SCIENTIFIC PROJECT REPORT
10.2 REPORT FORMAT
10.2.2 Chapter Content
Every chapter has specific content that describes the process, progress and results of the project. The outline content of what should go into each chapter of the report writing or project report is given below.
a) Introduction
Introduction contains background of research and problem statement/issues that indicates its importance and validity with clear-cut, precise, concise and explicit explained. The introduction should include a full but concise statement of:
i. The background to the investigation, briefly stating the significance and contribution reasons of this research governing the need for the investigation. This background should reflect the title of the project.
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iii. The main aims or objectives of the investigation. The main objectives of the study together with the outline of research must be as concise as possible and should not contain argument or discussion.
iv. The scope of research must be spelled-out clearly together with limitations. It should have a good flow, natural, style of writing and should read like a story.
v. Research contributions or proposed solutions (why they are expected to be better or essence of the idea(s) used in proposed solutions), research conditions, assumptions and limitations of the research done.
b) Literature Review
For scientific projects, literature review gives some current information on research findings based on previous study related to the research topic. In this section, student must provide a brief, clear statement of the rationale for their approach to the problem studied.Student need to express the different views of the research topic that will be essential for the development of the framework for research. Student also must have an original critical opinions not just reporting from previous research. Student can use the previous research and presented in the forms of paraphrase, quotation or simply stating the data from the source.
All references selected must be up-to-date. Student must evaluate all the information retrieved (books, journals, magazines, thesis, internet or articles) and write a summary on its significance to the research project. It should be relevant, sensible and concise with original evidence. All reference sources in text must be recorded clearly with correct format citations and listed in the references chapter. In this chapter also, student can review about techniques, methods, equipment or technology that has been used in previous study or will be used in the project.
c) Methodology
This chapter reports on the overall approach and framework chosen during design and implementation of the scientific project. Research methodology describes the methods and techniques used such as sampling stations, types of sample, variables and measurement, type/method of data collection, instrumentation and techniques of data analysis. The parameters used in research methodology must reflect the theoretical framework so that the objectives of study can be attained.
The methodology chapter should include the followings:
i. Introduction: A brief introduction highlighting the general methodology, sampling site and structure of the chapter.
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ii. Research Design: In research designs, it will provide the structure of the scientific research and student carefully planning the research approach. The student should identify, define and provide justification/rationale of the choice of specific methods used and cite the methods source. The research study can be conducted based on the nature of study. There are several elements will be considered: sampling type, how the data be collected/ generated, how will the data be analyzed, how to obtain results and how to identify and acknowledge any issues or barriers.
iii. Sampling methods: In this section, detailed description of sampling method and the actual sample size should be provided.
iv. Data Collection Methods: Student should describe the major methods for collecting data from the subjects. Data collection and sampling can be carried out in the form of quantitative or qualitative measurements. All equipment / instrument should be specified fully (i.e. model numbers, reference numbers). This specification may also include the accuracy, validity and reliability of the equipment used.
v. Research Procedures: A detailed description of the steps taken in the conduct of scientific research should be provided. Student should provide a complete step of the research process. In case of experiments, make sure sufficient information will be given so that anyone wishing to repeat the experiments will be able to do so and obtain similar experimental results. Procedures may also be able to be simplified in flow chart form.
vi. Data Analysis Methods: The student should identify and describe appropriate data analysis methods for the study. Two types of data analysis method:
Quantitative approaches in terms of descriptive statistics or inferential statistics, data analysis tools in terms of computer application packages (Excel, SPSS or SAS) or data presentation methods in terms of tables, graphs or charts.
Qualitative data should be summarized and categorized according to common themes and presented in frequency distribution tables.
d) Result & Discussion
This chapter is generally considered as the most critical section of the scientific Project 2. The findings should be presented and analysed on the basis of the specific objectives, hypotheses or research questions. The results section always begins with text, reporting the main results without interpretation. Write the text of the Results section concisely, objectively and logical sequence using both text and illustrative materials. If the study didn’t get the anticipated or
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Discussion section will provide interpretation and the analysis of the results by comparing them to the findings of previous studies or theoretical background presented in the literature review.
Result written style including:
Tables, charts or graphs should be used to present quantitative data along with the explanation.
All tables, graphs or chart should be referred directly within the text, in such a way in describing the outcomes of the study. If the information can summarize in one sentence, then a table or graph is not necessary.
Report findings must write in the past tense.
Avoid present the same data in both a table and figure. Decide whether a figure or table is the more effective way to present the data.
Avoid report raw data, unless the raw data is more critical. Raw data can be including in an Appendix.
Result findings must be present in a clear and easy to understand manner.
Discussion written style including:
The topics of the discussion should follow the same order as the Results section.
Interpret the results of each of the studies presented in the Results.
Focus on whether results supported specific hypotheses presented in the introduction and the cited literature.
Describe limitations of the research, potential applications of the findings, and ideas for further research
e) Conclusion and Recommendation
This chapter highlights the findings along with recommendation for future research of the study upon which a conclusion is drawn in line with the objectives of project. Be specific when drawing conclusions. Conclusions should be based on real results of the project. It is not necessary that all the conclusions are positive. Negative conclusions are sometimes more valuable than positive ones. It is suitable as well to discuss in this chapter the alternative methods that could be taken to solve the identified research problems and suggestions for future research work based on the findings and conclusions generated from the study. It also can include the contribution of this study towards end-user communities or societies.
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f) References
References are the detailed description of resources from which information, theory or ideas were obtained in preparing the scientific project report. A proper format of citations must be followed which come from books, journals, magazines, thesis, articles, internet, etc. The detail references written format should follow the “Panduan Penulisan Disertasi” FSSA book. The details of every references cited in the text MUST be listed in this chapter and list in alphabetical order. If more than one published materials by the same author are cited, these materials should be listed chronologically. Articles in PDF format are acceptable for reference and internet information should only be treated as secondary or supporting reference.
Appendix C show easy step to compile a cited sources.
g) Abstract
Abstract is a single sheet which gives an overview of the whole report and it is required with all research projects. The abstract should never exceed one page (not exceeding 200-300 words) and should be considered as an alternative to reading the whole report, not as an introduction to it. An abstract summarizes the main point of a piece of writing that includes the field of study, the aim of the project, problem definition, methodology adopted, research process, results and conclusions reached. It should be written only when almost all section of the report have been completed. Abstracts typically serve to help readers decide if they should read an entire article and to understand the achievement of report project by acting as a pre-reading outline of key points. An abstract in both Bahasa Melayu and English are required. Bahasa Melayu report written must include abstract and title project in English, and vice versa. Both abstract and abstrak sections should be separated.
h) Appendices
The appendices are supplementary materials that are not compulsory for the report but help in better understanding. Material that would seriously obstruct the flow of the text or ideas of the report should also be placed into appendices. This could be extensive technical details or explanation of mathematical derivation/procedures, lists of numerical data, maps and extra photographs, analysis output, diagrams of specialized equipment, questionnaire form etc. as additional information or reference to the text to support a report. All appendices should be titled and numbered alphabetically. All material placed into the appendices should be cited in the text of the report. For example: "Illustrations of typical equipment are shown in Appendix B". All appendices also must be listed in the List of Appendices page (Appendix G).
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i) Acknowledgement
An acknowledgement can be included to specific individual/institution (supervisor, family members or friends) and financial resources, which have contributed and provided assistance, facilities and support towards the completion in the research project. It must be moderate and should not exceed one page.
10.2.3 Text Format