12.3 Extending skills


research reports: introduction, method, conclusion


A Study the words in box a. 1 Check the pronunciation and grammar.


2 What are their meanings in a research report?


B Read the two Method paragraphs on the right.


1 Copy them into your notebook. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form.


2 Identify the original research questions, the research methods and other important information.


C What are the sections of a research report? What order should they go in?


D Read the Introduction and Conclusion to Report A on the opposite page.


1 Why was the report undertaken?


2 What are the elements of a good introduction and conclusion?


a


conduct data discussion


findings implication interview interviewee interviewer limitation method questionnaire random recommendation research question respondent results sample survey undertake


Report A: Method


A written questionnaire (design) to measure how younger and older adults differ in their attitudes to new computer technologies. Six hundred questionnaires (send) to a random sample selected from each of the two subject groups, of which 250 (return). In addition, 25 young people (interview) in universities and libraries. Over 65% of the sample (be) male.


Report B: Method


Growth in the performance of processors is still in line with Moore’s Law. In order to find out whether this rate of growth can continue, a literature search (undertake) using the Science Direct database and the Google search engine. The search terms which (use) were growth curve, computing and processing.


12.4 Extending skills research reports: questionnaires, findings, discussion


A Describe the data in Figures 1 and 2 from Report A.


B Look at the first paragraph from the Findings section of the report.


1 Complete the spaces with quantity phrases. Put the verbs in the correct tense.


2 Write another paragraph, using data from Figure 2.


C Look at the literature search notes on the opposite page. What issues do you think are


the most important in encouraging older adults to see the benefits of new developments in computing? Discuss.


D Cover the Conclusion section on the opposite page.


1 What should the report writer say in the Conclusion? Make some notes.


2 Read the Conclusion again and compare. 98


Findings Firstly, a


(20%) of older respondents


(state) that they felt that new developments in computing would not be generally beneficial. In addition, the


results from the sample of younger people were similar. A


(70%) (say) that they


felt the developments would be generally beneficial, and a


(10%) had no opinion. The (80%) (indicate) that they


felt that new developments in computing would be generally beneficial, while a


(20%)


of younger respondents (feel) the developments could be more harmful than beneficial.


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