Writing and Communicating The Report

Writing and presenting your project report
Report Format
Zikmund, W. G., Babin, B. J., Carr, J. C., & Griffin, M. (2013). Business Research
Method (8th ed.). South-Western, Canada: Cengage Learning.
Structure of an Article/Research Paper
Structuring your research report
Suggested structure
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Theoretical background/Research Contexts
• Literature review and Hypothesis Development
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• References
• Appendices
Writing for different audiences
Differences between an ‘Academic’/ ‘Basic’/ ‘Pure’ Research report
and a ‘Consultancy’/‘Industry’/ ‘Applied’ Research report
The academic report:

• Tends to be longer
• Will be marked and graded
• Will contain contextual descriptions
The consultancy report:

• Has less focus on the development of theory
• Contains recommendations relating to the organisation’s
business
Report structure (1)
The abstract
Short paragraph that answer the questions:
1. What were my research questions and why were they

important?
2. How did I go about answering the research questions?
3. What did I find out in response to these questions?
4. What conclusions can be drawn?
Adapted from Saunders et al. (2009)

Introduction - include
• The research questions(s) and a clear statement of

research objectives
• Brief background and a guide to the storyline
Research Questions Related: Before starting research,

researchers should carefully think about the following issues:
➢ Why do I will conduct the research and why it would

interesting to me or my research audience?
➢ What is already known in this area and what is not known yet?
➢ Why it is important for me or other researchers to know this
knowledge?
➢ Will the findings improve our understanding of knowledge in
this area?
➢ What will be the contribution of my research in the premise of
theory building or policy making and how you will contribute
to the societies?
Theory Identification: Once researchers find the research gap and

research questions, the research questions could be explored from
different theoretical perspectives.
1. Theory must be relevant to research questions.

2. What are the main tenets/constructs/variables of the theory?
3. The variables/constructs of the theory and study variables must
be matching.
4. Which areas of the theory you will contribute? You must be sure
about this.
5. Relationships among which variables you will investigate?
Literature Review and Hypotheses Development:
1. Confine the literature review with the variables you are going to
hypothesized.
2. The variables related with the tenets of the theory.
3. Writings should be focused and linked to the related variables. Be
aware of redundancies.
4. Try to review the literature within last 5 years. The more updated,
the better it will be.
5. Try to select the literatures from the targeted journals.
6. Try to select the target journals before starting the research.
7. ‘Journal articles’ and ‘essays’ are totally different. With every
statement/argument/sentence, supporting references must be
included.
Results chapter(s) - purpose
• To report the facts your research discovered

• To support the facts with quotes from participants
Discussion chapter- purpose
• To interpret results and relate the findings to the

original research goals and objectives
• To indicate implications of the research
Using a matrix in the planning of the content for
the results and conclusions chapters
Saunders et al. (2009)
Figure 14.1 Using a matrix in the planning of the content for the results and
conclusions chapters
Contributions
Implications/Significances
Limitations
Conclusion chapter – purpose
• To answer the research question(s)

• To meet the research objectives
• To consider the findings
• To present any contributions to the topic displayed in
the literature
• To reflect on any implications for future research
References
• Use a convention that is accepted by your university

(e.g. Harvard, APA)
• https://libguides.library.usyd.edu.au/c.php?g=508212&p=3476096&fbclid=IwAR23
Xw6mC9m7-YJZkYRbS4XvkkNZ1FRy2o16KC65wLzNydTEosygTCkHUNc
• Check all citations to prevent plagiarism
Appendices
• Include only essential supporting material

• Include copies of interview schedules
• Keep appendices to a minimum
Organising the report content (2)
Main points to consider
• Choosing the title
• Telling a clear story
• Helping the reader by-

Dividing your work
Previewing and summarising chapters
Using suitable tables and graphics
Writing in a suitable style
Writing style
Key points:
• Clarity and simplicity – avoid jargon
• Checking grammar and spelling
• Preserving anonymity
• Regularly revising each draft

Evaluating the first draft
Checklist Box 14.11
Complete the Checklist in Box 14.11

to help you evaluate the first draft
Saunders et al. (2009)

The need for continual revision
Oral presentation
Three key stages:
• Planning and preparation
• Use of visual aids
• Presenting
Summary
• Writing is a creative process and a powerful way to

clarifying your thinking
• A project report needs a clear structure that helps to

develop the storyline
• All the information should be readily accessible to

the reader
Summary
• Use a clear writing style free and check for spelling

and grammatical errors
• Be prepared to rewrite the first draft several times
• Remember to check the assessment criteria

Summary
• Failing to prepare for your presentation is preparing

to fail
• Visual aids help the audience understand your

presentation
Remember to –
• Tell them what you're going to say

• Say it
• Tell them what you said
Communication model
The process by which one person or source sends a message to an
audience or receiver and then receives feedback about the message.

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Writing and presenting your project report

The academic report:

The consultancy report:

Short paragraph that answer the questions:

1. What were my research questions and why were they

Adapted from Saunders et al. (2009)

• The research questions(s) and a clear statement of

Research Questions Related: Before starting research,

➢ Why do I will conduct the research and why it would

Theory Identification: Once researchers find the research gap and

1. Theory must be relevant to research questions.

Results chapter(s) - purpose

• To report the facts your research discovered

Discussion chapter- purpose

• To interpret results and relate the findings to the

Saunders et al. (2009)

Conclusion chapter – purpose

• To answer the research question(s)

• Use a convention that is accepted by your university

• Include only essential supporting material

• Choosing the title

• Telling a clear story

• Helping the reader by-

• Clarity and simplicity – avoid jargon

• Checking grammar and spelling

• Regularly revising each draft

Checklist Box 14.11

Complete the Checklist in Box 14.11

Saunders et al. (2009)

Three key stages:

• Planning and preparation

• Use of visual aids

• Writing is a creative process and a powerful way to

• A project report needs a clear structure that helps to

• All the information should be readily accessible to

• Use a clear writing style free and check for spelling

• Be prepared to rewrite the first draft several times

• Remember to check the assessment criteria

• Failing to prepare for your presentation is preparing

• Visual aids help the audience understand your

• Tell them what you're going to say

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