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How to Write a Field Report: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're wondering how to write a field report, this step-by-step guide will provide you with everything you need to know. Field reports are an essential part of research, allowing you to collect data on subjects in their natural habitats. In this article, we'll take you through the process of writing a field report from start to finish.

Understanding the Purpose of a Field Report

Before we get started, it's important to understand the significance of field reports in research. A field report is a structured account of observations and findings made in a natural setting such as a workplace, community, or habitat. It is used to gather data on a subject within its natural context, providing a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Field reports are an essential tool in numerous fields, including anthropology, sociology, ecology, and more. They allow researchers to conduct research in natural settings while minimizing interference with the subject matter. This type of data collection helps to provide more accurate and authentic results, making field reports a valuable resource in research.

Importance of Field Reports in Research

Field reports play a crucial role in research, particularly in the social sciences. They help researchers to understand the complexities of human behavior and social interactions in natural settings. For example, an ethnographic field report may be used to study the cultural practices of a particular community or group of people. By observing and documenting their behavior, researchers can gain insights into their beliefs, values, and social norms.

Field reports are also important in ecology, where they can be used to study the behavior of animals and plants in their natural habitats. By observing and documenting their behavior, researchers can gain insights into their adaptations, interactions with other species, and responses to environmental changes.

Different Types of Field Reports

There are various types of field reports, each tailored to suit a specific research goal. Ethnographic field reports are commonly used in anthropology and sociology to study human behavior and social interactions. Ecological field reports are used to study the behavior of animals and plants in their natural habitats. Archaeological field reports are used to study the material culture of past societies.

Other types of field reports include geological reports, which are used to study the physical characteristics of rocks and minerals in their natural settings, and atmospheric reports, which are used to study weather patterns and climate change.

Choosing the right type of field report for your research will depend on your research goals and the subject matter you are studying. Regardless of the type of field report you choose, it is important to approach your research with an open mind and a willingness to learn from your observations.

Preparing for Fieldwork

Preparing for fieldwork is crucial to the success of your research. Here are some essential steps to take before you begin collecting data.

Choosing the Right Equipment

One of the most critical aspects of fieldwork is ensuring you have the proper equipment. Depending on the research, equipment can include a camera, binoculars, or a tape recorder. Selecting the right tools for your research is essential to ensure you can collect the data needed for your field report.

Conducting Background Research

Before you begin your fieldwork, conducting background research is essential. It will help you to familiarize yourself with the subject matter and the research question you are trying to answer. This will aid in designing your research instruments, selecting your observation site, and laying out the groundwork for your fieldwork.

Developing a Data Collection Plan

Developing a data collection plan will provide structure to your fieldwork and aid in capturing the data required for your report. Your plan should outline the sampling strategy, the type of data to be collected, and the methods used to collect the data.

Conducting Field Observations

Field observations are the heart of your research and need to be conducted with care and precision. Here are some essential steps to ensure you can gather the data needed for your report.

Selecting the Observation Site

Choosing the right observation site is crucial to the success of your fieldwork. The observation site must be representative of the research subject and accessible without causing disruption.

Taking Detailed Notes

Taking detailed notes is essential to capture the data required for your report. Your notes must be concise, factual, and include relevant contextual information. This will aid in analyzing your data and identifying patterns or themes.

Capturing Visual Data

Visual data can provide invaluable insights into your research subject. Capturing visual data could include taking photographs or videos of the subject, or even creating sketches or maps that provide a sense of the subject's environment or interactions.

Ensuring Ethical Practices

Ensuring ethical practices should be a top priority during fieldwork. Researchers must respect the privacy and the rights of the research subjects, ensuring that no harm comes to the subjects during the research process.

Organizing and Analyzing Your Data

The data collected during fieldwork must be analyzed to identify patterns and themes. Here are some essential steps to ensure your data is accurately analyzed.

Creating a Coding System

A coding system is a method of categorizing data into themes or concepts. It provides a way to organize the data collected during fieldwork and make it easier to analyze. Developing a coding system requires careful consideration of the research question and the data collected.

Identifying Patterns and Themes

Identifying patterns and themes is the primary goal of analyzing field report data. Once the data is organized through a coding system, researchers can begin to identify patterns and themes that emerge from the data collection process. These patterns and themes can provide insight into the research question and subject matter studied.

Interpreting Your Findings

The final step in field report writing is interpreting the findings. This requires researchers to move beyond simply identifying patterns and themes and to draw conclusions from them. Interpreting the findings requires researchers to contextualize their data and test their conclusions against existing research in their field.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Field Report

Chatgpt prompt.

Please compose a detailed and comprehensive report based on your observations and findings from a specific location or area of study. This report should include all relevant information, data, and insights gathered during your research and should be presented in a clear and organized manner. Your report should aim to provide a thorough understanding of the subject matter and should be written with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

Writing a field report requires careful attention to detail, from selecting the right equipment to analyzing data. By following this step-by-step guide, researchers can produce a comprehensive and informative field report that provides a deeper understanding of the subject matter they are studying.

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Field Report

Report generator.

A Field Report is an essential document for capturing and conveying real-world data and experiences. This guide, complete with insightful report examples , will navigate you through the process of creating comprehensive and effective field reports. Ideal for professionals in research, anthropology, sociology, and various field-based disciplines, this guide emphasizes the importance of observation, analysis, and clear communication. Learn to craft field reports that are not only informative but also engaging, making your on-site observations valuable and impactful.

Download Field Report Bundle

Most of the time when you are given a practical task, you are required to submit a field report based on your observation and findings of the given task. In order to provide a good field report, you must know how to make one by following the format supplied with suitable information about it. Take time to read the following details.

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What is a Field Report?

A field report allows researchers to apply theories and analysis of what they have learned inside the classroom and during practical observation outside of the classroom. Its sole purpose is to describe what you have observed in the environment, may it be a specific person, place, thing or occurrence. Field reports contain interpretations from the findings or the data that has been gathered.

These are often assigned in fields where it is possible to apply the relevant theories and concepts. It can be in the field of social sciences, criminal justice, education, health care professions, architecture and even in services related to electrical operations and more. You are assigned to create a field report to test whether you have applied in real life the things that were taught to you or whether you have understood the concepts of an existing matter. It even helps you develop your skills in collecting data in order to obtain evidence that practices professionalism contributing to the theories and concepts learned.

Researcher’s Responsibilities in Making a Field Report

•       Be able to write down the objectives of your field report
•       Be able to define your theoretical framework
•       Be able to provide evidences of your observation and analysis
•       Provide photos of your evidences of the things that you have observed
•       Be able to prepare for an action for possible revisions
•       Be able to take note of your assessments
•       Be able to validate what you have observed

Five W’s in your Field Report

WHAT? – describes the observation

For example: What is the effect of online classes to students during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

WHERE? – refers to the location of the observation

WHEN? – refers to the time and date that the observation was conducted

For example: The observation was conducted on the 7 th day of March 2020.

WHO? – refers to the information of participants

For example: All students of different levels who are studying under synchronous learning.

WHY? – refers to the reason why you conducted the observation

For example: To determine the effectiveness of online classes

When writing a field report, you have to record every aspect of your observation. Follow the five W’s that are listed above. Find time to make explanations of the things that you have observed and stick into the report’s objectives so that you will be always guided.

Techniques in Writing your Observation

•       The easiest way is to take note of your observation using a pen and paper. Write down the important details including who is talking, your insights about your observation and more.
•       Using our recent technology, we can use our smartphones to document our observations This saves us from taking a lot of time taking down notes especially if the details were too many.
•       You can even record videos and as as raw evidence of your observation. However, this is not allowed in specific areas especially if you are to observe inside a courtroom.

How to Write a Field Report?

•       State the purpose of your field report.
•       Provided a theoretical framework as a basis for comparison.
•       Provide the scope of work where you are going to plan on how to achieve the objectives.
•       Document every aspect of your observation including the activities, demographics, behavioral impact of the actions and even to the subject and what language was used.
•       Monitor the progress of your work.

What is the difference between a survey report and a field report?

A survey report summarizes collected data responses, typically quantitative, from structured questionnaires. A field report details direct observations and experiences from on-site research, often qualitative.

What is the purpose of a field report?

The purpose of a field report is to record and analyze observations and experiences gathered during fieldwork, providing detailed insights and contextual understanding of the studied subject or environment.

How do you write a fieldwork report?

Writing a fieldwork report involves describing the site and research activities, recording observations, analyzing findings, and reflecting on the experience’s significance, all presented in a structured format.

Just like conducting a research study, it is quite difficult to write a field report. You just have to apply the methods and techniques to make it easier, more simple and understandable.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Generate a report on the impact of technology in the classroom on student learning outcomes

Prepare a report analyzing the trends in student participation in sports and arts programs over the last five years at your school.

Field Report – Steps, Structure & Data Collection

Researchers write field reports to combine the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom with observation methods applied out of the classroom. Field reports are used to describe an observed event, person or place and analysing the observed data to identify and categorize the themes about the research problems outlined in the study.

How to write a field report?

They also help researchers understand how theoretical concepts apply in the real world. Field reports offer opportunities and additional information to obtain evidence through observational practices that challenge and improve current theories.

Recording Your Observations

Taking notes.

This is one of the best and easiest ways to record your field observations. When taking notes, you should come up and organize a few symbols so that recording a repeated action does not affect your ability to pay attention.

Audio & Video Recordings

Drawings and illustrations.

You don’t have to be an artist to create drawings and illustrations of objects or people’s behaviour. You can use rough tables and graphs to document what you are observing. You can always recreate your drawings and make them readable while writing your field report.

How to structure your field report?

Introduction, description of activities.

Your readers will want to understand what happened during your field research because they were not witnesses in the events that you describing. It is crucial to provide details of your place of analysis. The description section helps you describe the five W’s namely:

Interpretation

Conclusion and recommendation.

You should list every source that you used while writing your field report in this section. You should consult your professor or employer regarding the format to use when writing this section.

After reading and understanding all the points described in the sections above, writing a field report should not be difficult. The more you’ll do it, the easier it will become. Happy writing!

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Field report: writing guide from a to z.

February 18, 2021

So, you’ve just been given the difficult task of writing a field report. In most cases, this is your first field report. As such, you probably have absolutely no idea about what to do and how to do it. Fortunately, writing such a report is not as difficult as you imagine. In this blog post, we will discuss everything about the field report. What is a field report? Get all the answers in one blog post! We will also show you how to write a field trip report the easy way. You will find a nice little template you can use and we will also be more than happy to help you with a 100% original sample – upon your request. Read on!

So, What Is a Field Report?

Where can i get a field report example, a simple field report template, writing a field report from start to finish.

• FAQ About the Field Report

Need a Great Field Report Sample?

But what is field report? This is a very good question; one that we would like to answer right from the start. Why? Because if you don’t know the definition of field report, you have little chance of writing one correctly. After all, you can’t write about something you don’t understand, can you?

Basically, a field report is an academic paper that requires you to combine the theory you’ve learned in the classroom with specific methods of observation (applied in a specific environment, outside of class) to describe a subject. Said subject can be a person, a group of persons, an event, or even an animal. This is basically the field report definition.

But what are the objectives of field trip report? This is where it gets a bit tricky. Your report should be very comprehensive and you need to show your professor that you’ve mastered not only the theoretical parts of analysis, but also the practical ones. You need to observe the subject and take note of all things that are of interest. You need to be able to categorize, make connections, gather evidence, organize evidence, and even work with photographs, audio recordings and illustrations. Bottom line, the observation phase is not easy to do.

When it comes to getting a good field report example, there are several options you can explore. However, only one of them is viable for most students. Here are some of the things you can try:

• Go online and try to find an example on a websit e. Now, it’s true that you may be able to find several examples. However, many of them are poorly written. They are missing vital information and may even be missing certain parts. Be aware that some websites will attempt to sell you pre-written reports, which is something you need to stay away from at all costs.
• You can ask around on blogs, forums or social media if somebody has a report example they can share with you. While you may get lucky and get an example, you have no way of knowing whether or not it is correctly written.
• Many students try to hire a freelance writer to write the report . The idea is good, but you need much more than a freelance writer who probably doesn’t know how to write a field trip report After all, just 1% of freelance writers have academic writing experience (and these people are quite expensive to hire).
• You can hire a writing service to get the job done . This is the best way to go if you want to make sure you get a top quality, complete product. For instance, our ENL writers have written hundreds of these reports, so they definitely know what they’re doing. They have access to the best field scouting report forms and know how to write field report sections in a way that will make your professor give you some bonus points.

If you don’t know how to write a field report, it is important to get a good template. Obviously, you will need to learn how to write a field study report eventually. However, by using a good template, you make your life a lot easier. You will always have the basic structure of the report right there in front of you. This means that with a good field report template or daily field report template, you won’t miss any important sections or information. Here is how the basic structure of a field report home looks like:

• An introduction where you describe the objective of your report and underline specific concepts (if any).
• A Description of Activities section. This is where you describe everything that you observe, so that your readers know what is happening.
• An Interpretation and Analysis section. This is the part where you need to interpret and analyze the data you’ve gathered during your observations.
• A Conclusion and Recommendations section. This is the conclusion of your report, so you should never include any new information here.

If necessary, you can add a fifth section, the Appendix. This section will support your analysis in case you need to include lengthy information. Use the Appendix section to include any graphs, charts, graphics, tables, or illustrations.

Now that you know the field study report definition and have a template to work with, it’s time to show you how to write the report from start to finish. Let’s get started:

• Write the introduction . Don’t explain your readers what is field trip report. Instead, provide a bit of background information about the objective of your report. Describe the theoretical perspective and talk a bit about the various types of observations you’ve used.
• Write the Description of Activities section . In other words, describe everything that you have observed in an well organized, logical manner. Each observation needs to be written as a separate paragraph and needs to answer the five Ws: What, Where, When, Who, Why.
• Write the Interpretation and Analysis section . This is where you are free to interpret and analyze all the data you have gathered during your observations. In other words, this section can get pretty lengthy. You are not required to discuss each and every observation, so pick the most important ones (and explain why you consider them to be the most important ones). In this section, you need to convince your professor that you are talking from the perspective of a knowledgeable viewer by applying the theoretical knowledge you’ve accumulated in class.
• Write the field trip report conclusion and include any recommendations . You will basically need to summarize everything and show how your observations support your thesis. The recommendation can be used as a call to action to end the conclusion.
• As with any essay, you must edit the report . Eliminate the unnecessary information and don’t be afraid to delete entire sections if necessary. Your field report is, after all, an academic paper. It should be unbiased, objective and to the point. Also, make sure it is well organized.
• The last thing you need to do is proofread the paper . We would advise you to proofread the field report twice to make sure you didn’t miss anything. You can easily lose points over a few typos, so don’t risk it.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Field Report

Q: What are the differences between a daily field report and a regular report?

A: There are minor differences between field report types, and they all have to do with time. A daily field report is completed daily, while a regular report can take a couple of days or a couple of weeks to compile. The time span of the observations is different, that’s the major difference.

Q: What is the best field report app you can use?

A: Truth be told, we don’t know about any applications that can do a field report for you. In any case, you don’t even need such an app to do a field observation report. A notebook and a pen, a camera and a voice recorder are more than enough tools to record your observations.

Q: What are the top 3 tips you can give me?

A: Here they are:

• Before you begin writing the field experience report, you need to accurately record all aspects of the situation. It’s good to have a plan in place so you don’t miss anything.
• Analyze your observations and try to find the meaning of the things you are observing. Try to figure out what is happening and why it is happening.
• Remember that you need to write a report. Keep this in mind as you do the observations. Stay focused and pay attention to even minor details. Record every piece of new information.

Q: How to sample during the observations phase?

A: There are various methods to sample. For example, Ad Libitum sampling simply means observing what you deem important at a given moment. Behavior sampling translates to observing an entire group and noting specific individual behaviors. Continuous recording sampling and focal sampling are two other widely used methods for a field study report.

We realize you may not know how to write a field observation report. Or perhaps you want to learn how to write a field report for geography in just one day. However, there is an easy way to learn more about the field report. You can simply contact us and request a field report or an observation essay . The sample will be written just for you, so it will be 100% original.

Of course, you are free to use parts of our sample in your own writing. After all, you will own the sample and nobody else will have access to it. And did you know that our experienced writers and professional editors can help you with many other things? We can help you write intro or conclusion, edit your paper or even proofread your work. With our help, your essay will be perfect. So what are you waiting for? Learn how to write a report on a field trip with one of our awesome samples!

Take a break from writing.

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Scientific Reports

What this handout is about.

This handout provides a general guide to writing reports about scientific research you’ve performed. In addition to describing the conventional rules about the format and content of a lab report, we’ll also attempt to convey why these rules exist, so you’ll get a clearer, more dependable idea of how to approach this writing situation. Readers of this handout may also find our handout on writing in the sciences useful.

Background and pre-writing

Why do we write research reports.

You did an experiment or study for your science class, and now you have to write it up for your teacher to review. You feel that you understood the background sufficiently, designed and completed the study effectively, obtained useful data, and can use those data to draw conclusions about a scientific process or principle. But how exactly do you write all that? What is your teacher expecting to see?

To take some of the guesswork out of answering these questions, try to think beyond the classroom setting. In fact, you and your teacher are both part of a scientific community, and the people who participate in this community tend to share the same values. As long as you understand and respect these values, your writing will likely meet the expectations of your audience—including your teacher.

So why are you writing this research report? The practical answer is “Because the teacher assigned it,” but that’s classroom thinking. Generally speaking, people investigating some scientific hypothesis have a responsibility to the rest of the scientific world to report their findings, particularly if these findings add to or contradict previous ideas. The people reading such reports have two primary goals:

• They want to gather the information presented.
• They want to know that the findings are legitimate.

Your job as a writer, then, is to fulfill these two goals.

How do I do that?

Good question. Here is the basic format scientists have designed for research reports:

• Introduction

Methods and Materials

This format, sometimes called “IMRAD,” may take slightly different shapes depending on the discipline or audience; some ask you to include an abstract or separate section for the hypothesis, or call the Discussion section “Conclusions,” or change the order of the sections (some professional and academic journals require the Methods section to appear last). Overall, however, the IMRAD format was devised to represent a textual version of the scientific method.

The scientific method, you’ll probably recall, involves developing a hypothesis, testing it, and deciding whether your findings support the hypothesis. In essence, the format for a research report in the sciences mirrors the scientific method but fleshes out the process a little. Below, you’ll find a table that shows how each written section fits into the scientific method and what additional information it offers the reader.

Thinking of your research report as based on the scientific method, but elaborated in the ways described above, may help you to meet your audience’s expectations successfully. We’re going to proceed by explicitly connecting each section of the lab report to the scientific method, then explaining why and how you need to elaborate that section.

Although this handout takes each section in the order in which it should be presented in the final report, you may for practical reasons decide to compose sections in another order. For example, many writers find that composing their Methods and Results before the other sections helps to clarify their idea of the experiment or study as a whole. You might consider using each assignment to practice different approaches to drafting the report, to find the order that works best for you.

What should I do before drafting the lab report?

