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Reporting Results
The following pages provide
an outline for presenting the results of your research. Regardless of
the specific format you or others use, the key points to consider in
reporting the results of research are:
1) Clearly state the
research question up front
2) Completely explain your
assumptions and method of inquiry so that others may duplicate the study
3) Objectively and
accurately report the results of your analysis
4) Present data in tables
that are
a) Accurate
b) Complete
c) Titled and documented so
that they could stand on their own without a report
5) Correctly reference sources
of information and related research
6) Openly discuss
weaknesses/biases of your research
7) Develop a defensible
conclusion based on your analysis, not personal opinion
Paper
Format
The following outline may
be a
useful guide in formatting your research report. It incorporates
elements of the research design and steps for hypothesis testing (in
italics). You may wish to refer back to this outline after you have
developed an understanding of hypothesis testing (Part III).
- Introduction:
A definition of the central research question (purpose of the paper),
why it is of interest, and a review of the literature related to the
subject
and how it relates to your hypotheses.
Elements: Purpose
statement
Theory
Abstract concepts
- Method:
Describe the source of the data, sample characteristics, statistical
technique(s) applied, level of significance necessary to reject your
null hypotheses,
and how you operationalized abstract concepts.
Elements:
Independent variable(s) and level of measurement
Dependent variable(s) and level of measurement
Assumptions
Random sampling
Independent subgroups
Population normally distributed
Hypotheses
Identify statistical
technique(s)
State null hypothesis or
alternative hypothesis
Rejection criteria
Indicate alpha (amount of
error you are willing to except)
Specify one or two-tailed tests
Results: Describe the results of your data
analysis and the implications for your hypotheses. It should include
such elements as univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses;
significance test statistics, the probability of
error and related status of your hypotheses tests.
Elements: Describe sample
statistics
Compute test statistics
Decide results
- Conclusion:
Summarize and evaluate your results. Put in plain words what your
research found concerning your central research question. Identify
alternative variables, implications for further study, and at least one
paragraph on the weaknesses of your research and findings.
Elements: Interpretation
(What do the results mean?)
Weaknesses
- References:
Only include literature you cite in your report.
- Appendix:
Additional tables and information not included in the body of the
report.
Table
Format
In the professional world,
presentation is almost everything. As a result, you should
develop the ability
to create a one-page summary of your research that contains one or more
tables representing your key findings. An example is given below:
Survey of Travel Reimbursement Office
Customers
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Customer
Characteristics
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Sex
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Age
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Total (1)
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Female
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Male
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18-29
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30-39
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40-49
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50-59
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60+
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Sample
Size
->
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3686
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1466
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2081
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1024
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1197
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769
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493
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98
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% of
Total (1) ->
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100%
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41%
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59%
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29%
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33%
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22%
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14%
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3%
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Margin
of
Error ->
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1.6%
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2.6%
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2.2%
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3.1%
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2.8%
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3.5%
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4.4%
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9.9%
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| Staff Professional? |
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Yes
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89.4%
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89.6%
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89.5%
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89.5%
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89.4%
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89.5%
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89.6%
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90.0%
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No
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10.6%
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10.4%
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10.5%
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10.5%
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10.6%
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10.5%
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10.4%
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10.0%
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| Treated Fairly? |
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Yes
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83.1%
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82.8%
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83.8%
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82.6%
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83.0%
|
83.5%
|
84.3%
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87.9%
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No
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16.9%
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17.2%
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16.2%
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17.4%
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17.0%
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16.5%
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15.7%
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12.1%
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| |
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| Served
Quickly? |
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Yes
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71.7%
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69.3%
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74.1%
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73.3%
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69.3%
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72.1%
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74.2%
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78.0%
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No
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28.3%
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30.7%
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25.9%
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26.7%
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30.7%
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27.9%
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25.8%
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22.0%
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(1)
Total number of cases is based on responses to the question concerning
being served quickly. Non-responses to survey items cause the sample
sizes to vary. |
Critical
Review Checklist
Use the following checklist
when evaluating research prepared by others. Is there anything else you
would want
to add to the list?
- Research
question(s) clearly identified
- Variables clearly
identified
- Operationalization
of variables is valid and reliable
- Hypotheses evident
- Statistical
techniques identified and appropriate
- Significance level
(alpha) stated a priori
- Assumptions for
statistical tests are met
- Tables are clearly
labeled and understandable
- Text accurately
describes data from tables
- Statistical
significance properly interpreted
- Conclusions fit
analytical results
- Inclusion of all
relevant variables
- Weaknesses
addressed
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
- _________________________________________
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