simple research report template

Paper and report design and layout templates

Pen perfect looking papers and reports every time when you start your assignment with a customizable design and layout template. whether you want your paper to pop off the page or you need your report to represent your data in the best light, you'll find the right template for your next paper..

Perfect your papers and reports with customizable templates

Your papers and reports will look as professional and well put together as they sound when you compose them using customizable Word templates . Whether you're writing a research paper for your university course or putting together a high priority presentation , designer-created templates are here to help you get started. First impressions are important, even for papers, and layout can make or break someone's interest in your content. Don't risk it by freestyling, start with a tried-and-true template. Remember, though: Papers and reports don't have to be boring. Professional can still pop. Tweak your favorite layout template to match your unique aesthetic for a grade A package.

tools4dev Practical tools for international development

Research report template

A research report describes the results of a survey, interviews, focus groups or any other type of qualitative or quantitative research. Even if they aren’t necessarily “researchers”, most international development practitioners will still need to write a basic research report at some point in their career. Either for a baseline or endline survey, needs assessment, or to describe the results of interviews or focus groups with program participants. This template can be used as a starting point for any type of basic research report (qualitative or quantitative).

Download research report template

This research report template is appropriate when:

• You need to write a report after conducting surveys, interviews, focus groups, or any other type of qualitative or quantitative research.
• You need to write a report for a simple baseline or endline survey, or needs assessment.

This research report template is NOT appropriate when:

• You need to write an academic research report.
• You need to write a report for a very complex or large research project (you could start with this template, but it would need a lot of modifications).

The Research Report Template by tools4dev is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License . All other content is  © tools4dev .

Photo by  Horia Varlan

Tags Monitoring & Evaluation Program Design

About Piroska Bisits Bullen

Related Articles

What can international development learn from tech start-ups?

13 May 2021

Social Enterprise Business Plan Template

12 May 2021

How to write an M&E framework – Free video tutorial & templates

10 September 2017

Free Download

Research Paper Template

The fastest (and smartest) way to craft a research paper that showcases your project and earns you marks. 

Available in Google Doc, Word & PDF format 4.9 star rating, 5000 + downloads

Step-by-step instructions

Tried & tested academic format

Fill-in-the-blanks simplicity

Pro tips, tricks and resources

What It Covers

This template’s structure is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for academic research papers. Its structure reflects the overall research process, ensuring your paper has a smooth, logical flow from chapter to chapter. Here’s what’s included:

• The title page/cover page
• Abstract (or executive summary)
• Section 1: Introduction 
• Section 2: Literature review 
• Section 3: Methodology
• Section 4: Findings /results
• Section 5: Discussion
• Section 6: Conclusion
• Reference list

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover within each section. 

You can download a fully editable MS Word File (DOCX format), copy it to your Google Drive or paste the content to any other word processor.

download your copy

100% Free to use. Instant access.

I agree to receive the free template and other useful resources.

Download Now (Instant Access)

FAQs: Research Paper Template

What format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).

The research paper template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of research papers can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard best-practice structure for formal academic research papers, so it is suitable for the vast majority of degrees, particularly those within the sciences.

Some universities may have some additional requirements, but these are typically minor, with the core structure remaining the same. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Masters or PhD-level research paper?

This template can be used for a research paper at any level of study. It may be slight overkill for an undergraduate-level study, but it certainly won’t be missing anything.

How long should my research paper be?

This depends entirely on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. We include generic word count ranges for each section within the template, but these are purely indicative. 

What about the research proposal?

If you’re still working on your research proposal, we’ve got a template for that here .

We’ve also got loads of proposal-related guides and videos over on the Grad Coach blog .

How do I write a literature review?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack how to write a literature review from scratch. You can check out the literature review section of the blog here.

How do I create a research methodology?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative. You can check out the methodology section of the blog here.

Can I share this research paper template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template. If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Can Grad Coach help me with my research paper?

Within the template, you’ll find plain-language explanations of each section, which should give you a fair amount of guidance. However, you’re also welcome to consider our private coaching services .

Additional Resources

If you’re working on a research paper or report, be sure to also check these resources out…

1-On-1 Private Coaching

The Grad Coach Resource Center

The Grad Coach YouTube Channel

The Grad Coach Podcast

Research Report Templates

Uncover the potential of your research with our report templates. They're the missing piece in your puzzle of data!

Other report templates

• Human resources
• Executive summary
• Survey results
• Project status
• Construction

Popular template categories

• Infographics
• Presentations
• White papers
• Letterheads
• Newsletters
• Business cards
• Certificates
• Invitations
• Social media
• Table of contents
• Magazine covers
• Price lists
• Album covers
• Book covers
• See All Templates

Newly Launched - AI Presentation Maker

Researched by Consultants from Top-Tier Management Companies

AI PPT Maker

Powerpoint Templates

Icon Bundle

Kpi Dashboard

Professional

Business Plans

Swot Analysis

Gantt Chart

Business Proposal

Marketing Plan

Project Management

Business Case

Business Model

Cyber Security

Business PPT

Digital Marketing

Digital Transformation

Human Resources

Product Management

Artificial Intelligence

Company Profile

Acknowledgement PPT

PPT Presentation

Reports Brochures

One Page Pitch

Interview PPT

All Categories

Top 10 Research Report Templates with Samples and Examples

Mayuri Gangwal

Without persistent search and double-checking of facts, knowledge faces the danger of stagnation. The process of research, a systematic way of learning new things and arranging knowledge is central to human existence. Be it medicine, transport, health, logistics or even education and many other fields, research is the unsung hero of progress.

Research provides critical insights that guide decision-making and strategy formulation. It is what helps organizations understand customer preferences and competitive landscapes, allowing innovation to flower.

Market research, however, is challenging as businesses are overwhelmed with data. Sorting and extracting information from vast data can be overwhelming. Another significant challenge that hinders in-depth research efforts is limited resources.