The best way to prepare to write the lab report is to make sure that you fully understand everything you need to about the experiment. Obviously, if you don’t quite know what went on during the lab, you’re going to find it difficult to explain the lab satisfactorily to someone else. To make sure you know enough to write the report, complete the following steps:

• What are we going to do in this lab? (That is, what’s the procedure?)
• Why are we going to do it that way?
• What are we hoping to learn from this experiment?
• Why would we benefit from this knowledge?
• Consult your lab supervisor as you perform the lab. If you don’t know how to answer one of the questions above, for example, your lab supervisor will probably be able to explain it to you (or, at least, help you figure it out).
• Plan the steps of the experiment carefully with your lab partners. The less you rush, the more likely it is that you’ll perform the experiment correctly and record your findings accurately. Also, take some time to think about the best way to organize the data before you have to start putting numbers down. If you can design a table to account for the data, that will tend to work much better than jotting results down hurriedly on a scrap piece of paper.
• Record the data carefully so you get them right. You won’t be able to trust your conclusions if you have the wrong data, and your readers will know you messed up if the other three people in your group have “97 degrees” and you have “87.”
• Consult with your lab partners about everything you do. Lab groups often make one of two mistakes: two people do all the work while two have a nice chat, or everybody works together until the group finishes gathering the raw data, then scrams outta there. Collaborate with your partners, even when the experiment is “over.” What trends did you observe? Was the hypothesis supported? Did you all get the same results? What kind of figure should you use to represent your findings? The whole group can work together to answer these questions.
• Consider your audience. You may believe that audience is a non-issue: it’s your lab TA, right? Well, yes—but again, think beyond the classroom. If you write with only your lab instructor in mind, you may omit material that is crucial to a complete understanding of your experiment, because you assume the instructor knows all that stuff already. As a result, you may receive a lower grade, since your TA won’t be sure that you understand all the principles at work. Try to write towards a student in the same course but a different lab section. That student will have a fair degree of scientific expertise but won’t know much about your experiment particularly. Alternatively, you could envision yourself five years from now, after the reading and lectures for this course have faded a bit. What would you remember, and what would you need explained more clearly (as a refresher)?

Once you’ve completed these steps as you perform the experiment, you’ll be in a good position to draft an effective lab report.

Introductions

How do i write a strong introduction.

For the purposes of this handout, we’ll consider the Introduction to contain four basic elements: the purpose, the scientific literature relevant to the subject, the hypothesis, and the reasons you believed your hypothesis viable. Let’s start by going through each element of the Introduction to clarify what it covers and why it’s important. Then we can formulate a logical organizational strategy for the section.

The inclusion of the purpose (sometimes called the objective) of the experiment often confuses writers. The biggest misconception is that the purpose is the same as the hypothesis. Not quite. We’ll get to hypotheses in a minute, but basically they provide some indication of what you expect the experiment to show. The purpose is broader, and deals more with what you expect to gain through the experiment. In a professional setting, the hypothesis might have something to do with how cells react to a certain kind of genetic manipulation, but the purpose of the experiment is to learn more about potential cancer treatments. Undergraduate reports don’t often have this wide-ranging a goal, but you should still try to maintain the distinction between your hypothesis and your purpose. In a solubility experiment, for example, your hypothesis might talk about the relationship between temperature and the rate of solubility, but the purpose is probably to learn more about some specific scientific principle underlying the process of solubility.

For starters, most people say that you should write out your working hypothesis before you perform the experiment or study. Many beginning science students neglect to do so and find themselves struggling to remember precisely which variables were involved in the process or in what way the researchers felt that they were related. Write your hypothesis down as you develop it—you’ll be glad you did.

As for the form a hypothesis should take, it’s best not to be too fancy or complicated; an inventive style isn’t nearly so important as clarity here. There’s nothing wrong with beginning your hypothesis with the phrase, “It was hypothesized that . . .” Be as specific as you can about the relationship between the different objects of your study. In other words, explain that when term A changes, term B changes in this particular way. Readers of scientific writing are rarely content with the idea that a relationship between two terms exists—they want to know what that relationship entails.

Not a hypothesis:

“It was hypothesized that there is a significant relationship between the temperature of a solvent and the rate at which a solute dissolves.”

Hypothesis:

“It was hypothesized that as the temperature of a solvent increases, the rate at which a solute will dissolve in that solvent increases.”

Put more technically, most hypotheses contain both an independent and a dependent variable. The independent variable is what you manipulate to test the reaction; the dependent variable is what changes as a result of your manipulation. In the example above, the independent variable is the temperature of the solvent, and the dependent variable is the rate of solubility. Be sure that your hypothesis includes both variables.

Justify your hypothesis

You need to do more than tell your readers what your hypothesis is; you also need to assure them that this hypothesis was reasonable, given the circumstances. In other words, use the Introduction to explain that you didn’t just pluck your hypothesis out of thin air. (If you did pluck it out of thin air, your problems with your report will probably extend beyond using the appropriate format.) If you posit that a particular relationship exists between the independent and the dependent variable, what led you to believe your “guess” might be supported by evidence?

Scientists often refer to this type of justification as “motivating” the hypothesis, in the sense that something propelled them to make that prediction. Often, motivation includes what we already know—or rather, what scientists generally accept as true (see “Background/previous research” below). But you can also motivate your hypothesis by relying on logic or on your own observations. If you’re trying to decide which solutes will dissolve more rapidly in a solvent at increased temperatures, you might remember that some solids are meant to dissolve in hot water (e.g., bouillon cubes) and some are used for a function precisely because they withstand higher temperatures (they make saucepans out of something). Or you can think about whether you’ve noticed sugar dissolving more rapidly in your glass of iced tea or in your cup of coffee. Even such basic, outside-the-lab observations can help you justify your hypothesis as reasonable.

Background/previous research

This part of the Introduction demonstrates to the reader your awareness of how you’re building on other scientists’ work. If you think of the scientific community as engaging in a series of conversations about various topics, then you’ll recognize that the relevant background material will alert the reader to which conversation you want to enter.

Generally speaking, authors writing journal articles use the background for slightly different purposes than do students completing assignments. Because readers of academic journals tend to be professionals in the field, authors explain the background in order to permit readers to evaluate the study’s pertinence for their own work. You, on the other hand, write toward a much narrower audience—your peers in the course or your lab instructor—and so you must demonstrate that you understand the context for the (presumably assigned) experiment or study you’ve completed. For example, if your professor has been talking about polarity during lectures, and you’re doing a solubility experiment, you might try to connect the polarity of a solid to its relative solubility in certain solvents. In any event, both professional researchers and undergraduates need to connect the background material overtly to their own work.

Organization of this section

Most of the time, writers begin by stating the purpose or objectives of their own work, which establishes for the reader’s benefit the “nature and scope of the problem investigated” (Day 1994). Once you have expressed your purpose, you should then find it easier to move from the general purpose, to relevant material on the subject, to your hypothesis. In abbreviated form, an Introduction section might look like this:

“The purpose of the experiment was to test conventional ideas about solubility in the laboratory [purpose] . . . According to Whitecoat and Labrat (1999), at higher temperatures the molecules of solvents move more quickly . . . We know from the class lecture that molecules moving at higher rates of speed collide with one another more often and thus break down more easily [background material/motivation] . . . Thus, it was hypothesized that as the temperature of a solvent increases, the rate at which a solute will dissolve in that solvent increases [hypothesis].”

Again—these are guidelines, not commandments. Some writers and readers prefer different structures for the Introduction. The one above merely illustrates a common approach to organizing material.

How do I write a strong Materials and Methods section?

As with any piece of writing, your Methods section will succeed only if it fulfills its readers’ expectations, so you need to be clear in your own mind about the purpose of this section. Let’s review the purpose as we described it above: in this section, you want to describe in detail how you tested the hypothesis you developed and also to clarify the rationale for your procedure. In science, it’s not sufficient merely to design and carry out an experiment. Ultimately, others must be able to verify your findings, so your experiment must be reproducible, to the extent that other researchers can follow the same procedure and obtain the same (or similar) results.

Here’s a real-world example of the importance of reproducibility. In 1989, physicists Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischman announced that they had discovered “cold fusion,” a way of producing excess heat and power without the nuclear radiation that accompanies “hot fusion.” Such a discovery could have great ramifications for the industrial production of energy, so these findings created a great deal of interest. When other scientists tried to duplicate the experiment, however, they didn’t achieve the same results, and as a result many wrote off the conclusions as unjustified (or worse, a hoax). To this day, the viability of cold fusion is debated within the scientific community, even though an increasing number of researchers believe it possible. So when you write your Methods section, keep in mind that you need to describe your experiment well enough to allow others to replicate it exactly.

With these goals in mind, let’s consider how to write an effective Methods section in terms of content, structure, and style.

Sometimes the hardest thing about writing this section isn’t what you should talk about, but what you shouldn’t talk about. Writers often want to include the results of their experiment, because they measured and recorded the results during the course of the experiment. But such data should be reserved for the Results section. In the Methods section, you can write that you recorded the results, or how you recorded the results (e.g., in a table), but you shouldn’t write what the results were—not yet. Here, you’re merely stating exactly how you went about testing your hypothesis. As you draft your Methods section, ask yourself the following questions:

• How much detail? Be precise in providing details, but stay relevant. Ask yourself, “Would it make any difference if this piece were a different size or made from a different material?” If not, you probably don’t need to get too specific. If so, you should give as many details as necessary to prevent this experiment from going awry if someone else tries to carry it out. Probably the most crucial detail is measurement; you should always quantify anything you can, such as time elapsed, temperature, mass, volume, etc.
• Rationale: Be sure that as you’re relating your actions during the experiment, you explain your rationale for the protocol you developed. If you capped a test tube immediately after adding a solute to a solvent, why did you do that? (That’s really two questions: why did you cap it, and why did you cap it immediately?) In a professional setting, writers provide their rationale as a way to explain their thinking to potential critics. On one hand, of course, that’s your motivation for talking about protocol, too. On the other hand, since in practical terms you’re also writing to your teacher (who’s seeking to evaluate how well you comprehend the principles of the experiment), explaining the rationale indicates that you understand the reasons for conducting the experiment in that way, and that you’re not just following orders. Critical thinking is crucial—robots don’t make good scientists.
• Control: Most experiments will include a control, which is a means of comparing experimental results. (Sometimes you’ll need to have more than one control, depending on the number of hypotheses you want to test.) The control is exactly the same as the other items you’re testing, except that you don’t manipulate the independent variable-the condition you’re altering to check the effect on the dependent variable. For example, if you’re testing solubility rates at increased temperatures, your control would be a solution that you didn’t heat at all; that way, you’ll see how quickly the solute dissolves “naturally” (i.e., without manipulation), and you’ll have a point of reference against which to compare the solutions you did heat.

Describe the control in the Methods section. Two things are especially important in writing about the control: identify the control as a control, and explain what you’re controlling for. Here is an example:

“As a control for the temperature change, we placed the same amount of solute in the same amount of solvent, and let the solution stand for five minutes without heating it.”

Structure and style

Organization is especially important in the Methods section of a lab report because readers must understand your experimental procedure completely. Many writers are surprised by the difficulty of conveying what they did during the experiment, since after all they’re only reporting an event, but it’s often tricky to present this information in a coherent way. There’s a fairly standard structure you can use to guide you, and following the conventions for style can help clarify your points.

• Subsections: Occasionally, researchers use subsections to report their procedure when the following circumstances apply: 1) if they’ve used a great many materials; 2) if the procedure is unusually complicated; 3) if they’ve developed a procedure that won’t be familiar to many of their readers. Because these conditions rarely apply to the experiments you’ll perform in class, most undergraduate lab reports won’t require you to use subsections. In fact, many guides to writing lab reports suggest that you try to limit your Methods section to a single paragraph.
• Narrative structure: Think of this section as telling a story about a group of people and the experiment they performed. Describe what you did in the order in which you did it. You may have heard the old joke centered on the line, “Disconnect the red wire, but only after disconnecting the green wire,” where the person reading the directions blows everything to kingdom come because the directions weren’t in order. We’re used to reading about events chronologically, and so your readers will generally understand what you did if you present that information in the same way. Also, since the Methods section does generally appear as a narrative (story), you want to avoid the “recipe” approach: “First, take a clean, dry 100 ml test tube from the rack. Next, add 50 ml of distilled water.” You should be reporting what did happen, not telling the reader how to perform the experiment: “50 ml of distilled water was poured into a clean, dry 100 ml test tube.” Hint: most of the time, the recipe approach comes from copying down the steps of the procedure from your lab manual, so you may want to draft the Methods section initially without consulting your manual. Later, of course, you can go back and fill in any part of the procedure you inadvertently overlooked.
• Past tense: Remember that you’re describing what happened, so you should use past tense to refer to everything you did during the experiment. Writers are often tempted to use the imperative (“Add 5 g of the solid to the solution”) because that’s how their lab manuals are worded; less frequently, they use present tense (“5 g of the solid are added to the solution”). Instead, remember that you’re talking about an event which happened at a particular time in the past, and which has already ended by the time you start writing, so simple past tense will be appropriate in this section (“5 g of the solid were added to the solution” or “We added 5 g of the solid to the solution”).
• Active: We heated the solution to 80°C. (The subject, “we,” performs the action, heating.)
• Passive: The solution was heated to 80°C. (The subject, “solution,” doesn’t do the heating–it is acted upon, not acting.)

Increasingly, especially in the social sciences, using first person and active voice is acceptable in scientific reports. Most readers find that this style of writing conveys information more clearly and concisely. This rhetorical choice thus brings two scientific values into conflict: objectivity versus clarity. Since the scientific community hasn’t reached a consensus about which style it prefers, you may want to ask your lab instructor.

How do I write a strong Results section?

Here’s a paradox for you. The Results section is often both the shortest (yay!) and most important (uh-oh!) part of your report. Your Materials and Methods section shows how you obtained the results, and your Discussion section explores the significance of the results, so clearly the Results section forms the backbone of the lab report. This section provides the most critical information about your experiment: the data that allow you to discuss how your hypothesis was or wasn’t supported. But it doesn’t provide anything else, which explains why this section is generally shorter than the others.

Before you write this section, look at all the data you collected to figure out what relates significantly to your hypothesis. You’ll want to highlight this material in your Results section. Resist the urge to include every bit of data you collected, since perhaps not all are relevant. Also, don’t try to draw conclusions about the results—save them for the Discussion section. In this section, you’re reporting facts. Nothing your readers can dispute should appear in the Results section.

Most Results sections feature three distinct parts: text, tables, and figures. Let’s consider each part one at a time.

This should be a short paragraph, generally just a few lines, that describes the results you obtained from your experiment. In a relatively simple experiment, one that doesn’t produce a lot of data for you to repeat, the text can represent the entire Results section. Don’t feel that you need to include lots of extraneous detail to compensate for a short (but effective) text; your readers appreciate discrimination more than your ability to recite facts. In a more complex experiment, you may want to use tables and/or figures to help guide your readers toward the most important information you gathered. In that event, you’ll need to refer to each table or figure directly, where appropriate:

“Table 1 lists the rates of solubility for each substance”

“Solubility increased as the temperature of the solution increased (see Figure 1).”

If you do use tables or figures, make sure that you don’t present the same material in both the text and the tables/figures, since in essence you’ll just repeat yourself, probably annoying your readers with the redundancy of your statements.

Feel free to describe trends that emerge as you examine the data. Although identifying trends requires some judgment on your part and so may not feel like factual reporting, no one can deny that these trends do exist, and so they properly belong in the Results section. Example:

“Heating the solution increased the rate of solubility of polar solids by 45% but had no effect on the rate of solubility in solutions containing non-polar solids.”

This point isn’t debatable—you’re just pointing out what the data show.

As in the Materials and Methods section, you want to refer to your data in the past tense, because the events you recorded have already occurred and have finished occurring. In the example above, note the use of “increased” and “had,” rather than “increases” and “has.” (You don’t know from your experiment that heating always increases the solubility of polar solids, but it did that time.)

You shouldn’t put information in the table that also appears in the text. You also shouldn’t use a table to present irrelevant data, just to show you did collect these data during the experiment. Tables are good for some purposes and situations, but not others, so whether and how you’ll use tables depends upon what you need them to accomplish.

Tables are useful ways to show variation in data, but not to present a great deal of unchanging measurements. If you’re dealing with a scientific phenomenon that occurs only within a certain range of temperatures, for example, you don’t need to use a table to show that the phenomenon didn’t occur at any of the other temperatures. How useful is this table?

As you can probably see, no solubility was observed until the trial temperature reached 50°C, a fact that the text part of the Results section could easily convey. The table could then be limited to what happened at 50°C and higher, thus better illustrating the differences in solubility rates when solubility did occur.

As a rule, try not to use a table to describe any experimental event you can cover in one sentence of text. Here’s an example of an unnecessary table from How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper , by Robert A. Day:

As Day notes, all the information in this table can be summarized in one sentence: “S. griseus, S. coelicolor, S. everycolor, and S. rainbowenski grew under aerobic conditions, whereas S. nocolor and S. greenicus required anaerobic conditions.” Most readers won’t find the table clearer than that one sentence.

When you do have reason to tabulate material, pay attention to the clarity and readability of the format you use. Here are a few tips:

• Number your table. Then, when you refer to the table in the text, use that number to tell your readers which table they can review to clarify the material.
• Give your table a title. This title should be descriptive enough to communicate the contents of the table, but not so long that it becomes difficult to follow. The titles in the sample tables above are acceptable.
• Arrange your table so that readers read vertically, not horizontally. For the most part, this rule means that you should construct your table so that like elements read down, not across. Think about what you want your readers to compare, and put that information in the column (up and down) rather than in the row (across). Usually, the point of comparison will be the numerical data you collect, so especially make sure you have columns of numbers, not rows.Here’s an example of how drastically this decision affects the readability of your table (from A Short Guide to Writing about Chemistry , by Herbert Beall and John Trimbur). Look at this table, which presents the relevant data in horizontal rows:

It’s a little tough to see the trends that the author presumably wants to present in this table. Compare this table, in which the data appear vertically:

The second table shows how putting like elements in a vertical column makes for easier reading. In this case, the like elements are the measurements of length and height, over five trials–not, as in the first table, the length and height measurements for each trial.

• Make sure to include units of measurement in the tables. Readers might be able to guess that you measured something in millimeters, but don’t make them try.

• Don’t use vertical lines as part of the format for your table. This convention exists because journals prefer not to have to reproduce these lines because the tables then become more expensive to print. Even though it’s fairly unlikely that you’ll be sending your Biology 11 lab report to Science for publication, your readers still have this expectation. Consequently, if you use the table-drawing option in your word-processing software, choose the option that doesn’t rely on a “grid” format (which includes vertical lines).

How do I include figures in my report?

Although tables can be useful ways of showing trends in the results you obtained, figures (i.e., illustrations) can do an even better job of emphasizing such trends. Lab report writers often use graphic representations of the data they collected to provide their readers with a literal picture of how the experiment went.

When should you use a figure?

Remember the circumstances under which you don’t need a table: when you don’t have a great deal of data or when the data you have don’t vary a lot. Under the same conditions, you would probably forgo the figure as well, since the figure would be unlikely to provide your readers with an additional perspective. Scientists really don’t like their time wasted, so they tend not to respond favorably to redundancy.

If you’re trying to decide between using a table and creating a figure to present your material, consider the following a rule of thumb. The strength of a table lies in its ability to supply large amounts of exact data, whereas the strength of a figure is its dramatic illustration of important trends within the experiment. If you feel that your readers won’t get the full impact of the results you obtained just by looking at the numbers, then a figure might be appropriate.

Of course, an undergraduate class may expect you to create a figure for your lab experiment, if only to make sure that you can do so effectively. If this is the case, then don’t worry about whether to use figures or not—concentrate instead on how best to accomplish your task.

Figures can include maps, photographs, pen-and-ink drawings, flow charts, bar graphs, and section graphs (“pie charts”). But the most common figure by far, especially for undergraduates, is the line graph, so we’ll focus on that type in this handout.

