LibGuides: Manage &amp; Share Research Data: Report

Tips

Whether you are writing up your analyses for a class paper, a capstone or thesis project, a dissertation, or a publication, these are useful tips to help you answer any questions that your instructor, advisors, or peer reviewers may have. Chances are, you won't remember exactly what you did by the time you get comments back, so good notes can save you lots of time and stress.

Use your notes to write a detailed summary of your methods for data collection, screening, processing, and analysis in as much detail as possible. Write it up without worrying about length or format. Then write the condensed summary in the format required for your paper, report, or publication.
Take detailed notes for every table or figure created, specifically describe what data were used to create them and procedures for handling missing data or other issues that came up during screening and processing.

Cite your data in your references. If you used data from any other source, cite that too. See our tips for citing data or check out the tips from the UK Data Service.

There are many standards and guidelines for reporting research methods. The fastest way to find out what is expected for your work is to talk to your faculty advisor or supervisor.

Tools

Nature Publishing Group: Reporting Checklist for Life Sciences Articles
This checklist is used to ensure good reporting standards and to improve the reproducibility of published results.
NIH Research Reporting Guidelines and Initiatives: By Organization
This chart lists the major biomedical research reporting guidelines that provide advice for reporting research methods and findings. They usually "specify a minimum set of items required for a clear and transparent account of what was done and what was found in a research study, reflecting, in particular, issues that might introduce bias into the research" (Adapted from the EQUATOR Network Resource Centre). The chart also includes editorial style guides for writing research reports or other publications.
PLoS Reporting Guidelines Collection
Reporting guidelines are statements intended to advise authors reporting research methods and findings. They can be presented as a checklist, flow diagram or text, and describe what is required to give a clear and transparent account of a study's research and results. These guidelines are prepared through consideration of specific issues that may introduce bias, and are supported by the latest evidence in the field.
Research Methods Knowledge Base: Write Up
So now that you've completed the research project, what do you do? I know you won't want to hear this, but your work is still far from done. In fact, this final stage -- writing up your research -- may be one of the most difficult. Developing a good, effective and concise report is an art form in itself. And, in many research projects you will need to write multiple reports that present the results at different levels of detail for different audiences.