CHAPTER-6

RESEARCH REPORT

A report is a detailed description of what has been done and how it has been done with
respect to a particular area or topic. The purpose of the written report is to present the results of
your research, but more importantly to provide a persuasive argument to readers of what you have
found. It is the end product of a research activity. It is highly skilled work it is the final stage of the
research work.

Need For Research Report

• The aim of research is the search for knowledge.

• A research report is needed to evolve a theory or a principle.
• Reporting is a process through which a basic ground is prepared for exchange of ideas or
thoughts.
• Reporting helps the researcher to make specific recommendation for course of action.
• The research ability of a candidate is revealed through the final report he presents.
• A research report is highly useful for policy formulators, practitioners, general public and
others.

Functions of Research Report

• Research report serves as a means for presenting the problem studied, methods and techniques
used, findings, conclusions and recommendation in an organised manner.
• It serves as a reference material for future use in the same or related area.
• It serves as a means for judging the quality of the research project.
• It is a means for evaluating research ability.
• It provides systematic knowledge on problems and issues analysed.

Qualities of a Good Report

• Clarity
• Continuity
• Consistency
• Brevity
• Readability
• Interest and Appeal
• Judicious Selection of Materials
• Avoiding personal opinion
• Concentrate on Central Ideas
• Proper Reference
Steps in Report Writing

They are to be completed through a number of steps.

• Plan the project in advance; fix the target and final date of completing the report.
• The time of report writing should be planned in advance.
• Arrange the data, documents, bibliography etc. in conformity with the structure of the report.
• The outline should be based on all main points and sub points.
• Prepare a rough report of what one has done in his studies. He has to write down the procedure
adopted by him in collecting the material, the technique or analysis adopted by him, the broad
findings and generalizations and his suggestions.
• Keep the rough report for few days for careful reading and then revising it on the basis of
thinking and discussing with others. it is appropriate to get help of some experienced and
knowledgeable person at this stage.
• Rewrite the report on the basis of the revision made and corrections effected on the report.
• Prepare final bibliography. Bibliography may contain two parts, first containing name of the
books and pamphlets, second containing the names of magazines and newspaper articles.
• The last step in report writing is the writing of a final draft of the report. The final draft should
be written in a concise and objective style and in simple language.

Parts/Components Of A Research Report

1. Prefatory Items
2. Introductory Part
3. Body/Text/Content/Results of the Work
4. Concluding Part/End Items/Terminal Items
I Prefatory Items
1. Title Page
2. Researcher’s Declaration
3. Certificate of the Research Guide (and Head of the Dept. in the case of Project)
4. Acknowledgements
5. Contents
6. List of Abbreviations
7. List of Tables
8. List of Figures
9. List of Appendices/Appendixes

Title Page
The contents of Title Page

• The title of the research study

• The name of the faculty/subject

• Institution to which the report is to be submitted

• The degree for which report is to be submitted

• The name of the researcher

• The name of the supervising teacher & his address

• The month & Year of submission of the Report

These items are centered between the margin of the page and no terminal punctuation is used.

Researcher’s Declaration

The researcher has to declare that it is a bonafide Research work done by him/her and that
no part of the Thesis/Dissertation is presented for the award of any degree, diploma, associateship,
fellowship or other similar title before.

Certificate of the Research Guide

The Guide has to state that the thesis is a record of bonafide research work carried out by the
researcher under his supervision and no part of the thesis is submitted for any degree, diploma,
associateship, fellowship or other similar title before. He/she is permitted to submit the thesis.

Acknowledgements

• This page is largely a matter of courtesy

• The researcher acknowledges the following persons/Institutions for the assistance

- Guide

- Other academicians and Professionals who rendered assistance

- Authorities of Libraries

- Respondents of questionnaire/Schedule

- Persons from administrative assistance is received

- Any other individuals who assisted in the research work.

Contents

• This page gives the readers a bird’s eye-view of the Report

• It enables the reader to locate quickly each section of it.

• It includes the chapter headings, major sub divisions of the chapters

 • All the titles of Chapters appear in the exact words.

• Correct page number is shown against the title.

