This assignment is designed to help you get started on organizing the research-based report
This assignment is designed to help you get started on organizing the research-based report. It will be an outline of the report. It is a continuation of our Research Report Package for the class. You will want to read the instructions for the research-based report so that you have an idea of what types of topics to consider as you construct your outline for the report. Please click here to read the instructions for the research-based report.
For this assignment, you will write an outline, along with some other brief explanations, for the plan for your research-based report. The outline requires that you submit the following items:
Statement of the problem
— This section should be one or two sentences stating the problem you are addressing.
Purpose and scope of the work
This section should be one paragraph explaining why you have conducted your analysis. You will state why you think the problem you are addressing needs to be addressed.
Sources and methods of data collection
This section should be a complete paragraph explaining how you went about gathering data. You might mention interviews you conducted, if applicable, searches you conducted in OneSearch, or other methods of information gathering you used.
Preliminary outline
This section should use Roman numerals to outline, even roughly, the plan for the report. You might have, for example, Roman number I, with A, B, and C under it; Roman number II, with A, B, and C under it, and Roman numeral III with A, B, and C under it. Overall, you should not need more than three or four Roman numerals. Again, this can even be a fairly rough outline. Do not feel you have to stick with the outline when you write your actual report.
Length: The outline has no word count minimum or maximum. It should be a minimum of one or two pages.
Paper For Above instruction
The assignment aims to facilitate the initial organization stage of a research-based report by creating a structured outline accompanied by brief explanatory notes. This exercise serves as a foundational step in preparing a comprehensive and coherent report, guiding students through the essential components that should be included in their final submission.
Firstly, the statement of the problem must be concise yet descriptive enough to clearly identify the core issue being examined. Limiting this to one or two sentences ensures focus and clarity, establishing a firm foundation for subsequent discussion. This step is crucial because it frames the entire research effort and guides the scope of inquiry.
Secondly, the purpose and scope of the work should be articulated in a single paragraph. This section explains why the analysis is necessary, highlighting the importance of addressing the identified problem. A well-crafted purpose statement provides context and justifies the research, helping to clarify its relevance and objectives.
Thirdly, the sources and methods of data collection must be described comprehensively in one paragraph. Detailing the strategies employed—such as conducting interviews, performing online searches in databases like OneSearch, collecting surveys, or other relevant methods—provides insight into the rigor and validity of the research process. This transparency allows readers to assess the reliability of the data and understand the foundation of the report.
Finally, a preliminary outline should be drafted using Roman numerals to structure the anticipated report. Even a rough outline with one to three levels of subdivision (I, A, B, C, etc.) offers a roadmap for organizing the main topics and subtopics. This outline need not be perfectly detailed or final, as it functions as an initial plan that can evolve during the writing process.
Overall, this outline preparation encourages logical structuring, clarity, and focus—key ingredients in effective research reporting. While there is no strict word limit, the effort should extend over at least one to two pages, ensuring sufficient depth and planning for the eventual report.
References
Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2008). The craft of research (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
Graff, G., & Birkenstein, C. (2018). They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing (4th
ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
Lune, H., & Berg, B. L. (2017). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences (9th ed.). Pearson.
Neuman, W. L. (2013). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (7th ed.). Pearson.
Paltridge, B., & Phakiti, A. (2015). Research methods in applied linguistics: A practical resource. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Silverman, D. (2016). Qualitative research. Sage Publications.
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage publications.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Krathwohl, D. R. (2009). Methods of educational and social science research: An integrated approach. Waveland Press.
Patton, M. Q. (2015). Qualitative research & evaluation methods (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
