Writing the report and dissemination

Dr. Ian Terrell

There are three major audiences for the report for you to consider

• 1. The Academic Audience for Assessment of the module.

• 2. Disseminating the Research to Practitioners, Stakeholders and others.

• 3. Publication.

1. The Academic Audience for Assessment of the module.

For this audience you will need to recognise the following:

• Suggested structures (format and structure examples in coming slides)

• Writing to Assessment Criteria• Using an assessment criteria checklist.• Following Module Guide Instructions for action enquiry,

dissertation or other• Writing an abstract• Use of standard "Harvard" referencing system

1. The Academic Audience for Assessment of the module (contd.)

Further Suggestions:

• Formal Research often uses the third person (e.g. The Research involved.......)

• Uses the past tense.

• Link sections by introductions that say what went before and what happens in the section following (signposting).

• Link sections with conclusions that summarise what has happened in the section.

• Be consistent over headings and sub headings (and sub headings)

Format of Dissertations

Format:

• Clearly signposted and easy to locate• Contents• Headings• Subheadings• Paragraphs• Spacing• Margins• Footer• Page Numbers• Professional• Structured• Ordered

Format of dissertation (contd.)

Genre:

• "Formal but personal"• Title so you know what it is about• Statistical• Analytical• Multiple methods of presenting data• When to be formal and when to be personal

Format of dissertation (contd.)

Focus:

• Clear focus• Keep it focused• Reinforce the focus• Questioning• Analysing data• Research• Evaluation

Examples :• ICT use• Assessment for learning• Evaluation of Implementation Projects• Black pupils in secondary schools

Format of dissertation (contd.)

Audience:

• Teachers/Senior management Primary school.• Teachers/Secondary Ks3/College• Teachers/Assessment Coordinators• Educationalists

Dissertation Structure

This is one possible structure for the dissertation, it is not a template and you may wish to vary your work to make it more appropriate for your research. The total word count should be around 18,000 words so the suggested number of words for each section is an approximation!

Abstract - 300 words

Introduction - 1000 words•needs and justification for the research•context,

Professional Autobiography - 500 words•experiences•beliefs and values•possible bias

Dissertation Structure (contd.)

A Review of the literature - 6000 words

• How far the literature answers the research question• Towards an initial conceptual model• The remaining research questions

Dissertation Structure (contd.)

Methodology and Methods - 5000 words• What is this research as an activity?• Knowledge creation in the research• Truthfulness in the Research• Beliefs and values• Power, Involvement and the Research Process• The importance of context in small scale case studies• Generalising from the Research• Social Construction• Ethics

Data collection - methods and justification Data analysis - methods and justification

Dissertation Structure (contd.)

The results, analysis, explanation anddiscussion - 6000 words

• Description of the Data• Analysis and explanation of the data• Towards a new conceptual model• Self evaluation of the research findings• Discussion

• Conclusion - 500 words

Criteria Checklist

• Click on the link below and open the criteria checklist document:

http://midwhebonline.org.uk/research/research-materials/the-report

Writing an abstract

Guidance on writing an abstractAn abstract is a short summary ( about 300 words)giving an outline of

• 1. The focus of the enquiry or problem and why it is important or justified as a topic.

• 2. The method, procedures or approach used to explore this.• 3. The key result or finding of the enquiry.• 4. Main conclusion and implication.

• For an example see: http://midwhebonline.org.uk/research/research-materials/the-report/an-abstract

2. Disseminating the Research to Practitioners, Stakeholders and others.

Consider a version for other audiences, for example:

• Executive summary format (example on next slide)

• The 30 second read brochure.

• Putting on the web. (YouTube, Wesite, facebook, Blog etc)

3. Publication

Consider sending a version to a journal. Select the journal from practice based or research journals. Each journal will have details for authors and you will not get published unless you comply. Write to the journals style and content.

See for example :

•Sage Online •Taylor Francis