Writing Research Reports

Writing Research Reports
Dr Kithsiri Edirisinghe MBBS, MSc ,MD ( Medical Administration ) Master Trainer Australia, TAE ( Australia) IVLP ( USA)

Objective of the report
As a part of the research process Planning phase - Proposal – 40% Implementation Phase - collect data-20% Dissemination Phase – Report , Paper presentation- 40% Final step in the esearch Module To pass the exam First step in publications / paper presentation

How obtain maximum success
Show you know about the research process First read a lot Understand what you are doing You should know what you have done Be more general Follow the writing format Neat and tidy Know the rubric and have copy by your side and aim for the highest Find a good research report – hard and soft copy Use proper referencing Do not , do not plagiarize - no copy and past

Contents of a Research report
Cover section Inner section End section

Outer section Cover page Inner page Abstract Acknowledgment
Table of contents List of tables and figures List of acronyms

Cover page OUM format Use exactly the same format Topic
Name of the researcher No degrees please Programme Institute Year “No pictures please” Statement of fulfillment

Inner page Title /topic Quote Statement of fulfillment Institution

Abstract Summery of the whole research
Collection of conclusions of all chapters Italic Justified Be very careful- read many times First impression counts

Acknowledgement Simple Short Be professional Not be emotional

Table of contents All 03 sections are captured
Cover section – numbering End section – roman numbers Inner section – number 01 from Introduction Chapter Number & name the chapter –Bold Sub topics Page number Alignment important

Table of contents List of tables and figures
Page wise with in order of presentation Table/figure number, topic , page number List of annexure – In roman letters Two lists One for tables The other for figures

List of Acronyms All short forms used in the research Ex. ANC PPH ARV
HIV

Inner part- THE CHAPTERS
Chapter I INTRODUCTION Chapter II LITRETURE REVIEW Chapter III METHODOLOGY Chapter IV DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATION Chapter V DICUSSION Chapter VI CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS

Numbering Chapters in order 1 to 6 Topic center - First Chapter II Then LITRETURE REVIEW Sub topics 1.1, 1.2 , 1.3 …ect Sub ..sub topic 1.1.1 1.1.2 …..etc Font Arial / Calibri / NTR Size – 14 topic & 12/11 Line spacing - 1.5 In-between para -2 Justified Margins - 1 X 1X 1X 1.5 ( left)

Tables/ figures Number Name of the table ( left alignment / bold) Number 1 ,2,3 or 1.1, 1.2 the chapter number Name Short Source Central Presentation Graphs Pie charts Others (see the chart ) Tables Simple Attractive

Writing style Objective Not subjective Third party
Past tense for all chapters except for recommendation Grammar correction spelling In text referencing (Chan I.W., Chung R.W.Y 1999) Chan I.W., Chung R.W.Y, (2010) , Meeting Psychological needs of HIV Aids Patients, Hong Kong.

Chapter 01 INTRODUCTION

Chapter 01 INTRODUCTION Back ground Significance Justification
Problem statement Research questions Objectives Limitations Definitions

1.1 Background Funnel effect Identifying phenomena
Explaining the phenomena Describe Study setting Health industry – local / foreign / regional Move on to your areas gradually 04 pages

1.2 Significance Justification Importance of this study area
To the health industry To nursing profession To the society

1.3 Problem statement Describe the problem in short form A Paragraph
Problem definition Problem analysis – cause and effect diagram

Statement of the problem
The statement of the problem is the first part of the paper to be read after the title and abstract. It's like a lead on a newspaper story. It hooks the reader and gives context to what follows.

Problem statement “GH Ragama is a second largest TH on Sri Lanka
It caters for 1000 clinic patients , 200 OPD patients and 1200 inward patients The clinic services clinic service consits of …… There is overcrowding of the Medical clinics of the teaching hospitals in Sri Lanka 2012, causing many difficulties to the patients , staff and the image of the hospitals , which needed immediate rectification.”