At the undergraduate level, you can often draw and label your graphs by hand, provided that the result is clear, legible, and drawn to scale. Computer technology has, however, made creating line graphs a lot easier. Most word-processing software has a number of functions for transferring data into graph form; many scientists have found Microsoft Excel, for example, a helpful tool in graphing results. If you plan on pursuing a career in the sciences, it may be well worth your while to learn to use a similar program.

Computers can’t, however, decide for you how your graph really works; you have to know how to design your graph to meet your readers’ expectations. Here are some of these expectations:

• Keep it as simple as possible. You may be tempted to signal the complexity of the information you gathered by trying to design a graph that accounts for that complexity. But remember the purpose of your graph: to dramatize your results in a manner that’s easy to see and grasp. Try not to make the reader stare at the graph for a half hour to find the important line among the mass of other lines. For maximum effectiveness, limit yourself to three to five lines per graph; if you have more data to demonstrate, use a set of graphs to account for it, rather than trying to cram it all into a single figure.
• Plot the independent variable on the horizontal (x) axis and the dependent variable on the vertical (y) axis. Remember that the independent variable is the condition that you manipulated during the experiment and the dependent variable is the condition that you measured to see if it changed along with the independent variable. Placing the variables along their respective axes is mostly just a convention, but since your readers are accustomed to viewing graphs in this way, you’re better off not challenging the convention in your report.
• Label each axis carefully, and be especially careful to include units of measure. You need to make sure that your readers understand perfectly well what your graph indicates.
• Number and title your graphs. As with tables, the title of the graph should be informative but concise, and you should refer to your graph by number in the text (e.g., “Figure 1 shows the increase in the solubility rate as a function of temperature”).
• Many editors of professional scientific journals prefer that writers distinguish the lines in their graphs by attaching a symbol to them, usually a geometric shape (triangle, square, etc.), and using that symbol throughout the curve of the line. Generally, readers have a hard time distinguishing dotted lines from dot-dash lines from straight lines, so you should consider staying away from this system. Editors don’t usually like different-colored lines within a graph because colors are difficult and expensive to reproduce; colors may, however, be great for your purposes, as long as you’re not planning to submit your paper to Nature. Use your discretion—try to employ whichever technique dramatizes the results most effectively.
• Try to gather data at regular intervals, so the plot points on your graph aren’t too far apart. You can’t be sure of the arc you should draw between the plot points if the points are located at the far corners of the graph; over a fifteen-minute interval, perhaps the change occurred in the first or last thirty seconds of that period (in which case your straight-line connection between the points is misleading).
• If you’re worried that you didn’t collect data at sufficiently regular intervals during your experiment, go ahead and connect the points with a straight line, but you may want to examine this problem as part of your Discussion section.
• Make your graph large enough so that everything is legible and clearly demarcated, but not so large that it either overwhelms the rest of the Results section or provides a far greater range than you need to illustrate your point. If, for example, the seedlings of your plant grew only 15 mm during the trial, you don’t need to construct a graph that accounts for 100 mm of growth. The lines in your graph should more or less fill the space created by the axes; if you see that your data is confined to the lower left portion of the graph, you should probably re-adjust your scale.
• If you create a set of graphs, make them the same size and format, including all the verbal and visual codes (captions, symbols, scale, etc.). You want to be as consistent as possible in your illustrations, so that your readers can easily make the comparisons you’re trying to get them to see.

How do I write a strong Discussion section?

The discussion section is probably the least formalized part of the report, in that you can’t really apply the same structure to every type of experiment. In simple terms, here you tell your readers what to make of the Results you obtained. If you have done the Results part well, your readers should already recognize the trends in the data and have a fairly clear idea of whether your hypothesis was supported. Because the Results can seem so self-explanatory, many students find it difficult to know what material to add in this last section.

Basically, the Discussion contains several parts, in no particular order, but roughly moving from specific (i.e., related to your experiment only) to general (how your findings fit in the larger scientific community). In this section, you will, as a rule, need to:

Explain whether the data support your hypothesis

• Acknowledge any anomalous data or deviations from what you expected

Derive conclusions, based on your findings, about the process you’re studying

• Relate your findings to earlier work in the same area (if you can)

Explore the theoretical and/or practical implications of your findings

Let’s look at some dos and don’ts for each of these objectives.

This statement is usually a good way to begin the Discussion, since you can’t effectively speak about the larger scientific value of your study until you’ve figured out the particulars of this experiment. You might begin this part of the Discussion by explicitly stating the relationships or correlations your data indicate between the independent and dependent variables. Then you can show more clearly why you believe your hypothesis was or was not supported. For example, if you tested solubility at various temperatures, you could start this section by noting that the rates of solubility increased as the temperature increased. If your initial hypothesis surmised that temperature change would not affect solubility, you would then say something like,

“The hypothesis that temperature change would not affect solubility was not supported by the data.”

Note: Students tend to view labs as practical tests of undeniable scientific truths. As a result, you may want to say that the hypothesis was “proved” or “disproved” or that it was “correct” or “incorrect.” These terms, however, reflect a degree of certainty that you as a scientist aren’t supposed to have. Remember, you’re testing a theory with a procedure that lasts only a few hours and relies on only a few trials, which severely compromises your ability to be sure about the “truth” you see. Words like “supported,” “indicated,” and “suggested” are more acceptable ways to evaluate your hypothesis.

Also, recognize that saying whether the data supported your hypothesis or not involves making a claim to be defended. As such, you need to show the readers that this claim is warranted by the evidence. Make sure that you’re very explicit about the relationship between the evidence and the conclusions you draw from it. This process is difficult for many writers because we don’t often justify conclusions in our regular lives. For example, you might nudge your friend at a party and whisper, “That guy’s drunk,” and once your friend lays eyes on the person in question, she might readily agree. In a scientific paper, by contrast, you would need to defend your claim more thoroughly by pointing to data such as slurred words, unsteady gait, and the lampshade-as-hat. In addition to pointing out these details, you would also need to show how (according to previous studies) these signs are consistent with inebriation, especially if they occur in conjunction with one another. To put it another way, tell your readers exactly how you got from point A (was the hypothesis supported?) to point B (yes/no).

Acknowledge any anomalous data, or deviations from what you expected

You need to take these exceptions and divergences into account, so that you qualify your conclusions sufficiently. For obvious reasons, your readers will doubt your authority if you (deliberately or inadvertently) overlook a key piece of data that doesn’t square with your perspective on what occurred. In a more philosophical sense, once you’ve ignored evidence that contradicts your claims, you’ve departed from the scientific method. The urge to “tidy up” the experiment is often strong, but if you give in to it you’re no longer performing good science.

Sometimes after you’ve performed a study or experiment, you realize that some part of the methods you used to test your hypothesis was flawed. In that case, it’s OK to suggest that if you had the chance to conduct your test again, you might change the design in this or that specific way in order to avoid such and such a problem. The key to making this approach work, though, is to be very precise about the weakness in your experiment, why and how you think that weakness might have affected your data, and how you would alter your protocol to eliminate—or limit the effects of—that weakness. Often, inexperienced researchers and writers feel the need to account for “wrong” data (remember, there’s no such animal), and so they speculate wildly about what might have screwed things up. These speculations include such factors as the unusually hot temperature in the room, or the possibility that their lab partners read the meters wrong, or the potentially defective equipment. These explanations are what scientists call “cop-outs,” or “lame”; don’t indicate that the experiment had a weakness unless you’re fairly certain that a) it really occurred and b) you can explain reasonably well how that weakness affected your results.

If, for example, your hypothesis dealt with the changes in solubility at different temperatures, then try to figure out what you can rationally say about the process of solubility more generally. If you’re doing an undergraduate lab, chances are that the lab will connect in some way to the material you’ve been covering either in lecture or in your reading, so you might choose to return to these resources as a way to help you think clearly about the process as a whole.

This part of the Discussion section is another place where you need to make sure that you’re not overreaching. Again, nothing you’ve found in one study would remotely allow you to claim that you now “know” something, or that something isn’t “true,” or that your experiment “confirmed” some principle or other. Hesitate before you go out on a limb—it’s dangerous! Use less absolutely conclusive language, including such words as “suggest,” “indicate,” “correspond,” “possibly,” “challenge,” etc.

Relate your findings to previous work in the field (if possible)

We’ve been talking about how to show that you belong in a particular community (such as biologists or anthropologists) by writing within conventions that they recognize and accept. Another is to try to identify a conversation going on among members of that community, and use your work to contribute to that conversation. In a larger philosophical sense, scientists can’t fully understand the value of their research unless they have some sense of the context that provoked and nourished it. That is, you have to recognize what’s new about your project (potentially, anyway) and how it benefits the wider body of scientific knowledge. On a more pragmatic level, especially for undergraduates, connecting your lab work to previous research will demonstrate to the TA that you see the big picture. You have an opportunity, in the Discussion section, to distinguish yourself from the students in your class who aren’t thinking beyond the barest facts of the study. Capitalize on this opportunity by putting your own work in context.

If you’re just beginning to work in the natural sciences (as a first-year biology or chemistry student, say), most likely the work you’ll be doing has already been performed and re-performed to a satisfactory degree. Hence, you could probably point to a similar experiment or study and compare/contrast your results and conclusions. More advanced work may deal with an issue that is somewhat less “resolved,” and so previous research may take the form of an ongoing debate, and you can use your own work to weigh in on that debate. If, for example, researchers are hotly disputing the value of herbal remedies for the common cold, and the results of your study suggest that Echinacea diminishes the symptoms but not the actual presence of the cold, then you might want to take some time in the Discussion section to recapitulate the specifics of the dispute as it relates to Echinacea as an herbal remedy. (Consider that you have probably already written in the Introduction about this debate as background research.)

This information is often the best way to end your Discussion (and, for all intents and purposes, the report). In argumentative writing generally, you want to use your closing words to convey the main point of your writing. This main point can be primarily theoretical (“Now that you understand this information, you’re in a better position to understand this larger issue”) or primarily practical (“You can use this information to take such and such an action”). In either case, the concluding statements help the reader to comprehend the significance of your project and your decision to write about it.

Since a lab report is argumentative—after all, you’re investigating a claim, and judging the legitimacy of that claim by generating and collecting evidence—it’s often a good idea to end your report with the same technique for establishing your main point. If you want to go the theoretical route, you might talk about the consequences your study has for the field or phenomenon you’re investigating. To return to the examples regarding solubility, you could end by reflecting on what your work on solubility as a function of temperature tells us (potentially) about solubility in general. (Some folks consider this type of exploration “pure” as opposed to “applied” science, although these labels can be problematic.) If you want to go the practical route, you could end by speculating about the medical, institutional, or commercial implications of your findings—in other words, answer the question, “What can this study help people to do?” In either case, you’re going to make your readers’ experience more satisfying, by helping them see why they spent their time learning what you had to teach them.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

American Psychological Association. 2010. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association . 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Beall, Herbert, and John Trimbur. 2001. A Short Guide to Writing About Chemistry , 2nd ed. New York: Longman.

Blum, Deborah, and Mary Knudson. 1997. A Field Guide for Science Writers: The Official Guide of the National Association of Science Writers . New York: Oxford University Press.

Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, and William T. FitzGerald. 2016. The Craft of Research , 4th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Briscoe, Mary Helen. 1996. Preparing Scientific Illustrations: A Guide to Better Posters, Presentations, and Publications , 2nd ed. New York: Springer-Verlag.

Council of Science Editors. 2014. Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers , 8th ed. Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press.

Davis, Martha. 2012. Scientific Papers and Presentations , 3rd ed. London: Academic Press.

Day, Robert A. 1994. How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper , 4th ed. Phoenix: Oryx Press.

Porush, David. 1995. A Short Guide to Writing About Science . New York: Longman.

Williams, Joseph, and Joseph Bizup. 2017. Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace , 12th ed. Boston: Pearson.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments

• Annotated Bibliography
• Analyzing a Scholarly Journal Article
• Group Presentations
• Dealing with Nervousness
• Using Visual Aids
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Refers to notes created by the researcher during the act of conducting a field study to remember and record the behaviors, activities, events, and other features of an observation. Field notes are intended to be read by the researcher as evidence to produce meaning and an understanding of the culture, social situation, or phenomenon being studied. The notes may constitute the whole data collected for a research study [e.g., an observational project] or contribute to it, such as when field notes supplement conventional interview data or other techniques of data gathering.

Schwandt, Thomas A. The SAGE Dictionary of Qualitative Inquiry . 4th edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2015.

How to Approach Writing Field Notes

The ways in which you take notes during an observational study is very much a personal decision developed over time as you become more experienced in fieldwork. However, all field notes generally consist of two parts:

• Descriptive information , in which you attempt to accurately document factual data [e.g., date and time] along with the settings, actions, behaviors, and conversations that you observe; and,
• Reflective information , in which you record your thoughts, ideas, questions, and concerns during the observation.

Note that field notes should be fleshed out as soon as possible after an observation is completed. Your initial notes may be recorded in cryptic form and, unless additional detail is added as soon as possible after the observation, important facts and opportunities for fully interpreting the data may be lost.

Characteristics of Field Notes

• Be accurate . You only get one chance to observe a particular moment in time so, before you conduct your observations, practice taking notes in a setting that is similar to your observation site in regards to number of people, the environment, and social dynamics. This will help you develop your own style of transcribing observations quickly and accurately.
• Be organized . Taking accurate notes while you are actively observing can be difficult. Therefore, it is important that you plan ahead how you will document your observation study [e.g., strictly chronologically or according to specific prompts]. Notes that are disorganized will make it more difficult for you to interpret the data.
• Be descriptive . Use descriptive words to document what you observe. For example, instead of noting that a classroom appears "comfortable," state that the classroom includes soft lighting and cushioned chairs that can be moved around by the students. Being descriptive means supplying yourself with enough factual evidence that you don't end up making assumptions about what you meant when you write the final report.
• Focus on the research problem . Since it's impossible to document everything you observe, focus on collecting the greatest detail that relates to the research problem and the theoretical constructs underpinning your research; avoid cluttering your notes with irrelevant information. For example, if the purpose of your study is to observe the discursive interactions between nursing home staff and the family members of residents, then it would only be necessary to document the setting in detail if it in some way directly influenced those interactions [e.g., there is a private room available for discussions between staff and family members].
• Record insights and thoughts . As you take notes, be thinking about the underlying meaning of what you observe and record your thoughts and ideas accordingly. If needed, this will help you to ask questions or seek clarification from participants after the observation. To avoid any confusion, subsequent comments from participants should be included in a separate, reflective part of your field notes and not merged with the descriptive notes.

General Guidelines for the Descriptive Content

The descriptive content of your notes can vary in detail depending upon what needs to be emphasized in order to address the research problem. However, in most observations, your notes should include at least some of the following elements:

• Describe the physical setting.
• Describe the social environment and the way in which participants interacted within the setting. This may include patterns of interactions, frequency of interactions, direction of communication patterns [including non-verbal communication], and patterns of specific behavioral events, such as, conflicts, decision-making, or collaboration.
• Describe the participants and their roles in the setting.
• Describe, as best you can, the meaning of what was observed from the perspectives of the participants.
• Record exact quotes or close approximations of comments that relate directly to the purpose of the study.
• Describe any impact you might have had on the situation you observed [important!].

General Guidelines for the Reflective Content

You are the instrument of data gathering and interpretation. Therefore, reflective content can include any of the following elements intended to contextualize what you have observed based on your perspective and your own personal, cultural, and situational experiences .

• Note ideas, impressions, thoughts, and/or any criticisms you have about what you observed.
• Include any unanswered questions or concerns that have arisen from analyzing the observation data.
• Clarify points and/or correct mistakes and misunderstandings in other parts of field notes.
• Include insights about what you have observed and speculate as to why you believe specific phenomenon occurred.
• Record any thoughts that you may have regarding any future observations.

NOTE:   Analysis of your field notes should occur as they are being written and while you are conducting your observations. This is important for at least two reasons. First, preliminary analysis fosters self-reflection and self-reflection is crucial for facilitating deep understanding and meaning-making in any research study. Second, preliminary analysis reveals emergent themes. Identifying emergent themes while observing allows you to shift your attention in ways that can foster a more developed investigation.

Emerson, Robert M. et al. Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes . 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2011; Ethnography, Observational Research, and Narrative Inquiry. Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Gambold, Liesl L. “Field Notes.” In Encyclopedia of Case Study Research . Edited by Albert J. Mills, Gabrielle Durepos, and Elden Wiebe. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2010; Pace, Tonio. Writing Field Reports. Scribd Online Library; Pyrczak, Fred and Randall R. Bruce. Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences . 5th ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing, 2005; Report Writing. UniLearning. University of Wollongong, Australia; Ravitch,  Sharon M. “Field Notes.” In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation . Edited by Bruce B. Frey. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2018; Tenzek, Kelly E. “Field Notes.” In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods . Edited by Mike Allen. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE, 2017; Wolfinger, Nicholas H. "On Writing Fieldnotes: Collection Strategies and Background Expectancies.” Qualitative Research 2 (April 2002): 85-95; Writing Reports. Anonymous. The Higher Education Academy.

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Field Report Template

Field report templates.

Easy to use mobile reporting tool for effective field observation and analysis

• Eliminate paperwork with digital checklists
• Generate reports from completed checklists
• Free to use for up to 10 users

A field report template is used to document the observation and analysis of a specific project. It is used by researchers to perform the following:

• Define the objective of the field report
• Define the theoretical framework
• Document observation and analysis
• Attach photo evidence of observed items
• Assign corrective action for immediate rectification
• Record overall assessment and recommendations
• Sign off with a digital signature to validate the observation

What is a Field Report?

A field report is a detailed documentation of observations and analysis of specific phenomena, behaviors, processes, people, and places. Grounded in theoretical frameworks and researchers’ analysis, it aims to identify solutions for a particular project or case study.

What is the Purpose of Field Reports?

The purpose of field reports is to provide a detailed description of an observed person, place, or event, which is then used to analyze and compare data over a theoretical framework. Field reporting is essential to various industries, including construction, field services , education, medicine, and management. It helps in observing safety programs outside the office, identifying challenges in implementing standards and protocols, capturing information on how resources are managed, and discovering new processes and effective solutions for the project.

What is the Format of a Field Report?

There is no definite way to format a field report. However, there are some elements that should be incorporated into every report. At a minimum, a field report should include:

• The name and contact information of the person who wrote the report
• The date the report was written
• The location where the fieldwork was conducted
• A description of the work that was performed
• The results of the work that was performed.
• Any recommendations for future work
• A list of references used in the report
• Appendices containing supporting information, such as images, charts, or data tables

More detailed field reports may also include:

• An Executive Summary, which provides a brief overview of the most important points in the report
• A Table of Contents, which helps the reader find specific information in the report
• Headings and subheadings, which help organize the information in the report
• A Glossary of Terms, which defines any specialized vocabulary used in the report
• A Bibliography, which lists any sources used in the preparation of the report

The format of a field report can vary depending on the type of work being reported on, the guidelines set forth by the person or organization commissioning the report, and the preferences of the person writing the report. However, by including the elements listed above, you can be sure that your report will contain all the information that is typically expected in a field report.

How to Effectively Write a Field Report

A field report focuses on the factual details of a project case. It should cover the circumstances and contributing factors that can help one understand how theory applies to real-world scenarios. Below are the main steps in effectively writing a field report:

1. Define the objective(s) of the field report

Clearly state the purpose of the field report to determine the focus and provide the right information needed by the organization. A field report should also define the nature of the organization, the setting of observations, and the methods used to gather data.

