A research report is a written document that has the purpose of communicating the findings of a study, reviewing all the information related to the research, from the methodological design and theoretical foundation, to the collection of data and the interpretation of the results.

The aim of this work is to capture all the knowledge that has been generated during the bibliographic exploration process, with the contrast of sources and after experimentation with certain variables. This with the aim of answering the research questions, which are part of the problem statement.

A research report disseminates the findings of a study. Source: Pixabay

Investigation report features

The text of a research report must have certain qualities, which are essential in a work of scientific rigor. Among those general characteristics we find:

- Expository sense: the text has the purpose of informing about a topic and the results of a study.

- Explanatory scope: the work aims to make the reader understand the data presented.

- Objectivity: the language must be objective, precise and understandable.

- Specialization: specific terms of the study area are handled.

- Grammatical uniformity: in writing, the third person singular, the first person plural or the impersonal form can be used.

- Combination of structures: there are usually several sentence modalities, the most frequent being those of enunciative, argumentative and, in specific sections, also descriptive.

- Single theme: the logical development of ideas is carried out around a single well-defined scientific problem.

- Standardized format: the work must comply with certain universal academic rules, such as the norms for referencing and citing primary or secondary sources.

Structure of an investigation report

The methodology manuals usually present a general structure made up of 10 sections, not counting the title or identification of the project.

ID

Section that includes title of the report, date of presentation, authors and tutor, if any.

Index

It refers to a list of content, where the title and number of each issue addressed appear.

Summary

Synthesis of the key aspects of the study, among which the objective, the methodological information and the findings should not be missing.

Introduction

It is the section that provides context to the study, addressing the reason for the research, as well as the scope it will have. It must also be explained under what philosophical precepts they will be handled, that is, where they consider the source of knowledge or the nature of knowledge to be found.

Objectives and hypotheses

Any research report must indicate the objectives of the study and the questions that will guide the approach to the problem, to which answers will be sought. Depending on the nature of the work, it may include a hypothesis, which will be validated or refuted with the results.

Background and theoretical framework

Generally 10 sections can make up a research report. Source: Pixabay

In these chapters a tour of similar studies that have been carried out previously and that serve as base knowledge for the investigation is made. It also involves a review of the literature on the subject, the theoretical models that will be handled, as well as the definition of the terms to be used.

Methodology

The general design of the research supposes the description of the methods, procedures and instruments to be implemented for data collection, as well as for its analysis and interpretation. In this way, the study acquires the validity and reliability necessary to be accepted by the academic community.

Results and Discussion

It is the most important part of the report, in which the findings are presented in an organized manner by means of tables, graphs or diagrams, in the case of quantitative investigations. If it is quantitative, the analysis of the interviews and observations collected for the study will be included.

Conclusions and recommendations

Finally, the research report should close with the conclusions reached after the analysis and contrast of the information. Recommendations for future research in the area, new perspectives or questions on the topic addressed will also be included.

Appendices

It is a compendium that brings together all the material that may deviate from the central focus of the study or with unnecessary detail in that part of the report. Generally, more specific data on the sample, statistics, graphs or other technical provisions that may be of interest to the audience are included.

Bibliography

This is made up of a list where the referential data of all the primary and secondary sources that were used in the research are placed.

Research report types

Research reports can be divided into two large groups, depending on the final purpose of the work:

Technical report

It is the one that addresses experts in a specific area of ​​research. It is usually characterized by the use of specialized terminology. It also emphasizes the methodology implemented during the study, as well as the reliability of the results obtained.

Informative report

It is the one directed to a general public or not an expert in the area, for which its main interest is in the research findings. This type of written work does not emphasize the method or the applied techniques, but rather the results, the conclusions and their consequences in future studies.

Other authors classify research reports into the following modalities:

Monograph

It is a document that seeks to inform and argue on a topic, based on the consultation of various sources.

Thesis

It refers to those scientific works with which it is intended to achieve a professional title or other academic degree.

Scientific article for magazine

It involves the description of a scientific investigation that will be published as an original scientific report, provisional publication or summary study.

Newspaper article

It is a report or interview in which a scientific problem is analyzed and argued from different points of view.

Conference, presentation or talk

It involves an oral presentation that seeks to disseminate the results of an investigation to a general public or a specialized audience. It may require the use of resources such as videos, audios and projections that complement the dissertation.

Examples

The most representative examples of research reports are usually graduate theses and scientific articles. In both, a problem is usually raised with some questions, to which an answer is sought throughout the investigation process.

Hypotheses may or may not be presented or simply apply certain methodology and measurement instruments, which will be explained in any of the cases. Finally, the results of the study and the possible conclusions or findings detected will be presented.

The difference between the thesis and the articles lies in their final purpose, since the first is a requirement for obtaining a degree. They also differ in their way of dissemination, since the articles are usually published in specialized magazines.

Finally, the participation of an expert who has the role of tutor or mentor, but not as a direct researcher, will be another difference between both types of research report.

Themes of interest

Kind of investigation.

Scientific method.

Exploratory investigation.

Basic investigation.

Field research.

Applied research.

Pure research.

Explanatory research.

Descriptive research.

References

1. García de Berrios, O. and Briceño de Gómez, MY Epistemological approaches that guide 4th grade research. Level. Management Vision., p. 47-54, Nov. 2010. ISSN 2477-9547. Available at saber.ula.ve
2. Rodríguez Gómez, G., Gil Flores, J. and García Jiménez, E. (1996). Qualitative research methodology. Granada (Spain): Aljibe Editions.
3. Rivas Galarreta, E. (2005, January 25). Investigation reports. Recovered from monografias.com
4. Guerra, A. and González, O. The Investigation Report. FACES Magazine, University of Carabobo. N ° 3. p. 35-42, January - March 1990.
5. Frías-Navarro, D. (2010). Recommendations for preparing the research report. Valencia (Spain): University of Valencia. Recovered from uv.es