A research report is a formal document presenting the findings of a study or investigation, designed to communicate research outcomes clearly and systematically. Its structure typically includes sections such as the abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion and references, with each part serving a specific purpose in presenting and analysing the research. The primary function of a research report is to disseminate knowledge, provide evidence-based insights and support decision-making or further academic inquiry.
This text explores the key aspects of research reports, including their characteristics, typical authors, target audiences, components and steps for writing. It also provides a detailed template for structuring a report and highlights the role of editing services in preparing a report for publication.
What is a research report?
A research report is a structured document that presents the findings of a specific investigation or study. The aim of a research report is to communicate research objectives, methodologies, results and conclusions clearly. Research reports often include:
- An introduction explaining the research purpose and background
- A detailed description of the methods used to collect and analyse data
- A presentation of findings, supported by evidence like graphs or tables
- A discussion of the results, including their implications
- A conclusion summarising key takeaways and potential future research directions
What are the characteristics of research reports?
Research reports are clear, credible and systematic documents designed to communicate findings effectively. Below are the key characteristics that define a research report:
- Clarity and precision: Research reports use clear and straightforward language. Moreover, they avoid ambiguity and use precise terminology to convey ideas effectively.
- Objectivity: The content is unbiased and based on evidence. Therefore, research findings are presented without personal opinions or assumptions, ensuring impartiality.
- Logical structure: Research reports follow a well-organised format, typically including sections like the abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion and conclusion. This structure enhances readability.
- Evidence-based: Data, facts or references from credible sources support every claim or conclusion in a research report.
- Comprehensive coverage: A research report addresses all aspects of the study, including background, methodology, findings and implications. Consequently, it provides sufficient detail to allow readers to understand the research fully.
- Replicability: The methodology section contains enough details to allow others to replicate the study. This transparency ensures the validity and reliability of the research.
- Analytical focus: Research reports emphasise analysis and interpretation rather than mere description. They discuss the significance of findings in relation to the research question and existing literature.
- Conciseness: While comprehensive, research reports avoid unnecessary details or excessive length. Instead, they focus on presenting only relevant information.
- Formal tone and style: Research reports use formal language and adhere to academic or professional writing standards, including proper grammar, citation and formatting.
- References to prior research: A research report situates the study within the context of existing knowledge, citing relevant studies to build a strong foundation.
Who publishes research reports?
Research reports are written by individuals or organisations involved in systematic investigations, such as academic researchers and institutions, government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and think tanks. Academic journals organisational websites, conferences or specialised platforms publish research reports to reach the relevant audience effectively.
Common contributors include:
- Academics and researchers: University faculty, postgraduate students and independent scholars produce research reports to advance knowledge and fulfil academic requirements.
- Government agencies: Public institutions generate research reports to inform policies or address societal issues.
- Businesses and corporations: Companies create reports to study market trends, assess competition or evaluate performance.
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs): NGOs publish research to advocate for causes or evaluate the impact of their programmes.
- Research institutions and think tanks: These entities focus on producing research reports to influence public debate or policy decisions.
Who is the target audience of research reports?
The target audience of research reports varies depending on the report’s purpose and subject. Common audiences include researchers, policymakers, businesses and non-governmental organisations (NGOs):
- Academics and researchers: They use research reports to build on existing knowledge, explore methodologies or gain insights into specialised topics. For example, this report ‘Finding context: What today’s college students say about conducting research in the digital age’ by the researchers from University of Washington.
- Policymakers: Government officials rely on research reports to inform decisions, develop policies or evaluate programmes. For instance, this ‘Future of mobility: Urban strategy‘ report published by the UK government.
- Business leaders and industry professionals: Companies use research reports to analyse market trends, assess competition or guide strategic decisions. For example, this report by IBM and Vogue Business, ‘Evolve or fade away: Enriching luxury heritage in the AI era.’
- Students and educators: Research reports serve as educational resources for studying theories, concepts or case studies.
- NGOs and advocacy groups: These organisations use research findings to support campaigns, design interventions or measure impact. For instance, this report titled ‘Human development report 2021–22’ published by the United Nations Development Programme.
