1Class 19Reading and Writing Research ReportsGet Organized and Efficient: Some General Research Tips• Use folders to get organized• Use a reference software• Run Stata/SPSS in batch mode Get Organized• Folder organization– Put all project files in one folder– Use subfolders• Back-up your files• Systematically name different versions of your work in progress2Reference Software• Three popular reference software– Endnote–Procite– Refworks (online, free for UW students)• Create a citation database for each project/topic• Reference software capabilities– Manage your reading list– Search public libraries and databases and import citations– Link PDF articles to your project database– Output reference list in APA format – Cite as you writeUse Batch Mode in Stata and SPSS• Two ways to run use a statistical software– The interactive mode– The batch mode• Easier to learn the software in interactive mode• But the batch mode is more efficient– Easily replicate results– Easily modify codes and accumulate your work– Faster and more accurateHow to Read Social Research• Begin with the abstract.• Skim the piece.• Read the conclusion to get a good sense of what it is about.• Form questions as you read and take notes.3Key Elements in a Research Report• Theoretical orientation• Research design• Measurement methods• Sampling•Analyses• Ask yourself: – Is the methodology sound?– Are the conclusions supported by the results? – What contribution is it making to the disciplinary knowledge base? Presenting Research in PowerPoint• Use self-explanatory graphics. • Accompany graphics with short verbal description.• Use big fonts. • Constrain the amount of text/information on each slide. • Use color and animation for emphasis and avoid unnecessary animations and 3D graphics.Writing a Research Report: The Planning Stage• Which article to write? – A. the article you planned to write? Or– B. the article that makes the most sense after you have analyzed data. • Work on tables and figures first.• Write an outline.• Be aware of the audience and the purpose in writing the report.4Writing a Research Report: Organization1. Purpose and overview – motivate your research2. Literature review – put your research in context3. Research design – hypotheses, data collection, method of analysis4. Results and discussion 5. Conclusion – What have we learned? What don’t we know yet?1. Introduction• What are you going to study? – Begin with a general topic– Then limit yourself to a very specific question or set of questions• Common ways to start an article– A gap in disciplinary knowledge– An ongoing debate• Why is this question important? Bring out some theoretical implications2. Literature Review• Summarize and criticize previous research• Discuss pertinent theories• previous work• Citations• Avoid presenting someone else’s words or thoughts as your own.53. Research Design• Conceptualization– Specify the meaning of concepts or variables to be studied • Describe dataset – GSS data, your own survey, other data?– How is the sample drawn? • Operationalization– How are the variables actually measured?3. Research Design• State hypotheses (if any)• Describe methods of analysis – Discuss causality issues if applicable.– Why is this method more appropriate than others?• Describe the execution of your study in such a way so that readers could replicate your results if they had access to your data.4. Results and Discussion• Principle – give the forest first and then the trees.– Remind us of the conceptual hypothesis or the question you are asking.– Tell us the answer immediately and in English.– Then speak to us in numbers.– Now you may elaborate or qualify the overall conclusion if necessary.64. Results and Discussion• Present findings using self-explanatory tables and figures• Describe tables and figures in words• Interpretation– What do findings say about your hypotheses? – Are there any alternative explanations?• Discuss questions that remain unanswered.5. Conclusion • Restate what was done• Restate the theoretical significance• Suggest directions for future research• What interesting questions does your study raise?Components of a Research Proposal • Introduction to the research problem• Literature review• Methodological plan• Budget• Ethics statement• Statement of
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