SlideTeam Templates help businesses streamline their research process and resolve the above-listed pain points. These provide updated information on the latest market trends and customer behavior. Also, our templates encompass details, making them an indispensable tool across industries.

Download our 100% editable and customizable templates to harness the power of well-structured research presentations.

Do you want to learn more about qualitative research report templates and market research report templates? We offer bet-in-class templates to ease your workload and increase efficiency, if you click on the links above.

Let’s explore these templates now!

Template 1: Market Research Report for Food Industry

This template offers a comprehensive view of the US food market. It identifies vital market trends, competitive landscapes, and economic indicators. It also helps businesses estimate their GDP and revenue by employing SWOT and PESTEL analysis. Moreover, it presents an Industry 4.0 action plan to overcome manufacturing challenges.

Download Now!

Template 2: Company Stock Analysis and Equity Research Template

Company Stock Analysis and equity research demands precision. A few common challenges include how to decipher vast financial data, market dynamics, and industry trends. These reports help new investors understand the complexities. Our template addresses these hurdles, as this vital tool transforms complex data into actionable insights that empower investors to make informed decisions.

Template 3: Table of Contents for Market Research Report for Food Industry

A table of contents is significant for food processing industry analysis presentations. It serves as a roadmap, outlining the presentation's structure and content. However, balancing conciseness with comprehensiveness while keeping it appealing is time-consuming. Our professionally designed templates simplify your presentation journey but also enhance your presentation. The topics covered are prevailing trends in the food industry, key growth drivers before actually studying the the impact of Industry 4.0 on food manufacturing sector. We end with dashboards on consumer goods and supply chain costs.

Template 4: Food Manufacturing Registered Plant Template

This template offers immense value to businesses in the food industry. It provides critical insights into the country's geographical distribution of food manufacturing facilities. By leveraging these insights, you can strategically position your operations and optimize distribution networks. Further, it can help you identify untapped market potential. It's not just a template but your blueprint for success in the food manufacturing landscape. Investing in this template helps you target your market better enhances decision-making. Embrace this opportunity and secure your foothold in the industry of 4.0 food engineering.

Template 5: Key Players in the Food Manufacturing Industry Template

This template offers your business food and beverage market intelligence . It helps you stay updated with the market leader and provides an in-depth understanding of their competitive landscape. It facilitates informed decision-making and robust strategy development. Investing in this template helps you streamline your analysis and make impactful presentations that drive growth.

Template 6: Target Company Overview for Equity Research Template

Analyzing the target company's overview aids in gaining insights into its business model. It provides competitive advantage and helps in growth prospects. It forms the basis for financial statement analysis that serves as the reference point for investors. Thus, target company overview is instrumental in decision-making processes. However, sorting through extensive company data can take time and effort. Structuring vast information in a visually appealing manner can be challenging. That's why businesses need our professionally designed templates. This template provides a detailed snapshot and condenses extensive data into a structured format. Moreover, it helps make informed investment decisions by presenting vital financial indicators. It streamlines the analysis process and guides users through essential sections.

Template 7: Target Company Vertical and Horizontal Analysis Template

Vertical and horizontal analysis offers distinct perspectives on a company's financial performance. It helps in analyzing financial statements with the kind of depth and relevance that you need.  Contrary horizontal analysis, on the other hand, compares financial data across periods. It helps in revealing trends, patterns, and changes in performance. Thus, it aids in identifying growth or decline trends. Businesses need these analyses as they provide insights into revenue streams and financial health. Understanding these trends helps companies decide on budget allocation and resource management. Our template streamlines this process by offering a pre-designed format. It simplifies complex financial data, enabling insights.

Template 8: Valuation Equity Research Method Template

Understand the complexities of equity valuation with our template. This comprehensive resource condenses intricate valuation methods. This template simplifies complex financial concepts and helps businesses overcome challenges. It transforms valuation methodologies into visuals that aid conceptual clarity. Thus, it makes them accessible to professionals, investors, and analysts.

Template 9:  Market Research Report Development Workflow 

This template comprehensively depicts the market research process and helps businesses from data collection to analysis and classification. It showcases a strategic workflow for identifying new areas of opportunity.

This template offers a structured and visually engaging workflow and maximizes research efficiency.

Download Now

Template 10: Campaign Keyword Optimization Research Template

This PPT Template maximizes your campaign's success and showcases projected keyword improvement reports. It helps you evaluate the impact of campaign efforts on crucial metrics like impressions, clicks, and CTR. This tool is powerful for insightful discussions and seamless navigation through vital metrics. It empowers you to present and analyze campaign data effortlessly. It’s your gateway to informed decision-making and strategy refinement.

Want to harness the potential of this versatile tool to steer your paid advertising campaigns toward enhanced performance and success? Get it now!

Template 11: School Education Research Statement Report Template

This template is an indispensable resource for scholars, academicians, and researchers. Its one-page layout simplifies the daunting task of summarizing research findings. Use this template to showcase research background, objectives, and directions. It also empowers researchers to outline research ideas in a comprehensive manner.

RESEARCH IS AN INVALUABLE ASSET

Our templates serve as invaluable assets, aiding professionals in overcoming complexities. It simplifies analyses and engages audiences effectively. It helps organizations make informed decisions with ease. Download these templates now to streamline your presentations and conquer market challenges.

PS You can also explore our top proposal report templates for guidance and creating winning presentations.

