How to Do a Research Report: Beginner’s Guide

Date: December 14, 2023

If you’re wondering how to write a high school or college research report, you may find the information below helpful. Learn how to write a research report in a matter of hours, not days, with this ultimate guide from OZessay.

What Is a Research Report?

A research report is a result of a scientific investigation, a brief explanation of the research conducted. It is used to tell your instructor or fellow scientists about the process of investigation, your findings and the importance of your research work.

Research Report Structure

A well-structured research report typically follows a standard format. While the specific requirements may vary depending on the academic institution, field of study or guidelines provided by your instructor, the following is a general structure commonly used for research reports:

# Research Report Layout  What Is Written in Each Section of the Report
1 Title Page It contains a title, the name of the author and the submission date.
2 Contents This part of the report contains a list of sections, subsections, etc.
3 Executive Summary or Abstract It is an overview of the research. Usually, it consists of two to four paragraphs in length. An abstract is a kind of hook that aims to capture your reader’s attention.
4 Introduction of Research Report The Introduction contains information on the key questions of a research report and is divided into 4 components. These research report components are as follows: Purpose, Background, Methods of Investigation, Scope. Usually, it is written in present or past tenses with format-numbered headings. Let’s figure out what to include in each of these components of a research report.
4.1 Purpose It specifies the objectives of a given report. This part also includes information on what a research report recommends.
4.2 Background It describes the situation or issue which caused the investigation. This part refers to secondary resources (for example, newspaper reports). In other words, it may refer to the findings obtained by other researchers.
4.3 The Method of Investigation or Methodology of Research Report It tells about the ways the research was conducted and is usually called primary data as it is discovered by the author of the paper.
4.4 Scope The Scope describes all the areas of research conducted. It may include reasons and consequences.
5 Findings and Results These parts aim to summarise, analyse and comment on the facts and information obtained during the research. You shouldn’t include too much information so as not to lose track of the most important results. Don’t try to interpret or evaluate the facts; better provide a link to the conclusion section to discuss your findings there.
6 Research Report Conclusion The Conclusion contains deductions based on your findings and should logically lead to the last body section of the research report called Recommendations.
7 Recommendations This part of the report usually contains the assumptions and suggestions based on the research report conclusions. It shows how the findings might be applied.
8 References and Bibliography Here, you are expected to provide a list of works cited in the report. Be sure to follow the guidelines of the citation style required by your instructor.

Now that you know the basic structure of a research report, let’s take a quick look at the format and find out how to write a good introduction and conclusion for a research report.

Different Types of Research

In the research world, there are two types of research:

  • Qualitative Research
  • Quantitative Research

If you are searching for information on how to write a qualitative research report, you first need to find out the difference between qualitative and quantitative research.

Qualitative research is used to obtain the data (e.g., opinions, thoughts, reasons, etc.). It helps ensure the investigation of potential qualitative data, while quantitative research aims to generate numerical data or transform the gathered information into statistics.

Research Report Format

Typically, the format of a research report depends on its type. When writing your paper, take into account the following things:

  • Scope and type of report.
  • The required formatting style: APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, etc.
  • Outline.
  • Bibliography and footnotes.

Aside from basic research reports, you can be required to write many other kinds of research reports throughout your academic journey. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular ones.

What Is an Equity Research Report? Equity Research Report Template

An equity research report provides data sufficient to make an investment decision (i.e., it tells the readers whether they should or should not invest in a particular venture). Here is a standard template for writing this kind of report:

  • Opinion of the bank/investment analyst, along with the summary.
  • Main highlights of the venture.
  • Industry overview.
  • Ratio analysis and valuation analysis.
  • Risks.
  • Rationale of rating and disclosure.

What Is a Market Research Report?

A market research report is one of the first steps in business planning. It is an organised way to collect data about your market or prospective clients. The information obtained during the marketing research helps determine whether your products or services satisfy your customers’ needs.

A standard market research report includes the same structural parts as a standard research report template.

What Is a Scientific Research Report?

A research report in the Sciences generally follows the basic university research report template, which is as follows:

  • A clear Title indicating the purpose of your study.
  • A concise one-paragraph Abstract (Scope and Purpose of your report).
  • Literature Review informing the reader about the current state of investigation.
  • Methodology providing information on how you’ve conducted research.
  • Results presenting your findings in graphic or tabular form.
  • Discussion, where you interpret the results.
  • Conclusion briefly describing the significance of the research report.
  • Bibliography or a Reference List.

The last part is appendices, where you provide additional materials supporting your research.

How to Write an Introduction for a Research Report

Writing an effective research report introduction is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire paper and provides readers with a clear understanding of the context and purpose of your study. Here are the must-know tips on how to write this section of your research report:

1. Start with a hook to grab the reader’s attention. It can be a compelling statement, anecdote, question or a quote related to your topic.

2. Provide context by offering background information and briefly explaining the broader subject area and key concepts.

3. Clearly state the research problem or question your study addresses. Be specific and concise.

4. Justify the significance of your study. Ensure you emphasise the gap in the existing literature that your study intends to fill.

5. Outline the specific objectives or goals your study aims to achieve.

6. If your research has a hypothesis or a clear thesis, state it in a concise and compelling manner.

7. Offer a brief overview of the research design, methods and techniques used.

8. Consider the level of expertise of your audience and tailor your introduction accordingly.

9. Maintain a logical flow of ideas and a professional, scholarly tone throughout the introduction.

Remember, a compelling introduction sets the stage for your research report, creating interest and motivation for readers to continue exploring your work, so make sure to polish it to perfection.

How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Report

A conclusion is another important part of your research report, where you synthesise your findings, emphasise their significance and offer insights for future research. The below tips will help you come up with a strong conclusion on the first try:

  1. Summarise key findings.
  2. Remind readers of the initial research question or thesis statement.
  3. Highlight contributions to the field.
  4. Discuss implications and address limitations.
  5. Connect back to the introduction.
  6. Offer future research directions.
  7. Add a strong closing statement.
  8. Avoid introducing new information.
  9. End with a call to action (if applicable).

Last but not least, make sure your conclusion ties together the various elements of your study and provides a sense of closure while leaving the door open for future exploration in the field.

Where to Get a Good Research Report Example?

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