How do you report research progress and impact to relevant audiences?

1 Know your audience

Before you start writing your report, you need to identify who your audience is and what they expect from your report. Different audiences may have different levels of interest, knowledge, and influence on your research. For example, funders may want to see how you have used their resources and achieved your objectives, while collaborators may want to see how you have integrated their inputs and feedback. The public may want to see how your research contributes to social or environmental issues, while stakeholders may want to see how your research informs their decisions or actions. Knowing your audience will help you tailor your report to their needs and preferences.

2 Define your purpose

Once you have identified your audience, you need to define the purpose of your report. What do you want to achieve with your report? What message do you want to convey? What action do you want to inspire? Depending on your purpose, you may choose different formats, styles, and contents for your report. For example, if your purpose is to inform, you may use a factual and objective tone and provide evidence and data. If your purpose is to persuade, you may use a compelling and emotive tone and provide arguments and recommendations. If your purpose is to engage, you may use a creative and interactive tone and provide stories and visuals.

3 Plan your structure

After you have defined your purpose, you need to plan the structure of your report. How will you organize your information and arguments in a logical and coherent way? How will you guide your audience through your report and highlight the key points? How will you balance the depth and breadth of your report and avoid unnecessary details or repetitions? A common structure for a research report consists of four main sections: introduction, methods, results, and discussion. However, you may adapt or modify this structure depending on your purpose, audience, and type of research. For example, you may add an executive summary, a conclusion, a recommendation, or an appendix.

4 Write your content

When you have planned your structure, you can start writing your content. To ensure clarity, conciseness, and accuracy, use language, tone, and style that suit your audience and purpose. Avoid jargon, acronyms, and technical terms that may confuse or alienate your audience. To make your writing more direct and engaging, use active voice and simple sentences. Utilize headings, subheadings, bullet points, and transitions to make your writing organized and readable. Include tables, charts, graphs, images, and videos to make your writing visually appealing. Cite references and footnotes to make your writing credible and reliable. Finally, include examples, anecdotes, and quotes to make your writing personal and relatable.

5 Edit and proofread your report

Before you submit or publish your report, it is important to edit and proofread it. You can check and improve your writing for clarity, consistency, and correctness by reading aloud, using online tools, and having someone else review it. Additionally, you may receive feedback from others that you should incorporate into your writing. To ensure the quality of your report, consider the following tips and best practices: read your report aloud to identify any awkward or unclear sentences; use online tools such as Grammarly, Hemingway, or ProWritingAid to check grammar, spelling, punctuation, and readability; ask a colleague, friend, or professional editor to review your report; and revise and refine your report based on the feedback you receive. By following these tips and best practices, you can create effective and engaging reports that showcase your research achievements and value to relevant audiences.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?