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Writing Your Report
Qualitative Research Methods
Writing Your ReportThe Audience
Know your audience & think about what they would want/need to know- Audience conjuring
Tailor your writing to them- what to include- what to emphasize- complexity
Writing Your ReportSetting a Focus
Focus: states a purpose and then fulfills that promise
- Should only be sentence or two = the critical sentence
i.e., The purpose of this study is to. . . .
Writing Your ReportSetting a Focus
Often determined by audience
Keep in mind the original purpose of the study
Level/amount of information derived from data analysis
Writing Your ReportOutlines
Include major points to be covered
Helps determine: - if you have enough information- the order of discussion points- possible number of pages devoted to each section
Writing Your ReportOutlines
Sets stage for first/rough draft
Helps break the writing task into manageable units
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
No standard format!
All reports include:- nature of the problem investigated- the way the investigation was conducted- the findings
Writing Your ReportFeatures of a Good Report
1. Shows the importance of the topics/issues being studied
2. Contributes to existing research and/or theoretical debates
3. Exhibits clarity at all stages4. Displays methodological rigour
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
The Title1. Try to make it catch the reader’s
attention & inform them about the main focus of the study
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
The Introduction Should include:
1. Why you chose the topic - the so what factor
2. Why this topic is of interest to you3. The research approach or academic
discipline used4. The research questions
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
The Literature Review Purposes
1. To stimulate theoretical sensitivity & sampling2. To provide secondary sources3. To stimulate questions during data gathering and analysis4. To be used as supplementary validation
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
The Literature Review The focus is to summarize and synthesize
the arguments and ideas of others without adding new contributions
Act as a guide to your topic/area of study
Depth & breadth are needed
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
The Literature Review Types/Approaches to
1. Chronological- publication date- theme/trend
2. Thematic3. Methodological
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
The Literature Review Additional information
1. Current situations2. History3. Methods or standards of how you chose the sources
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
The Literature Review When writing
1. Use evidence- i.e. multiple sources
2. Be selective3. Use quotes sparingly4. Summarize & synthesize
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
The Literature Review When writing
5. Use your own voice/style6. Be careful when paraphrasing7. Know that revisions will most likely be necessary
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Methodology: Typical sections
1. Participants2. Design: quantitative or qualitative & specific method used and why not others
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Methodology: Typical sections
3. Procedures/steps: explain what you and your participants will do 4. Materials: Describe the materials,
measures, equipment, or stimuli used - testing instruments, technical
equipments, books, images, or other materials used5. Results: briefly describe how results are
analyzed and presented
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Methodology: Tips for writing
1. Always write the method section in the past tense2. Provide enough detail that another researcher could replicate your experiment, but focus on brevity3. Remember to use proper formatting4. Proofread your paper for typos, grammar problems, and spelling errors
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Results/Discussion/Data: Most critical part of the paper
First decide how you want to present and/or organize your argument
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Results/Discussion/Data: Criteria:
1. Significance of the data set and its social or cultural place
2. Sufficiency of the data, and coverage of the analysis
3. Transparency and repeatability of the analysis
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Results/Discussion/Data: Ask yourself:
1. What are the key concepts in the study?
2. How do my findings shed light on these concepts and the topics studied?
3. What has become of my original research question(s) and the literature regarding it?
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Results/Discussion/Data: Suggested content:
1. The relationship between the work done, the original research question(s) and the previous work done (a.k.a. the literature)2. Limitations and what you would have
done differently
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Results/Discussion/Data: Suggested content:
3. Any implications for policy and practice
4. Further research needed
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Results/Discussion/Data: Tips
1. In general avoid using subheadings2. Make one point at a time3. If your results are inconclusive, then
admit it4. Use transitional statements from
point to point
Writing Your ReportComponents of Qualitative Reports
Results/Discussion/Data: Tips
5. Write clearly6. Do not make grandiose claims7. Convince the reader
- The reader not only needs to know why you interpreted the data the way you did, but must believe it!
Writing Your ReportWriter’s Block
Barriers to Writing:1. Angst over being able to organize
thoughts/materials
2. Angst over getting it “right”
3. Think there’s only one right way to write something (preordained structure)
Writing Your ReportDealing with Writer’s Block
1. Writing is a craft that requires endless practice
2. Write as you go3. Try to visualize your audience & ask
yourself is the sentence make sense to them
Writing Your ReportDealing with Writer’s Block
4. Revisit your materials/data• Set deadlines• Shift to a different medium• Momentum is key – keep writing!