
When an organisation specifically hired you to undertake research

18. Research report Commissioned research
Usually in-house document intended for management
Excludes details re sampling, methodology and the literature review
Give an executive summary which contains the key findings and recommendations of your research

19. Research report
Dissertation and thesis
Post-graduate studies

20. Research report Dissertation and thesis
As much detail as possible in the report
The precise nature of the research process (eg literature survey)
The research design (eg sampling, methods used for data collection)
The method of interpretation used
The format of the report itself
Thesis has a higher level of complexity than a dissertation.

21. Research report Newspaper reports
Research projects are made known to the general public through newspaper reports.
You need to provide the most basic facts, and the emphasis is on your research finding, what they mean and how they can be applied
Avoid using jargon (technical language)

22. Research report Styles of writing a report for newspaper
Inverted pyramid
Narrative
Wall Street Journal
Champagne glass
Anecdote or nut graph
Stack of blocks

23. Research report Styles of writing a report for newspaper
Inverted pyramid – presents the most important news first
Narrative – simply telling the story with a beginning, a middle and an end
Wall street journal – focus on an individual or institution and then move on to the more important facts

24. Research report Styles of writing a report for newspaper
Champagne glass – most nb facts are given at the beginning, but is followed by a narrative style with a beginning, middle and end
Anecdote and nut graph – Begin your report with a description or anecdote, no hard facts are provided. The nut graph (refers to the hard facts) follows, then the essential facts are reported
Stack of blocks – several distinct and separate sections with a strong ending

25. Organisation of a Research report
All reports should comply with basic norms of social science research
First step is to identify your intended audience
The type of report you decide to use depends on your target audience
This influences the format, style and organisation of you report

26. Research report
There are four distinct stages to the research process (areas that should be included in your report)
Stage 1 – defining the problem
Stage 2 – obtaining the information
Stage 3 – analysing and interpreting the information
Stage 4 – making known the results

27. Stage 1 – defining the problem
The research problem
The description of the nature of the problem is very nb, the core concepts have to be clearly defined
The literature review
Summarises the work already done in your field of study
You need to report accurately on the main points (accuracy)
It should relate directly to the study in hand (relevance)

28. Stage 2 – obtaining the info
Data gathering
This relates to the sample you used for your research
Sample size – this should include how you selected your sample
Sample characteristics – includes a description of the sample (demographics or other characteristics)

29. Stage 2 – obtaining the info
2. Method
Explain how you undertook the research
Refer to things such as data collection and the measuring instrument that you used
Reliability and validity
In a dissertation or thesis you need to discuss extensively
In a journal article, you can cover this in a sentence or two

30. Stage 3 – analysing and interpreting the info
Results
This relates to your research findings
Three things are important
Illustrating your findings – tables, figures and graphs
Description of your analysis – the statistical method you used (in quantitative research)
Description of findings – Does your findings answer your research question

31. Stage 3 – analysing and interpreting the info
Interpretation and discussion
Your report should always include an interpretation and discussion of what you found in your research
Interpretation is an analytical process in which you examine your research in order to develop a conceptual understanding of it
Discussion provides a deeper understanding of the data gathered in relation to the supporting theory, the research problem, the hypothesis or the research question

32. Stage 3 – analysing and interpreting the info
Four elements that should feature in your discussion
Summarise the main findings
Discuss the implications of your interpretations
Report limitations and practical problems that influence the results in any way.
Provide suggestions for future research

33. Stage 4 – making known the results
The introduction
State the problem - provide some background about the nature of the research problem
Explain the theoretical framework that you used to explain your findings
Justify the research – what the value of the research is
Indicate the aim of the research – a statement of the hypothesis or research question(s)

34. Stage 4 – making known the results
The conclusion
Include a brief summary of your essential findings
You can include your recommendations in your conclusion

35. Stage 4 – making known the results
The abstract
A short summary in which you highlight the key points in your research work
If your research report is intended for publication in an academic journal

36. Basic components of a research report
Abstract
Introduction
Literature review
Method
Sampling procedure
Data collection
Results
Discussion
Interpretation
Conclusion

37. Research report Technicalities Good English
Use a formal style of writing
Written in the third person
The format of your research report depends on the purpose of your report and the conventions of the journal you are writing for

38. Research report Characteristics of good scientific writing
Write systematically – organise your report
Write clearly – avoid ambiguities
Write precisely – use clearly defined words
Write directly and simply – use simple terms
Write concisely – write in a focused manner
Parsimonious – use no more than is strictly needed

39. Research report 6. Evaluating a report p279 Definition of the problem
Obtaining the information
Analysing and interpreting the information
Technicalities