Related posts:

• How to Design the Perfect Service Launch Presentation [Custom Launch Deck Included]
• Quarterly Business Review Presentation: All the Essential Slides You Need in Your Deck
• [Updated 2023] How to Design The Perfect Product Launch Presentation [Best Templates Included]
• 99% of the Pitches Fail! Find Out What Makes Any Startup a Success

Liked this blog? Please recommend us

Top 10 Consulting Service Proposal Templates With Examples and Samples

Top 8 Permission Based Marketing Templates for Success

This form is protected by reCAPTCHA - the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

--> Digital revolution powerpoint presentation slides

--> Sales funnel results presentation layouts

--> 3d men joinning circular jigsaw puzzles ppt graphics icons

--> Business Strategic Planning Template For Organizations Powerpoint Presentation Slides

--> Future plan powerpoint template slide

--> Project Management Team Powerpoint Presentation Slides

--> Brand marketing powerpoint presentation slides

--> Launching a new service powerpoint presentation with slides go to market

--> Agenda powerpoint slide show

--> Four key metrics donut chart with percentage

--> Engineering and technology ppt inspiration example introduction continuous process improvement

--> Meet our team representing in circular format

• Privacy Policy

Home » Research Report – Example, Writing Guide and Types

Research Report – Example, Writing Guide and Types

Table of Contents

Research Report

Definition:

Research Report is a written document that presents the results of a research project or study, including the research question, methodology, results, and conclusions, in a clear and objective manner.

The purpose of a research report is to communicate the findings of the research to the intended audience, which could be other researchers, stakeholders, or the general public.

Components of Research Report

Components of Research Report are as follows:

Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for the research report and provides a brief overview of the research question or problem being investigated. It should include a clear statement of the purpose of the study and its significance or relevance to the field of research. It may also provide background information or a literature review to help contextualize the research.

Literature Review

The literature review provides a critical analysis and synthesis of the existing research and scholarship relevant to the research question or problem. It should identify the gaps, inconsistencies, and contradictions in the literature and show how the current study addresses these issues. The literature review also establishes the theoretical framework or conceptual model that guides the research.

Methodology

The methodology section describes the research design, methods, and procedures used to collect and analyze data. It should include information on the sample or participants, data collection instruments, data collection procedures, and data analysis techniques. The methodology should be clear and detailed enough to allow other researchers to replicate the study.

The results section presents the findings of the study in a clear and objective manner. It should provide a detailed description of the data and statistics used to answer the research question or test the hypothesis. Tables, graphs, and figures may be included to help visualize the data and illustrate the key findings.

The discussion section interprets the results of the study and explains their significance or relevance to the research question or problem. It should also compare the current findings with those of previous studies and identify the implications for future research or practice. The discussion should be based on the results presented in the previous section and should avoid speculation or unfounded conclusions.

The conclusion summarizes the key findings of the study and restates the main argument or thesis presented in the introduction. It should also provide a brief overview of the contributions of the study to the field of research and the implications for practice or policy.

The references section lists all the sources cited in the research report, following a specific citation style, such as APA or MLA.

The appendices section includes any additional material, such as data tables, figures, or instruments used in the study, that could not be included in the main text due to space limitations.

Types of Research Report

Types of Research Report are as follows:

Thesis is a type of research report. A thesis is a long-form research document that presents the findings and conclusions of an original research study conducted by a student as part of a graduate or postgraduate program. It is typically written by a student pursuing a higher degree, such as a Master’s or Doctoral degree, although it can also be written by researchers or scholars in other fields.

Research Paper

Research paper is a type of research report. A research paper is a document that presents the results of a research study or investigation. Research papers can be written in a variety of fields, including science, social science, humanities, and business. They typically follow a standard format that includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion sections.

Technical Report

A technical report is a detailed report that provides information about a specific technical or scientific problem or project. Technical reports are often used in engineering, science, and other technical fields to document research and development work.

Progress Report

A progress report provides an update on the progress of a research project or program over a specific period of time. Progress reports are typically used to communicate the status of a project to stakeholders, funders, or project managers.

Feasibility Report

A feasibility report assesses the feasibility of a proposed project or plan, providing an analysis of the potential risks, benefits, and costs associated with the project. Feasibility reports are often used in business, engineering, and other fields to determine the viability of a project before it is undertaken.

Field Report

A field report documents observations and findings from fieldwork, which is research conducted in the natural environment or setting. Field reports are often used in anthropology, ecology, and other social and natural sciences.

Experimental Report

An experimental report documents the results of a scientific experiment, including the hypothesis, methods, results, and conclusions. Experimental reports are often used in biology, chemistry, and other sciences to communicate the results of laboratory experiments.

Case Study Report

A case study report provides an in-depth analysis of a specific case or situation, often used in psychology, social work, and other fields to document and understand complex cases or phenomena.

Literature Review Report

A literature review report synthesizes and summarizes existing research on a specific topic, providing an overview of the current state of knowledge on the subject. Literature review reports are often used in social sciences, education, and other fields to identify gaps in the literature and guide future research.

Research Report Example

Following is a Research Report Example sample for Students:

Title: The Impact of Social Media on Academic Performance among High School Students

This study aims to investigate the relationship between social media use and academic performance among high school students. The study utilized a quantitative research design, which involved a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of 200 high school students. The findings indicate that there is a negative correlation between social media use and academic performance, suggesting that excessive social media use can lead to poor academic performance among high school students. The results of this study have important implications for educators, parents, and policymakers, as they highlight the need for strategies that can help students balance their social media use and academic responsibilities.

Introduction:

Social media has become an integral part of the lives of high school students. With the widespread use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, students can connect with friends, share photos and videos, and engage in discussions on a range of topics. While social media offers many benefits, concerns have been raised about its impact on academic performance. Many studies have found a negative correlation between social media use and academic performance among high school students (Kirschner & Karpinski, 2010; Paul, Baker, & Cochran, 2012).

Given the growing importance of social media in the lives of high school students, it is important to investigate its impact on academic performance. This study aims to address this gap by examining the relationship between social media use and academic performance among high school students.

Methodology:

The study utilized a quantitative research design, which involved a survey questionnaire administered to a sample of 200 high school students. The questionnaire was developed based on previous studies and was designed to measure the frequency and duration of social media use, as well as academic performance.

