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!