Writing a Research Report 3
Truong Van Anh
HUFLIT

Chapter 4
RESULTS
I. Overview
The results present the findings of the study:
a. Figures include graphs, tables and diagrams.
b. Written texts interpret the most important
aspects of the results.
Some writers call this section “Results and
Discussion”.

II. Information conventions:
a. Locating the figures
b. Presenting the findings
- Variation or fluctuation over time
- Relationship of one or more variables
- Comparison
c. Commenting on the results
- Generalizing from the results
- Explaining possible reasons for the results
- Comparing the results with results from other
studies, or with empirical research.

2.1 Ordering your information.
Element 1: Locating the figures
Element 2: Presenting the most important findings
Element 3: Commenting on the results
2.2 Commenting on the results: There are two possible
ways to order your comments.
- Alternating pattern: R1 + C1; R2 + C2; R3+ C3; …
- Sequential pattern: R1 + R2 +R3 + C1 + C2 + C3 …
The alternating patter is better if you have many
individual results with specific comments about each
result. The sequential pattern is used when there are
several individual results to which one comment applies.

2.3 Functions of comments:
The comments in the result sections may serve a
variety of different functions. Comments may:
- Generalize from the results
- Explain possible reasons for the results
- Compare the results with results from other
studies

III. Language conventions:
3.1 Choosing verb tenses for results:
Element 1: Locating the figures > Present simple
Element 2: Presenting the findings > Past simple
Element 3: Commenting on the results > Present simple
and modal auxiliaries. Use “may” when generalizing
from the results. Use tentative verbs: appear, seem, is
likely, suggest
3.2 Presenting different types of findings
There are three different types of findings: Comparisons
among groups, fluctuation of a variable over time and
relationship between two or more variables

Element 1: Comparisons among groups > three degrees
of comparison
Element 2: fluctuation of a variable over time > increase,
decrease, rise, drop, fall, decline, etc.
Element 3: relationship between two or more variables
> be correlated with, be associated with, be
highly/significantly, closely related to, etc.
3.3 Caption Writing
Captions for graphics should be brief but specific.
- Be brief and specific
Brief not specific: Effects of incubation temperature
Brief and specific: Effects of incubation temperature for
duck breeding

- Avoid of being wordy: Wordy > concise
- Use noun phrase

Chapter 5
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
I. Overview
Step back and take a broad look at your findings and
your study as a whole.
- Summary of the study
- Focus on whether or not the objectives have been
met.
- Implications of the research
- Restrictions/limitations to generalize the findings
- Recommendation for further research.

II. Information conventions
+ Discussion: Original hypothesis > findings > explanation
for findings > limitations > Need for further research
2.1 Ordering the information
a. First information elements in discussion
1. A reference to the main purpose or hypothesis of the
study.
2. The review of the most important findings whether or
not they support the original hypothesis and whether or
not they agree with of the researchers.
3. Possible explanations for or speculations about the
findings.
4. Limitations of the study.

b. Later information elements in discussion
5. Implications of the study.
6. Recommendations for the future research and
practical applications.
2.2 Researcher's position toward the findings
Presenting explicit views on the study.

III. Information conventions
3.1 Sentence structure:
a. Complex sentences
b. Verb tenses in the first discussion elements: Past simple
+ Refer to the purpose
+ Refer to the hypothesis
+ Restate the findings
c. Verb tenses in the first discussion elements: Past,
present simple and modal auxiliaries
+ Explain the findings
+ Limit the findings
+ Compare the findings

d. Verb tenses later elements: Present simple and
modal auxiliaries / tentative verbs
+ Implications
+ Recommendations and applications
3.2 Expressions indicating the researcher's position
a. Restating the hypothesis (complex sentences)
b. Explaining the findings (complex sentences)
c. Suggesting implications (complex sentences)

Chapter 6
ABSTRACT
I. Overview
Abstract is actually the first section of a report. It
provides the readers with a brief view of the study
based on information from the other sections of
the report.
II. Information conventions
2.1 Ordering the information

Order of typical elements in an abstract:
B: background information
P: purpose of the study and its scope
M: methodology used in the study
R: the most important results of the study
C: Conclusion or recommendation

2.2 Reducing the abstract:
The order in a reduced abstract:
P + M: purpose of the study and methodology
R: the most important results of the study
C: Conclusion or recommendation

2.2 Reducing the abstract:
The order in a reduced abstract:
P + M: purpose of the study and methodology
R: the most important results of the study
C: Conclusion or recommendation
Keywords: at least 4 or 5 words
The abstract is in two languages: E and V

III. Language conventions:
a. Background information: Present simple
b. Purpose of the study and its scope: Past simple/
present perfect
c. Methodology: Past simple
d. Results: Past simple
e. Conclusion: Present simple / tentative verbs /
Modal auxiliaies

Book reference
1. Author's name (surname, initial, first name)
2. Year of publication (in parentheses)
3. Title (in italic)
4. Place of publication
5. Publisher
Notes: Comma between surname and first name.
No punctuation between year of publication and
title. Comma between title and place. Colon
between place and publisher. Full stop in the end.
Ho, Chi Minh (1962). Nhat ki trong tu, Hanoi: Su
that.

References
1. Clark, Mona A. et al. (1998). Researching and
Writing Dissertation in Hospitality and Tourism. New
York: Longmans.
2. Cooper, Donald E. et al. (1995). Business Research
Methods. Irwind.
3. Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. (1991). Writing Academic
English, 2nd Edition, USA: Addition-Wesley Pubishing
Company, Inc.
4. Weissberg, R. & Buker, S. (1990). Writing up
Research, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.