List of Abbreviations

In this page the list of Abbreviations used in the Thesis is presented in the alphabetical order.
Examples

1. ICSSR - International Council of Social Science Research

2. MLA - Modern Language Association of America.

3. SKU - Stock Keeping Unit

List of Tables and Figures

In this Page a list of Tables and Figures, if any, is shown.The full titles of Tables & Figures as
shown in the text are shown with corresponding Page numbers. Examples

1.1. List of RPTCs and their areas of Operation 13

1.2. District-wise Classification of Rubber Holdings in Kerala 16

1.3. Selection of Sample Member Rubber Producers’ Societies 18

1.4. Selection of Sample Societies and Small Rubber Growers 19

2.1. World Production of Natural Rubber (in ‘000 tonnes) 47

2.2. Area Under Rubber Cultivation in the World (in ‘000 hectares) 49

List of Appendixes/Appendices

• In this page a list of appendixes given at the end of the Thesis/Dissertation is shown.

• Examples

• Appendix 1. Interview Schedule for the Retail Entrepreneurs - 312

• Appendix 2. Interview Schedule for the Customers - 316

• Appendix 3. Interview Schedule for the Employees - 320

• Appendix 4. List of FMCG Companies in United States - 324

II. Introductory Part

1. Introduction A brief explanation of the beginning of the problem

2. Statement of the Research Problem

 3. Significance of the Study

4. Review of Previous Studies

5. Scope and Area of the Study

6. Objectives of the Study

7. Hypotheses to be tested

8. Operational Definitions of Concepts

9. Methodology and Data Base

o Type of Method of Study Eg., Descriptive, Analytical

o Secondary Data – Sources
o Primary Data - Sources
o Sampling

1. Define the Population Method

2. Identify the sample frame

3. Specify the sampling Units

4. Specify the sampling method

5. Determine the sample size

6. Specify the sampling plan

7. Select the final sample

• Tools for Data Collection

 Interview Schedule
 Questionnaire
 Observation
• Method adopted for the analysis of the Data
• Period of Reference/study
• Tools for the analysis- Mathematical and Statistical
• Scheme of Presentation of the Study
• Time Frame and Resource Requirements
• Limitations of the Study

III. Body/Text/Results of The Work

  Designing of chapters based on the objectives of the Study

 Use of Tables/Graphs/Diagrams for effective representation - Title, Source etc

 Presentation style – Simple & Lucid Style with the help of apt Mathematical & Statistical
Tools.

 Testing of Hypotheses

Objectives of the Study

The main objective of the present investigation is to conduct an in-depth analysis on the
HRM practices of the Public Sector Financial Enterprise (ie.,KSFE) in comparison with that of
financial enterprises operating in the private sector in the State of Kerala. To achieve this main
objective, the following specific objectives have been set forth.

1. To study the training practices of the KSFE.

2. To assess the extent of satisfaction of the employees of the KSFE in respect of their
compensation.

3. To examine the quality of work life of the employees of the KSFE and the Private Sector
Financial Enterprises.

4. To evaluate the job satisfaction of the employees of KSFE and Private Sector Financial
Enterprises and

5. To analyze the industrial relations of the KSFE and the Private Sector Financial Enterprises.

Designing of chapters based on the objectives of the Study-

Chapter Titles

1. Training

2. Compensation

3. Quality of Work Life

4. Job Satisfaction

5. Industrial Relations

Hypothesis -example

In line with the objective stated above, the following hypotheses were developed and tested.

1. There is no significant difference among the three levels of employees of the KSFE in
respect of the training practices imparted.

2. There is significant difference among the employees at the three levels of KSFE in respect
 of their compensation for the services.

3. In respect of quality of work life, the employees of KSFE are more satisfied compared to
that of PSFE.

4. The job satisfaction of the employees of KSFE is better than that of PSFE.

5. The industrial relation in the KSFE is better in comparison with PSFE.

Iv. Concluding Part / End Items/Terminal Items

 Re-caption of the Work Done

 Summary of Chapters

 Findings

 Conclusions

 Recommendations/Suggestions

 Scope for further studies

 Appendices/Appendixes

 Bibliography
Summary of Chapters

 The first chapter presents the introduction and methodological design of the research.
 The second chapter deals with the literature and related studies on different aspects of HRM
and PEPSICO.
 In the third chapter an overview of HRM has been done in detail. In the fourth
chapter the training practices followed by the PEPSICO are discussed.
 In the fifth chapter an attempt has been made to assess the level of satisfaction of the
employees of PEPSICO in respect of their compensation.
Scope for Further Research

On the basis of the present investigation, the following topics are found relevant for further
research studies in the field.

