Analysis Report Writing: Guidelines for Using Data in Reports

The range of reports’ types includes such type as analysis report. In that regard, analysis report writing is essentially about providing a comprehensive analysis of a particular data with findings, practical implementations, and conclusions.

Analysis report writing is a process implying formal approach, in which the main purpose is outlining particular trends and solutions to existent problems. Thus, this article provides an overview of the essential aspects in analysis report writing.

Guidelines

Although the main element in analysis report writing is the authors’ conclusions, it can be stated that correct implementation of data is the basis of such conclusions. Thus, the following guidelines might be helpful in analysis report writing:

• The usage of statistics and numbers in analysis report writing should not be used just for the purpose of it. Each data element should be used to support a particular point. Large tables and data sets should be put in the appendixes at the end of the report.

• The reader should acknowledge the purpose of the data used. Thus, analysis report writing implies using tables and illustrations, captions and definitions of unfamiliar terms, theories and concepts.

• Analysis report writing does not test hypotheses, and thus, elements common to researches and dissertations, such as limitations, literature reviews, etc, are not to be used. Reports serve practical, rather than academic purposes.

• The conclusion should be clearly based on the findings, which in turn should not be of interpretive nature; otherwise, such fact should be clearly indicated in the report.

Thus, it can be stated that analysis report writing is mostly related to providing directions for future actions, based on conclusions. In that regard, the importance of the accuracy in writing such reports should not be overlooked.