2. Create theoretical framework

Creating a theoretical framework is as essential as knowing the facts when creating a field report. Gather information based on statistics, news, and research to better understand the topic at hand. A theoretical framework guides researchers in determining the data that need to be measured and set as a baseline for comparison to get the needed information.

3. Define scope of work (SOW)

Determine a detailed plan on how to achieve the objectives set by the organization. Evaluate the timeline needed to finish the observation, state the deliverables, and record any potential milestones, risks, and hazards.

4. Conduct a field observation

Accurately document the changing aspects of the situation and record details gathered through analysis and observation. Clearly explain the investigation and adhere to the initial plan and methodology. Document the following:

• Physical characteristics of the setting
• Demographics
• Impact of actions and behavior of the subject
• Use of language
• Description of activities

5. Use a field report checklist

A field report checklist is used to guide researchers on documenting their observations. It helps monitor the work in progress and staff performance in achieving the task assignments and deliverables.

What is a Field Report Template?

A field report template is a readily-available document that organizations can use when conducting field reports. It provides users with the essential elements needed to produce a comprehensive report and avoid missing important items or areas that are to be observed.

Although field report templates can be paper-based or electronic format, utilizing digital templates that allow you to modify and edit them according to preference and business needs, offers a lot of advantages.

What to Include

A general field report template consists of the following items:

• Full name of researcher/reporter
• Exact location of the project (where the field report is to be conducted)
• Theoretical framework
• Scope of Work (SoW)
• Observations
• Recommendations
• Signature of researcher/reporter and other authorized people

How to Use the Field Report Template

Since field reports are ideally accomplished using a centralized document, ready-to-use templates can be a go-to for organizations that perform this type of analysis regularly. If it has to be filled out by multiple people in your organization, templates that are used in a digital format can aid with access, data accuracy, and the need for modification capability.

Steps to Using the Field Report Template

Follow the steps below to create an efficient template:

• Fill the general information field – Start the analysis for the project/endeavor by discussing the objective, theoretical framework, SOW, and observations noted. Be as detailed as possible since this will be the backbone of the research.
• Add photos/media as evidence – Attach photos or media as supporting details for the analysis. This would provide additional integrity to the research.
• Create actions or notes – If there are side notes or comments that need to be documented, put them in the corresponding field of the file for easy identification.
• Provide overall recommendations – Once done with the initial part of the analysis, consider all the factors involved and form a recommendation that is based solely on the result of the research conducted.
• Complete the report – Add a digital signature before finalizing the report. Share them with team members and relevant stakeholders for immediate feedback or process change implementation.

Field Report FAQs

What are the objectives of a field report.

A field report aims to conduct a research based on reliable data generated by careful and structured observation of the following: 

How to record field report observations? 

Some of the common methods you can take advantage of when recording your observations are: 

• Note taking 
• Photography 
• Audio or video recording
• Illustrations

How to apply the five w's of investigative reporting to field reporting?

A field report provides sufficient evidence to describe the activities and support the analysis of the project. It is recommended to follow the five W’s of investigative reporting, namely:

• What – provides a description of the observation Example: What is the effect of using a digital checklist on field services?
• Where – defines the setting or location of the observation Example : Location of work in progress, resources, and employee performance
• When – records the time and date when the observation was conducted Example : The digital checklist was used for field observation on 31 May 2014
• Who – provides information on the participants of the observation Example : All engineering staff who are working in the field
• Why – provides the reason behind the observation and analysis Example : To determine the safety and productivity of a site

What is a field report checklist?

A field report checklist is a tool used as a guide for researchers in documenting their observations and analysis of the project. A field report checklist can come in either a traditional pen-paper or digital format.

Use Digital Field Report Templates

Constructing field reports with a traditional pen and paper is cumbersome, and recordkeeping can be a challenge in the long run. The inability to capture photos makes the gathering of evidence more prone to human error. Also, losing paperwork can lead to analysis delays, wasted time, and extra costs. By using SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor) , a mobile-ready inspection app, you can avoid the hassle of losing field observation reports. With SafetyCulture , you can:

• Customize effortlessly : Tailor templates with specific needs by incorporating custom logic into digital checklists 
• Empower your team: Invite your team members to utilize and explore the platform, enabling them to experience its capabilities
• Never miss an audit : Schedule inspections that notify all relevant personnel to ensure that no check-ins are overlooked
• Keep everyone informed : Generate comprehensive reports that are easily shareable with leaders, team members, and other relevant stakeholders

Featured Field Report Templates

Field crew inspection report checklist.

This field crew inspection report checklist is created by Millard Lumber Inc. using SafetyCulture. Millard Lumber Inc. is a locally operated building supply and home decor that offers a variety of products and services such as cabinet hardware to roofing and siding. This has been made to evaluate the job site location and the staff usage of hand and power tools.

Field Service Report Template

A field service report template is used to record all services performed by field staff during customer visits. It helps record any equipment defects, action requirements, and expenses needs.

Jona Tarlengco

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Want to Write a Field Study Report? 6 Key Points to Consider!

Research conduction is not just limited to your laboratory, library, or work place setting. As part of your research you may have to step out in the field (any place other than your regular research lab or work station) to collect raw data for analysis and then publish it as a field study report. In this article, we will discuss the elements of a field study report and the key points to consider while writing one!

Table of Contents

What is a Field Study Report?

A field study report is defined as a documentation of analysis of particular phenomena, behaviors, processes based on theories and observations made by the researcher in the field. These observed and analyzed theories are used to identify solutions for a specific project or case report .

What is the Importance of Field Study Report?

• A field study report is important as part of many operational and technical documentation processes in various industries including field services, education, medicine, and management.
• Moreover, it gives detailed information of an observed subject or specimen which is used to analyze and compare data against a theoretical framework .
• It also helps in identifying challenges in implementing solutions to form a standardized protocol.
• Furthermore, it helps in capturing information on resource management and discovering new processes for effective and optimized solutions.

How to Write Field Research Notes?

A field study report begins with an idea and ends with a solution. Hence, while conducting field research, one must follow a planned route of taking notes for proper documentation of the observations made. A successful field study report begins when the researcher is involved in the observational research process of taking proper notes.

Based on the methods, the field research notes are categorized in four different types:

1. Job Notes:

• Researchers use this method of taking field notes whilst they are conducting the study.
• These notes are taken in close proximity and in open sight with the study’s subject.
• These notes are brief, concise, in the form that can be built on by the researcher later while creating the report.

2. Field Notes Proper:

• This method of taking field notes is to expand them immediately after the completion of study.
• These notes are detailed and the words have to be as close to the terms that will be used in the final field study report.

3. Methodological Notes:

• This type of field notes involve research methods used by the researcher, newly proposed research methods, and the way to monitor their progress.
• Methodological notes are either attached with field notes or filed separately. These notes are always placed at the end of the field study report.

4. Journals and Diaries:

• This method of taking notes is an insight into the researcher’s life as it tracks all aspects of the researcher’s life.
• It helps in eliminating any bias that may have affected the field research.

Examples of Things to Document During Field Study

1. Physical Setting:

Observe the characteristics of the space where the study is being conducted.

2. Objects and Material:

The presence, placement, and arrangement of objects that affect the behavior of the subject being studied.

3. Language Used:

Observe the language being used by study participants (in case of human participation).

4. Behavior Cycles:

Document who is performing what behavior at what time and situation.

5. Physical Characteristics of Participants/Subjects:

Observe and note personal characteristics of subjects.

6. Body Movements:

Things such as body posture or facial expressions and assess if these movements support or contradict the language used while communicating.

Data Collection in Field Report (Sampling Techniques)

Data collection process in field study is also known as sampling. It refers to the process used to select a portion of the population for study. Selection of an ideal sampling technique is imperative to obtain the richest possible source of information to answer the research questions.

Different Types of Sampling Techniques:

Ad Libitum Sampling

This technique involves observing whatever seems interesting at the moment. It does not follow an organized system of recording the observations.

Behavior Sampling

This sampling technique involves watching the entire group of subjects and recording each occurrence of a specific behavior of interest with reference to which individuals were involved.

Continuous Recording

This sampling technique includes recording of frequencies, durations, and latencies in a continuous and systematic pattern.

Focal Sampling

The focal sampling technique involves observing one individual/subject for a specified amount of time and recording all instances of that individual’s behavior.

Instantaneous Sampling

The technique of instantaneous sampling involves dividing observation sessions into short intervals by sample points.

One-Zero Sampling

The one-zero sampling technique is similar to instantaneous sampling. It involves recording only if the behaviors of interest have occurred at any time during an interval instead of at the instant of the sampling point.

Scan Sampling

The scan sampling technique involves taking a census of the entire observed group at predetermined time periods and recording what each individual is doing at that moment.

What is the Structure and Writing Style of Field Study Report?

A field study report does not have a standard format; however, the following factors determined its structure and writing style:

• Nature of research problem
• Theoretical perspective that drives the analysis
• Observations made by researcher
• Specific guidelines established by your professor/supervisor

A field study report includes 6 main elements as follows:

1. Introduction

The introduction section should describe the objective and important theories or concepts underpinning your field study. More importantly, it should describe the organization’s nature or setting where you are conducting the observation—the types of observations conducted, the focus of your research study, what was observed, and which methods were used for collecting the data. Furthermore, it is important to include a review of pertinent literature .

2. Description of Activities

It becomes imperative for researchers to provide the information to the readers about what happened during the field study. Hence, you must include the details of all events that take place during your field research.

The description section helps in answering the five “WH” questions as mentioned below:

What did you see and hear in your area of study?

Where does the background information of the research setting is observed and reported?

Why are you conducting this field research?,

The reason behind particular thing happening , and

Why have you included or excluded specific information?

Who are the participants in terms of gender, age, ethnicity, and other relevant variables from your observation?

When is the study being conducted (day or time when occurring actions are observed and noted)?

3. Analysis and Interpretation

While you are on the field conducting the study, you are likely to observe multiple things. However, it is up to you as to which observations do you want to interpret and record in the report. This allows you to show the reader that you are interpreting events like an informed observer. Furthermore, your theoretical framework helps you in making this decision. The analysis and interpretation of your field observations must always be placed in the larger context of the theories described in the introduction.

Some questions to ask yourself when analyzing your observations are as follows:

• What is the meaning of your observations?
• What are the reasons behind the occurrence of the things you observed?
• How typical or widespread are the events and behaviors of the things you observed?
• Are there any connections or patterns in your observations?
• What are the implications of your observations?
• Did your observations match the objective of your study?
• What were the merits of your observations?
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of your recorded observations?
• Are there any connections between your findings and the findings from pertinent literature?
• Do your observations fit into the larger context of the study’s theories?

4. Conclusion and Recommendations

The conclusion of your field study report should summarize your report and emphasize the importance of your observations. This section has to be concise and relevant to your field study and must not include any new information. Furthermore, it is imperative to highlight any recommendations that you may have for readers to consider while conducting similar study. Additionally, describe any unanticipated problems you encountered and note the limitations of your study. Limit your conclusion to around two to three paragraphs.

5. References

The reference section must include every source that you referred to and used while writing your field study report. Since format for writing references may differ for every university, you must consult your professor to understand the format and write it accordingly.

6. Appendix

This section includes information that is not essential to explain your findings, but supports your analysis [especially repetitive or lengthy information]. It validates your conclusions and contextualize a related point. This helps the reader to understand the overall field study report.

6 Key Points to Consider While Writing a Field Study Report

A field study report focuses on factual and observational details of a project case. It must help the reader understand how theory applies to real-world scenarios. Hence, it should cover the circumstances and contributing factors to derive conclusive results from the observed and collated raw data.

Below are the key points to consider while writing a field study report:

1. Define the Objective of Your Field Report

• Ensure that you state the purpose of your field study report clearly.
• Determine the focus of your study and provide the relevant information.
• Define the setting of observations, and the methods used to collect data.

2. Construct a Theoretical Framework

• Creating a theoretical framework helps you in garnering information based on statistics, news, and pertinent literature for better understanding.
• Additionally, it guides you in determining the data that need to be analyzed and set as a baseline for comparison to acquire necessary information.

3. Record Study Observations and Analysis

• Take notes of your observations based on the defined scope of work (SOW).
• Furthermore, achieve and record the detailed plan on how to achieve the set objectives.

4. Include Photo Evidence of Observed Items

• Validate gathered raw data with photographs or videos as evidences.
• This increases the authenticity of your report and the conclusions you derive from it.

5. Record Overall Assessment and Recommendations

• Document all the observed aspects of your study based on gathered analysis and observations.
• Furthermore, clearly explain the observations and discuss the challenges and limitations faced by you while conducting the study.

6. Validate the Observations with a Signature

• After completing your research and documenting it, it is important to declare who is responsible for the reported data.
• Additionally, you must validate your findings in the field study report by signing off with a digital signature at the end of the report.

Did you every try writing a field study report? How difficult or easy was it? What methods do you follow while writing a field report? Let us know about it in the comments section below!

very well written….the enumeration is really commendable dear Bhosale…sweet regards from Nepal..

Very well explained and detailed. The information was relevant to my research. thanks

Wow…. Thank you I find this useful 🙏

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How to Write a Report for an Assignment: Your Complete Guide

What Is a Report?

How should you structure a report, how to write a report: 7 steps to follow, in conclusion.

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So, you’re tasked with writing a report. While it may seem like a cakewalk, it’s anything but. It requires strong research, analysis, and academic writing skills.

That said, don’t let this assignment intimidate you. With a good guide and some practice, you can ace this assignment. In any case, you can always count on our online assignment writing service to help you with any request.

While it’s up to you to develop your report-writing skills, we can help you out with this comprehensive guide on how to write a report. Below you’ll find everything you need to craft an A-worthy report yourself:

• What a report is and how it’s different from other assignments;
• A typical structure for this type of paper;
• A step-by-step guide on writing one from scratch.

The purpose of a report is to recapitulate factual knowledge on a specific topic, usually without giving your opinion on it. That’s what sets it apart from essays, where you have to include your standpoint on the topic.

Academic reports come in many flavors. The most common of them include:

• Informational reports focus on explaining a particular topic through facts in an organized, impersonal, and objective way.
• Case studies describe a particular event, person, organization, or phenomenon that serves as an example for a wider research problem.
• Book reports summarize a work of fiction or non-fiction and sometimes contain an evaluation part.
• History reports describe a historical event or period, its causes, and consequences, all while relying on facts.
• Research reports focus on the research conducted by the author, from the methodology to the study’s undergoing and conclusions.

Most reports have to include these nine elements:

• Title page . It should contain your name, class or course, instructor’s name, the educational establishment’s name, and the paper’s title.
• Executive summary . Think of it as an abstract for your work – it sums up your paper in one paragraph.
• Table of contents . Typically used for long reports, it helps readers quickly find this or that section of the paper.
• Glossary . If your work includes abbreviations, symbols, or niche terms, you can decipher them in this section.
• Introduction . This paragraph is where you present your topic and give some background information that your readers should be aware of. You should also clearly formulate your thesis statement and describe how you’ll approach your topic.
• Main body . The longest part of the paper, the main body, is the part where you describe all the facts you’ve discovered during research.
• Conclusion . It’s the part where you sum up all the information you presented in the main body. You may also express your interpretation or opinion here (if allowed).
• References . This is the list of all sources you cite in the paper, formatted according to the style you have to use.
• Appendices . It’s the section with all graphs, tables with data, or illustrations you referenced in the main body.

Typically, you should also include the following elements throughout your paper:

• Page numbering;
• Headings and subheadings;

Keep in mind: this is a general structure. Before you use it, consult your assignment and see if any instructions there contradict it.

Plus, some elements are defined by the format of writing assignment you’re required to use. For example, the title page is obligatory for APA papers, while it’s optional for Chicago and MLA formats. Page numbering and citation requirements will also differ across styles.

So, you’ve received your assignment, and you’re ready to start working on it. How should you approach it? Follow these seven steps toward a five-star report.

1. Choose Your Topic

If it hasn’t been assigned to you already, you need to choose the topic of your report yourself. Be mindful: your choice can make or break the quality of your paper. For example, if you pick a topic that’s too niche or complex, you may not have enough reliable sources to include in the paper.

But what makes a topic good for writing a report? Here are three questions to ask yourself:

• Is there enough information on this topic?
• Does it spark interest in you?
• Is it original and specific enough?

If you get “yes” for all three questions, this topic can be a good pick for your assignment.

2. Do Your Research

Now that you have your topic, it’s time to gather all the sources for your work. Here are a few tips on doing research for this and any other academic paper:

• Check out similar reports or papers – you can use sources provided there, too;
• Take notes for every source you may use later on – you can even start creating an outline right away;
• Keep in mind that you may have obligatory sources to include – don’t overlook them;
• Stick to reliable sources only: research papers, official documents, reputable organizations and institutions specializing in the topic, case studies, etc.;
• When searching online, filter out results by the top-level domain (.edu for educational establishments, for example) and prioritize using Google Scholar.

3. Create an Outline

If you struggle with starting to write and end up staring at a blank screen, making an outline is a time-tested way to overcome writer’s block.

An outline is a rough plan for your paper. It typically consists of preliminary headings and subheadings, along with short descriptions of each section’s content and sources. 

Your outline doesn’t have to be perfect or well-written! It’s just a way to organize your ideas and information you found during the research.

It’s best to start working on your outline the moment you kick off your research. This way, you won’t forget about a great source or point later.

4. Craft Your Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is that one sentence where you describe what your report is all about. But don’t confuse it with the topic – your thesis statement should be more specific than the topic you initially settled on.

Let’s say you initially chose “the impact of social media on mental health” as the topic for your assignment. Once you do your research, you’ll notice plenty of sources highlighting its negative consequences on mental health. This pattern will help you phrase your thesis statement.

For this example, the thesis statement can be, “Although it has the power to connect people around the globe, social media can lead to a decline in self-esteem, fear of missing out, anxiety and depression, and Snapchat dysmorphia.”

5. Write the First Draft

Now, it’s time for the most time-consuming part of the writing process: crafting the first draft. Your outline will help you a great deal, though: all you need to do is expand on it – and you’ll have your first draft.

You don’t have to start writing at the beginning. The introduction is typically the toughest to craft, along with the conclusion. So, just look at your outline and start typing wherever you feel like it.

You also don’t have to work on your draft linearly. Writing one section close to the end and then working on another one at the beginning is completely fine. You can ensure that you don’t repeat yourself and that your paper’s logic holds up later on.

Don’t worry about the quality of your writing at this stage; just keep writing. First drafts are never perfect, but you’ll polish off yours later on.

A Few Words on the Writing Style

When you get to the writing process or want to buy an assignment from professionals, keep in mind: you’re expected to use the academic assignment writing style. This means you should:

• Be concise and to the point;
• Avoid using informal words, phrases, and expressions;
• Remain objective in your writing;
• Write in the third person.

6. Review & Edit the Draft

Ideally, you should let your first draft sit for a day or two. This way, you can revisit it with a fresh pair of eyes. If that’s not an option, put it away for at least 15 minutes.

When you return to your first draft, it’s time to:

• Reread your draft – you can do it out loud to catch weird turns of phrases and convoluted sentences;
• Make your text more concise and simple;
• Check the text for errors in logic, unsubstantiated claims, and repetitions – and fix those;
• Proofread your text (you can use tools like Grammarly to make this part easier).

