How to write a
scientific report
NUT4027: Introduction to Nutrition 2
Report looking at dietary intake in 1st year UG students
compared to appropriate UK Dietary Reference Values for
energy and selected nutrients.
Literature will be gathered to put the report into context and to
further discuss the results
Laboratory report structure
Title
Introduction
Aim
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Reference list
Appendices
Title
5 minute task
In pairs discuss and write an appropriate title for this work
Your ideas…
1
2
3
An example: A report of the dietary intake of a group of students
Your ideas…
1 compared to the UK government’s recommended Dietary
Reference Values for energy and selected nutrients.
2
3
‘You can think up your own variation based on this example’
Introduction
Background information (must use references)
Explain to the reader:
• What are DRVs?
• Why are DRVs important and how do they influence the body?
• What methods can be used to collect dietary intake?
• The introduction ends with an AIM (one sentence).
• The AIM is the reason for the particular experiment – what do
you hope to show?
Methodology
The methods section should be clear and detailed enough for
another experienced person to repeat the research and
reproduce the results.
• Write in the past tense
Do not use the present tense: I, we, they, she, he
Past tense: The subject completed a 24 hour food diary
• Concise writing of this section
e.g. A dependent t-tests was used to...
• It can be the easiest section to write
Results
• Present and describe the results in a systematic and detailed
way consisting of tables and figures –
• Number each: Table 1 or Figure 1
• Title at top of tables and below a figure
• In the text you can explain the content and identify the table or
figure e.g. (see table 1) or The results presented in Figure 1…
•
Table 1
Figure 1
shows
compares
presents
provides
an overview of …
the demographic data of the participants
the experimental data on X.
the summary statistics for …
the breakdown of X according to …
the results obtained from the preliminary analysis of X
• Report numbers to the correct decimal place
• Always provide units !!!
• E.g. Age (years), Weight (kg), Energy (Kcal)
Tables
•
•
•
•
•
Put a title for the table (s) above the table
Always provide units
Title which explains data presented and units
Do not include raw data – Use the class average
Tables can be put in an appendix to avoid use of word count as long
as you refer to this
• You must introduce the Table in the text i.e. Table 1 below shows......
Table 1: Provide a title here
Men
Mean
Energy (Kcal)
Women
SD
Mean
SD
Figures
• Put a title for the figure(s) below the figure
• Make sure both axes are labelled and have units
• Y- axis dependent units (e.g. males /females)
• X- axis independent units (e.g. energy (kcal)
• Computer generated using Excel or other suitable programmes
• Title which explains the data presented and units
Figure 1: The figure indicates that..
• You must introduce the Figure in the text i.e. Figure 1 below
shows......
• Figures should be 1/3 of a page in size
3000
2500
Energy (kcal)
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Men
Women
Figure 1: Provide a title here
In the text again, provide a brief explanation i.e. From the figure above
it can be seen that.......(avoid an interpretation of the results – see next
section)
Discussion
• Evaluate your findings and interpret your results
• Show that you are thinking critically
• Compare your findings to previous literature
These results…
further support the idea of …
confirm the association between …
are consistent with data obtained in …
match those observed in earlier studies.
are in line with those of previous
studies.
are in agreement with those obtained
by …
This study has been unable to demonstrate that …
However, this result has not previously been described.
In contrast to earlier findings, however, no evidence of X was
detected.
Smith et al. (1999) showed that …. This differs from the findings
presented here …
However, the findings of the current study do not support the
previous research.
• Did you meet your aims?
• What were the strengths of your study?
• What were the limitations of your study?
DON’T
• Be Subjective
“I did…”“I found…”
“I think…” “I feel..”
• Be vague or personal
“boring” “fun” “interesting”
 Use OPINION
“I think smoking is bad for you”
“I think kids should watch less
TV and exercise more”
DO
• Write in the 3rd person
“It was found that…”
“ The experiment showed…”
• Be descriptive
The experiment didn’t work when you
added the pink stuff to the blue stuff
 Use FACTS and EVIDENCE
‘Research by Smith (1999) and the
BHF, 2000) clearly shows that
smoking causes an increased risk of
lung cancer’
Conclusion
• Summarise and bring together the main areas covered in the
writing, which might be called ‘looking back’
• Give a final comment or judgement on this. The final
comment may also include making suggestions for
improvement and speculating on future directions.
• Remember this is the final paragraph a marker reads – don’t
rush it and make sure they are left with a good impression of
your report
Reference List
• A list of references for all the citations you have used in your
report
• Check the style
• APA
• Easy to use referencing software – Refworks
• See Marianne Johnson – SHAS librarian
Marking scheme
• Planning and Preparation
• Content
10%
60%
• Structure and Format of Report
• Referencing, spelling and grammar
10%
20%
Presentation
Neat and tidy
Structured
professional
Referencing
Cite all literature used
Provide full reference in the bibliography – consider
Refworks
See Marianne Johnson – SHAS librarian for guidance
Spelling
Proof read your work to check for spelling – if you doubt it
then check it
Grammar
Proof read yourself
Ask another person to proof read
/10
Structure and Format of Report (10%)
•
•
•
•
Report produced in line with guidelines provided
Appropriate title for report, sub-headings and titles
for all tables, graphs and figures
Appropriate scientific style/language throughout
Correct units and appropriate number of decimal
places etc
•
•
•
•
•
Inappropriate format for scientific report
Guidelines not followed
Inadequate titles and labels
Poor scientific writing style
Careless errors
/20
Referencing, spelling and grammar (20%)
•
•
•
Citations in text and reference list correct
Correct spelling and grammar
Marksheet included
• Citations in text and reference list incorrect
• Incorrect spelling and grammar
• No marksheet
Appendices
• Raw data
• Additional tables
• Provide title Appendix 1
• May refer to appendix in text (see Appendix 1)
• Anything else?
Work on your final draft
• Ensure your essay flows from one point to the next - check for
coherence and logic
• Read it aloud; check it is clear
• Put your work aside for a day or two
• Keep redrafting
• Check spelling and grammar - MS Word does this for you!
• Check your in-text citations match your reference list
Formatting
• Your work should be 1.5 or double-spaced, Arial or Times new
Roman font, and size 12 text.
• Number your pages
• Providing a word count that includes (Subtitles, tables, quotes
and any other data included in the work, as well as the citations in
the text). Excludes the main title, references, tables and figures.
• Adhere to the word count allowance (1500 words)
• State your word count
• Write the correct word count, usually just before the reference
list!
General Expectations Summary
• Follow the instructions & NO PLAGIARISM!
 Info on plagiarism in program handbook &
 covered in NUT4000 Introduction to Research
• Produce work with a coherent overall structure
• Include appropriate citations & references
• Include your REGNUM on each page DO NOT put your
NAME on any submitted coursework
Useful resources
• SCHOOL LEARNING ADVISOR: Gemma Zeybel
• If you would like any extra help with study skills (including
time management, finding literature, referencing, reading,
note taking, essay writing, report writing, presentation skills,
revision, exam technique) you can contact the School learning
advisor, Gemma Zeybel.
• Phone: 0208 240 4377
• Email: [email protected]
• Or you can book appointments online at MyModules: services
for students – study support
Don’t forget…
An electronic copy of your work must be submitted to
‘Turnitin’ with a Marksheet
No later than 9am on 19th April 2016