1. Writing Scientific Papers: Written Scientific Reports
Prof. Dr. Irena Ograjenšek
CONTRACTOR IS ACTING UNDER A FRAMEWORK CONTRACT CONCLUDED WITH THE COMMISSION

2. Characteristics of Research
Systematic and well-documented collection of data.
Systematic interpretation of data.
Clear purpose: to test, find out, prove or disprove … something.

3. Wrong Use of the Term ‚Research‘
Collection of data and/or information without clearly defined research purpose.
Reshuffling of facts or information without source reference and/or reference frame.
Use of the term ‚research‘ to get attention for a cause, idea, product … or to turn attention away from it!

4. Is This Research?
It is proved that the regular use of this face cream reduces wrinkles by 20%.*
* 117 women observed for a period of 2 weeks

5. Is This Research?
The majority of people die at home.

6. Is This Research?
More planes crashed in 2015 than in 1910.

7. Activity 6 Read the case study on the Evergreen Company.
Identify the main information needs of the company and the relevant target audience.

8. Key Phases in the Research Process
Planning.
Implementation.
Reporting.

9. Two Vital Written Documents
Research plan.
Research report.

10. Research Plan → what we plan to do → how do we plan to do it
→ what are the expected implications for theory and practice
→ serves as a template for the introductory section / chapter

11. Research Report → what we did → how we did it
→ what are the actual implications for theory and practice
→ limitations of our research
→ challenges for future research

12. Steps in the Research Process - 1
Broad literature review.
Critical literature review.
Decision on research approach, strategy and design.
Negotiation of access and ethical considerations.

13. Steps in the Research Process - 2
Secondary data search.
Primary data collection.
Data analysis and interpretation.
Presentation of results.

14. Comments on Steps The flow is rarely linear.
Some steps need to be repeated several times.
Not all of the listed steps are always part of the research process!

15. Prerequisites for Successful Completion of Research
Personal working space.
IT support.
Library services.
Organisation of work & importance of time management.
Coworkers.
Supervisors.

16. Reading Recommendations
Jeff Davidson:
The Complete Idiot‘s Guide to Managing Your Time.
The Complete Idiot‘s Guide to Getting Things Done.
Alpha Books.

17. Activity 7
Read the case study on Strategic Issues in the UK Brewing Industry (Blee et al., 2003).
Identify the main concepts and research questions.
Identify the main research resources used.

18. Typology of Resources
Scientific – scientific books, articles, reports.
Popular – scientific findings, communicated with less rigour, e.g. in press, popular books, blogs.
Official – publications and databases produced by institutional data providers; legislation.

19. Definition of a Research Problem
A question or statement which stimulates a response in form of a structured scientific inquiry.

20. Properties of a Good Research Problem
It is not subject to taste, personal values and beliefs, or subjective preferences.
It is verifiable in a reasonable time span.
It is highly specific.

21. Illustrative Examples of Research Problems Stated as Questions
Will Western civilisation disappear?
Which religion is the best?
How to end the Gaza conflict?
Is yellow nicer than brown?
How can inflation be reduced?
Which factors determine participant satisfaction with the training workshop?

22. Activity 8
Study the given sets of research questions and suggest possible improvements.

23. Types of Scientific Reports
Preliminary report.
Final report.
Scientific article.
Scientific book.

24. Basic Report Format
Opening parts.
Main body of text.
Appendices.

25. Opening Parts Title Page. (Statement of Transmittal.)
Table of Contents and other relevant tables (of figures, of tables, of graphs … ).
(Executive Summary.)

26. Main Body of Text Introduction. (Critical) literature review.
Methodology.
Results.
Discussion.
Conclusions.
References.

27. Appendices Details of the core case study units. Questionnaires.
Interview quidelines.
Transcripts of interviews.
Protocols of analytical procedures.
Complex figures, tables, graphs.
Glossaries. …

28. Activity 9
Study the given report elements and determine in which of the three basic report sections they belong to.
If an element belongs to the Main Body of Text section, determine the subsection.

29. Preliminary Report
Length?
Basic focus?
Key messages?

30. Final Report
Length?
Basic focus?
Key messages?

31. Scientific Article
Length?
Basic focus?
Key messages?

32. Scientific Book
Length?
Basic focus?
Key messages?

33. Types of Scientific Reports – Summary Overview
Length
Basic focus
Key messages
Preliminary report
Depends solely on the requirements by the dissemination vehicle
Preliminary findings
What we did so far, what we still have to do
Final report
Final findings
Implications, limitations, challenges for future research
Scientific article
Preliminary or final findings
Custom-tailored to the readership
Scientific book
Relative placement of findings
Provision of general knowledge