7. Format Your Report

Finally, it’s time to take care of the most boring part: formatting. To ace it, check the formatting style you have to use – and follow it to a T when it comes to:

• References list;
• Title page;
• Headers and footers;
• Appendices.

Writing a report is hardly a cakewalk. But it’s not impossible, either! All you need to do is set aside enough time for this assignment, do thorough research – and forget about writing a perfect draft on the first try. You should also stick to being objective and factual in your paper (otherwise, it won’t be a report, right?). By the way, we can now help you to do my assignment on any topic! So the report can now be available in two languages from our team. Good luck!

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Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Writing a Field Report

• Purpose of Guide
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Independent and Dependent Variables
• Glossary of Research Terms
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
• Academic Writing Style
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• Executive Summary
• The C.A.R.S. Model
• Background Information
• The Research Problem/Question
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Content Alert Services
• Evaluating Sources
• Reading Research Effectively
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tiertiary Sources
• What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Using Non-Textual Elements
• Limitations of the Study
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Writing Concisely
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Footnotes or Endnotes?
• Further Readings
• Annotated Bibliography
• Dealing with Nervousness
• Using Visual Aids
• Grading Someone Else's Paper
• Types of Structured Group Activities
• Group Project Survival Skills
• Multiple Book Review Essay
• Reviewing Collected Essays
• Writing a Case Study
• About Informed Consent
• Writing Field Notes
• Writing a Policy Memo
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Bibliography

The purpose of a field report in the social sciences is to describe the observation of people, places, and/or events and to analyze that observation data in order to identify and categorize common themes in relation to the research problem underpinning the study. The content represents the researcher's interpretation of meaning found in data that has been gathered during one or more observational events.

Flick, Uwe The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Data Collection . London: SAGE Publications, 2018.

How to Approach Writing a Field Report

How to Begin

Field reports are most often assigned in disciplines of the applied social sciences [e.g., social work, anthropology, gerontology, criminal justice, education, law, the health care professions] where it is important to build a bridge of relevancy between the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom and the practice of actually doing the work you are being taught to do. Field reports are also common in certain science disciplines [e.g., geology] but these reports are organized differently and serve a different purpose than what is described below.

Professors will assign a field report with the intention of improving your understanding of key theoretical concepts through a method of careful and structured observation of, and reflection about, people, places, or phenomena existing in their natural settings. Field reports facilitate the development of data collection techniques and observation skills and they help you to understand how theory applies to real world situations. Field reports are also an opportunity to obtain evidence through methods of observing professional practice that contribute to or challenge existing theories.

We are all observers of people, their interactions, places, and events; however, your responsibility when writing a field report is to create a research study based on data generated by the act of designing a specific study, deliberate observation, a synthesis of key findings, and an interpretation of their meaning. When writing a field report you need to:

• Systematically observe and accurately record the varying aspects of a situation . Always approach your field study with a detailed protocol about what you will observe, where you should conduct your observations, and the method by which you will collect and record your data.
• Continuously analyze your observations . Always look for the meaning underlying the actions you observe. Ask yourself: What's going on here? What does this observed activity mean? What else does this relate to? Note that this is an on-going process of reflection and analysis taking place for the duration of your field research.
• Keep the report’s aims in mind while you are observing . Recording what you observe should not be done randomly or haphazardly; you must be focused and pay attention to details. Enter the observation site [i.e., "field"] with a clear plan about what you are intending to observe and record while, at the same time, being prepared to adapt to changing circumstances as they may arise.
• Consciously observe, record, and analyze what you hear and see in the context of a theoretical framework . This is what separates data gatherings from simple reporting. The theoretical framework guiding your field research should determine what, when, and how you observe and act as the foundation from which you interpret your findings.

Techniques to Record Your Observations Although there is no limit to the type of data gathering technique you can use, these are the most frequently used methods:

Note Taking This is the most commonly used and easiest method of recording your observations. Tips for taking notes include: organizing some shorthand symbols beforehand so that recording basic or repeated actions does not impede your ability to observe, using many small paragraphs, which reflect changes in activities, who is talking, etc., and, leaving space on the page so you can write down additional thoughts and ideas about what’s being observed, any theoretical insights, and notes to yourself that are set aside for further investigation. See drop-down tab for additional information about note-taking.

Photography With the advent of smart phones, high quality photographs can be taken of the objects, events, and people observed during a field study. Photographs can help capture an important moment in time as well as document details about the space where your observation takes place. Taking a photograph can save you time in documenting the details of a space that would otherwise require extensive note taking. However, be aware that flash photography could undermine your ability to observe unobtrusively so assess the lighting in your observation space; if it's too dark, you may need to rely on taking notes. Also, you should reject the idea that photographs are some sort of "window into the world" because this assumption creates the risk of over-interpreting what they show. As with any product of data gathering, you are the sole instrument of interpretation and meaning-making, not the object itself. Video and Audio Recordings Video or audio recording your observations has the positive effect of giving you an unfiltered record of the observation event. It also facilitates repeated analysis of your observations. This can be particularly helpful as you gather additional information or insights during your research. However, these techniques have the negative effect of increasing how intrusive you are as an observer and will often not be practical or even allowed under certain circumstances [e.g., interaction between a doctor and a patient] and in certain organizational settings [e.g., a courtroom]. Illustrations/Drawings This does not refer to an artistic endeavor but, rather, refers to the possible need, for example, to draw a map of the observation setting or illustrating objects in relation to people's behavior. This can also take the form of rough tables or graphs documenting the frequency and type of activities observed. These can be subsequently placed in a more readable format when you write your field report. To save time, draft a table [i.e., columns and rows] on a separate piece of paper before an observation if you know you will be entering data in that way.

NOTE:   You may consider using a laptop or other electronic device to record your notes as you observe, but keep in mind the possibility that the clicking of keys while you type or noises from your device can be obtrusive, whereas writing your notes on paper is relatively quiet and unobtrusive. Always assess your presence in the setting where you're gathering the data so as to minimize your impact on the subject or phenomenon being studied.

ANOTHER NOTE :  Techniques of observation and data gathering are not innate skills; they are skills that must be learned and practiced in order to achieve proficiency. Before your first observation, practice the technique you plan to use in a setting similar to your study site [e.g., take notes about how people choose to enter checkout lines at a grocery store if your research involves examining the choice patterns of unrelated people forced to queue in busy social settings]. When the act of data gathering counts, you'll be glad you practiced beforehand.

Examples of Things to Document While Observing

• Physical setting . The characteristics of an occupied space and the human use of the place where the observation(s) are being conducted.
• Objects and material culture . This refers to the presence, placement, and arrangement of objects that impact the behavior or actions of those being observed. If applicable, describe the cultural artifacts representing the beliefs--values, ideas, attitudes, and assumptions--used by the individuals you are observing.
• Use of language . Don't just observe but  listen to what is being said, how is it being said, and, the tone of conversation among participants.
• Behavior cycles . This refers to documenting when and who performs what behavior or task and how often they occur. Record at which stage is this behavior occurring within the setting.
• The order in which events unfold . Note sequential patterns of behavior or the moment when actions or events take place and their significance.
• Physical characteristics of subjects. If relevant, note age, gender, clothing, etc. of individuals being observed.
• Expressive body movements . This would include things like body posture or facial expressions. Note that it may be relevant to also assess whether expressive body movements support or contradict the language used in conversation [e.g., detecting sarcasm].

Brief notes about all of these examples contextualize your observations; however, your observation notes will be guided primarily by your theoretical framework, keeping in mind that your observations will feed into and potentially modify or alter these frameworks.

Sampling Techniques

Sampling refers to the process used to select a portion of the population for study . Qualitative research, of which observation is one method of data gathering, is generally based on non-probability and purposive sampling rather than probability or random approaches characteristic of quantitatively-driven studies. Sampling in observational research is flexible and often continues until no new themes emerge from the data, a point referred to as data saturation.

All sampling decisions are made for the explicit purpose of obtaining the richest possible source of information to answer the research questions. Decisions about sampling assumes you know what you want to observe, what behaviors are important to record, and what research problem you are addressing before you begin the study. These questions determine what sampling technique you should use, so be sure you have adequately answered them before selecting a sampling method.

Ways to sample when conducting an observation include:

Ad Libitum Sampling -- this approach is not that different from what people do at the zoo--observing whatever seems interesting at the moment. There is no organized system of recording the observations; you just note whatever seems relevant at the time. The advantage of this method is that you are often able to observe relatively rare or unusual behaviors that might be missed by more deliberate sampling methods. This method is also useful for obtaining preliminary observations that can be used to develop your final field study. Problems using this method include the possibility of inherent bias toward conspicuous behaviors or individuals and that you may miss brief interactions in social settings.

Behavior Sampling -- this involves watching the entire group of subjects and recording each occurrence of a specific behavior of interest and with reference to which individuals were involved. The method is useful in recording rare behaviors missed by other sampling methods and is often used in conjunction with focal or scan methods. However, sampling can be biased towards particular conspicuous behaviors.

Continuous Recording -- provides a faithful record of behavior including frequencies, durations, and latencies [the time that elapses between a stimulus and the response to it]. This is a very demanding method because you are trying to record everything within the setting and, thus, measuring reliability may be sacrificed. In addition, durations and latencies are only reliable if subjects remain present throughout the collection of data. However, this method facilitates analyzing sequences of behaviors and ensures obtaining a wealth of data about the observation site and the people within it. The use of audio or video recording is most useful with this type of sampling.

Focal Sampling -- this involves observing one individual for a specified amount of time and recording all instances of that individual's behavior. Usually you have a set of predetermined categories or types of behaviors that you are interested in observing [e.g., when a teacher walks around the classroom] and you keep track of the duration of those behaviors. This approach doesn't tend to bias one behavior over another and provides significant detail about a individual's behavior. However, with this method, you likely have to conduct a lot of focal samples before you have a good idea about how group members interact. It can also be difficult within certain settings to keep one individual in sight for the entire period of the observation.

Instantaneous Sampling -- this is where observation sessions are divided into short intervals divided by sample points. At each sample point the observer records if predetermined behaviors of interest are taking place. This method is not effective for recording discrete events of short duration and, frequently, observers will want to record novel behaviors that occur slightly before or after the point of sampling, creating a sampling error. Though not exact, this method does give you an idea of durations and is relatively easy to do. It is also good for recording behavior patterns occurring at a specific instant, such as, movement or body positions.

One-Zero Sampling -- this is very similar to instantaneous sampling, only the observer records if the behaviors of interest have occurred at any time during an interval instead of at the instant of the sampling point. The method is useful for capturing data on behavior patterns that start and stop repeatedly and rapidly, but that last only for a brief period of time. The disadvantage of this approach is that you get a dimensionless score for an entire recording session, so you only get one one data point for each recording session.

Scan Sampling -- this method involves taking a census of the entire observed group at predetermined time periods and recording what each individual is doing at that moment. This is useful for obtaining group behavioral data and allows for data that are evenly representative across individuals and periods of time. On the other hand, this method may be biased towards more conspicuous behaviors and you may miss a lot of what is going on between observations, especially rare or unusual behaviors. It is also difficult to record more than a few individuals in a group setting without missing what each individual is doing at each predetermined moment in time [e.g., children sitting at a table during lunch at school].

Alderks, Peter. Data Collection . Psychology 330 Course Documents. Animal Behavior Lab. University of Washington; Emerson, Robert M. Contemporary Field Research: Perspectives and Formulations . 2nd ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 2001; Emerson, Robert M. et al. “Participant Observation and Fieldnotes.” In Handbook of Ethnography . Paul Atkinson et al., eds. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001), 352-368; Emerson, Robert M. et al. Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes . 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2011; Ethnography, Observational Research, and Narrative Inquiry . Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Hazel, Spencer. "The Paradox from Within: Research Participants Doing-Being-Observed." Qualitative Research 16 (August 2016): 446-457; Pace, Tonio. Writing Field Reports . Scribd Online Library; Presser, Jon and Dona Schwartz. “Photographs within the Sociological Research Process.” In Image-based Research: A Sourcebook for Qualitative Researchers . Jon Prosser, editor (London: Falmer Press, 1998), pp. 115-130; Pyrczak, Fred and Randall R. Bruce. Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences . 5th ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing, 2005; Report Writing . UniLearning. University of Wollongong, Australia; Wolfinger, Nicholas H. "On Writing Fieldnotes: Collection Strategies and Background Expectancies.” Qualitative Research 2 (April 2002): 85-95; Writing Reports . Anonymous. The Higher Education Academy.

Structure and Writing Style

How you choose to format your field report is determined by the research problem, the theoretical perspective that is driving your analysis, the observations that you make, and/or specific guidelines established by your professor. Since field reports do not have a standard format, it is worthwhile to determine from your professor what the preferred organization should be before you begin to write. Note that field reports should be written in the past tense. With this in mind, most field reports in the social sciences include the following elements:

I.  Introduction The introduction should describe the research problem, the specific objectives of your research, and the important theories or concepts underpinning your field study. The introduction should describe the nature of the organization or setting where you are conducting the observation, what type of observations you have conducted, what your focus was, when you observed, and the methods you used for collecting the data. You should also include a review of pertinent literature related to the research problem, particularly if similar methods were used in prior studies. Conclude your introduction with a statement about how the rest of the paper is organized.

II.  Description of Activities

Your readers only knowledge and understanding of what happened will come from the description section of your report because they have not been witness to the situation, people, or events that you are writing about. Given this, it is crucial that you provide sufficient details to place the analysis that will follow into proper context; don't make the mistake of providing a description without context. The description section of a field report is similar to a well written piece of journalism. Therefore, a helpful approach to systematically describing the varying aspects of an observed situation is to answer the "Five W’s of Investigative Reporting." These are:

• What -- describe what you observed. Note the temporal, physical, and social boundaries you imposed to limit the observations you made. What were your general impressions of the situation you were observing. For example, as a student teacher, what is your impression of the application of iPads as a learning device in a history class; as a cultural anthropologist, what is your impression of women's participation in a Native American religious ritual?
• Where -- provide background information about the setting of your observation and, if necessary, note important material objects that are present that help contextualize the observation [e.g., arrangement of computers in relation to student engagement with the teacher].
• When -- record factual data about the day and the beginning and ending time of each observation. Note that it may also be necessary to include background information or key events which impact upon the situation you were observing [e.g., observing the ability of teachers to re-engage students after coming back from an unannounced fire drill].
• Who -- note background and demographic information about the individuals being observed e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, and/or any other variables relevant to your study]. Record who is doing what and saying what, as well as, who is not doing or saying what. If relevant, be sure to record who was missing from the observation.
• Why -- why were you doing this? Describe the reasons for selecting particular situations to observe. Note why something happened. Also note why you may have included or excluded certain information.

III.  Interpretation and Analysis

Always place the analysis and interpretations of your field observations within the larger context of the theories and issues you described in the introduction. Part of your responsibility in analyzing the data is to determine which observations are worthy of comment and interpretation, and which observations are more general in nature. It is your theoretical framework that allows you to make these decisions. You need to demonstrate to the reader that you are looking at the situation through the eyes of an informed viewer, not as a lay person.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when analyzing your observations:

• What is the meaning of what you have observed?
• Why do you think what you observed happened? What evidence do you have for your reasoning?
• What events or behaviors were typical or widespread? If appropriate, what was unusual or out of ordinary? How were they distributed among categories of people?
• Do you see any connections or patterns in what you observed?
• Why did the people you observed proceed with an action in the way that they did? What are the implications of this?
• Did the stated or implicit objectives of what you were observing match what was achieved?
• What were the relative merits of the behaviors you observed?
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of the observations you recorded?
• Do you see connections between what you observed and the findings of similar studies identified from your review of the literature?
• How do your observations fit into the larger context of professional practice? In what ways have your observations possibly changed or affirmed your perceptions of professional practice?
• Have you learned anything from what you observed?

NOTE:   Only base your interpretations on what you have actually observed. Do not speculate or manipulate your observational data to fit into your study's theoretical framework.

IV.  Conclusion and Recommendations

The conclusion should briefly recap of the entire study, reiterating the importance or significance of your observations. Avoid including any new information. You should also state any recommendations you may have. Be sure to describe any unanticipated problems you encountered and note the limitations of your study. The conclusion should not be more than two or three paragraphs.

V.  Appendix

This is where you would place information that is not essential to explaining your findings, but that supports your analysis [especially repetitive or lengthy information], that validates your conclusions, or that contextualizes a related point that helps the reader understand the overall report. Examples of information that could be included in an appendix are figures/tables/charts/graphs of results, statistics, pictures, maps, drawings, or, if applicable, transcripts of interviews. There is no limit to what can be included in the appendix or its format [e.g., a DVD recording of the observation site], provided that it is relevant to the study's purpose and reference is made to it in the report. If information is placed in more than one appendix ["appendices"], the order in which they are organized is dictated by the order they were first mentioned in the text of the report.

VI.  References

List all sources that you consulted and obtained information from while writing your field report. Note that field reports generally do not include further readings or an extended bibliography. However, consult with your professor concerning what your list of sources should be included. Be sure to write them in the preferred citation style of your discipline [i.e., APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.].

Alderks, Peter. Data Collection . Psychology 330 Course Documents. Animal Behavior Lab. University of Washington; Emerson, Robert M. Contemporary Field Research: Perspectives and Formulations . 2nd ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 2001; Emerson, Robert M. et al. “Participant Observation and Fieldnotes.” In Handbook of Ethnography . Paul Atkinson et al., eds. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001), 352-368; Emerson, Robert M. et al. Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes . 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2011; Ethnography, Observational Research, and Narrative Inquiry . Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Pace, Tonio. Writing Field Reports . Scribd Online Library; Pyrczak, Fred and Randall R. Bruce. Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences . 5th ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing, 2005; Report Writing . UniLearning. University of Wollongong, Australia; Wolfinger, Nicholas H. "On Writing Fieldnotes: Collection Strategies and Background Expectancies.” Qualitative Research 2 (April 2002): 85-95; Writing Reports . Anonymous. The Higher Education Academy.

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How To Write A High-Impact Executive Summary

By Derek Jansen | January 2018

In this post, I’ll deconstruct the often-misunderstood executive summary and show you how to develop a high-impact executive summary for your assignment, research report or even your dissertation or thesis.

So, what is an executive summary?

An executive summary (sometimes called an abstract ) is quite simply a summary of summaries. In other words, an executive summary provides a concise summary of each of your assignment or report chapters/sections . More specifically, it should communicate the key points/insights/findings/suggestions from the following chapters:

• Introduction
• Recommendations
• Implementation (if applicable)
• Reflection (if applicable)

I’ll discuss which key points from each section need to be addressed a bit later. On a separate note – if you’re writing an executive summary for a dissertation or thesis, all of the concepts described in this post will still apply to you, however, you’ll include an additional paragraph about your methodology, and you’ll likely spend more word count discussing your analysis findings.

The 4 Important Attributes Of An Exec Summary

Before I discuss what goes into the executive summary, let’s quickly look at 4 attributes that make for a strong executive summary:

#1 – It should be able to stand alone.

The executive summary should be able to stand independently as an informative document . In other words, the reader should be able to grasp your broad argument without having to read the full document. Further reading should be purely for attaining more detail. Simply put, the executive summary should be a “Mini-Me” of the assignment.

This independence means that anything you write in the executive summary will need to be re-stated in the body of your assignment. A common mistake that students make is to introduce key points in the executive summary and then not discuss them again in the document – accordingly, the marker must view the main document as missing these key points. Simply put – make sure you discuss key points in both the executive summary and the main body . It will feel repetitive at times – this is normal.