The participants were selected using a convenience sampling technique, and the survey questionnaire was distributed in the classroom during regular school hours. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis.

The findings indicate that the majority of high school students use social media platforms on a daily basis, with Facebook being the most popular platform. The results also show a negative correlation between social media use and academic performance, suggesting that excessive social media use can lead to poor academic performance among high school students.

Discussion:

The results of this study have important implications for educators, parents, and policymakers. The negative correlation between social media use and academic performance suggests that strategies should be put in place to help students balance their social media use and academic responsibilities. For example, educators could incorporate social media into their teaching strategies to engage students and enhance learning. Parents could limit their children’s social media use and encourage them to prioritize their academic responsibilities. Policymakers could develop guidelines and policies to regulate social media use among high school students.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, this study provides evidence of the negative impact of social media on academic performance among high school students. The findings highlight the need for strategies that can help students balance their social media use and academic responsibilities. Further research is needed to explore the specific mechanisms by which social media use affects academic performance and to develop effective strategies for addressing this issue.

Limitations:

One limitation of this study is the use of convenience sampling, which limits the generalizability of the findings to other populations. Future studies should use random sampling techniques to increase the representativeness of the sample. Another limitation is the use of self-reported measures, which may be subject to social desirability bias. Future studies could use objective measures of social media use and academic performance, such as tracking software and school records.

Implications:

The findings of this study have important implications for educators, parents, and policymakers. Educators could incorporate social media into their teaching strategies to engage students and enhance learning. For example, teachers could use social media platforms to share relevant educational resources and facilitate online discussions. Parents could limit their children’s social media use and encourage them to prioritize their academic responsibilities. They could also engage in open communication with their children to understand their social media use and its impact on their academic performance. Policymakers could develop guidelines and policies to regulate social media use among high school students. For example, schools could implement social media policies that restrict access during class time and encourage responsible use.

References:

• Kirschner, P. A., & Karpinski, A. C. (2010). Facebook® and academic performance. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(6), 1237-1245.
• Paul, J. A., Baker, H. M., & Cochran, J. D. (2012). Effect of online social networking on student academic performance. Journal of the Research Center for Educational Technology, 8(1), 1-19.
• Pantic, I. (2014). Online social networking and mental health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 17(10), 652-657.
• Rosen, L. D., Carrier, L. M., & Cheever, N. A. (2013). Facebook and texting made me do it: Media-induced task-switching while studying. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 948-958.

Note*: Above mention, Example is just a sample for the students’ guide. Do not directly copy and paste as your College or University assignment. Kindly do some research and Write your own.

Applications of Research Report

Research reports have many applications, including:

• Communicating research findings: The primary application of a research report is to communicate the results of a study to other researchers, stakeholders, or the general public. The report serves as a way to share new knowledge, insights, and discoveries with others in the field.
• Informing policy and practice : Research reports can inform policy and practice by providing evidence-based recommendations for decision-makers. For example, a research report on the effectiveness of a new drug could inform regulatory agencies in their decision-making process.
• Supporting further research: Research reports can provide a foundation for further research in a particular area. Other researchers may use the findings and methodology of a report to develop new research questions or to build on existing research.
• Evaluating programs and interventions : Research reports can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and interventions in achieving their intended outcomes. For example, a research report on a new educational program could provide evidence of its impact on student performance.
• Demonstrating impact : Research reports can be used to demonstrate the impact of research funding or to evaluate the success of research projects. By presenting the findings and outcomes of a study, research reports can show the value of research to funders and stakeholders.
• Enhancing professional development : Research reports can be used to enhance professional development by providing a source of information and learning for researchers and practitioners in a particular field. For example, a research report on a new teaching methodology could provide insights and ideas for educators to incorporate into their own practice.

How to write Research Report

Here are some steps you can follow to write a research report:

• Identify the research question: The first step in writing a research report is to identify your research question. This will help you focus your research and organize your findings.
• Conduct research : Once you have identified your research question, you will need to conduct research to gather relevant data and information. This can involve conducting experiments, reviewing literature, or analyzing data.
• Organize your findings: Once you have gathered all of your data, you will need to organize your findings in a way that is clear and understandable. This can involve creating tables, graphs, or charts to illustrate your results.
• Write the report: Once you have organized your findings, you can begin writing the report. Start with an introduction that provides background information and explains the purpose of your research. Next, provide a detailed description of your research methods and findings. Finally, summarize your results and draw conclusions based on your findings.
• Proofread and edit: After you have written your report, be sure to proofread and edit it carefully. Check for grammar and spelling errors, and make sure that your report is well-organized and easy to read.
• Include a reference list: Be sure to include a list of references that you used in your research. This will give credit to your sources and allow readers to further explore the topic if they choose.
• Format your report: Finally, format your report according to the guidelines provided by your instructor or organization. This may include formatting requirements for headings, margins, fonts, and spacing.

Purpose of Research Report

The purpose of a research report is to communicate the results of a research study to a specific audience, such as peers in the same field, stakeholders, or the general public. The report provides a detailed description of the research methods, findings, and conclusions.

Some common purposes of a research report include:

• Sharing knowledge: A research report allows researchers to share their findings and knowledge with others in their field. This helps to advance the field and improve the understanding of a particular topic.
• Identifying trends: A research report can identify trends and patterns in data, which can help guide future research and inform decision-making.
• Addressing problems: A research report can provide insights into problems or issues and suggest solutions or recommendations for addressing them.
• Evaluating programs or interventions : A research report can evaluate the effectiveness of programs or interventions, which can inform decision-making about whether to continue, modify, or discontinue them.
• Meeting regulatory requirements: In some fields, research reports are required to meet regulatory requirements, such as in the case of drug trials or environmental impact studies.

