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MethodologyResearch Reports and PresentationDr. Myrza Rahmanita, SE, M.Sc[ ]

Presenting Insights and Findings: Written Reports

CHAPTER20

• That a quality presentation of research findings can have an inordinate effect on a reader’s or a listener’s perceptions of a study’s quality.

• The contents, types, lengths, and technical specifications of research reports.

• That the writer of a research report should be guided by questions of purpose, readership, circumstances/ limitations, and use.

• That while some statistical data may be incorporated into the text, most statistics should be placed in tables, charts, or graphs

Learning Objectives

Guidelines for Short

Reports

Tell reader why you are writingRemind reader of request

Write in an expository styleWrite report and hold for reviewAttach detailed materials in appendix

Components: Short Report

Memo or Letter-Style

Introduction Problem statement Research objectives Background

Conclusions Summary and conclusions Recommendations

• Prefatory Information (all)

• Introduction (all, plus brief methodology and limitations)

• Findings• Conclusions• Appendices

Components: Short Report Technical

The Long Research Report

Report ModulesPrefatory InformationIntroductionMethodologyFindingsConclusions & RecommendationsAppendicesBibliography

Components: Long

Report Managem

ent

Prefatory InformationIntroduction(includes brief methodology & limitations)FindingsConclusions & RecommendationsAppendices

Components Long Report: Technical

Prefatory InformationIntroduction

Methodology(detailed)

FindingsConclusionsAppendices

Bibliography

Prewriting Concerns

What is the report’s purposeWho will read the report

What are the circumstancesHow will the report be used?

The Outline

Major Topic HeadingA. Major subtopic heading

1. Subtopica. Minor subtopic

1) Further detail

Types of OutlinesTopicDemand

A. How measured1. Voluntary error2. Shipping error

a. Monthly variance

SentenceDemand for

refrigeratorsA. Measured in terms f

factory shipments as reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce1. Error is introduced

into year to year comparisons

Adjusting PaceUse ample white space

Use headings

Use visual aids

Use italics and underlining

Choose words carefully

Repeat and summarize

Use service words strategically

Considerations for Writing

Readability

Comprehensibility

Tone

Avoiding Overcrowded Text

Use shorter paragraphs

Indent or space parts of text

Use headings

Use bullets

Charts for Written Reports

Components of a Whole or Frequency

Relationships or Comparisons

Sample Findings

Page: Graphical

Findings Page Templates

Appropriate Data Displays

Text PresentationWal-mart regained its number-1 rank in the Forbes 500 due to its strong sales performance (11% increase; $351.1 billion). Although Wal-mart surpassed number-2-ranked ExxonMobil in sales, Wal-mart’s profitability ($11.2 billion) was far below the oil giant ($39.5 billion).Some credit several challenging public relations problems with the lower-than-expected level. Number-6-ranked General Electric also outperformed Walmart in profits with $20.8 billion. GE’s robust sales growth (27.4%) is an indication that it will likely challenge both Walmart and ExxonMobil in the future.

Alternative Text Presentation• Oil giant and energy exploration leader ExxonMobil is the most

profitable company in the Fortune 500 due to record crude oil prices increasing its profits to $39.5 billion, compared to $11.2 billion for Wal-mart.

• ExxonMobil’s profits jumped 9% on a 2% increase in sales, while Wal-mart’s profits increased a mere 0.5% on an 11% increase in sales.

• General Electric provided a 27.4% increase in profits on a 7.1% increase in sales, and outperformed Wal-mart on profits ($20.8 billion to $11.2 billion).

• Although Wal-Mart regained the top spot in the Fortune 500, its performance shows signs of weakness in profitability.

Body

Parts of a Table

Tabular Presentation

Company RankRevenue

($, millions)Sales

Growth ProfitsProfit

Growth

Wal-Mart 1 $351,139.0 11.2% $11,284.0 0.5%

Exxon Mobil

2 $347,254.0 02.2% $39,500.0 9.3%

General Electric

6 $168,307.0 07.1% $20,829.0 27.4%

Wal-mart regained its number one rank in 2007 by increasing its sales 11 percent over its prior year’s sales. But it still trails in profitability.

Sample Graphics

within Report

Sample Line Graph

201020092008

Sample Area Chart

Sample Pie Charts

Sample Bar Chart

Pictograph

Geographs

3-D Graphs

Preparing & Delivering the Written Report

Prefatory Information

Introduction

Methodology

Preparing & Delivering the Written Report

Preparing & Delivering the Written Report