How to Write a Research Report?

Research Report Anatomy: A Complete Guide

 Blog: Updated 6 October, 2026

Dr. Engr. Md. Abdur Rashid

Director (Research & Publication)

NAPD

The following format can be used to write a research report. Remember that your supervisor may expect a variation of the following report structure in various ways. University expectations can differ.

Specific points to Follow-

1.  Font-  Times New Roman  or Arial
2.  Font Size head-12 Bold, body-12 normal or  specified by the authority
3.  Space- Double or demanded by the respective authority
4. Total words (Specified by the authority)
5. Total pages (Specified by the authority)
6. A plagiarism check should be done before submitting a report. It depends on the organization, but generally 15 to 30 percent is acceptable. If under 15%, it's really wonderful.

Skeleton of  a Research Report?

Title: 

The words in title will not be in abbreviated form. 

Shorter title is good. 

Title will ensure the vision of research.

 Abstract

The Abstract should include the importance/necessity of the work, the method/process, and the specific outcome of the present work to show what you concluded from the study. 

1)    An abstract is a concise summary of a research paper or entire thesis.

2)    Total 150 to 250 or Prescibed.

3)   Keywords (important/catchy words) will be from 5 to 6. Less is mostly preferred. Key work will help you to get in internet search world wide.

4)     No Abbreviation 

5)     No reference 

Abstract will have-

    Introduction 1 sentence 

    Reason/Purpose/Obective for writing 1 to 2 sentences

         Problem 1 sentences

            What problem does this work attempt to solve? 

        Methodology 1 to 2 sentences

        Results (Major) 2 to 3 sentences

       Implications

            How does this work add to the body of knowledge on the topic? Are there any                 practical or theoretical applications of your findings or implications for future                   research?Who will benificiary from the research study?

        Keywords 1-6 words

 Section 1: Introduction

1.1     Introduction

Explain the context of the study and state the precise objective. 

An Introduction should contain the background, the problem and proposed solution, and the structure of the remaining sections.

1.2 Background of the Study

1.3 Problem Statement

A survey of the existing literature in your research field leading up to your topic is usually included in the background of a study. You can identify gaps in understanding or areas that have not been covered in these studies after you've discussed the contributions of other scholars in the field. Should use reference.

1.4  Research Questions (RQ)

        Link with objectives

1.5 Research Objectives (RO)

        Link with Title, questionaries and problem statements

1.6 Rationale of the Study

1.7 Scope Of the study

1.8 Chapter summary (Summary of each section) Can or can not be i.e. if demanded.

Section 2:  Literature Review 

2.1 Theoritical Foundation

2.2. Empirical Foundation 

     * (Give here Operational definitions that clarifies how key terms, concepts, or variables are defined and measured in your study. This ensures consistency and avoids ambiguity)

   * (Review of passed studies for summarizes existing research, highlights what has already been done, and identifies gaps your study aims to fill)

2.3 Identification of Research Gap

2.3 Identification of Research Gap

Section 3: Theoretical and Conceptual Framework (Sometines can sub section of Section 2)

Theoretical framework-

    * Investigating the literature following the research object, finding some variables that are fit to construct questions and hypotheses. These questions will help the researcher to map the objectives.

Conceptual framework-

    *Obtain the list of variables from the study of literature review. Establishing the final relationship among the variables obtained from a literature review. Decide about IV, Mediating variables, Moderating variavles and  DV and also set relationship among them. Draw a figure (if applicable) based on your relationship with variables. 

    Decide about statistical tests or models that can be fit to prove the hypothesis. The test can be completed based on the conceptual framework, and finally, the researcher will establish the relationship of the conceptual framework. 

Section 4: Methodology

  4.1 Research Design Explains the overall strategy and framework guiding the study.

  4.2 Data Collection Methods Details the techniques (surveys, KII,FGD, observations,                                                        etc.) used to gather information.

4.3 Sampling Techniques Describes how participants or data sources were selected to                     represent the population.

4.4 Tools and Instruments Used 

        Refers to the specific devices or instruments applied to implement those                             methods. Specifies the questionnaires, checklists, software like SPSS, SmartPLs,             NVivo, or devices applied in data collection.

4.5 Data Analysis Approach Outlines the statistical or qualitative methods used to             interpret the data.

4.6 Ethical Issues Highlights measures taken to ensure consent, confidentiality, and                 responsible research conduct.

4.7 Limitations Identifies constraints that may affect the scope, accuracy, or             generalizability of the findings.

Section 5: Key Findings / Data Analysis/ Results

*The presentation ocf results should be simple and straightforward in style. This section reports the most important findings, including results of statistical analyses as appropriate and comparisons to other research results. This is where the author(s) should explain in words what he/she/they discovered in the research.

Section 6: Discussion

    Not generic    

    Shortly (1 para but depends can be more but precise is prefarable) discuss from major     findings that wants to establish and compare with any research findings/theory

Section 7: Conclusion and Recommendations

Not generic

Based on research findings. Area and point based. Brief. Not big and page to page narrative forms.

References

       Styles are-   APA,  IEEE, Harvard or any depends on demand by authority

What style will you prefer? Really very difficult to make a decision. Depends on the direction of the supervisor or sometimes the publisher. Learn more from the internet about each style format

Bibliography (Not always, If wanted)

 (Same as Reference but more references that are not in the body of the report)

Annexures

Depend upon what you have related to research. My research report annexures had the following 

A- Survey Questionaries

B- Data Collection Permission Letter

C- Time Table

D- FGD Pictures

E- Software Source Code

 My ORCID id

NB: You can put your valuable comments to improve the blog content. The writer is Oracle Certified Professional, trainer, innovator,  and researcher and can be contacted at the mail rashid.eee.cse@gmail.com