1. A Study on employee engagement and commitment in the PEPSI CO.

2. Customer Satisfaction on the services of the SUBWAY and the Private Sector
Fastfood Companies – A Comparative Study.

3. Marketing Practices of the United States Financial Enterprises Ltd.

Bibliography
  Books

 Reports and other Official Publications

 Journals and Periodicals

 Research Dissertations., PhD, M.Phil etc

 Websites/Electronic Sources

 Seminar/Conference Papers, Working Papers etc.

Style of Listing the Sources – Books

(Surname of Author, Name, Title, Place of Publication, Publisher, Year of Publication) -

Examples

• Agarwal, A.N, Indian Economy, New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, 1994.
• Amarchand, D, Ed. Research Methods in Commerce, Madras: Emerald, 1987.
• Anderson, J, Thesis and Assignment Writing, New Delhi: Wiley Eastern Limited, 1970.
• Baker, M. J, Marketing – Theory and Practice, London: MacMillan, 1983.
• Banerjee, Mrityunjoy. Essentials of Modern Marketing, 2nd ed. New Delhi: Oxford IBH
Publishing Pvt Ltd, 1988.
• Chakravarthi, Hrishikesh, Advanced Accounting, Standard Publishers , Kolkata, 1982.
• Barlow, C, Jayasuriya, S, and Tan, C.S, The World Rubber Industry, London: Rout ledge,
1994.
Style of Listing- Reports and other Official Publications

(Name of the Agency, Title of the publication,Place and Year) - Examples.

• Government of India, Annual Reports. (Various Issues), Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, New Delhi
• Planning Commission, Report on General Hospital, New Delhi, 1964.
• Department of Science and Technology, Report of the Health Care Panel on Technology
Forecast for 2020, New Delhi, 1996.
• Government of Kerala, Database of Kerala Economy, Thiruvananthapuram: Dept. of
Economic and Statistics, 1983.

Style of Listing the Sources – Research Articles

For a Journal

(Surname of the Author, Name, Title, Name of Periodical, Volume, No., Year in Brackets &
Page)

• Ajimon George, “Natural Rubber Industry in India”, Economic and Political Weekly, 41.
15, (2002), 23-24.
• Budiman, “If India wants to export, it must go in for TSR”, Rubber Asia, January February,
(2003), 25-27.
For a Newspaper

(Name of Paper, Place of edition, month, day, Year)

• Editorial, Thiruvananthapuram,The Hindu, May 16, 2010, 6.

Style of Listing – Research Dissertations., PhD, M.Phil

• Ajitha, S. “Human Resource Management Issues in Public Enterprises in Kerala”. Ph.D.

Diss. University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 2005.

Style of Listing – Websites/Electronic Sources

• www.unesco.com

• www.education.org

• www.worldbank.com

• www.college.com

• www.financesolution.com

• www.researchmethods.com

Style of Listing – Seminar/Conference Papers/Working Papers

Seminar Papers

• Alcala,E.A, and Eleazar N.P, “Evaluation of Exploitation Techniques and Management in

Rubber Smallholders Area”, Paper presented at Ninth Seminar, ANRPC, Kuala Lumpur,
2006.

• Cyriac,P.C, “The progress and development of Rubber small holders- India”, Paper
presented at VI Seminar ANRPC, Palambang (Indonesia), 1986.

Working Papers

• Chandrasekhar, S.F. and M. Ramesh, Job Characteristics Survey at a Private Hospital,

Working Paper, Apollo Institute of Hospital Administration, Hyderabad, 1998.

• Chandrasekhar, S.F. Service Orientation and Continuance in Work: A Study of Corporate

Hospital Employees, Working Paper, Apollo Institute of Hospital Administration,
Hyderabad, 1998.

Research Proposal/Synopsis – Contents

• Title Page

• Introduction
• Research Problem

• Objectives of the Study

• Related Previous Studies

• Research Methodology - Method of Study, sampling design, Source of Data, Tools for
Collection and analysis of Data, period of reference etc.

• Time Frame work and Cost estimates

• Chapter Scheme of the Report

• Conclusion

• References