Presenting results Module 7.3 1 Contents Introduction Different ways of reporting Creating a report Test and improve 2 Introduction 3 Information management skills Understand the problem Ask questions Identify headings Sift Summarise Calculate Group Create charts Compare Analyse Combine information Create report Find information Process data Present the results (Module 7.1) (Module 7.2) (new insights and knowledge) 4 Different ways of reporting 5 Ways to present findings Reports Posters Blogs Websites Speeches Determined by Aim Audience 6 Reports prepared with word processor Hard copy / Soft copy Easier to understand when summarized in Presentations Also presented using the internet Websites / blogs / social media platforms Audience can refer to online resources 7 Information flows from our research or from execution of our task Information becomes knowledge through insight and understanding Data Information Knowledge Creating a report 9 Headings for questions? What is the problem? What did I focus on? Data and information to get the answers? Information I got from processing? What did I do to solve it? Headings for data and information? Four Three One Two Planning the structure What did I learn from the information / processing? What patterns or trends? What did I interpret from the processing? Create a framework What conclusions can I make? What recommendations can I make on the basis of my new knowledge and insight? 10 Sections of a report First part Middle (Main Body) Cover page Table of contents Introduction Last part Conclusion Discussion Recommendations Bibliography 11 Copyright, plagiarism and referencing The laws ensuring a person’s right to his intellectual property are known as copyright Includes artworks, books, etc. Usually indicated by the © symbol © If you copy something and use it as if it is your own intellectual property, you are guilty of a crime called plagiarism When you use someone else’s idea or words, you must insert a citation to acknowledge this 12 Finalising the report A few tips for good layout … Use styles in Word to maintain consistent appearance Easy-to-read font with appropriate size Boldface and italics — use sparingly! Provide enough margin space Add page numbering Use bulleted / numbered lists for long lists of items 13 Finalising the report Use of graphics Appropriate pictures, diagrams, photos and charts — get the message across Tips for charts Easier to understand than tables of data Label charts with clear meaningful descriptions Use colours, patterns and textures Can be distracting if not chosen carefully 14 Finalising the report Proofing your final copy Perform a spell check on the final version Proofread a hardcopy version Get someone else to proofread it as well — they will read it with ‘fresh eyes’ 15 Test and improve Use the summary for revision 16