#2 – It should be written for the intelligent layman.

When crafting your executive summary, its useful to keep the intelligent layman front of mind. What I mean by this is that you should write your summary assuming that your reader (i.e. the marker) will be intelligent but won’t be familiar with your topic and/or industry. This means that you should explain any technical concepts, avoid jargon and explain acronyms before using them.

#3 – It should be concise.

Typically, your executive summary should be a one-pager (one and a half pages at worst). To summarise a 3000 – 5000-word document into one page is no easy task, so you’ll need to:

• Present only the most important information (key insights, recommendations, etc).
• Write concisely – i.e. with brevity and completeness.

To the first point, I’ll explain what the “most important” information is for each chapter shortly. To the second point (writing concisely), there are various ways to do this, including:

• Using simple, straightforward language.
• Using the active voice.
• Removing bloaty adverbs and adjectives.
• Reducing prepositional phrases.
• Avoiding noun strings.

Does this sound like gibberish to you? Don’t worry! The Writing Center at the University of Wisconson-Madison provides a practical guide to writing more concisely, which you can download here.

On a related note, you typically would not include headings, citations or bulleted/numbered lists in your executive summary. These visual components tend to use a lot of space, which comes at a premium, as you know.

#4 – It should be written last.

Given that your executive summary is a summary of summaries, it needs to be written last , only once you’ve identified all your key insights, recommendations and so on. This probably sounds obvious, but many students start writing the summary first (potentially because of its position in the document) and then end up re-writing it multiple times, or they don’t rewrite it and consequently end up with an executive summary which is misaligned with the main document.

Simply put, you should leave this section until everything else is completed. Once your core body content is completed, you should read through the entire document again and create a bullet-point list of all the key points . From this list, you should then craft your executive summary . The approach will also help you identify gaps, contradictions and misalignments in your main document.

So, what goes into an executive summary?

Right, let’s get into the meat of it and consider what exactly should go into your executive summary. As I’ve mentioned, you need to present only the absolutely key point points from each of your chapters, but what does this mean exactly?

Each chapter will typically take the form of 1 paragraph (with no headings) in your executive summary. So, 5 chapters means 5 paragraphs. Naturally, some will be longer than others (let this be informed by the mark allocation), but assuming one page contains 500 words, you’re aiming for roughly 100 words per paragraph (assuming a 5-paragraph structure). See why conciseness is key!

Now, let’s look at what the key points are for each chapter in the case of a typical MBA assignment or report. In the case of a dissertation or thesis, the paragraph structure would still mimic the chapter structure – you’d just have more chapters, and therefore, more paragraphs.

Paragraph 1: Introduction

This paragraph should cover the following points:

• A very brief explanation of the business (what does it do, for whom and where?).
• Clear identification and explanation of the problem or opportunity that will be the focus of the assignment/report.
• A clear statement of the purpose of the assignment (i.e. what research questions will you seek to answer?).
• Brief mention of what data sources were utilised (i.e. secondary research) and any fieldwork undertaken (i.e. primary research ).

In other words, your first paragraph should introduce the business, the problem/opportunity to be addressed, why it’s important, and how you approached your analysis. This paragraph should make it clear to the reader what the assignment is all about at a broad level. Here’s a practical example:

This assignment focuses on ABC Ltd, a XXX business based in XXX, which provides XXX to XXX customers. To date, the firm has relied almost exclusively on XXX marketing channel. Consequently, ABC Ltd has little understanding of consumer segments, wants, and needs. This marketing channel is now under regulatory threat due to XXX.  The core challenge, therefore, is that whilst ABC Ltd seeks to grow its market share, it has little understanding of its market characteristics or competitive set, and its sole marketing channel under regulatory threat. Accordingly, the objective of this assignment is XXX. The assignment draws on survey, interview, and industry data.

Paragraph 2: Analysis and findings

In this paragraph, you should discuss the following:

• What exactly did you analyse? For example, you might have analysed the macro context (i.e. PESTLE analysis), followed by the meso (i.e. competitor or industry analysis) and then the micro (i.e. internal organisational analysis).
• What were your key findings in relation to the purpose of the assignment? For example, you may have identified 4 potential causes of a problem and would then state them.

In other words, your second paragraph should concisely explain what you analysed and what your main findings were . An example of this:

Segmentation analysis, consisting of macro, industry and firm-level analyses, revealed a strong segmentation variable in the form of XXX, with distinct needs in each segment. Macro analysis revealed XXX, while industry and firm-level analyses suggested XXX. Subsequently, three potential target segments were established, namely XXX, XXX and XXX.  These were then evaluated using the Directional Policy Matrix, and the results indicated XXX.

From a presentation perspective, you might structure this section as:

• Analysis 1, findings from analysis 1.
• Analysis 2, findings from analysis 2.
• Analysis 3, findings from analysis 3.

Importantly, you should only discuss the findings that are directly linked to the research questions (i.e. the purpose of the assignment) – don’t digress into interesting but less relevant findings. Given that the analysis chapter typically counts for a large proportion of marks, you could viably write 2-3 paragraphs for this. Be guided by the mark allocation.

Lastly, you should ensure that the findings you present here align well with the recommendations you’ll make in the next paragraph. Think about what your recommendations are, and, if necessary, reverse engineer this paragraph to create a strong link and logical flow from analysis to recommendations.

Paragraph 3: Recommendations

With the key findings from your analysis presented in the preceding paragraph, you should now discuss the following:

• What are your key recommendations?
• How do these solve the problems you found in your analysis?
• Were there any further conclusions?

Simply put, this paragraph (or two) should present the main recommendations and justify their use (i.e. explain how they resolve the key issue). As mentioned before, it’s critically important that your recommendations tightly align with (and resolve) the key issues that you identified in the analysis. An example:

Based on the Directional Policy Matrix analysis, it is recommended that the firm target XXX segment, because of XXX. On this basis, a positioning of XXX is proposed, as this aligns with the segment’s key needs. Furthermore, a provisional high-level marketing mix is proposed. The key aspects of the marketing mix include XXX, XXX and XXX, as these align with the firm’s positioning of XXX. By adopting these recommendations, the key issue of XXX will be resolved.

Also, note that (typically) the tone changes from past to present tense when you get to the recommendations section.

Paragraph 4: Implementation

If your assignment brief requires an implementation/project plan-type section, this paragraph will typically include the following points:

• Time requirements (how long will it take?)
• People requirements (what skills are needed and where do you find them?)
• Money requirements (what budget is required?)
• How will the project or change be managed? (i.e. project management plan)
• What risks exist and how will these be managed?

Depending on what level of detail is required by your assignment brief, you may need to present more, less or other details in this section. As always, be guided by the assignment brief.

A practical example:

A high-level implementation plan is proposed, including a stakeholder analysis, project plan and business case. Resource requirements are presented, detailing XXX, XXX and XXX requirements. A risk analysis is presented, revealing key risks including XXX, XXX and XXX. Risk management solutions are proposed, including XXX and XXX.  

Paragraph 5: Reflection

As with the implementation chapter, the need for a reflection chapter/section will vary between assignments and universities. If your assignment has this requirement, it’s typically good to cover the following points:

• What were your key learnings? What were your ah-ha moments?
• What has changed in the real world as a consequence of these learnings? I.e. how has your actual behaviour and approach to “X” changed, if any?
• What are the benefits and/or disadvantages of this change, if any?

This section is very personal, and so each person’s reflections will be different. Don’t take the above points as gospel.

Time to test it out.

Once you’ve written up your executive summary and feel confident that it’s in good shape, it’s time to test it out on an unsuspecting intelligent layman. This is a critically important step, since you, as the writer, are simply too close to the work to judge whether it all makes sense to a first-time reader. In fact, you are the least suitable person on the planet!

So, find someone who is not familiar with your assignment topic (and ideally, not familiar with your industry), and ask them to have a read through your executive summary. Friends and family will usually tell you its great, regardless of the quality, so you need to test them on their understanding. Do this by asking them to give the details back to you in their own words. Poke and prod – can they tell you what the key issues and recommendations were (in their own words!). You’ll quickly spot the gaps this way, and be able to flesh out any weak areas.

  Wrapping up.

In this post, I’ve discussed how to write the all too often undercooked executive summary. I’ve discussed some important attributes of a strong executive summary, as well as the contents that typically go into it. To recap on the key points:

The key attributes of a high-impact executive summary:

• It should be able to stand alone.
• It should be written for the intelligent layman.
• It should be concise.
• It should be written last.

The key contents of a high-impact executive summary:

Each paragraph should cover a chapter from the document. For example, In the case of a typical assignment, it would be something like:

• Summary of the introduction chapter.
• Summary of the analysis chapter.
• Summary of the recommendations and/or conclusions chapter.
• Depending – summary of the implementation and reflection.

Lastly, don’t forget to test out your executive summary on an unsuspecting layman or two. This is probably the most important step of them all!

If you have any questions or suggestions, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch here or leave a comment below.

Thanks so much for your methodical process and explanation of Executive Summary. It is exactly what I was researching for.

Regards Saane

It’s a pleasure!

This was really helpful with how to structure my assignment.

Thank you so much for the step by step process. It’s so helpful for beginners like me.

Great! This post is very informative and gives clear guidance on to write an executive summary. Thanks very much for sharing this information, it’s very helpful.

Thanks for the feedback, Anna. Best of luck with your writing 🙂

Thank you for the great article, really helped explain what was needed.

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Organizing Academic Research Papers: Writing a Field Report

• Purpose of Guide
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Glossary of Research Terms
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
• Academic Writing Style
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• Executive Summary
• Background Information
• The Research Problem/Question
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Content Alert Services
• Evaluating Sources
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tertiary Sources
• What Is Scholarly vs. Popular?
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Using Non-Textual Elements
• Limitations of the Study
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Footnotes or Endnotes?
• Further Readings
• Annotated Bibliography
• Dealing with Nervousness
• Using Visual Aids
• Grading Someone Else's Paper
• How to Manage Group Projects
• Multiple Book Review Essay
• Reviewing Collected Essays
• About Informed Consent
• Writing Field Notes
• Writing a Policy Memo
• Writing a Research Proposal
• Acknowledgements

Field reports require the researcher to combine theory and analysis learned in the classroom with methods of observation and practice applied outside of the classroom. The purpose of field reports is to describe an observed person, place, or event and to analyze that observation data in order to identify and categorize common themes in relation to the research problem(s) underpinning the study. The data is often in the form of notes taken during the observation but it can also include any form of data gathering, such as, photography, illustrations, or audio recordings.

How to Approach Writing a Field Report

How to Begin

Field reports are most often assigned in the applied social sciences [e.g., social work, anthropology, gerontology, criminal justice, education, law, the health care professions] where it is important to build a bridge of relevancy between the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom and the practice of actually doing the work you are being taught to do. Field reports are also common in certain science and technology disciplines [e.g., geology] but these reports are organized differently and for different purposes than what is described below.

Professors will assign a field report with the intention of improving your understanding of key theoretical concepts through a method of careful and structured observation of and reflection about real life practice. Field reports facilitate the development of data collection techniques and observation skills and allow you to understand how theory applies to real world situations. Field reports are also an opportunity to obtain evidence through methods of observing professional practice that challenge or refine existing theories.

We are all observers of people, their interactions, places, and events; however, your responsibility when writing a field report is to create a research study based on data generated by the act of observation, a synthesis of key findings, and an interpretation of their meaning. When writing a field report you need to:

• Systematically observe and accurately record the varying aspects of a situation . Always approach your field study with a detailed plan about what you will observe, where you should conduct your observations, and the method by which you will collect and record your data.
• Continuously analyze your observations . Always look for the meaning underlying the actions you observe. Ask yourself: What's going on here? What does this observed activity mean? What else does this relate to? Note that this is an on-going process of reflection and analysis taking place for the duration of your field research.
• Keep the report’s aims in mind while you are observing . Recording what you observe should not be done randomly or haphazardly; you must be focused and pay attention to details. Enter the field with a clear plan about what you are intending to observe and record while, at the same time, be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances as they may arise.
• Consciously observe, record, and analyze what you hear and see in the context of a theoretical framework . This is what separates data gatherings from simple reporting. The theoretical framework guiding your field research should determine what, when, and how you observe and act as the foundation from which you interpret your findings.

Techniques to Record Your Observations Note Taking This is the most commonly used and easiest method of recording your observations. Tips for taking notes include: organizing some shorthand symbols beforehand so that recording basic or repeated actions does not impede your ability to observe, using many small paragraphs, which reflect changes in activities, who is talking, etc., and, leaving space on the page so you can write down additional thoughts and ideas about what’s being observed, any theoretical insights, and notes to yourself about may require further investigation. See drop-down tab for additional information about note-taking. Video and Audio Recordings Video or audio recording your observations has the positive effect of giving you an unfiltered record of the observation event. It also facilitates repeated analysis of your observations. However, these techniques have the negative effect of increasing how intrusive you are as an observer and will often not be practical or even allowed under certain circumstances [e.g., interaction between a doctor and a patient] and in certain organizational settings [e.g., a courtroom]. Illustrations/Drawings This does not an artistic endeavor but, rather, refers to the possible need, for example, to draw a map of the observation setting or illustrating objects in relation to people's behavior. This can also take the form of rough tables or graphs documenting the frequency and type of activities observed. These can be subsequently placed in a more readable format when you write your field report.

Examples of Things to Document While Observing

• Physical setting . The characteristics of an occupied space and the human use of the place where the observation(s) are being conducted.
• Objects and material culture . The presence, placement, and arrangement of objects that impact the behavior or actions of those being observed. If applicable, describe the cultural artifacts representing the beliefs--values, ideas, attitudes, and assumptions--used by the individuals you are observing.
• Use of language . Don't just observe but listen to what is being said, how is it being said, and, the tone of conversation among participants.
• Behavior cycles . This refers to documenting when and who performs what behavior or task and how often they occur. Record at which stage is this behavior occurring within the setting.
• The order in which events unfold . Note sequential patterns of behavior or the moment when actions or events take place and their significance.
• Physical characteristics of subjects. If relevant, note age, gender, clothing, etc. of individuals.
• Expressive body movements . This would include things like body posture or facial expressions. Note that it may be relevant to also assess whether expressive body movements support or contradict the use of language.

Brief notes about all of these examples contextualize your observations; however, your observation notes will be guided primarily by your theoretical framework, keeping in mind that your observations will feed into and potentially modify or alter these frameworks.

Sampling Techniques

Sampling refers to the process used to select a portion of the population for study . Qualitative research, of which observation is one method, is generally based on non-probability and purposive sampling rather than probability or random approaches characteristic of quantitatively-driven studies. Sampling in observational research is flexible and often continues until no new themes emerge from the data, a point referred to as data saturation.

All sampling decisions are made for the explicit purpose of obtaining the richest possible source of information to answer the research questions. Decisions about sampling assumes you know what you want to observe, what behaviors are important to record, and what research problem you are addressing before you begin the study. These questions determine what sampling technique you should use, so be sure you have adequately answered them before selecting a sampling method.

Ways to sample when conducting an observation include:

Ad Libitum Sampling -- this approach is not that different from what people do at the zoo--observing whatever seems interesting at the moment. There is no organized system of recording the observations; you just note whatever seems relevant at the time. The advantage of this method is that you are often able to observe relatively rare or unusual behaviors that might be missed by more deliberate sampling methods. This method is also useful for obtaining preliminary observations that can be used to develop your final field study. Problems using this method include the possibility of inherent bias toward conspicuous behaviors or individuals and that you may miss brief interactions in social settings.

Behavior Sampling -- this involves watching the entire group of subjects and recording each occurance of a specific behavior of particular interest and with reference to which individuals were involved. The method is useful in recording rare behaviors missed by other sampling methods and is often used in conjunction with focal or scan methods. However, sampling can be biased towards particular conspicuous behaviors.

Continuous Recording -- provides a faithful record of behavior including frequencies, durations, and latencies [the time that elapses between a stimulus and the response to it]. This is a very demanding method because you are trying to record everything within the setting and, thus, measuring reliability may be sacrificed. In addition, durations and latencies are only reliable if subjects remain present throughout the collection of data. However, this method facilitates analyzing sequences of behaviors and ensures obtaining a wealth of data about the observation site and the people within it. The use of audio or video recording is most useful with this type of sampling.

Focal Sampling -- this involves observing one individual for a specified amount of time and recording all instances of that individual's behavior. Usually you have a set of predetermined categories or types of behaviors that you are interested in observing [e.g., when a teacher walks around the classroom] and you keep track of the duration of those behaviors. This approach doesn't tend to bias one behavior over another and provides significant detail about a individual's behavior. However, with this method, you likely have to conduct a lot of focal samples before you have a good idea about how group members interact. It can also be difficult within certain settings to keep one individual in sight for the entire period of the observation.

Instantaneous Sampling -- this is where observation sessions are divided into short intervals divided by sample points. At each sample point the observer records if predetermined behaviors of interest are taking place. This method is not effective for recording discrete events of short duration and, frequently, observers will want to record novel behaviors that occur slightly before or after the point of sampling, creating a sampling error. Though not exact, this method does give you an idea of durations and is relatively easy to do. It is also good for recording behavior patterns occurring at a specific instant, such as, movement or body positions.

One-Zero Sampling -- this is very similar to instantaneous sampling, only the observer records if the behaviors of interest have occurred at any time during an interval instead of at the instant of the sampling point. The method is useful for capturing data on behavior patterns that start and stop repeatedly and rapidly, but that last only for a brief period of time. The disadvantage of this approach is that you get a dimensionless score for an entire recording session, so you only get one one data point for each recording session.

Scan Sampling -- this method involves taking a census of the entire observed group at predetermined time periods and recording what each individual is doing at that moment. This is useful for obtaining group behavioral data and allows for data that are evenly representative across individuals and periods of time. On the other hand, this method may be biased towards more conspicuous behaviors and you may miss a lot of what is going on between observations, especially rare or unusual behaviors.

Alderks, Peter. Data Collection. Psychology 330 Course Documents. Animal Behavior Lab. University of Washington; Emerson, Robert M. Contemporary Field Research: Perspectives and Formulations. 2nd ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 2001; Emerson, Robert M. et al. “Participant Observation and Fieldnotes.” In Handbook of Ethnography. Paul Atkinson et al., eds. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001), 352-368; Emerson, Robert M. et al. Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2011; Ethnography, Observational Research, and Narrative Inquiry . Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Pace, Tonio. Writing Field Reports . Scribd Online Library; Pyrczak, Fred and Randall R. Bruce. Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. 5th ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing, 2005; Report Writing . UniLearning. University of Wollongong, Australia; Wolfinger, Nicholas H. On Writing Fieldnotes: Collection Strategies and Background Expectancies.” Qualitative Research 2 (April 2002): 85-95; Writing Reports . Anonymous. The Higher Education Academy.

Structure and Writing Style

How you choose to format your field report is determined by the research problem, the theoretical perspective that is driving your analysis, the observations that you make, and/or specific guidelines established by your professor. Since field reports do not have a standard format, it is worthwhile to determine from your professor what the preferred organization should be before you begin to write. Note that field reports should be written in the past tense. With this in mind, most field reports in the social sciences include the following elements:

I.  Introduction The introduction should describe the specific objective and important theories or concepts underpinning your field study. The introduction should also describe the nature of the organization or setting where you are conducting the observation, what type of observations you have conducted, what your focus was, when you observed, and the methods you used for collecting the data. You should also include a review of pertinent literature.

