Reporting and Disseminating Conclusions

(S. Bevins, 1999)

These are 2 action processes that are just as important as anything else the researcher does. Although this usually occurs at the conclusion of the process, there are ways to give progress reports along the way if there is something of significance to report. Research is not complete unless it is shared. Remember the criteria that research w must confirm to: logical, understandable, confirmable, and useful. It cannot be useful if others can't use the information because they do not know about it.

Research may generate different types of reports. They fit the particular contexts that fit the study. The method chosen for dissemination of research is purposeful.

Principles for writing: there is a common set of principles used regardless of whether qualitative or quantitative.

  • Clarity: it must be understood, clear, and well-written. It takes time to do it well. It must be thoughtful and use must use creative energy to do it well.
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  • Purpose: If you are writing a report of your research for a professional, scholarly journal, then you know the style of writing and the general expectations of the journal. If you are writing a report for practitioners, you'll write it a certain way with different emphasis. If you are writing a report for a community agency, then you will write it differently.
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  • Audience specific: who your audience is in large part determines how your report is structured and how specific your information is. Write in a style that is consistent with the level of understanding and knowledge of the targeted reader.
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  • Citations: One very important point to remember here is plagiarism. Most people do not intend to plagiarize. All work written by another author, even if not directly quoted in your work, must be cited. You should not be quoting from other research in your literature review. Remember, the point of the literature review is to summarize and synthesize research done previously. Be very careful about secondary citations. These are citations for work that uses other researchers' work. This is called a secondary source. This means that you did not read the original article and are relying on someone else's interpretation of the original work. Be very careful about this.
    •  Writing the Experimental research report:
     


    Writing a qualitative report: because there are many different types of research designs that reflect qualitative inquiry, there is no one single, accepted format for writing a final report. There are some commonalities. It does not follow a prescribed format with clear expectations for language and structure. These reports are rich in detail, draw on case material in the form of narratives to illustrate major themes and interpretations. There is great variation in format. Another important aspect of reporting is to include a section that describes the researcher's bias and feelings in conducting the study. This may be in an appendix or actually included in the introduction. Sections include:


    Ethnography: the primary approach to ethnography is to identify patterns and characterize a cultural group. The report tells a story about the underlying values, roles, beliefs, and normative practices of the group. It is often quite lengthy.

    Phenomenology: the emphasis is on the unique perspectives of one or more persons. The reports often highlight life experiences and its interpretations of those who experience it. It is often written in the form of a story.

    Dissemination: There are three popular ways of disseminating your research.

    1.   Sharing Written Reports: they may have different formats, depending on the purpose of the report and the audience. Journal articles are the most well known way of disseminating information; however, other ways are useful and important also. Research may be shared in professional and university newsletters, periodicals, newspapers, graduate theses, book chapters and full-length books, and reports to funding agencies.
    2.   Publishing: this specific type of written "report" has a particular audience and thus is written in a scholarly manner. This is an important, permanent way of sharing information.
    3.   Other Methods: such other methods include methods other than written ones. These might include presentations at professional and scholarly conferences, in-service education, and informal collaboration with colleagues.
    Sharing your work meets the criteria of "usefulness" in the broader criteria of what constitutes good research. Remember they are multiple ways to inform others of your work.