ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD REPORT OR PRINCIPLES IN REPORT WRITING

Essentials of a good report or principles in report writing.

1. Clarity and coherence
2. Writing correctly
3. Brevity
4. Objective
5. Styled to the readers taste
6. Readability
7. Effective arrangement
8. Continuity of ideas
9. Consistency
10. Planning and organizing
11. Interest and appeal
12. Primarily a craft
13. Fitful and well communicative
14. Judicious selection of materials
15. Avoiding personal opinion
16. Concentrate on central ideas.
1. Clarity and coherence
The researcher should be clear in his writing. There should be logical interconnection between
ideas.
2. Writing correctly
Report should be written correctly. For writing correctly one has to know grammar. The
researcher should have good command over language. But he should not use complex high
sounding language at the cost of clarity should always remember that he is writing scientific
report and not a magazine article.
3. Brevity
The report should be compact. The researcher should take care of the economy of words and
concentrate on ideas.
4. Objective
The report should be free from the subjectivity of the researcher. It should be unbiased and
objective.
5. Styled to the readers taste
It should be written in such way that the readers can easily understand it.
6. Readability
it should have short sentences, short paragraphs, one idea should be presented in one paragraph.
It should have the quality of readability. It does not have reading twice.

Effective arrangement Source of research problem (How does research problem arises?)
Generally they originate from the following three sources
1. Contemporary interest
2. Own interest
3. Gaps in the field
Contemporary interest
It depends on the skill of the researcher to convert a problem of contemporary interest into a
good topic of research .One can think of several problem of the contemporary interest depending
on his field of knowledge.
E.g.: Suppose dowry deaths are increasing day by day in the society the researcher may
be interested to study the extent of increase, reasons for such tendency and the implications on
the same on the society.
Own interest
One may have a fascination to study a particular aspect which he is interested. On controversial
topics a researcher may be especially interested to find out the real truth involved in the matter.
Gaps in the field
On the basis of the results of some surveys, the researcher may sometimes alter, modify, or
revise the existing theories or principles. Thus the researcher can fill the gap between existing
theory and result of the research.
Criteria for selecting a research problem
1. Researchers interest
The researcher should be interested in the problem. Otherwise even in a small difficulty will
become an excuse for discontinuing the study.
2. Competency of the researcher
The researcher should be competent to carry out a study of the problem.
3. Resources of the research
Research is expensive and time consuming. So the financial resources and the time resources of
the researcher influence the selection of the topic.
4. Researchability
The problem selected should be suitable for finding answer through scientific method.
5. Importance and urgency:
In selecting the problem, their relative importance and significance should be considered.
6. Originality:
The problem should selected must have novelty and originality. There is no use of wasting ones
time and energy on problems already studied by others.
7. Feasibility:
If no research is feasible on a particular problem, it should not be selected.
9. 4. Researchability
10. The problem selected should be suitable for finding answer through scientific method.
11. 5. Importance and urgency:
12. In selecting the problem, their relative importance and significance should be considered.
13. 6. Originality:
14. The problem should selected must have novelty and originality. There is no use of wasting
ones time and energy on problems already studied by others.
15. 7. Feasibility:
16. If no research is feasible on a particular problem, it should not be selected.
17. Consistency
There must be consistency of thought. If there is no consistency of thought, there will not be any
continuity of ideas.
10. Planning and organizing

11. Interest and appeal
He should not write anything that does not appeal to him
12. Primarily a craft
Report writing is primarily a craft that should be mastered by a researcher.

Layout / Structure / Contents/Format of a report
Layout of a research report means what the research report should contain.
A comprehensive layout of the research report should contain
1. Preliminary pages
2. Main Text
3. End Matter (Reference section)
(A).Preliminary pages
1. Title page
2. Acknowledgement
3. Preface or forward
4. Table of contents
5. List of tables and figures
(B).Main Text (Main Body)
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Statement of findings
4. Conclusions and recommendations.
5. Summary of the report
(C) .End Matter (Reference section)
1. Appendix
2. Glossary
3. Literature cited
4. Bibliography
).PRELIMINARY PAGES
1. Title page
Researchers name
Course for which study has been required
Date of submission
Name of the institution
In published reports name of the publishers should be given

2. Acknowledgement
For the guidance and
The assistance he received
It should be expressed in simply and tactfully


3. Preface or forward
Scope
Aim
General character of research

4. Table of contents
Chapter heading
Major subdivision & Subdivision
5. List of tables and figures
It should be given immediately after table of contents
(B).MAIN TEXT (MAIN BODY)
1. Introduction
Context of study
Purpose of study
Significance
Statement of the problem in logical manner
Definition of the problem
Extra areas of investigation
Source of information
Definition of techniques
Relevance of study

2. Methodology
1. Objectives- purpose of study
2. Hypothesis