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Writing the

Methodology and ResultsSection

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LEARNING OUTCOMES

Identify the purpose of methodologyand results to a report.

Identify elements in a methodologyand results

Analyze methodology and results byidentifying their elements.

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RECAP/OVERVIEW

Reports generally includethese sections in this order: Abstract

Introduction

Literature Review

Methodology

Results

Discussion Conclusion

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Research Report

Methods

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Research Report Methods

The method section describes :

Steps that you followed in conducting

your study and the materials youused in each step.

the materials and procedures.

the elements included and the orderin which they are presented

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Research Report Methods

ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN METHODS SECTION

Overview of the Experiment

Population/Sample

Location Restrictions/Limiting Conditions

Sampling Technique

Procedures

Materials Variables

Statistical Treatment

(Weissberg & S. Buker, 1990, p. 92).

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Structure of Methodology Section

First describe how the data was collected

Details of how you collected the data

From your own experiences and recollections

Details of how your data source collected thedata (secondary analysis)

From the article or report

Second describe how you analyzed the data

Statistical procedures used How those procedures test your hypothesis or

answer your research question

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Details ofHow You Collected Your Data

Target Population Type of people residingin what geographical area

Method of Sampling or Subject Selection Sampling Method

Random Sampling Purposive Sampling

Sample Size Response Rate (%) = # Responding X 100

# Sampled

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Details ofHow You Collected Your Data

Method of Observation Self-Report Survey (Quantitative) Mail, email, telephone, face-to-face

Questionnaire Construction Include a copy in the Appendix

Details of Data Collection Method

Any unanticipated problems with method

How data was entered into statisticalanalysis data base

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Describe How YouAnalyzed the Data

Qualitative Analysis

Describe how you organized yourresponse data

Categorization of comments

How you used spontaneous comments fromsubjects to formulate new questions

Describe how your analyze method willanswer or address your researchquestion

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Language

Passive voice is common and so is past tense:

Telephone interviews were conducted. The interviewswere conducted for a state agency. A split ballotdesign was employed.Each quarter of the sample was

asked. Three open-end and one closed-end questionformats were investigated. Each question format wasdrawn from previous research and was selectedto beillustrative of one approach to asking age. Theparticular question format ... was randomlydeterminedprior to the interview. All interviews were

conductedfrom a centralized location.

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Language

The interviewer then introducedhimself/herself andstated who was conducting the study and askedforthe potential study participants cooperation.

The questionnaire consistedof 20 questions, of whichthe age question wasnumber 15.

Actual age data were availablefrom the state agencyfor 1,324 of the individuals interviewed.

Therefore, following the completion of an interview itwas possible to compare an individuals reportedagewith his or her actual age.

This in turn permittedinferences as to which questionformat producedthe most accurate age data

as well as which format resultedin the lowest refusalrate or nonresponse rate.

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Research Report

Results

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This section should include some text,mainly to describe the tables and graphscontaining the data. Short tables can be

included directly in the text, butextensive tables and graphs are put onseparate pages following the one onwhich they are first mentioned in thetext.

Research Report Results

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Units should be given in the heading of eachdata column and not after the individual valueslisted in the table. All tables and graphs should

have titles. Graphs should be neatly andcarefully drawn on graph paper or plotted witha computer, and axes must be properly labeledand scaled. Raw data and sample calculationare normally placed in an appendix. A

comment on the accuracy and reproducibilityof the results is also appreciated in thissection.

Research Report Results(cont)

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ELEMENTS INCLUDED IN RESULTSSECTION #

statement showing where the results canbe found- an overview

statement presenting the most important

findings statement commenting on the results this

may include:

generalising from the results

explaining possible reasons for the results

comparing the results with what was expectedor with results from other studies

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Language:

Referring to a diagram, chart etc.

As can be seen

from

inthe

chart,

diagram,

table,

graph,

figures,statistics,

...

It can be seen

We can seethat ...

From

Table 1

Figure 2

it

can

may

be

seen

concluded

shownestimated

calculated

inferred

that ...

the

figures

chart

diagram

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REFERENCE

Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre analysis. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press

Abdul Majid, N., Md Yusoff, A.A., Abdullah, T. Marzuki, S.,Md Salleh, z., Muhammad, F., Abd Hamid, S.A., Kahar, R.(2007)Academic Report Writing: From Research to

Presentation. Selangor: Pearson Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. Pp. 40-57. Leonhard, B.H. (2002) Discoveries in Academic Writing.

Singapore: Heinle & Heinle. Pp. 1-10. Halligan, N. (2004). A short course on writing technical

reports. Technical Writing. Retrieved June 9, 2005 fromhttp://www.technical-writing-course.com/type-of-technical-

report.html Asian Institute of Technology Language Center. (2003).

Writing Up Research Guidebook. Asian Institute ofTechnology. Retrieved June 9, 2005 fromhttp://www.clet.ait.ac.th/el21open.htm

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THE END