1.4 Research questions Main content of the research problem
The research question provides the context for the research study and reveals what the researcher is trying to answer. The summery of questions Maximum ideal 02 Answer to why in the phenomena More focused questions During whole of the research you will have to answer these question Success of the research ( and the of course the marks)

1.5 Objectives General objective Specific objectives SMART
Topic of the research Specific objectives Segments of the research SMART ..\IIHS Acedemic Programmes\Health Research 2014\Session 04 Objectives and questions\PP Research process C 2014.ppt

1.6 Limitations What does not capture in this study In the same areas
May not be answer all questions So need demarcate what you can do What you cannot Definitions

1.7 Definitions Define all key words Specially in health services
Use accepted definitions May need to give reference All laymen should be able to read your research and should understand well

1.8 Conclusion The chapter conclusion
Summery of key findings of the chapter Introduction to the next chapter – the literature review

Chapter II LITRETURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction 2.2 body 2.3 conclusion

2.1 Introduction Introduce to the chapter by indicating the following
General objective of the research About the subtopics of the chapter

2.2 body Indicate all published researches and articles
As a funnel effect Start broadly and End up in your topic area Place all models , theories and finding previously Show that there is gap still exists That why you are doing this Show relevance to your profession

The literature review A review of the literature is an essential part of your academic research project. The review is a careful examination of a body of literature pointing toward the answer to your research question.

What is literature review?
Literature means writings and a body of literature refers to all the published writings in a particular style on a particular subject. In research, a body of literature is a collection of published information and data relevant to a research question Showing you are doing a logical and valid research Re – searching - RESEARCH

The literature review All good research and writing is guided by a review of the relevant literature. Your literature review will be the mechanism by which your research is viewed as a cumulative process. That makes it an integral component of the scientific process.

Usefulness of Literature review
Avoids duplication and specify the subject Show different aspect of the problem and strengthen the problem analysis Provides facts to make the research efficient and effective 4. Provides guidelines in each step, benefits and constrains that will occur in performing the study 5. Provides comparative data for the research

Sources access my VLE Primary sources Secondary sources
Are the origin of information under study, fundamental documents relating to a particular subject or idea. Often they are first hand accounts written by a witness or researcher at the time of an event or discovery. These may be accessible as physical publications, as publications in electronic databases, or on the Internet. Secondary sources Are documents or recordings that relate to or discuss information originally presented elsewhere. These, too, may be accessible as physical objects or electronically in databases or on the Internet.

Mechanics of a Literature Review
The method of performing Literature review Your literature review will have two components: A search through the literature The writing of the review

The method of performing Literature review
Decide on the topics to search and sources Organize folders for each section , Type key words on your topic , question and the areas of research Download / read Write in the chapter How literature has helped the study Write reference, properly and a list of reference in alphabetical order Write from broad areas to your topic ( Funnel effect ) Place all models/ theories in this Introduce all related researches in your areas in this chapter

Method Obviously, the search is the first step. However, you must remember that you love knowledge and that academic databases can be seductive. You could spend untold hours clicking around the bibliographies of your favorite collections. You may have fun, but you might not advance your literature review.

How to do it ? The solution? Have your research question written down and at hand when you arrive at the computer to search databases or a library catalog. Prepare in advance a plan and a preset time limit. Finding too much? If you find so many citations that there is no end in sight to the number of references you could use, its time to re-evaluate your question. It's too broad. Finding too little? On the other hand, if you can't find much of anything, ask yourself if you're looking in the right area. Your topic is too narrow

Leading edge research What if you are trying to research an area that seems never to have been examined before? Be systematic. Look at journals that print abstracts in that subject area to get an overview of the scope of the available literature. Then, your search could start from a general source, such as a book, and work its way from those references to the specific topic you want. Or, you could start with a specific source, such as a research paper, and work from that author's references. There isn't a single best approach.