When to Write Research Report

A research report should be written after completing the research study. This includes collecting data, analyzing the results, and drawing conclusions based on the findings. Once the research is complete, the report should be written in a timely manner while the information is still fresh in the researcher’s mind.

In academic settings, research reports are often required as part of coursework or as part of a thesis or dissertation. In this case, the report should be written according to the guidelines provided by the instructor or institution.

In other settings, such as in industry or government, research reports may be required to inform decision-making or to comply with regulatory requirements. In these cases, the report should be written as soon as possible after the research is completed in order to inform decision-making in a timely manner.

Overall, the timing of when to write a research report depends on the purpose of the research, the expectations of the audience, and any regulatory requirements that need to be met. However, it is important to complete the report in a timely manner while the information is still fresh in the researcher’s mind.

Characteristics of Research Report

There are several characteristics of a research report that distinguish it from other types of writing. These characteristics include:

• Objective: A research report should be written in an objective and unbiased manner. It should present the facts and findings of the research study without any personal opinions or biases.
• Systematic: A research report should be written in a systematic manner. It should follow a clear and logical structure, and the information should be presented in a way that is easy to understand and follow.
• Detailed: A research report should be detailed and comprehensive. It should provide a thorough description of the research methods, results, and conclusions.
• Accurate : A research report should be accurate and based on sound research methods. The findings and conclusions should be supported by data and evidence.
• Organized: A research report should be well-organized. It should include headings and subheadings to help the reader navigate the report and understand the main points.
• Clear and concise: A research report should be written in clear and concise language. The information should be presented in a way that is easy to understand, and unnecessary jargon should be avoided.
• Citations and references: A research report should include citations and references to support the findings and conclusions. This helps to give credit to other researchers and to provide readers with the opportunity to further explore the topic.

Advantages of Research Report

Research reports have several advantages, including:

• Communicating research findings: Research reports allow researchers to communicate their findings to a wider audience, including other researchers, stakeholders, and the general public. This helps to disseminate knowledge and advance the understanding of a particular topic.
• Providing evidence for decision-making : Research reports can provide evidence to inform decision-making, such as in the case of policy-making, program planning, or product development. The findings and conclusions can help guide decisions and improve outcomes.
• Supporting further research: Research reports can provide a foundation for further research on a particular topic. Other researchers can build on the findings and conclusions of the report, which can lead to further discoveries and advancements in the field.
• Demonstrating expertise: Research reports can demonstrate the expertise of the researchers and their ability to conduct rigorous and high-quality research. This can be important for securing funding, promotions, and other professional opportunities.
• Meeting regulatory requirements: In some fields, research reports are required to meet regulatory requirements, such as in the case of drug trials or environmental impact studies. Producing a high-quality research report can help ensure compliance with these requirements.

Limitations of Research Report

Despite their advantages, research reports also have some limitations, including:

• Time-consuming: Conducting research and writing a report can be a time-consuming process, particularly for large-scale studies. This can limit the frequency and speed of producing research reports.
• Expensive: Conducting research and producing a report can be expensive, particularly for studies that require specialized equipment, personnel, or data. This can limit the scope and feasibility of some research studies.
• Limited generalizability: Research studies often focus on a specific population or context, which can limit the generalizability of the findings to other populations or contexts.
• Potential bias : Researchers may have biases or conflicts of interest that can influence the findings and conclusions of the research study. Additionally, participants may also have biases or may not be representative of the larger population, which can limit the validity and reliability of the findings.
• Accessibility: Research reports may be written in technical or academic language, which can limit their accessibility to a wider audience. Additionally, some research may be behind paywalls or require specialized access, which can limit the ability of others to read and use the findings.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

You may also like

Data Collection – Methods Types and Examples

APA Table of Contents – Format and Example

Research Methods – Types, Examples and Guide

Dissertation vs Thesis – Key Differences

Conceptual Framework – Types, Methodology and...

Research Paper Conclusion – Writing Guide and...

28+ Free Sample Research Report Templates – PDF, DOC

A Research Report Template is a format meant to facilitate the creation of a research report, which includes step-by-step instructions on how and what to write. They usually contain advice, an abstract, an introduction, methods, results, a discussion, and a conclusion section. However, they can slightly differ as a certain study may require more or less of them, or an institution or a publication may have their preferences.

In this context, this template is highly effective for streamlining the process of creating the final report as it contains clear instructions on what information should be placed in the report, starting with the identification of the main problem, analysis of the results, conclusion, and recommendation section to make the final report easily understandable by the intended audience.

Download Free Sample Research Report Templates

What is a Research Report?

A Research Report can be described as a detailed paper that contains the results of an investigation of a question or number of questions through a systematic approach. The common aim of research articles is to give an overview of the research topic, the literature in the specific field, details of the method used, the result or outcome of the study, and an analysis of the result within the context of the particular discipline.

Research reports are informative tools intended to disseminate a study’s findings, support existing hypotheses, or solve existing issues within a specific discipline. This makes them essential in academic , scientific, and professional circles.

Components of a Research Report

Commonly, a research report comprises several elements that highlight a clear vision of the presentation of findings. These elements include:

• Abstract: An outline of the study, which may comprise the problem definition, the approach used in the research, the findings of the study, and the conclusion that has been made.
• Introduction: State the research topic and situate it in the problem area you intend to investigate and identify the research questions or objectives that you want to address.
• Literature Review: A literature review of prior studies and models concerning the examined topic and determining the current scientific literature’s gaps.
• Methodology: The analysis presents the research design, data collection, and analysis procedures used in the study.
• Results: Establish a coherent structure for presenting the study’s results, which may include tables, graphs, and statistical analysis.
• Discussion: Explains the findings in light of the formulated research question and, consequentially, discusses the interaction with findings, significance, and limitations.
• Conclusions and Recommendations: Present the research results briefly, state the conclusion that can be made based on the developed material and 4propose further working suggestions for additional research or utilization of the study.
• References/Bibliography: Always provide a list of all the sources used in developing the report in the format required for the report’s writing.

