Research Process (Steps)…an example,

• Field of interest
• Survey Literature on Field of Interest
• Specify Problem Statement
• Specify General Aim of Research
• Define the Research Objectives
• Set Up Research Hypotheses
• Define Data Needed
• Design Data Collection Techniques
• Design Data Analysis Techniques
• Data Collection Process
• Data Storage, Retrieval & Analysis
• Result & Interpretation
• Presentation & Discussion
• Report Writing
Course Objectives
• Ability To Design A Research
• Skills In Data Collection &
Analysis
• Skills In Information
Interpretation
• Ability To Present Research
Findings
• Ability To Write A Research
Report
 THE WRITING PROCESS

• After completion part of the

project- its time to communicate
the findings of the research to
others- research reports, paper/
article, book, thesis, dissertation-
a written document – that is a
record of the research process or
that communicates the methods
and the findings of the research.
• This starts the writing process-
which cannot wait until the
completion of the research BUT
rather must think ahead and keep
careful records while conducting
the research.
 WHY WRITE THE REPORT?

• There are many

reasons why we write
the report as there are
for doing the research.
• Example- to fulfill class
assignment, obligation
to an organisation,
examination etc.
• One basic reason is to
tell others what you (
the researcher) did and
has discovered.
• This is part of the
process of binding the
 IDENTIFICATION OF AUDIENCE

• Always know whom you are writing

for, because communication is more
effective when it is tailored to a
specific audience.
• Reports differ depending on who the
audiences are;
• Among the audiences are:
• Instructor- clear, logical organisation
and writing of reports.
• Students- define technical terms,
straight forward language, logical
steps
• Scholars- do not need definitions or
explanations of why standard
procedures are used
• Practitioners- short summary of
methods and findings
• General Public- simple languages,
provide concrete examples.
 STYLE AND TONE OF REPORTS
• STYLE- REFERS TO THE TYPES OF WORDS
CHOSEN BY THE WRITER AND THE LENGTH
AND FORM OF SENTENCES OR PARAGRAPHS
• TONE- REFERS TO THE WRITERS ATTITUDE OR
RELATION TOWARDS THE SUBJECT-MATTER.
• BOTH DIFFERS ACCORDING TO THE
AUDIENCES AND ALSO THE TYPE OF
RESEARCH REPORT- QUANTITATIVE OR
QUALITATIVE.
• AND ALSO THE TYPE OF FIELD- RESEARCH.
THE WRITING PROCESS

• Writing is actually hard work,

involving a sequence of steps
and separate activities that
lead to the final product
• First, the writer needs “
something” to write about.
• This something include the
topic, research question,
design and measures, data
collection techniques results
and implications.
• With so many part to write
about- organisation is vital.
• The most important tool for
organising is an OUTLINE
 OUTLINE

• An outline helps a writer ensure

that all ideas are included and
that the relationship between
them is clear.
• Outlines are made up of topics (
words or phrases) or sentences
• An outline help the write to:
• Put ideas in sequence
• Group related ideas together
• Separate the more general ideas
from the specific
• BUT
• Outlines can sometimes be a
barrier if used improperly eg
used rather rigidly.
 OUTLINE-CONTD

• Initial outline are

often sketchy- new
ideas develop along
the way.
• The earlier outline
may differ from the
final outline
 THE WRITING PROCESS
• WRITING IS A PROCESS- the way
to learn to write is by writing.
• It takes time and effort and writing
improves with practice
• There is no single rigth way to
write, but there are some
methods/ steps
• Basically, there are 3 main steps:
• Pre-writing- -
• Composing
• Rewriting
 WRITING-CONTD
• Pre-writing- prepare to write
by arranging on the literature,
making list of ideas,outlining,
completing bibliographic
citations and organising
comments on data analysis
• Pre-writing means beginning
with a folder, file notes,
outlines and notes.
• Think about the form of the
report and audience- thinking
time is important.
• Composing starts COMPOSING
by free-
writing-I.e- a process of
sitting down and writing
everything as it enters your
mind.
• Free-writing establishes
the link between what you
think and what you write
• When free-writing- do not
stop to re-read and re-
write, do not ponder about
the best word, sentences
or even grammar
 RE-WRITING
• Rewriting helps the writer
express herself clearly, with
greater clarity etc.
• It means reading what you have
written and critic and ammend.
• It Involves two related process:
• Revising- inserting new ideas,
adding new evidences, deleting
or changing ideas etc
• Editing- the process of cleaning
up and tightening the more
mechanical aspects of writing.
 WRITERS BLOCK

• Is a condition of temporarily unable to

write
• How to overcome?
• Begin early
• Take a break, then return
• Begin in the middle
• Engage in personal magic ritual
• Break it into small parts
• Do not expect perfection.
 PARTS OF REPORTS/ PAPER/THESIS
• THERE ARE 3 MAIN PARTS OF REPORTS
• PRELIMINARY PART
• Title page
• Acknowledgements
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables and Figures
• Abstracts
• THE MAIN BODY
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• References
 PARTS OF REPORTS/ PAPER/THESIS-
contd

• Supplementary- Appendices, Indexes

• Basically all research reports( qualitative or
quantitative consists of the same areas but
these areas are often addressed in different
ways.
 Tutorial questions

• Why should you write differently for different

audiences?
• What are the 3 steps of writing?
• What is an outline ? How does it helps the writing
process?
• What is a writers’ block syndrome? How do you
overcome it ?
• What are the 3 main parts of a research report?
 TYPES OF REPORTS

• QUANTITATIVE REPORT
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• PRESENTING THE PROBLEM
• DESCRIBING THE METHODS
• RESULTS AND TABLES
• DISCUSSIONS
• CONCLUSION
 QUALITATIVE REPORTS

• USUALLY LONGER AND MORE DIFFICULT

TO WRITE..WHY?
• SUBJECTIVE
• DATA MORE DIFFICULT TO CONDENSE
• USE LESS STANDARDISE TECHNIQUES
• LONGER REPORT
• MORE VARIED LITERARY STYLE