Reporting and presenting results

Reporting is an essential part of an investigative project; it’s how you communicate your entire process, findings, and conclusions to your audience.
The main objective of your report is not only to present your results, but also demonstrate how you conducted your investigation, and how you made sense of what you discovered.
Accuracy, clarity, and conciseness are crucial when crafting your report.

Your report should typically include these sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and References.
Introduction effectively outlines the problem you were investigating, its relevance, and establishes your objectives and hypotheses.
The Methods section describes how you conducted your investigation, providing enough detail for others to replicate your work if needed.
Your Results section is where you state your findings in a clear and concise manner, often using graphs, tables, or diagrams.
In your Discussion, you interpret your results and explain how they relate to your objectives and hypotheses.
Finally, your Conclusion summarises the most important findings, and the References section cites all the sources you used throughout your investigation.

Visualisation can greatly enhance the understanding of your results. Common forms of visual representation include graphs, charts, and tables.
Always choose the most appropriate form of visualisation to accurately and clearly represent your data. For example, bar charts for categorical data, line graphs for trends etc.
Always label your diagrams and charts, including a clear title, units of measurement, and the variables under investigation.

In addition to the report, you are often required to present your findings to your peers, tutors, or other stakeholders.
Communication skills are crucial. You should aim to explain your project in a way that is comprehensible even to those who don’t have an in-depth knowledge of the topic.
Keep your presentation concise and engaging, focus on the main points, and use visual aids to present your results effectively.
Be prepared to answer questions about your methods, results, and interpretations. This demonstrates thorough understanding of your project.

Always end your report with a critical reflection on your investigation. This should include what went well, what didn’t, and what could be improved in future investigations.
Honest and constructive self-evaluation not only allows for personal growth but demonstrates professionalism and integrity in your work.