II.  Description of Activities

Your readers only knowledge and understanding of what happened will come from the description section of your report because they have not been witness to the situation, people, or events that you are writing about. Given this, it is crucial that you provide sufficient details to place the analysis that will follow into proper context; don't make the mistake of providing a description without context. The description section of a field report is similar to a well written piece of journalism. Therefore, a helpful approach to systematically describing the varying aspects of an observed situation is to answer the "Five W’s of Investigative Reporting." These are:

• What -- describe what you observed. Note the temporal, physical, and social boundaries you imposed to limit the observations you made. What were your general impressions of the situation you were observing. For example, as a student teacher, what is your impression of the application of iPads as a learning device in a history class; as a cultural anthropologist, what is your impression of women participating in a Native American religious ritual?
• Where -- provide background information about the setting of your observation and, if necessary, note important material objects that are present that help contextualize the observation [e.g., arrangement of computers in relation to student engagement with the teacher].
• When -- record factual data about the day and the beginning and ending time of each observation. Note that it may also be necessary to include background information or key events which impact upon the situation you were observing [e.g., observing the ability of teachers to re-engage students after coming back from an unannounced fire drill].
• Who -- note the participants in the situation in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, and/or any other variables relevant to your study. Record who is doing what and saying what, as well as, who is not doing or saying what. If relevant, be sure to record who was missing from the observation.
• Why -- why were you doing this? Describe the reasons for selecting particular situations to observe. Note why something happened. Also note why you may have included or excluded certain information.

III.  Interpretation and Analysis

Always place the analysis and interpretations of your field observations within the larger context of the theories and issues you described in the introduction. Part of your responsibility in analyzing the data is to determine which observations are worthy of comment and interpretation, and which observations are more general in nature. It is your theoretical framework that allows you to make these decisions. You need to demonstrate to the reader that you are looking at the situation through the eyes of an informed viewer, not as a lay person.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when analyzing your observations:

• What is the meaning of what you have observed?
• Why do you think what you observed happened? What evidence do you have for your reasoning?
• What events or behaviors were typical or widespread? If appropriate, what was unusual or out of ordinary? How were they distributed among categories of people?
• Do you see any connections or patterns in what you observed?
• Why did the people you observed proceed with an action in the way that they did? What are the implications of this?
• Did the stated or implicit objectives of what you were observing match what was achieved?
• What were the relative merits of the behaviors you observed?
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of the observations you recorded?
• Do you see connections between what you observed and the findings of similar studies identified from your review of the literature?
• How do your observations fit into the larger context of professional practice? In what ways have your observations possibly changed your perceptions of professional practice?
• Have you learned anything from what you observed?

NOTE: Only base your interpretations on what you have actually observed. Do not speculate or manipulate your observational data to fit into your study's theoretical framework.

IV.  Conclusion and Recommendations

The conclusion should briefly recap of the entire study, reiterating the importance or significance of your observations. Avoid including any new information. You should also state any recommendations you may have. Be sure to describe any unanticipated problems you encountered and note the limitations of your study. The conclusion should not be more than two or three paragraphs.

V.  Appendix

This is where you would place information that is not essential to explaining your findings, but that supports your analysis [especially repetitive or lengthy information], that validates your conclusions, or that contextualizes a related point that helps the reader understand the overall report. Examples of information that could be included in an appendix are figures/tables/charts/graphs of results, statistics, pictures, maps, drawings, or, if applicable, transcripts of interviews. There is no limit to what can be included in the appendix or its format [e.g., a DVD recording of the observation site], provided that it is relevant to the study's purpose and reference is made to it in the report. If information is placed in more than one appendix ["appendices"], the order in which they are organized is dictated by the order they were first mentioned in the text of the report.

VI.  References

List all sources that you consulted and obtained information from while writing your field report. Note that field reports generally do not include further readings or an extended bibliography. However, consult with your professor concerning what your list of sources should be included. Be sure to write them in the preferred citation style of your discipline [i.e., APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.].

Alderks, Peter. Data Collection. Psychology 330 Course Documents. Animal Behavior Lab. University of Washington; Emerson, Robert M. Contemporary Field Research: Perspectives and Formulations. 2nd ed. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press, 2001; Emerson, Robert M. et al. “Participant Observation and Fieldnotes.” In Handbook of Ethnography. Paul Atkinson et al., eds. (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2001), 352-368; Emerson, Robert M. et al. Writing Ethnographic Fieldnotes. 2nd ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2011; Ethnography, Observational Research, and Narrative Inquiry . Writing@CSU. Colorado State University; Pace, Tonio. Writing Field Reports . Scribd Online Library; Pyrczak, Fred and Randall R. Bruce. Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. 5th ed. Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Publishing, 2005; Report Writing. UniLearning. University of Wollongong, Australia; Wolfinger, Nicholas H. On Writing Fieldnotes: Collection Strategies and Background Expectancies.” Qualitative Research 2 (April 2002): 85-95; Writing Reports. Anonymous. The Higher Education Academy.

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Synonyms of assignment

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Thesaurus Definition of assignment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• responsibility
• undertaking
• requirement
• designation
• appointment
• authorization
• installment
• installation
• destination
• emplacement
• investiture
• singling (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dethronement

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun assignment contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of assignment are chore , duty , job , stint , and task . While all these words mean "a piece of work to be done," assignment implies a definite limited task assigned by one in authority.

When is it sensible to use chore instead of assignment ?

While the synonyms chore and assignment are close in meaning, chore implies a minor routine activity necessary for maintaining a household or farm.

When is duty a more appropriate choice than assignment ?

Although the words duty and assignment have much in common, duty implies an obligation to perform or responsibility for performance.

When might job be a better fit than assignment ?

The synonyms job and assignment are sometimes interchangeable, but job applies to a piece of work voluntarily performed; it may sometimes suggest difficulty or importance.

When could stint be used to replace assignment ?

In some situations, the words stint and assignment are roughly equivalent. However, stint implies a carefully allotted or measured quantity of assigned work or service.

When can task be used instead of assignment ?

The meanings of task and assignment largely overlap; however, task implies work imposed by a person in authority or an employer or by circumstance.

Examples of assignment in a Sentence

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Thesaurus Entries Near assignment

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“Assignment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assignment. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.

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Your papers and reports will look as professional and well put together as they sound when you compose them using customizable Word templates . Whether you're writing a research paper for your university course or putting together a high priority presentation , designer-created templates are here to help you get started. First impressions are important, even for papers, and layout can make or break someone's interest in your content. Don't risk it by freestyling, start with a tried-and-true template. Remember, though: Papers and reports don't have to be boring. Professional can still pop. Tweak your favorite layout template to match your unique aesthetic for a grade A package.

