The efficient way to produce your final report

Even the greatest of researchers had to report their work in the most intelligible form possible. It is said of the great philosopher Plato, that he wrote in a delightfully readable style.² This is perhaps one of the reasons why his works are still read today!

Albert Einstein, had the following to say, in the Preface to his book on relativity³: "The author has spared himself no pains in his endeavour to present the main ideas in the simplest and most intelligible form…". Before starting your report, you should also do your utmost to ensure that it is a pleasure to read.

James Maxwell, the father of the theory of electromagnetism, paid the price for not writing clearly.⁴ As he expressed himself in obscure and contradictory language, his results were not accepted during his lifetime. What a waste! Why should you suffer the same fate? Again, spend the time needed to produce a readable document.

The research report is also the place where you must correctly interpret the data and discover its meaning.⁵ Merely collecting and processing information in a written or graphical form is not research! True research involves finding that small precious gem of new and exciting knowledge under a mountain of facts and figures.

A very interesting example in science history of how data were interpreted differently by two researchers was the discovery of the structure of DNA.⁶ Rosalind Franklin interpreted her own X-ray diffraction pictures of DNA as showing that DNA is non-helical.

James Watson saw the same pictures and immediately made the correct deduction that DNA was unmistakably of helical form! Watson, together with Francis Crick, shared the Nobel prize for this discovery.

Our message here is, spend enough time interpreting and explaining your results in clear language. By following this advice, you will reap the benefits of having a high-quality report, thesis or dissertation.

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