Essentials of a Good Report or Principles in Report Writing

ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD REPORT OR PRINCIPLES IN REPORT WRITING Essentials of a good report or principles in report writing. 1. Clarity and coherence 2. Writing correctly 3. Brevity 4. Objective 5. Styled to the readers taste 6. Readability 7. Effective arrangement 8. Continuity of ideas 9. Consistency 10. Planning and organizing 11. Interest and appeal 12. Primarily a craft 13. Fitful and well communicative 14. Judicious selection of materials 15. Avoiding personal opinion 16. Concentrate on central ideas. 1. Clarity and coherence The researcher should be clear in his writing. There should be logical interconnection between ideas. 2. Writing correctly Report should be written correctly. For writing correctly one has to know grammar. The researcher should have good command over language. But he should not use complex high sounding language at the cost of clarity should always remember that he is writing scientific report and not a magazine article. 3. Brevity The report should be compact. The researcher should take care of the economy of words and concentrate on ideas. 4. Objective The report should be free from the subjectivity of the researcher. It should be unbiased and objective. 5. Styled to the readers taste It should be written in such way that the readers can easily understand it.

6. Readability it should have short sentences, short paragraphs, one idea should be presented in one paragraph. It should have the quality of readability. It does not have reading twice.

Effective arrangement Source of research problem (How does research problem arises?) Generally they originate from the following three sources 1. Contemporary interest 2. Own interest 3. Gaps in the field Contemporary interest It depends on the skill of the researcher to convert a problem of contemporary interest into a good topic of research .One can think of several problem of the contemporary interest depending on his field of knowledge. E.g.: Suppose dowry deaths are increasing day by day in the society the researcher may be interested to study the extent of increase, reasons for such tendency and the implications on the same on the society. Own interest One may have a fascination to study a particular aspect which he is interested. On controversial topics a researcher may be especially interested to find out the real truth involved in the matter. Gaps in the field On the basis of the results of some surveys, the researcher may sometimes alter, modify, or revise the existing theories or principles. Thus the researcher can fill the gap between existing theory and result of the research. Criteria for selecting a research problem 1. Researcher’s interest The researcher should be interested in the problem. Otherwise even in a small difficulty will become an excuse for discontinuing the study. 2. Competency of the researcher

The researcher should be competent to carry out a study of the problem. 3. Resources of the research Research is expensive and time consuming. So the financial resources and the time resources of the researcher influence the selection of the topic. 4. Researchability The problem selected should be suitable for finding answer through scientific method. 5. Importance and urgency: In selecting the problem, their relative importance and significance should be considered. 6. Originality: The problem should selected must have novelty and originality. There is no use of wasting ones time and energy on problems already studied by others. 7. Feasibility: If no research is feasible on a particular problem, it should not be selected. 9. 4. Researchability 10. The problem selected should be suitable for finding answer through scientific method. 11. 5. Importance and urgency: 12. In selecting the problem, their relative importance and significance should be considered. 13. 6. Originality: 14. The problem should selected must have novelty and originality. There is no use of wasting ones time and energy on problems already studied by others. 15. 7. Feasibility: 16. If no research is feasible on a particular problem, it should not be selected. 17. Consistency There must be consistency of thought. If there is no consistency of thought, there will not be any continuity of ideas. 10. Planning and organizing

11. Interest and appeal He should not write anything that does not appeal to him

12. Primarily a craft Report writing is primarily a craft that should be mastered by a researcher.

Layout / Structure / Contents/Format of a report Layout of a research report means what the research report should contain. A comprehensive layout of the research report should contain 1. Preliminary pages 2. Main Text 3. End Matter (Reference section) (A).Preliminary pages 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Title page Acknowledgement Preface or forward Table of contents List of tables and figures

(B).Main Text (Main Body) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Introduction Methodology Statement of findings Conclusions and recommendations. Summary of the report

(C) .End Matter (Reference section) 1. 2. 3. 4.

Appendix Glossary Literature cited Bibliography ).PRELIMINARY PAGES

1. Title page Researcher’s name Course for which study has been required Date of submission Name of the institution In published reports name of the publishers should be given

2. Acknowledgement For the guidance and The assistance he received It should be expressed in simply and tactfully

3. Preface or forward Scope Aim General character of research 4.

Table of contents

Chapter heading Major subdivision & Subdivision 5.

List of tables and figures

It should be given immediately after table of contents (B).MAIN TEXT (MAIN BODY) 1. Introduction Context of study Purpose of study Significance Statement of the problem in logical manner Definition of the problem Extra areas of investigation Source of information Definition of techniques Relevance of study 2. Methodology 1. Objectives- purpose of study 2. Hypothesis