Lecture notes on Report Writing Business Research Method (Module 6), IIM., Shillong)

Lecture notes on Report Writing : 
Business Research Method  (Module 6),  IIM., Shillong)
D. Dutta Roy
Indian Statistical Institute
Kolkata - 700108

Module 6: Report Writing (1 Class)

Types of report- Research report-Harvard system of referencing-bibliography, footnote

CHAPTER ORGANIZATION
A research report consists of the following sections:

Contents

• Certificate from the supervisor: This would contain the certificate (generally in standard format) by the supervisor about unique and specific contribution of the candidate. 

• Acknowledgement includes acknowledging the persons and institutions for their administrative and academic supports.

• Executive summary covers importance to study, objectives, methods, results, discussion and application of the findings. 
(optional as per application)

Each chapter contains sections and subchapters as described below.

1. The title page includes  name of author, author’s affiliation, name of research supervisor,  time and place, address of the institute, name and address of the university or institute  where in the dissertation will be submitted for the award, author’s institute, roll number, registration number.

2. Introduction introduces the research objectives. All the variables in research objectives will be operationally defined. First write rationality and then write the objectives so that examiner can find justification for setting the objectives. The words ' to determine' or 'to examine' are used in setting objectives. 

3. Review of literature includes only reviews related to the objectives. It will focus specific research gap in the earlier studies. Comparative analysis of reviews is welcome.  Use your own comment by analysis of reviews. 

4. Method includes four main sections - sample, instruments/measures, procedure and statistical analysis. 
    In sample section, write the sampling procedure, inclusion and exclusion criteria, demographic characteristics of the sample. 
    In instrument section, write the characteristics of instruments, what it measures, its reliability and validity or the psychometric properties of the questionnaire. Specify meaning of high and low scores. 
    If your subtitle is measure then write the variable name rather instrument but discuss about the instrument through which variable is measured. 
   In procedure section, write the instruction, the precautions, basic paradigm of research, the experimental and control conditions etc. In section of statistical analysis, write about only those statistics used in the study. 

5. Results includes two sections - descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics includes mean, SD, skew ness, Kurtosis and graphs. Comparative data analysis in graph is welcome more. Describe the results. 
    Inferential statistics includes only those measures which are used for the test of significance. Highlight the data quality or step-wise fulfillment of different assumptions of statistical tools used in the study. 

6. Discussion covers discussion about findings, corroboration of findings with earlier research, highlight new findings, limitation and future research. Specific theoretical and practical implications should be mentioned. 

7. References includes only those things which are referred in the text. Follow the Harvard style in referencing.

8. Appendix includes permission letter for collection of data, company description (organizational structure, functions and achievement of the company) , the questionnaires, picture of data collection and the stem-leaf plots of the data or the main data in tabular form. Items in the appendix should be mentioned in the text for example, instrument section should include the appendix number of the questionnaire. 

HARVARD STYLE
Book reference of single author: Author, Initials., Year. Title of book. Edition. (only include this if not the first edition) Place of publication (this must be a town or city, not a country): Publisher.

Book reference of multiple authors

Authors, Initials., Year. Title of book. Edition. (only include this if not the first edition) Place: Publisher. 

Reference 

Adams, R. J.,Weiss, T.D. and Coatie, J.J., 2010. The World Health Organisation, its history and impact. London: Perseus.

Barker, R., Kirk, J. and Munday, R.J., 1988. Narrative analysis. 3rd ed. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.