The goal of the procedures section is to allow the reader to duplicate the experiment
if such were desired to confirm, or refute, your findings. Results Section. The third,
and perhaps most important, section of the research report is the presentation of the
results obtaine from the investigation. The basic rule in this section is to give all data
relevant to the research question initially asked. Al though,of course,one' s natural
tendency might be to suppress any findings which do not in some way support one' s
hypothesis, such dishonesty is antithetical to good research reporting in any field.
If the experiments undertaken fail to prove anything, if the data was inadequate or
contrary to expectations, the report should be honestly written and as complete as
possible, just as it would be if the hypothesis were totally proven by_ the research.
Discussion Section. The final required section of a research report is a discussion of
the results obtained and a statement of any conclusions which may be drawn from
those results. Of primary interest in business and technical research reports is the
validity of the results as the bases for company decisions: Will our planned construction
project meet federal environmental guidelines and be approved for building? Will this
new program attract skilled personnel to our company? Will this new oil recovery
technique be financially feasible? Thus, the discussion section of the research report
must evaluate the research results fully: were they validly obtained, are they complete
or limited, are they applicable over a wide range of circumstances? The discussion section
should also point ou:what question remain unanswered and perhaps suggest directions
for further research. Research reports are considered formal professional communication.
As such, there is little emphasis on a lively style, although, of course, there is no
objectionto writing that is pleasing and interesting. The primary goals of professional
communication are accuracy, clarity,and completeness. The rough draft of any research
report should be edited to ensure that all data is correctly presented,that all equipment
is listed, that all results are properly detailed. As an aid to the reader, headings
indicatingat least the major section of the report should be used, and all data should
be presented under the proper headings. In addition to their function of suggesting
to the reader the contents of each section, headings enhance the formal appearance
and professional quality of the report, increase to some degree the writer' s credibility
by reflecting a. logical and methodical approach to the reporting process, and eliminate
the need for wordy transitional devices between sections.