Importance of Research Reports

Such research studies are incredibly valuable for passing on information within different spheres as the basis for further investigations, more effective public policies, and industry advancements. They offer information about the progress and conclusions in research, thus helping other academics and practitioners better understand the approach and outcomes of the work conducted.

Through compiling and reporting on their research, scholars play a vital role in filling up a worldwide information base, which encourages researchers and scholars to continue striving to develop solutions to the challenges of modern society.

Guidelines for Preparing Research Reports

Here are some guidelines for preparing Research Reports:

1. Title and Abstract

• Title: Briefly identify the research topic or concern. It should be as descriptive as possible and interesting enough to make the reader interested in continuing reading.
• Abstract: The research question, aim, and objectives, as well as a brief methodological review, empirical findings, and conclusion, should be presented. With information on seven business reputations affected by reputation management, it should not exceed 250 words.

2. Introduction

• Context:  Introduce the context of your work, offer brief background information, and formally define the research problem.
• Objectives: Ensure you clearly understand the study’s aims and objectives and your research questions and/or hypotheses.

3. Methodology

• Participants:  State the study participants; this section should include details of the selection process and the rationale for sample selection, including whether the participants who participated in the study included only students or whether the study incorporated teachers, parents, and other community members.
• Materials/Tools: Indicate the type of materials, tools/ software that were used in the research.
• Procedure: Justify the processes that were followed during the research process. This section should allow another researcher to undertake your study using a procedure similar to what you explained.
• Data Presentation: Students are required to present the data in the form of figures, tables, and written text. Remember to provide proper annotations on all the presented images.
• Analysis: Explain the statistical or thematic analysis techniques applied in relation to the data that was gathered.

5. Discussion and Conclusion

• Interpretation: Discuss your results with reference to existing literature and research to identify consistencies or inconsistencies.
• Limitations: Our study should be limited in the following ways and encourage more research in the following areas.
• Applications: Explain the results’ relevance, importance, and significance and how they are useful to the discipline.

6. References

• After finishing your report, identify all the sources used in your report and give the full reference following the referencing style agreed upon by your research guide or the journal that you are submitting to.

7. Appendices

• Permission to use this section should also be sought to include any additional information that may be useful in the conduct of the study but doesn’t fit in the body area of the report due to size and other factors.

Tips for Writing an Effective Research Report Template

To craft an effective research report template, consider incorporating the following elements:

• Title Page: Make sure that it contains the title of the report, the author or the authors and the date it was dated.
• Abstract: An overview of what has been done in the research process, how the research was conducted, what was discovered and reasons for arriving at the discovery made.
• Table of Contents: Inform readers where they are in the report so that they can locate their position without struggling.
• Introduction: State the problem under investigation and the purpose of the research in light of the problem statement.
• Literature Review: This section should include an outline based on major research findings that help put the study into perspective.
• Methodology: Explain the method used in this research.
• Results: Use charts or graphs to present the findings when the recommendation requires it.
• Discussion: This paper will discuss the results and analyse them to assess the findings and validity of the study.
• Conclusions and Recommendations: Finally, I will briefly present the current study’s outcomes and directions for further study of hypothetical appeal types in connection with website design.
• References: This entails elaborating on all the sources used in preparing the report in the correct academic writing format.
• Appendices: Use extra information that may be useful but is not necessary in the body text of the article.
• Practical advice: When making formatting improvements, try to be as clear and consistent as possible; this will help make the report more readable and consumer-friendly.

Similar Posts

28+ free root cause analysis templates (word, pdf).

Root Cause Analysis template is another tool that is formatted and can have many levels of analysis for finding the basic reasons for the events or circumstances of importance. The rationale behind selecting an RCA template…

40+ Free Production Report Templates (PDF, DOC, XLS)

A Production Report Template can be defined as a template that gives the necessary instructions and format required for preparing a detailed production report in an organization. It records some essential aspects such as production rate…

32+ Free Customer Service Report Templates (DOC, XLS)

A Customer Service Report Template is a document formatted in advance and used in customer service to record communication and evaluate and define inefficiencies. Usually, it has fields that accept information such as the date of…

20+ Free Loan Analysis Worksheets – Excel, PDF

Loan Analysis Worksheet is a detailed strategic plan for ordering and deciding on financial offers aimed at borrowers and lenders. They enable the borrower to logistically understand the loan terms, such as the interest rate, the…

30+ Free Printable Employee Counseling Form Templates (PDF, Word)

Employee counseling and adequate staff relationship management are crucial in the organization’s human resource management process. An employee concern reporting form is beneficial in tracking problems and solutions that may be encountered during the course of…

25+ Free Business Credit Application Form Templates – PDF

A Business Credit Application Form Template is a model of Business Credit Application Form that any lending company requires to acquire the necessary data from the businesses that are applying for the credit. A standard format…

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Research paper
• Research Paper Format | APA, MLA, & Chicago Templates

Research Paper Format | APA, MLA, & Chicago Templates

Published on November 19, 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on January 20, 2023.

The formatting of a research paper is different depending on which style guide you’re following. In addition to citations , APA, MLA, and Chicago provide format guidelines for things like font choices, page layout, format of headings and the format of the reference page.

Scribbr offers free Microsoft Word templates for the most common formats. Simply download and get started on your paper.

APA |  MLA | Chicago author-date | Chicago notes & bibliography

• Generate an automatic table of contents
• Generate a list of tables and figures
• Ensure consistent paragraph formatting
• Insert page numbering

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Formatting an apa paper, formatting an mla paper, formatting a chicago paper, frequently asked questions about research paper formatting.