What's the opposite of Meaning of the word Words that rhyme with Sentences with the word Translate to Find Words Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces Find the of Pronounce the word in Find Names     Appearance ✓ Use device theme   ✓ Dark theme ✓ Light theme ? ? Here's a list of from our that you can use instead. ▲ ▲ in my new role was to update the company's website.” , which will be due tomorrow.” of tasks to staff based on their skillset.” need to join the transferor when suing the debtor or obligor.” of proceeds to a third party disrupts mutuality of obligations between the guarantor and the beneficiary.” Use * for blank tiles (max 2) Use * for blank spaces Related Words and Phrases Bottom_desktop desktop:[300x250]. go Word Tools Finders & Helpers Apps More Synonyms Copyright WordHippo © 2024 The Ultimate Guide to Field Reports Architects and Consultants have to complete field reports at least once a month. This guide tells you what to look for on site and how to prepare your report! Apr 15, 2024 Field reports are critical documents for construction projects. They are records of exactly what is happening on the site and when. These reports can be used to certify payments and are usually requested by the Authorities Having Jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions require a Commitment to General review form to be submitted as part of the Building Permit. This commitment ensures that the Architect and Engineers have completed regular reviews during construction and that the work is in conformance with the design documents that form the basis of the permit. Most Contract administrators enjoy going to the field. It offsets the hours doing paperwork, and being on-site is likely the reason you chose the role of CA. Watching the contract drawings come to life is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.  Tips & guidelines for field reporting Maybe this is the first time you’re going to the field, or maybe you want to make sure you’re creating reviews in the best way possible. Here are some steps to help you: Sign in at the site office. This is usually a requirement from the GC. If you want the superintendent or other staff to walk with you, now is the time to ask. PPE. Make sure you go to the site prepared. Always double-check the safety policies and procedures of that specific site and the General Contractor. Note the weather and time. This is the information you should reference at the beginning of your report.  Plan your route. This can make your site walk more efficient. Ie, start at the exterior, then the lower levels and work your way up. This can also be useful for future reports so you can easily compare progress from the last visit. Take more pictures than you need. You never know when you will need to come back and check these photos from the office. It always seems to be the item you need to see is just out of shot.  Take notes as you go. Trying to remember all the observations and deficiencies you see is difficult. Writing notes or using dictation on your phone is a great idea. Talk-to-text is incredibly helpful when you’re outside in cold climates. Tools you need. Having a measuring tape is always important, and can also be used to signify scale in pictures. A laser measurement tool is great for measuring ceiling heights and larger distances.  👉 Download our FREE Field Reports Checklist to create error-free field reports with ease! What should you be looking for when you’re in the field?  Are things on schedule? Has a specific building component/assembly not made progress for a while? Ask the GC about the delay and if the design team needs to do anything to facilitate progress. Does the installation match the contract documents? Having a quick reference to the drawings is handy when you’re walking on-field. Of course, you can’t carry around an entire drawing set, and finding the exact details on your phone won’t be quick. Make notes of any details/items you need to check when you’re back in the office.  Are the finishes correct? Ensure the finishes that are currently installed align with the final material selected by the design team. This can include color, gauge, texture, etc. If any finishes are covered, ask the GC to remove a portion so you can confirm.  Is the quality of work acceptable? There are usually specific finish requirements noted in the specifications or drawings. There is also common sense and best practices in the industry. Are the tile joints misaligned, edges are raised, and you see cracked tiles already? These items show a lack of quality control and should be raised immediately. Use your knowledge and expertise to guide you. Is anything damaged or unprotected? As materials are installed and built, it is important that they be protected along the way until the project is complete. For example, is the architecturally exposed concrete being treated with the care it deserves? Are people writing notes, dimensions, and elevations on it? The care that went into ensuring this beautiful finish will be ruined if it isn’t protected. Do the dimensions look correct? Having a laser distance measuring tool in the field is incredibly helpful and helps you get accurate dimensions. This is especially important for ensuring all the mechanical and electrical finishes do not conflict with the finished ceiling heights. Does the progress in the field match the payment application? If you are responsible for certifying monthly payment applications, take note of the progress (ie drywall, concrete, masonry, etc.). If the GC is progressing against materials stored on-field, be sure to check where they are stored and the quantity. It is important that the payment application accurately reflects the progress on site. Are there any deficiencies? Noting the item's status is important to anyone reading the report. General Contractors and Subcontractors should review any deficiencies noted on the report as soon as they receive them so they can address them before work proceeds. How to create your field report Step 1 On the cover page, note general observations/status on site, weather, time of visit, and attendees. The cover page typically includes a standardized company disclaimer. Step 2 Select the photos you want to include in your field report. Step 3 Provide a description of the photos or the area you are referencing. This is the time when you could provide details about progress or items that require attention. Be sure to provide enough detail that others reading the report can understand.  Step 4 Marking an overall status of an item is helpful when referencing the report. Marking an item as Observation, Deficiency or another status will help others understand the report and any action needed.  Step 5 Double-check your report to ensure you captured everything. PDF your report as one combined file. Do not send editable files to the team. This report is a record of your visit, and should not have the ability to be altered by other parties.  Step 6 Distribute the report. Ensure that everyone who needs a copy of this report is on the distribution list. If you think you may have missed anyone, simply include the statement “Please forward to any relevant parties I may have missed’. 👀 Get a sneak peek into Part3's platform to see how we streamline field reports: Field reporting software Creating the field report document is not as fun as being on-field. This often involves downloading hundreds of pictures to your computer, figuring out which ones should be included in the report, and then creating the report.  There are 2 different ways people generally create field reports. # 1 Use Microsoft Word (or similar) to create the report . This is usually painful because as the report is made and high-quality photos are inserted, the file becomes slow and often crashes. It also becomes a pain to format, as every image is inserted and a description added can alter the layout.  #2 Use an app . There are some tools out there that are specifically designed to help Architects and Consultants create and format their reports (like Part3). Explore different solutions and find one that will make your field review reports more efficient. Don’t get lost in the abundance of tools made for GCs, this likely won’t be the format you need or track the information that’s important to you.  Book a personalized demo to learn how Part3 can make field reporting easier - and maybe even enjoyable ! Latest articles 15 Best AI Tools for Construction Projects Industry Insights The Future of Architecture: Ryan Crowle of IDea [Interview] How to Write a Report for an Assignment Academic assignments are very unpredictable. There are various fields, for example, Computer Programming or MBA, that you can be tested on, and one of them is writing a report. Whereas writing an essay is rather general, when report writing, you have to concentrate on factual information while taking any scientific and technical courses. Want to know how to write a report for a university assignment? This article contains the instructions and guidelines concerning report writing, its target audience, and the problems to be addressed while completing the task. If you’re a student struggling with a report writing assignment, you might wonder, “ Who can write my assignment for me ?” It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed and seek assistance when faced with a challenging academic task. Fortunately, many online writing services can help you complete your report writing assignment. These services offer professional writers who are experts in various fields and can provide high-quality, original content within your deadline. Before choosing a writing service, research and read reviews to ensure that you select a reputable and trustworthy company. With the right assistance, you can successfully complete your report writing assignment and achieve academic success. How to Write a Report-Type Assignment: 9 Key Elements to Consider A report is a short, well-planned, concise document written to address a specific purpose (to analyze a situation or issue) and audience (educators, a chief, subordinates, etc.) When writing a report, you should ensure that you address the highlighted issue adequately, providing evidence for each and every fact you mention. However, if you struggle with any of these steps or don’t have the time to complete the assignment, you may consider using a homework writing service . If you ask, “How to write my report?” the following points will be useful for you: Title Page. Every paper should have the name given to a particular type of work. You can learn how to write academic-style titles from Mark Fullmer, a teacher of English writing 101/102. If we are speaking about a report, you should state it in the title. Other details that you may need to include are your name, the university, and the date of submission if you are a student. And if you’re a worker who prepares a report for a chief, don’t forget to mention the organization’s name. Have a look at the example. Executive summary report. A good report should have a summary that is approximately ½ of a page. The main details that should be included are a briefing on the main ideas discussed in the report, the analysis methods used, findings, and conclusions/recommendations, if any. It is important to clarify this so that your tutor/chief understands what you are doing right from the start of the report. Table of content. There should be a page of your report where a list of chapters/subsections with headlines and the page numbers are presented. Make this guide useful for your readers as they will easily find what they will be interested in, whether the findings or research methods chapters. List of abbreviations and symbols. If you are writing, for example, a technical report, there should be a separate list of the abbreviations used in your report. The technical language can be comprehensible for you and your professor, but others will struggle with most technical terms . Moreover, if you use some formulas for calculating, provide these symbols in this list as well. Introduction. The first chapter of your report should introduce the topic under discussion, some known information, and your approaches to the topic and how they relate to the other works. The main body. A good report, the topic of which is well-researched, should have 3 sections in the main part – methods, results, and discussion. In this part, you should include the research methods that are used and procedures that are followed to achieve the results of your analysis, then, you are also required to discuss your findings. Conclusions and recommendations. The concluding chapter should include an overview of the main ideas discussed in the report. Highlight your most central findings without including new ideas. Additionally, you can make suggestions for further research in the field you report on. Reference list. Every academic paper should have references, and there is no exemption when writing a report. Even if you are supposed to consider a particular subject on your own, you can’t escape from someone’s findings or ideas. Provide a list of the sources you consulted when conducting your research. Details to be included in the reference list are the data of all books, papers, reports, etc., you refer to in the text. In general, all sources are listed in alphabetical order by the surname of the author. Appendices. This section comprises all derivations, details, schemes, and listings that make your research/analysis in-depth. You may ask why it is necessary to separate this section. Can you imagine how boring it will be to read your report when there are tables, tables, and schemes on its pages? There is such a page for that purpose, but it is not always obligatory to have it in reports. How to Make a Good Report: 5 Skills Needed You may think that you need just a pen and a piece of paper to write a report. Indeed, you must have a set of skills to complete this assignment successfully. What are they? The skill to estimate adequately the time needed to complete the assignment. Usually, a student may procrastinate till the last minute as he/she is sure that it is a very easy task to write a report. Or vice versa – he/she believes this work requires much time. As a result, they spend a week or even weeks entirely on writing a report. What happens, then? Demotivation in studying and a ‘jumpy’ eye are guaranteed to you. As you understand, you should apply all essential time management skills to boost your productivity. The skill to define the scope of the study. A full understanding of the field of study is very important, but it plays into your hands when you know all the points that should be covered in the research project. So, it has to be defined at a preliminary stage of writing a report to arrive at more logical findings/conclusions. Outline the limitations of your study and the data specifications for your research paper. The researching skills. The research process involves finding out more about the topic under the question. What does it include in researching? Firstly, using effective tools to collect information. Secondly, refining search queries to obtain better research results. Thirdly, evaluate information found in different sources based on accuracy, validity, and appropriateness for your report. If you have all these skills, you are close to professional report writing. But what if you don’t have the time or the skills to complete the assignment? In this case, you can use a “do my homework” service to help you with your report. These services can provide expert assistance with research, analysis, and writing to help you produce a high-quality report that meets your requirements and deadlines. Be sure to choose a reputable service that provides original and plagiarism-free work. With the help of a “ do my assignment ” service, you can save time and get the grades you need. The skill to plan and structure a piece of writing. According to CogniFit , the skill to plan forms our executive functions. It is a process that allows us to choose what needs to be done and what doesn’t. If you can create a framework for your paper writing, it will help you be excellent at it. Even short pieces require planning to be concise and to the point. Your report should fulfill its purpose to answer the assignment question according to a specific structure. Proofreading and editing skills. You probably want to present your report in the best possible light. Without any doubt, you are tired when finishing the assignment. Without proofreading your work, you might submit a paper with numerous grammar errors, unpunctuated sentences, or spelling mistakes. Moreover, you should remember what style you are required to use – whether it is an APA, MLA, or Harvard. All of them have peculiarities you should pay attention to while producing a report. After reading this article, don’t just sit and enjoy the victory over report writing. The battle has not started and has not even been won yet. Let today be the day when you know how to write good academic reports. Subsequently, you’ll start writing reports as required. Practice makes perfect! However, even with practice, some students may still struggle with report writing for various reasons, such as a lack of time or poor writing skills. In such cases, an assignment writing service can come in handy. These services provide professional assistance with report writing, ensuring that you receive a well-structured and well-written report that meets your academic requirements. These services employ experienced writers with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle different reports. Recent Posts Stephen Burt | Poet and Critic. 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The result is informed decision-making, academic advancement, and the formulation of effective strategies. Read on to learn more about field reports, their key components and benefits, and best practices associated with creating and utilizing them. What Is a Field Report? A field report is a document containing a compilation of observations, findings, experiences, and analyses gathered from a particular site. Field reports include raw field data presented in a way that decision-makers can easily understand and interpret. This field data can be presented in various ways, including charts, graphs, histograms, images, and text analysis. Field reports are used in many fields, including construction, scientific research, business, medicine, management, field services, psychology, and others. The main objectives of field reports include: DOCUMENTATION: Field reports usually provide detailed and accurate documentation of everything observed in the field, site, or location. ANALYSIS: Field reports analyze and interpret data in the context of the observed phenomena or research problem. INFORMATION SHARING: Field reports are written for a specific audience, including stakeholders, policymakers, researchers, colleagues, or the broader community. As a result, they're used to communicate the findings of a particular field of study in a way that is easy for the audience to understand. PROBLEM-SOLVING: Sometimes, field reports are used to raise awareness about a particular problem or need encountered on-site or in the field. This helps set up a basis for problem-solving and formulation of effective strategies. DECISION-MAKING: Field reports offer evidence-based insights and recommendations from collected data, which stakeholders can use to make more informed decisions. MONITORING AND EVALUATION: Field reports give stakeholders and team members a means to track progress and performance on-site or in the field. This allows for easier monitoring and evaluation of tasks and projects. How Field Reports Differ From Other Reports in Field Service Operations Field reports are quite different from other types of reports used in field service operations, such as dispatch reports, financial reports, performance reports, and work order reports. These differences include: ON-SITE OBSERVATIONS: Unlike other reports in field service operations that may rely on secondary data sources, field reports rely only on on-site observations. This allows field workers, technicians, researchers, and other personnel to provide first-hand accounts of the findings, experiences, and challenges associated with a particular site or location. AUDIENCE: Field reports are usually written for field service technicians who completed the job, as well as business managers or other stakeholders. In contrast, other reports may be written for a broader audience, such as customers and investors. LEVEL OF DETAILS: Field reports are typically more detailed than other reports in field service operations. These reports must provide adequate information regarding how a certain job was performed and any challenges the technicians or field workers encountered. FOCUS: Most of the time, field reports focus on specific details related to a particular field service job. These details include the task or service performed, equipment and materials used, and challenges encountered. On the other hand, other reports in field service operations focus on broader topics like performance, financial results, resource utilization, and customer satisfaction. The Role of Field Reports in Ensuring Transparency, Communication, and Efficiency Field reports are vital in ensuring transparency, communication, and efficiency in various fields and industries. Here’s how: TRANSPARENCY Field reports promote transparency by providing a detailed and accurate account of events on-site or in the field. They document real-time observations, experiences, and challenges of a particular project, initiative, research study, or task. Since anyone can access this information, it helps build trust, confidence, and accountability between stakeholders, employees, customers, and the general public. COMMUNICATION Field reports are a valuable medium through which stakeholders, team members, and decision-makers share information and insights. This leads to effective communication and collaboration among all stakeholders and team members involved in a particular task, project, or research. One of the best things about field reports is that they provide stakeholders with a great channel to identify and solve problems promptly, improving operational efficiency. With the help of field reports, stakeholders can easily understand on-site challenges and even track progress in real time. This enables them to make informed decisions regarding resource allocation and streamlining processes to achieve the desired results. Key Components of an Effective Field Report Field reports come in different formats depending on the client and the kind of service being performed. What matters is that the crucial elements of the service, project, or task are documented accordingly. The following are the key components of a professional and effective field report: DATE AND TIME Just like any other official business document, a good field report should include a title that clearly defines the purpose of the report as well as the date and time of the service or job. TECHNICIAN/FIELD WORKER/CUSTOMER DETAILS One of the first and most important things you need to include in your field report is basic information about the customer and the technician or field worker assigned to do the job. The customer’s details may include their name, address, contact information, company information, and other basic information. On the other hand, the technician information will include the name, address, contact information, expertise level, company information, and number of team members needed on-site. You must also specify whether the technician has been sent by a third-party contractor or is part of the in-house team. DESCRIPTION OF THE TASK OR SERVICE PERFORMED This is the core of your field report. Under this field, you should list all the actions the technician or field worker must perform to solve the customer’s problems or queries. That said, the technicians or field workers should clearly specify the exact procedure they’ll use to manage the situation and fix the problem at hand. The reported issue The inspection report indicating all defective assets/products All repairs made to those assets Any installations made Services performed or maintenance work required Completed replacements EQUIPMENT OR TOOLS USED When writing a field report, you must include all processes, equipment, procedures, and tools used to do the job or complete the project. This helps stakeholders monitor resource utilization and project costs. OBSERVATIONS, CHALLENGES, OR ISSUES FACED This is another important part of your field report. Under this section, list all observations made during the project or while performing the task. With clear documentation of all observations made, it will be easier for the stakeholders to understand the project at hand. These observations can be presented in the form of text, tables, graphs, charts, or even photos, depending on the data collected. Any challenges or issues faced by technicians and field workers during the project should also be documented in this section. Additionally, you need to list the various ways these challenges were addressed. CLIENT FEEDBACK OR REMARKS Customer feedback is an important part of a field report. Instead of relying solely on the technician or field worker’s side of the story, which can be biased at times, stakeholders must read about the customer’s feedback and remarks. From there, they can make informed decisions and formulate effective strategies. RECOMMENDATIONS OR FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS NEEDED Sometimes, a field report is diagnostic or explanatory in nature. This means that a field report may not always contain information on how to solve or rectify a certain problem. In that case, technicians and field workers should document all follow-up actions needed for a given job or project and assign them to the right people. This section should also contain recommendations from the technicians or field workers on how to prevent various challenges or problems in the future. AVERAGE TIME FRAMES One of the biggest challenges most companies in the service industry encounter is tracking the time technicians and field workers spend performing various tasks. To overcome this problem, you need to include a section documenting the time technicians or field workers take to complete a particular task. This leads to better scheduling of jobs and improves time management. SIGN-OFF FROM ALL PARTIES A field report isn’t complete without being signed off by all parties involved. Most field reports usually include a section for the technician/field worker and customer to sign. Signing off a field report indicates that all the involved parties witnessed the successful completion of the job or project. Before signing, customers should review the entire report to check that all issues have been resolved. On the other hand, technicians and field workers should confirm that they’ve completed all the tasks required to the customer’s satisfaction before signing off the field report. The Value of Regular Field Reporting Regular field reporting offers several benefits to organizations, including the following: ENHANCES COMMUNICATION Regular field reporting ensures the visibility of everything happening on-site or in the field and fosters effective communication among stakeholders, managers, team members, and clients. This ensures that everyone is on the same page at all times. PROVIDES ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS FOR TRAINING AND PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT Field reports can raise awareness about the areas where technicians and field workers need additional training to improve service delivery. For example, if a field report indicates several customer complaints regarding a particular service, it will indicate that the technicians need more training to improve their performance. Additionally, stakeholders and managers can use these reports to identify best practices used by best-performing employees and share them with other employees to boost their performance. AIDS IN RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND JOB SCHEDULING With the help of regular field reporting, stakeholders can easily identify the specific resources needed to complete various tasks. If a certain task is taking longer to complete, stakeholders can simply allocate additional resources to speed up things. Field reports can also be used to schedule jobs in a way that maximizes operational efficiency and minimizes downtimes. For example, if a field report indicates that a certain job is completed faster during given hours of the day, such findings can be used to schedule jobs accordingly. HELPS IN CLARIFYING MISCOMMUNICATIONS The more people a project or task requires, the higher the risk of misunderstandings and miscommunications. When team members do not communicate effectively, costly errors and frustrating delays can occur. However, with field reports that clearly indicate who should do what and accurate information about what is happening on-site or in the field, disputes, misunderstandings, and miscommunications are less likely to occur. Instead, tasks will be completed on time, and the project’s overall profitability will increase. INFORMED DECISION-MAKING All the data and valuable insights from regular field reporting contribute to data-driven decision-making. With findings from field reports, stakeholders can make informed decisions regarding crucial aspects such as resource allocation, operational improvement, market expansion, and many others. Challenges in Field Reporting Although field reporting is an important practice in various industries, it comes with its set of challenges. They include: INCONSISTENCIES IN REPORT FORMATS Team members may use different field report formats depending on their personal preferences, training, and experience. This can easily lead to inconsistencies in the tone and content of field reports across the team. RESISTANCE FROM FIELD STAFF One of the biggest challenges of most organizations in field reporting is resistance and defiance from their own field staff. Field reporting can be tedious and time-consuming, especially if the field staff is already occupied with other tasks. As a result, most field staff may prefer to perform other duties than go on-site to collect data. KEEPING FIELD REPORTS CONCISE YET COMPREHENSIVE It can be challenging for field staff to find a balance between writing concise yet comprehensive field reports. Sometimes, it’s hard to include all the relevant information in a field report without making it too long and hard to read. INTEGRATING FIELD REPORTS WITH OTHER MANAGEMENT TOOLS OR SOFTWARE Although integrating field reports with other management tools or software is crucial for smooth business operations, it’s not easy. Since field reports come in various formats, it can be difficult to integrate them with other management tools that accommodate specific formats. Additionally, integrations between field reports and other management tools or software can be costly to develop and maintain. This makes it an unfavorable option for some organizations, especially for small(er) businesses. A Basic Field Report Template for Field Service Companies Below is a simple outline to help you create your own template for field reports:  Header: Company Logo, field technician name, date, and job ID Client Information: Name, address, contact details, and service type Job Details: Description of the task, start and end time, and equipment used Observations/Findings: Any anomalies, challenges, or noteworthy points Recommendations: Any follow-up services required or preventive measures suggested Feedback Section: Client's comments, ratings, or any immediate concerns Signature Area: Field technician and client signatures for acknowledgment Want a downloadable template? Check out our template library ! Tips for Optimizing Field Report Utilization Below is a simple template for field reports:  Hold training sessions for your field staff to educate them on the process and importance of field reporting. Use digital tools or applications to streamline and simplify field reporting in your organization. Regularly review and update your field report template based on feedback to ensure it meets the changing needs of your organization. Always integrate your field reports into weekly or monthly reviews to identify trends and patterns in customer behavior and make more informed decisions. Key Takeaways A field report contains a compilation of observations, findings, experiences, and analyses gathered from a particular site. CREATE BETTER FIELD REPORTS WITH WORKYARD -- CLICK HERE! The Bottom Line By tracking key metrics and trends in field reports, organizations can easily identify areas for improvement in their field service delivery. Teams can use this information to formulate effective strategies to drive field service excellence and increase revenue. However, you can utilize constructive customer feedback and iteration to ensure you create field reports that meet your business needs. If you need help creating more accurate field reports, give Workyard a try today! Did you find this post helpful? Please rate it! viibe. “ Field Service Report for Technicians, Accessed on October 23 ,” 2023 Sitemate. “ Plant Equipment Assets Field Service Report, Accessed on October 23 ,” 2023 Examples.com, “ Field Report ,” Accessed on October 21, 2023 Status. “ Field Service Report Free Form Template ,” Accessed on October 23, 2023 Jot. “ Field Reporting ,” Accessed on October 23, 2023 Servicepower. “ Guide to Field Service Reporting ,” Accessed on October 23, 2023 Create More Accurate Field Reports With Workyard More on this. Your Guide to Construction Daily Reports Learn how to create construction daily reports and why. Plus, get your hands on a free construction daily report template! 8 Best Construction Daily Report Software Solutions In 2023 In this guide, we list the 8 best construction daily report software solutions for 2023. To find the best option for you, quickly filter by key features and business size. Construction Daily Report Templates: Download & Print for Free!  Accurately capture what happens on the job site every day with our professional and easy to use construction daily report templates. Workyard provides leading workforce management solutions to construction, service, and property maintenance companies of all sizes. Sports Betting Sports Entertainment New York Yankees New York Mets Transactions Recommended Starling marte plays another full rehab game as he nears mets return. Starling Marte played nine innings with Triple-A Syracuse in his second consecutive full game during his rehab assignment and went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly.  The outfielder, recovering from a right knee bone bruise, is expected to return to Citi Field on Saturday and possibly be activated on Sunday. It will be curious how the Mets use the 35-year-old, who hit pretty well (.745 OPS) before the injury but had been a liability in right field. J.D. Martinez is their everyday DH, and lefty-hitting Jesse Winker was added at the trade deadline to hit righty pitchers.  It is possible the righty-hitting Marte is used often against lefty pitchers, but manager Carlos Mendoza did not call him a platoon player.  “He’s a big part of this ballclub,” the manager said before beating the Marlins, 7-3, at Citi Field . “We’re going to need him, and we’re going to need all of those guys. I’ll mix and match.”  Dedniel Nunez threw a 20-pitch live batting practice in his first time facing hitters since a right pronator strain was found following his July 23 outing.  If he bounces back well, Nunez could begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Syracuse, Mendoza said.  “I feel 100 percent healthy, and I’m excited about it,” Nunez said through interpreter Alan Suriel.  The Mets have fired several scouts in the past few days, according to several reports that Stearns did not want to confirm or deny.  “We have a very large scouting staff,” Stearns said. “We will continue to have a very large scouting staff.”  Stearns was asked about the ESPN report that floated an idea going through MLB in which starting pitchers would have to pitch a minimum of six innings in a start (with several pitch-count and runs-allowed loopholes).  “I am all for continuing to discuss and ultimately implementing ways where we can both enhance the importance of starting pitching in our game and hopefully limit the injuries of starting pitchers in our game,” Stearns said. “I think we are a long way away from completely implementing something as drastic as a six-inning rule.”  Jeff McNeil’s two-run home run in the fourth inning was his 250th career extra-base hit, breaking a tie with Keith Hernandez and Todd Hundley for 17th all-time in Mets history.  — Additional reporting by Bridget Reilly  235 IMAGES How to Write a Field Report Field Report Template (4) University Assignment Report Template Research (Assignment/Report) Template Field Report Assignment COMMENTS Writing a Field Report How to Begin. Field reports are most often assigned in disciplines of the applied social sciences [e.g., social work, anthropology, gerontology, criminal justice, education, law, the health care services] where it is important to build a bridge of relevancy between the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom and the practice of actually doing the work you are being taught to do. How to Write a Field Report: A Step-by-Step Guide A field report is a structured account of observations and findings made in a natural setting such as a workplace, community, or habitat. It is used to gather data on a subject within its natural context, providing a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Field reports are an essential tool in numerous fields, including anthropology ... Field Report A Field Report is an essential document for capturing and conveying real-world data and experiences. This guide, complete with insightful report examples, will navigate you through the process of creating comprehensive and effective field reports.Ideal for professionals in research, anthropology, sociology, and various field-based disciplines, this guide emphasizes the importance of ... Field Report Field Report - Steps, Structure & Data Collection. Researchers write field reports to combine the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom with observation methods applied out of the classroom. Field reports are used to describe an observed event, person or place and analysing the observed data to identify and categorize the themes about ... How to Write a Field Report Write the introduction. Don't explain your readers what is field trip report. Instead, provide a bit of background information about the objective of your report. Describe the theoretical perspective and talk a bit about the various types of observations you've used. Write the Description of Activities section. Scientific Reports What this handout is about. This handout provides a general guide to writing reports about scientific research you've performed. In addition to describing the conventional rules about the format and content of a lab report, we'll also attempt to convey why these rules exist, so you'll get a clearer, more dependable idea of how to approach ... Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Assignments Refers to notes created by the researcher during the act of conducting a field study to remember and record the behaviors, activities, events, and other features of an observation. Field notes are intended to be read by the researcher as evidence to produce meaning and an understanding of the culture, social situation, or phenomenon being studied. Show me how to write a field report? Field Report Template Header - Title: Describes the purpose and scope of the report - Date: Date of the report - Author: Name of the person writing the report Introduction - Provide background information on the project or assignment. - State the purpose of the field investigation. - Outline the scope and limitations of the report. Methodologies - Describe the methods used to collect data. How to Write a Report: A Guide to Report Formats with Examples 1 Choose a topic based on the assignment. Before you start writing, you need to pick the topic of your report. Often, the topic is assigned for you, as with most business reports, or predetermined by the nature of your work, as with scientific reports. If that's the case, you can ignore this step and move on. Free Field Report Template Generate reports from completed checklists. Free to use for up to 10 users. Start using template View template in library. A field report template is used to document the observation and analysis of a specific project. It is used by researchers to perform the following: Define the objective of the field report. Define the theoretical framework. 6 Essential Tips for Writing a Field Study Report 1. Job Notes: Researchers use this method of taking field notes whilst they are conducting the study. These notes are taken in close proximity and in open sight with the study's subject. These notes are brief, concise, in the form that can be built on by the researcher later while creating the report. 2. PDF Assignment Reports in Computer Science: A Style Guide, Student Version An assignment report has the structure of a typical scientific article: a preamble, an introduction, a description of the methods, the main results, a discussion of the results, and references. The preamble material is the title, author, and an abstract of the report. The introduction, for an assignment report, is usually short and factual. How to Write a Report for an Assignment: Your Complete Guide 1. Choose Your Topic. If it hasn't been assigned to you already, you need to choose the topic of your report yourself. Be mindful: your choice can make or break the quality of your paper. For example, if you pick a topic that's too niche or complex, you may not have enough reliable sources to include in the paper. ‍. Writing a Field Report How to Begin. Field reports are most often assigned in disciplines of the applied social sciences [e.g., social work, anthropology, gerontology, criminal justice, education, law, the health care professions] where it is important to build a bridge of relevancy between the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom and the practice of actually doing the work you are being taught to do. How To Write A High-Impact Executive Summary Typically, your executive summary should be a one-pager (one and a half pages at worst). To summarise a 3000 - 5000-word document into one page is no easy task, so you'll need to: Present only the most important information (key insights, recommendations, etc). Write concisely - i.e. with brevity and completeness. Organizing Academic Research Papers: Writing a Field Report How to Begin. Field reports are most often assigned in the applied social sciences [e.g., social work, anthropology, gerontology, criminal justice, education, law, the health care professions] where it is important to build a bridge of relevancy between the theoretical concepts learned in the classroom and the practice of actually doing the work you are being taught to do. PDF Assignment Reports in Computer Science: A Style Guide, Grader's Version Version: 2018-05-31. An assignment report for a course in the Queen's University School of Computing should be written in the general format and tone of an article in a peer-reviewed journal. There are at least hundreds of style guides that provide extensive and detailed information; a useful technical guide is published by the Institute of ... ASSIGNMENT Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words Synonyms for ASSIGNMENT: task, job, duty, project, mission, chore, responsibility, function; Antonyms of ASSIGNMENT: dismissal, discharge, firing, expulsion ... Free report templates Paper and report design and layout templates. Pen perfect looking papers and reports every time when you start your assignment with a customizable design and layout template. Whether you want your paper to pop off the page or you need your report to represent your data in the best light, you'll find the right template for your next paper. What is another word for assignment Synonyms for assignment include job, charge, task, duty, mission, commission, responsibility, work, business and chore. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! The Ultimate Guide to Field Reports Step 1 On the cover page, note general observations/status on site, weather, time of visit, and attendees. The cover page typically includes a standardized company disclaimer. Step 2 Select the photos you want to include in your field report. Step 3 Provide a description of the photos or the area you are referencing. How to Write a Report for an Assignment The first chapter of your report should introduce the topic under discussion, some known information, and your approaches to the topic and how they relate to the other works. The main body. A good report, the topic of which is well-researched, should have 3 sections in the main part - methods, results, and discussion. Field Reports: Explanations, Best Practices, and Examples (with Template) A Basic Field Report Template for Field Service Companies. Below is a simple outline to help you create your own template for field reports: Header: Company Logo, field technician name, date, and job ID. Client Information: Name, address, contact details, and service type. Starling Marte plays another full rehab game as he nears Mets return Starling Marte played nine innings with Triple-A Syracuse in his second consecutive full game during his rehab assignment and went 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly. The outfielder, recovering from a ... essay homework paper phd project resume review speech study thesis