Irwin/McGraw-Hill © Andrew F. Siegel, 1997 and l Chapter 13 l Report Writing: Communicating the Results of a Multiple Regression

Irwin/McGraw-Hill © Andrew F. Siegel, 1997 and Communication  Communication is different from analysis The analysis phase Designing, exploring, estimating, and testing Accumulating results that might be important enough to communicate The communication phase Choosing the most important results for your audience and purpose Organizing that material to clarify what you have done Explaining what you have learned using language that is easy for your audience to understand

Irwin/McGraw-Hill © Andrew F. Siegel, 1997 and Organizing Your Report  Executive Summary A paragraph at the very beginning Describes the most important facts and conclusions Write it last (when you know what to summarize!)  Introduction Several paragraphs, describing Background Questions of interest Data you have worked with OK to repeat material from Executive Summary

Irwin/McGraw-Hill © Andrew F. Siegel, 1997 and Organization (continued)  Analysis and Methods Interpret the data, presenting Graphic displays, statistical summary numbers, results The four basic activities: design, explore, estimate, test Explain as you go along  Conclusions and Summary Move back to the big picture Give closure Pull together all important thoughts you would like your readers to remember

Irwin/McGraw-Hill © Andrew F. Siegel, 1997 and Organization (continued)  Reference Note indicating material taken from an outside source Enough information so your audience can locate it Could be a footnote on the same page as the material Could all be gathered together in one section at the end  Appendix Supporting material Important enough to be included Not important enough to appear in the text of the paper It’s there for the interested reader But will not distract the others

Irwin/McGraw-Hill © Andrew F. Siegel, 1997 and Hints and Tips  Think about your audience Keep it brief Select only the most important results, graphs, conclusions Put others in the Appendix if they must be there at all Make it clear Use straightforward language Orient your reader No need for suspense - put important results early! Look it over Pretend you are your audience, not the analyst Try to forget the details you know about the project Can you learn easily from the report?

Irwin/McGraw-Hill © Andrew F. Siegel, 1997 and Hints and Tips (continued)  What to Write First? Next? Last? Do the analysis first Accumulate lots of material Select the most important results; choose carefully Make an outline Analysis and Methods section; Conclusion Write a paragraph for each line of your outline Then decide what to place in Appendix, choose references Front material is easiest to write last Executive Summary, Introduction are best written once you know what you are summarizing and introducing Read and revise rough draft; ask a friend to help

Irwin/McGraw-Hill © Andrew F. Siegel, 1997 and Other Sources  Dictionary To check usage and meaning of a word Computer word processors are often faster to check spelling  Thesaurus To look for different words with a similar meaning To find the right word, or to avoid repetition Often part of a computer word processor  Reference Books on How to Write Reports Advice for managers who need to write  Chicago Manual of Style For details about writing conventions