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RESEARCH REPORTS
a written report is used to describe an investigation or enquiry, or to present the results of a research project. It should be written in a specific format – your university will have its own guidelines for writing research reports, and you should read them carefully before writing your report. a report should consist of evidence, findings and recommendations. The introduction to a research report discusses the purpose of the research (the research question), how the research was conducted and briefly indicates your findings. The body of the report explains the method of investigation, and discusses your findings in detail. Finally a conclusion states your recommendations, why they are important and how they answer or address the research question. In the conclusion you can also identify possible research that may be undertaken in future to further illuminate the research question. Be as objective as possible when writing your report.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is copying what someone else has written or taking somebody else’s ideas or words and presenting them as your own, without acknowledging the source. even if you do not quote verbatim from a book or article, you still need to acknowledge it in your reference list if you made use of it. When you paraphrase (rewrite in your own words someone else’s ideas or thoughts) without acknowledging the source, it is still considered plagiarism. It is therefore extremely important that you always acknowledge your sources in all your work. universities consider plagiarism in a very serious light. If you are found guilty of plagiarism you may not be allowed to continue your studies. If you are unsure whether something in your report or assignment needs to be acknowledged, check with your lecturer or tutor.
To acknowledge a source you insert a citation in the body of the text, and add a full reference in your reference list at the end of your assignment, essay or report.