Position Paper

• Position paper is an essay containing a one-sided arguable opinion about a certain topic.

• It is based on your opinion and not everyone will agree with your position.

• Each person has their own opinion, ideas, or position about something.

Parts of a Position Paper

• Introduction: Contains the background of the topic and the position of the writer.

• Body: Arguments that support the position of the writer, supported by evidence.

• Counter arguments: Oppose the position of the author but strengthen the position.

• Conclusion: Summarizes all the arguments of the author.

Research Report

• Research report is a document that systematically presents the research work in written form.

• Aim of a research report is to write clearly and concisely about the research topic so that the reader can easily understand the purpose and results of the research.

• It is a reliable source to recount details about a conducted research and is considered a true testimony of all the work done.

IMRaD Format

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

Sample Outline of a Research Report

• Title of Research Report

• Abstract

• Introduction

• Methods

• Results

• Discussion

Title and Abstract

• Title should be brief, specific, and informative.

• Abstract summarizes the entire study and provides an overview of the purpose, methods, main findings, and implications of the research.

Introduction

• Makes a case for your research.

• Provides the purpose of the report and background information about the research topic.

• Review of Related Literature (RRL) is usually included in this section.

• Describes the problem/situation and discusses the current state of research in the field.

• Reveals a "gap" or problem in the field and explains how the present research is a solution to that problem or gap.

Methods

• Describes how the study was conducted.

• Includes information about the method used, instrument, population, sampling technique, procedures, and statistical treatment.

• Should enable readers to duplicate the study.

• Written in past tense and uses passive voice.

Results

• Presents the findings of the study.

• Answers the research questions posed in the introduction.

• Contains only the findings, no interpretations.

• All tables and figures should be labeled and numbered separately.

Discussion

• Summarizes the main findings.

• Discusses the relevance of the results and how they fit with other research studies.

• Shows the implications of the results and limitations of the study.

• Includes a conclusion and recommendations.

Survey

• Survey is a general view, examination, or description of someone or something.

• It is a way to know and understand people's choices, attitudes, or feelings on certain issues.

Survey Questionnaire

• A data gathering tool composed of a set of questions used in a survey and is utilized in various fields

• It is intended to gather data, views, opinions, and others from individuals or a particular group of people

Types of survey questionnaire

• Close ended questions

  • These questions cam be answered with one word, like “yes” or “no” or can include a list of answer options that survey participants can choose from

• Open ended questions

  • It give respondents the option to answer with their own words

• Multiple choice survey questions

  • Respondents are given different options they can choose from. This type of question is easy to understand, requires little effort from respondents

• Likert scale survey questions

  • It is used to measure perceptions and opinions

  • A likert scale is a question which is a five or seven-point scale.

Characteristics of good survey questionnaire

• Valid

  • It asks what it it intends to ask

• Reliable

  • It gets the same answer if the same question is posed repeatedly in a short time

• Clear

  • It is easily understood

• Interesting

  • It is completed by the respondents and gets better response

Design

• Ask the right questions

• Use appropriate format

• Arrange the questions logically

• make instructions clear

Test

• Do pilot testing

• Detect flaws

Revise

• Make necessary changes

• Improve the questionnaire

Ways of organizing information from survey

• A simple way of recording the results is by constructing a tally and frequency table

• Displaying the data

  • One of the simplest and most effective is to use a pictogram

  • Bar chart or frequency diagram

  • Pie chart

• Presentation of data

  • This data are usually presented in tables, graphs and figures with textual interpretation

• Graph/figure

  • This shows the relations, comparison, and distribution in a set of data like absolute percentages or index numbers. Common types of graphs are line graph, bar graph, area graph, pie graph, column graph

• Table

  • It provides exact values and illustrates results efficiently as they enable the researcher to present a large amount of data in a small amount of space

  • Elements of a table

    • Title

    • Rows

    • Label

    • Columns

    • Data

  • Data analysis

    • The process of inspecting, re arranging, modifying, and transforming data to extract useful information from it

  • Data

    • Refers to information about people, places, thing.

    • When these data appear in numerical form such as percentage, fraction, numbers, they are considered quantitative data

  • Important reminder

    • Maintain the integrity of data

    • Credible data analyst

Data Interpretation

• The intelligence and logic of the researcher required in this part

• The analysis and interpretation will be the bases of the findings of the study

• Data interpretation order

  • The highest numerical value

  • The lowest numerical value

  • the most common numerical value

  • The final numerical value

Methods of Conducting a Survey

1. Personal Approach

   • Face-to-Face Structured Interview

     • Pros: Good response rates, visual materials can be used, researcher can observe participants.

     • Cons: Bias due to interaction, no anonymity, not suitable for participants in different locations.

   • Telephone Survey

     • Pros: Applicable for consequential questions, anonymity.

     • Cons: Not suitable for visual materials or long questions.

2. Self-Administered Approach

   • Paper-and-Pencil Survey

     • Pros: Traditional method, suitable for those who don't know how to use computers or access the internet.

     • Cons: Requires a bigger budget for reproduction, distribution of questionnaires can be exhausting, researcher must be present during administration.

   • Online Survey

     • Pros: Suitable for a large sample size and participants in different locations, less expense compared to mail survey.

     • Cons: Respondents must know how to use computers, may require incentives.

   • Mail Survey

     • Pros: Easy administration, anonymity.

     • Cons: Few responses collected, less preferred due to internet access.

Tips for Encouraging Survey Respondents

1. Keep the survey short and simple.

2. Ensure confidentiality and anonymity.

3. Be professional, courteous, and polite.

No Manipulation of Data

• Observational study

  • Sample population is measured or surveyed as it is

  • Researcher observes subjects and measures variables

  • No manipulation or intervention by the researcher

  • Results can only claim association, not causation

Types of report

• Types of Reports

  • Business report

  • Scientific report

  • Research report

Research report

• Research report

  • Methodologically presents research work in written form

Purpose of research report

• Purpose of research report

  • Write clearly about research topic

  • Help readers understand the purpose and result of research

Research report format

• Format of research report

  • Introduction

  • Method

  • Results

  • Discussion

Parts of a research report

• Parts of a research report

  • Title of research

  • Abstract

  • Introduction

  • Method

  • Results

  • Discussion

Abstract

• Abstract

  • Summarizes the entire study

  • Provides a short overview of the paper

  • Includes purpose, methods, main findings, and implications

Abstract example

• Abstract example

  • Investigating staff attitudes to mobile phone use in meetings

  • Majority find mobile phone use disruptive

  • Recommends banning mobile phone use in meetings

Introduction

• Purpose of the report

  • Review of background information

  • Related Literature (RRL)

  • Describe the problem or situation

  • Present research as a solution to the problem or gap

Methods

• Methods

  • Describes how the study was conducted

  • Includes method used, instrument, population, sampling technique, and procedures

Results

• Results

  • Presents the findings of the study

  • Answers the research questions

  • Includes labeled tables and figures

Discussion

• Discussion

  • Summarizes main findings

  • Discusses relevance of results

  • Includes conclusion