Writing about a variable in the research report

Having developed a chapter outline, the next step is to start writing. Though the way researchers organise their writing is extremely individualised, the following guidelines and format may prove helpful for beginners.

When writing about the information obtained in response to a question (variable), write as if you were providing answers to the following questions:

• Why did you think it important to study the variable? What effects, in your opinion, may this variable have on the main variable you are explaining? (This is where you provide your own rationale for studying the variable.)
• In the case of a cross-tabulation, what relationships have other studies found between the variables you are analysing? (This is where the literature review is integrated into the findings of the study.)
• What did you expect to find out in terms of the relationship between the two variables? (If you have formulated a hypothesis, state it here.)
• What has your study found out? (Provide the hard data from your study here, as tables, graphs or text.)
• What does the data show? (Interpret the findings of your analysis.)
• What conclusions can you draw? How do the conclusions drawn from your study compare with those from similar studies in the past? Does your study support or contradict them?
• What explanation can you provide for the findings of your study?

The above is only a suggested format for ordering your thoughts, not a list of subheadings. You may wish to change the suggested order to make the reading more interesting. Below is an example of writing about a variable, ‘Adequacy of payment for foster care’, from Chapter 13:

• Why did you think it important to find out if foster-care payments are adequate? What effects, in your opinion, could the adequacy or otherwise of payment for foster care have on the quality of foster care?
• What have other studies in your literature review said about the adequacy of foster-care payments?
• What did you expect to find out from your study population in terms of if its feelings about the adequacy of foster-care payments? If you formulated a hypothesis, you should specify that here. For example, Hi = Most foster parents would consider the current level of foster-care payments to be adequate.
• What did you find out about the adequacy of foster-care payments? What proportion of the study population said they were adequate? What proportion said they were inadequate?

Provide a table or graph showing the distribution of respondents by their response to the question regarding the adequacy of foster-care payments.

• What does your data show about the adequacy of foster-care payments? What are the main findings of your study? How do these findings compare with those of other studies you found in your literature review? Does your study support or contradict them?
• What conclusions can you draw about the adequacy of the amount of payment for foster care?
• What explanation can you provide for the observed findings? Why do you think those who said that foster payments are either adequate or inadequate feel that way?

In the suggested format in writing about information obtained from questions, notice that the literature review is integrated with the findings and conclusions. The extent of the integration of the literature with findings mostly depends upon the level at which you are writing your dissertation (Honours, Masters or PhD) — the higher the level, the more extensive the literature review, the greater its integration with your findings, and the more careful and confident you need to be about your conclusions.

Writing in qualitative research is more descriptive and narrative than analytical, hence you need to use your imagination in terms of placement of information, linkage between the thoughts and flow of language to make the writing interesting to read and meaningful in conveying the findings.

The suggested format is organised around the main themes of the study. There are other formats. Some researchers write everything under one heading, ‘The findings’. This format is appropriate for a research paper, because it is short, but not for a research report or disserta­tion. Other writers follow the same order as in the research instrument; for example, findings are discussed under each question. The reader needs to refer continuously to the instrument for each question. It is segmental, lacks linkage and integration, and does not place findings into perspective.

Source: Kumar Ranjit (2012), Research methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners, SAGE Publications Ltd; Third edition.