Take thorough notes Be sure to write copious notes on everything as you proceed through your research. It's very frustrating when you can't find a reference found earlier that now you want to read in full. It's not hard to open up a blank text document in WordPad (Windows) or TextEdit (Macintosh) to keep a running set of notes during a computer search session. Just jump back and forth between the Web browser screen and the notepad screen.

Using resources wisely
Practice makes perfect. Learn how and then use the available computer resources properly and efficiently. Log onto the Internet frequently. Visit your research resources regularly. Play with the discipline resources. Enter the databases. Scope out the reference desk materials. Identify publications which print abstracts of articles and books in your subject area. Look for references to papers from which you can identify the most useful journals. Identify those authors who seem to be important in your subject area. Identify keywords in your area of interest to help when you need to narrow and refine database searches. Read online library catalogs to find available holdings. Be sure to write copious notes on everything.

Getting ready to write Eventually, a broad picture of the literature in your subject area – an overview – will begin to emerge. Then it's time to review your notes and begin to draft your literature review. But, where to start? Suppose you have several WordPad or TextEdit files full of notes you've written. And a dozen real books and copies of three dozen journal articles. Pile them on a table and sit down. Turn to your research question. Write it out again at the head of a list of the various keywords and authors that you have uncovered in your search. Do any pairings or groupings pop out at you? You now are structuring or sketching out the literature review which is the first step in writing a research paper, thesis or dissertation.

Writing the lit review Writing the lit review. One draft won't cut it. Plan from the outset to write and rewrite. Naturally, you will crave a sense of forward momentum, so don't get bogged down. Don't restrict yourself to writing the review in a linear fashion from start to finish. If one area of the writing is proving difficult, jump to another part. Edit and rewrite. Your goal is to communicate effectively and efficiently the answer you found to your research question in the literature. Edit your work so it is clear and concise. If you will be writing an abstract and introduction, leave them for the last.

Communicating ideas Communicating ideas is the objective of your writing, so make it clear, concise and consistent. Big words and technical terms are not clear to everyone. They make it hard for all readers to understand your writing. Consider their use very carefully and substitute a 50-cent word for a $5 word wherever possible. Style and writing guides are worth browsing if you are unsure how to approach writing. Always re-read what you have written. Get someone else to read it. Read it aloud to see how it sounds to your ear. Then revise and rewrite. Style guides and how to cite sources »

Writing the conclusion
.Throughout your written review, you should communicate your new knowledge by combining the research question you asked with the literature you reviewed. End your writing with a conclusion that wraps up what you learned in the literature review process. While the interaction between the research question and the relevant literature is foreshadowed throughout the review, it usually is written at the very end. The interaction itself is a learning process that gives researchers new insight into their area of research. The conclusion should reflect this.

2.3 Conclusion The chapter conclusion
Summery of key findings of the chapter Introduction to the next chapter – the literature review

Chapter III METHODOLOGY

Chapter III METHODOLOGY
3.1 Introduction to the methodology 3.2 Theoretical framework for the study 3.3 The hypothesis 3.4 Operational Definition of Key Concepts 3.5 Study design 3.6 Data collection & analysis method 3.7. Population & Sample and methodology 3.8 Improving Validity and Reliability of data 3.9 Ethical & Administrative Clearance 3.10 Limitations of the study 3.11 Summary

3.1 Introduction Introduce to the chapter by indicating the following
Summery of research questions Summery of the problems and the objectives About the subtopics of the chapter to be presented

3.2 Theoretical framework for the study
Indicate how you build your study frame work Use what you have presented in the Literature review - a summery Problem analysis could be placed here ( if you haven't done before ) Show the research framework –if any Show the study framework

Research Framework Organize a spectacle to do the research
Demarcate the area of research Conceptual frame work Scientific validation Prelude to making the research operational

3.3 The hypothesis Argument Majority of the research needs an argument
Purely most research are LOGICAL Logical research are more valid and acceptable We use the arguments in QUNTITATIVE research