- General public or stakeholders: Some reports communicate findings to non-specialist audiences interested in a specific issue.
What are components of a research report?
A research report contains the following components that ensure clarity organisation and comprehensiveness: abstract, introduction, literature review, results, discussion, conclusion, references and optionally appendices. Below is a more detailed discussion of these components:
1 . Abstract
The abstract summarises the research in a concise format, typically 150–300 words. It includes the study’s objectives, methodology, key findings and main conclusions. Readers often use the abstract to decide if the full report is relevant to their needs.
2. Introduction
The introduction sets the stage for the research. It explains the research problem, highlights its significance and outlines the study’s objectives. Background information and a brief overview of the research context are also included to provide clarity.
3. Literature review
This section examines existing research related to the study topic. It summarises previous findings, identifies research gaps and demonstrates how the current study contributes to the field. A strong literature review establishes the theoretical foundation for the report.
4. Methodology
The methodology describes how the research was conducted. It details the research design, data collection techniques, sampling methods and data analysis procedures. This section ensures transparency and allows other researchers to replicate the study if needed.
4. Results
The results section presents the study’s findings without interpretation. It uses tables, charts and graphs to summarise data for easy understanding. Clear labelling and explanations accompany visual elements to enhance comprehension.
5. Discussion
The discussion interprets the results and relates them to the research objectives and the literature review. It explores the implications of the findings, explains unexpected outcomes and compares results with those from previous studies.
6. Conclusion
The conclusion summarises the main findings and their significance. It revisits the research objectives and highlights how they were addressed. This section often identifies limitations and provides recommendations for future research.
7. References
This section lists all the sources cited in the report. It follows a specific citation style, such as APA, MLA or Harvard, ensuring proper attribution and academic integrity.
8. Appendices
Finally, appendices contain supplementary material that supports the main text but is too detailed to include directly. Examples include raw data, statistical calculations, questionnaires or detailed diagrams.
What are the steps for writing a research report?
Writing a research report requires a structured approach to ensure it is clear, concise and comprehensive. Below are the key steps in writing a research report:
- Understand the research purpose and audience: Begin by identifying the research objectives and the intended audience. Understanding these helps you tailor the tone, format and depth of the report.
- Organise and outline the structure: Develop a clear outline of the report’s structure, including sections like the abstract, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, references and appendices.
- Conduct a literature review: Review existing research to establish the context of your study. Summarise relevant findings, identify gaps and show how your research contributes to the field.
- Write the introduction: Clearly define the research problem, objectives and significance. Next, provide background information to help readers understand the context.
- Detail the methodology: Explain the research design, data collection methods and analysis techniques. Additionally, be specific and transparent to allow for replication.
- Present results: Summarise your findings using clear text and visual aids like tables, charts and graphs. In addition, logical and concise data presentation.
- Discuss the findings: Interpret the results and relate them to the research objectives and literature review. Highlight key insights, implications and any unexpected outcomes.
- Write the conclusion: Summarise the key findings and their significance. Moreover, discuss limitations and provide recommendations for future research.
- Format references: Cite all sources used in the report, following a consistent citation style like APA, MLA or Harvard.
- Review, revise and proofread: Edit the report for clarity, coherence and accuracy. Check for grammatical errors, proper formatting and adherence to guidelines or consider engaging professional editing services.
Research report template
This template provides a clear and structured framework for writing a research report to ensuring effective organisation.
Abstract
The abstract summarises the entire research in a concise format. It highlights the research objectives, methods, key findings and conclusions.
Key questions:
- What was the purpose of the research?
- What methods were used to conduct the study?
- What are the main findings of the research?
- What conclusions or implications can be drawn?
Introduction
The introduction sets the stage for the report by providing context, defining the problem and outlining the objectives of the research.
Key questions:
- What problem does the research aim to address?
- Why is this problem significant?
- What are the main objectives or questions of the research?
- How is the report structured?