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in APA Style are as follows:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial.
• Set 1 inch page margins.
• Apply double line spacing.
• If submitting for publication, insert a APA running head on every page.
• Indent every new paragraph ½ inch.

Watch the video below for a quick guide to setting up the format in Google Docs.

The image below shows how to format an APA Style title page for a student paper.

Running head

If you are submitting a paper for publication, APA requires you to include a running head on each page. The image below shows you how this should be formatted.

For student papers, no running head is required unless you have been instructed to include one.

APA provides guidelines for formatting up to five levels of heading within your paper. Level 1 headings are the most general, level 5 the most specific.

Reference page

APA Style citation requires (author-date) APA in-text citations throughout the text and an APA Style reference page at the end. The image below shows how the reference page should be formatted.

Note that the format of reference entries is different depending on the source type. You can easily create your citations and reference list using the free APA Citation Generator.

Generate APA citations for free

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

The main guidelines for writing an MLA style paper are as follows:

• Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman.
• Use title case capitalization for headings .

Check out the video below to see how to set up the format in Google Docs.

On the first page of an MLA paper, a heading appears above your title, featuring some key information:

• Your full name
• Your instructor’s or supervisor’s name
• The course name or number
• The due date of the assignment

Page header

A header appears at the top of each page in your paper, including your surname and the page number.

Works Cited page

MLA in-text citations appear wherever you refer to a source in your text. The MLA Works Cited page appears at the end of your text, listing all the sources used. It is formatted as shown below.

You can easily create your MLA citations and save your Works Cited list with the free MLA Citation Generator.

Generate MLA citations for free

The main guidelines for writing a paper in Chicago style (also known as Turabian style) are:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman.
• Use 1 inch margins or larger.
• Place page numbers in the top right or bottom center.

Chicago doesn’t require a title page , but if you want to include one, Turabian (based on Chicago) presents some guidelines. Lay out the title page as shown below.

Bibliography or reference list

Chicago offers two citation styles : author-date citations plus a reference list, or footnote citations plus a bibliography. Choose one style or the other and use it consistently.

The reference list or bibliography appears at the end of the paper. Both styles present this page similarly in terms of formatting, as shown below.

To format a paper in APA Style , follow these guidelines:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial
• Set 1 inch page margins
• Apply double line spacing
• Include a title page
• If submitting for publication, insert a running head on every page
• Indent every new paragraph ½ inch
• Apply APA heading styles
• Cite your sources with APA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a reference page at the end

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:

• Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page
• Center the paper’s title
• Use title case capitalization for headings
• Cite your sources with MLA in-text citations
• List all sources cited on a Works Cited page at the end

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style are to:

• Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman
• Use 1 inch margins or larger
• Place page numbers in the top right or bottom center
• Cite your sources with author-date citations or Chicago footnotes
• Include a bibliography or reference list

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, January 20). Research Paper Format | APA, MLA, & Chicago Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved August 12, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/research-paper-format/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, apa format for academic papers and essays, mla format for academic papers and essays, chicago style format for papers | requirements & examples, what is your plagiarism score.

👀 Turn any prompt into captivating visuals in seconds with our AI-powered design generator ✨ Try Piktochart AI!

How to Write a Report (2023 Guide & Free Templates)

You have a report due in a few days, but you’re still procrastinating like a pro.

Sounds familiar?

If you’ve been staring at a blank page, wondering how to write a report the best way possible, you’re not alone. For many, writing a report, especially for the first time, can feel like rolling a giant boulder uphill.

The good news is that from a first draft to creating reports that people love to read is a skill you can develop and polish over time.

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone who wants to up their report-writing game, keep reading for a 2023 guide and step-by-step instructions on how to write a report. Plus, learn about the basic report format.

You’ll also get access to report templates that you can edit and customize immediately and learn about a tool to make reports online (no need to download software!). You can also jump right into customizing templates by creating a free account .

What is report writing?

Report writing is a way of communicating information, data, insight, or analysis. It’s an essential skill that will come in handy in various settings, from academic research or diving into historical events to business meetings.

But creating a report can be a bit intimidating at first.

In its simplest form, report writing starts with researching and gathering all the information, analyzing your findings, and presenting it in a way that’s easy for your audience to understand.

Sounds easy enough, right? 

Well, there’s a bit more to it than that. We’ll guide you through every step of the process to write an entire report from a rough draft and data in the next section. 

But first, let’s get to know the different types of reports.

Types of reports

Reports come in all shapes and sizes, and the type of report you write will depend on your specific goals and audience. Each type of report has its unique purpose, format, and style.

The most common types of reports are: 

• Academic report – These include school reports, book reports, thesis reports, or analytical reports between two opposing ideas.
• Business report – Business reports range from annual reports to SWOT analyses . The goal of business reports is to communicate ideas, information, or insights in a business setting.
• Research report –  Research reports are often more scientific or methodological in nature. They can take the form of case studies or research papers. 

Learn more : 20 Types of Reports and When to Use Them (Plus Templates)

How to write a report without feeling overwhelmed

Breaking down the report writing process into three stages can make it much more manageable for you, especially if it’s your first time to create one. 

These three stages are: 

• Pre-writing stage
• Writing stage
• Post-writing stage

Let’s take a look at the steps for each stage and how to write a good report in 2023 that you can be proud of.

Stage 1: Pre-writing 

The pre-writing stage is all about preparation. Take some time to gather your thoughts and organize your main idea. Write a summary first.

Here are important steps to help you deal with the overwhelm of creating an insightful report. 

Understand the purpose of your report

Knowing your purpose will help you focus and stay on track throughout the process. Dig into the why of your report through these questions:

• Who is your intended reader? Are you familiar with your audience’s language and how they think?
• What are you trying to achieve with your report? Are you trying to inform, persuade, or recommend a course of action to the reader? 