Developing an argument
Concepts are just ideas The ideas to be accepted it should be logical So we make all relations of the concepts as argument The argument to be proved by the end of the research If you are not successful you could say that your could not proved the argument This is the basis for the argument or Hypothesis

Developing an argument
Develop a logical argument for the research Positive argument – Hypothesis Negative argument - null hypothesis In the research what you do is prove or disapprove the hypothesis

Our example - Hypothesis
H01 – There is definitive overcrowding of CNTH H 02 – Human resources have a Direct effect on overcrowding H 03 – Infrastructure have a Direct effect on overcrowding H 04 – Equipments have a Direct effect on overcrowding H 05 – Supplies have a Direct effect on overcrowding

3.4 Operational Definition of Key Concepts
Define the all concepts Variables example - Waiting time for a clinic Show how you have operationaized the variables You need to measure your ideas by way of data collection . This helps you to put your ideas / concept measurable Concepts Indicators

Method The concepts needed to be make it measured to validate the research Organize the variation of the concept Select variables from the sub causes or the sub effects you identified Select variables from the sub effects or the sub effects you identified

Indicate the concept Find the variables related to each concept These could be taken from your causes or effects identified in the problem analysis Use the same main causes or main effects Now use the Objective of what do you want to do Only concentrate the areas demarcated by the objectives

List the variable Define the variable Make it independent Find the indicator This could be dine by studying previous research or acceptable methodology Then find each one an indicator Find the method of measurement –later in the data collection Next step is the identifying the best research design

3.5 Study design Type of study design
Why you selected this type of study design ..\IIHS Acedemic Programmes\Health Research 2014\Session 07 Study Designs\PP 08 Research process F 2014.ppt

3.6 Data collection & analysis method
Indicate the data collection method Quantitative Qualitative Or both Indicate the data analysis method ..\IIHS Acedemic Programmes\Health Research 2014\Session 08 Data collection\PP 07 Data collection.ppt

3.7 Population & Sample and methodology
Define population Inclusion criterion Exclusion criterion Explain the sampling method ..\IIHS Acedemic Programmes\Health Research 2014\Session 09 Population & Sampling\PP 02 sampling.ppt

3.8 Improving Validity and Reliability of data
Show what methods you have adopted to improve validity and reliability ..\IIHS Acedemic Programmes\Health Research 2014\Session 10 Ethics and validation\PP 07 ethics and validation.ppt

3.9 Ethical & Administrative Clearance
Show how you have safe guarded the principle of ethics Ethical clearance Administrative clearance Consent forms ‘translation of questionnaires

3. 10 Limitations of the study

3.11 Summary/conclusion

Chapter IV DATA ANALYSIS & PRESENTATION
4.1 Introduction 4.2 Content 4.3 Conclusion

4.1 Introduction

4.2 presentations Go as per your study questions / hypothesis / objectives First demography Than others Categorize them logically Describe each table , presentation Simple , clear approach

4.2 Description of the sample
4.3 Classification of Data 4.4.Descriptive statistics of all variables 4.5 Confirmation of hypotheses & Correlations 4.6 Factor analysis 4.7 Summary

4.3 Conclusion Summery of key findings

5.1 Introduction 5.2 Content 5.3 Conclusion
Chapter V DICUSSION 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Content 5.3 Conclusion

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Content Show key finding First demographic features
Then Show have you achieved your objectives Show how your research questions have been answered Show new findings Compare them with other studies This where you show your maturity You have done something great !!!

5.2 Discussion on Demographic features
5.3 Discussion on your main objectives th

5.3 Conclusion

Chapter VI CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 conclusion Summery of all conclusion of chapters
Descriptive form of the abstract

6.2 Recommendation Align with you key findings
Also what you could not find Advise to correct the gap in the future Policies Further research

End section References Annexure Ethical's reports Study tools Clarence
Consent forms Study tools Questionnaire Study guides Translations

Writing tips

Referencing

Writing Research Reports

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