Literature review
This section summarises and evaluates existing research to establish the context and relevance of the study. It identifies gaps in the literature that the research aims to fill.
Key questions:
- What previous studies are relevant to the research topic?
- What are the main findings and conclusions from existing literature?
- What gaps or limitations exist in prior research?
- How does the current study address these gaps?
Methodology
The methodology details how the research was conducted. It explains the research design, data collection methods and analysis techniques.
Key questions:
- What type of research design was used (e.g. qualitative, quantitative)?
- How were the data collected (e.g. surveys, interviews, experiments)?
- What population or sample was studied?
- How were the data analysed?
- Were there any limitations in the methods used?
Results
The results section presents the findings of the research in a clear and objective manner, often supported by tables or graphs.
Key questions:
- What are the key findings of the study?
- How are the findings presented (e.g. tables, graphs, charts)?
- What patterns, trends or significant data points emerge?
Discussion
The discussion interprets the results, explores their significance and connects them to the research objectives and existing literature.
Key questions:
- What do the findings mean in the context of the research objectives?
- How do the results compare with previous studies?
- What are the implications of the findings?
- Were there any unexpected findings or challenges?
Conclusion
The conclusion summarises the main findings and their significance. It also identifies limitations and provides recommendations for future research.
Key questions:
- What are the key takeaways from the research?
- How did the research address its objectives?
- What were the study’s limitations?
- What recommendations can be made for future research?
References
The references section lists all the sources cited in the report, formatted according to a specific citation style.
Key questions:
- What sources were referenced in the report?
- Are all references cited in the correct format?
Appendices
Appendices include supplementary materials that provide additional detail or support but are not part of the main text.
Key questions:
- What supplementary materials (e.g. raw data, questionnaires) need to be included?
- Are the appendices properly labelled and referenced in the text?
Editing services
Professional editing services — developmental editing, line editing, copyediting and proofreading — help preparing a research report for publication by enhancing its clarity, coherence, accuracy and professionalism. Here is how these services align with key goals to optimise research reports:
Clarity
Developmental editing enhances clarity by refining the overall structure and ensuring a logical and comprehensive presentation of research objectives, arguments and findings. In turn, line editing focuses on improving sentence-level clarity, removing jargon and simplifying complex phrasing to make the report accessible to its audience.
Coherence
Developmental editing ensures the report is coherent by addressing the organisation and flow of ideas. It examines the logical progression of sections and ensures that each part of the report aligns with the research objectives. Likewise, line editing builds on this by fine-tuning transitions between sentences and paragraphs, creating a smoother narrative.
Accuracy
Copyediting helps ensure factual accuracy, checking for numerical consistency and verifying correct citation of references. Moreover, it focuses on the fine details, such as ensuring data in text matches charts or tables and correct formatting of the data according to the required style guide.
Conciseness
Line editing improves conciseness by removing redundant words or phrases and sharpening sentences without compromising meaning. This ensures that the report communicates its findings efficiently and retains the reader’s attention.
Language and tone
Line editing and copyediting refine the language and tone of the report to ensure it is formal, professional and tailored to the intended audience. They ensure vocabulary is consistent and the tone remains objective and unbiased, essential for maintaining credibility in academic or professional settings.
Compliance with guidelines
Copyediting plays a significant role in ensuring that the research report adheres to submission or publication guidelines. In addition, it checks formatting, citation styles (e.g. APA, MLA) and compliance with word count or structural requirements, preventing delays in the publication process.
Error-free presentation
Proofreading provides the final layer of review, focusing on eliminating typographical, grammatical and punctuation errors. This step ensures the report is polished and free from distractions, leaving a professional impression on reviewers and readers.
Key takeaways
A research report disseminates knowledge, provides evidence-based insights and supports decision-making or academic inquiry. Its structured format — comprising components like the abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion and references — ensures clarity, comprehensiveness and coherence. Writing a research report involves multiple steps, from understanding the purpose and audience to revising and proofreading the final draft.
Contact me if you are an academic author looking for editing or indexing services. I am an experienced editor offering a free sample edit and an early bird discount.