Research your topic

It’s time to gather as much information as you can about your topic. This might involve reading books, articles, and other reports. You might also need to conduct interviews with subject matter experts.

Pro tip on how to write a report : Pick reputable sources like research papers, recently-published books, and case studies by trustworthy authors. 

Make a report outline

An outline is a roadmap for your report. It covers your title, introduction, thesis statement, main points, and conclusion. Organizing your thoughts this way will help you keep focus and ensure you cover all the necessary information.

While you can create a report without creating an outline, you could write a better report with an outline. An outline helps you organize your facts and important points on paper. 

Stage 2: Writing

Once you have completed the pre-writing stage, it’s time to write your report. 

Follow the proper report writing format

You will feel a lot of resistance at this point because this is where most of the tedious work of report writing happens. However, the process can be a breeze if you follow a proper structure and report writing format.

The structure of your report can vary depending on the type of report you’re creating, but the report writing format below can serve as a guide for anyone.

• Title page. This is the first page of your report and should include the report’s title, the author’s name, the date of presentation or submission, and any other relevant information, such as your name or the organization’s name.
• Table of Contents (TOC ). This section contains subsections of your report and their corresponding page numbering.  A well-written TOC will help readers navigate your report easily and find the information they need.
• Brief summary . This part provides an overview of the report’s particular purpose, subject, methodology, key findings, and recommendations. This section is often called the executive summary in corporate reports.
• Introduction . The introduction should provide background information about the topic and explain why the report was written. It should also state the aims and objectives of your report and give an overview of the methodology used to gather and analyze the data. Make sure you include a powerful topic sentence.
• Main body. The main body of the report should be divided into subsections, each dealing with a specific aspect of the topic. These sections should be clearly labeled and organized in a logical order. In most reports, this is also the part where you explain and present your findings, analysis, and recommendations.
• Conclusion. Summarize the main points of your report and provide a final summary, thought, or suggestions. Review your thesis statement. The conclusion also includes any limitations of the study and areas for further research or future action.
• References . This section should include a list of all the sources cited in the report, like books, journal articles, websites, and any other sources used to gather information on your subject.
• Appendices . In the appendices section, you should include any additional information relevant to the report but not in the article’s main body. This might consist of raw data, event details, graphs, charts, or tables.

With all these key report elements, your readers can look forward to an informative, well-organized, and easy-to-read report.

Pro tips: Remember to use clear and concise language in your essay. It is also required to follow a specific type of formatting set by your organization or instructor.

Plus, use the active voice when you can because it helps improve clarity. To write a report essay in a passive voice makes it sound less concise.

Reports should usually be written in the third person.

Edit and proofread the article

Once you have completed your first essay draft, take some time to edit and proofread your work. Look for spelling mistakes and grammar errors, as well as any areas where the flow of your article could be improved. Review your topic sentence.

If hiring a professional editor isn’t possible, have a colleague or someone else read your rough draft and provide feedback. You can also use tools like Grammarly and the Hemingway App . 

Stage 3: Post-writing

You’re almost there! This stage is about finalizing your report and ensuring it is ready to be shared. 

Format your report

Ensure your report is formatted correctly, with clear and easy-to-read fonts, headings, and subheadings.

Incorporate visuals

Adding visuals to your report article is another great way to help your audience understand complex information more easily.

From charts to illustrations, the right visual can help highlight and explain key points, events, trends, and patterns in your data, making it easier for the reader to interpret the information.

Want to check out more templates? Get access to the template gallery today .

However, it’s important to use visuals sparingly and ensure they are relevant and effectively support the texts. You will learn more about effectively incorporating visuals into your report as you scroll down below to the next sections. 

Share your report

Once your report is complete, share it with your audience. This might involve submitting it to your boss, presenting it to a group, or sharing it online.

A final note for this section: Remember to take your time, stay organized, and most importantly, have fun! Writing a report can be a rewarding experience, especially if you get positive feedback when you present.

How to add visuals to your report

Adding visuals to your report is more than just putting a graph or chart for every piece of information.

There are no hard and fast rules but use the pointers below as guidelines:

• Each visual in your report should have a purpose. Don’t just add a pie chart or bar graph for the sake of adding one. Your visual of choice should offer clarity to readers that’s impossible to achieve with words alone. Piktochart’s report maker lets you search for free stock images and illustrations to add to any page with drag and drop.
• Add captions, legends, or arrows to your visuals when possible. For more technical reports, graphics are either Tables or Figures. Number them in order of appearance (Figure 1, Figure 2, Table 1, etc.) and give each a descriptive title.
• Place the visual close to the relevant text on the page.
• Document the source of the visual, citing it in both the caption and references section if necessary.
• Make the graphic stand out with colors, borders, boxes, spacing, and frames.

Learn more : How to Improve Your Data Visualization Design in 6 Steps 

Write reports like a pro with Piktochart’s easy-to-edit report templates

Creating reports from scratch can be time-consuming. The great news is you don’t have to make reports from scratch like how it used to be in the 90s and early 2000s. Organizations of all shapes and sizes now understand that you can also create the perfect report with the help of templates.

For example, Piktochart offers a variety of fully customizable templates, allowing you to easily add your branding, colors, and text within the online editor. You can visualize your thesis statement and first draft in less than an hour. It’s also possible to start writing directly in the tool, adding graphics page by page.

These templates range from reports for school presentations to sales reports. By editing them, you can create professional-looking reports without the hassle of formatting and design.

Here are some examples of Piktochart’s professionally-designed templates. If you can’t pick one that matches your report writing format and needs, create a free Piktochart account to get access to more templates. 

Survey report template 

This survey report template includes clear visualizations, making your report findings easier to understand. From customer surveys to employee satisfaction reports, this template is quite versatile. 

Research report template 

This research report template is perfect for anyone looking to create a thorough and professional research report. The template includes all the necessary sections to help you easily organize your research and present your findings in a concise document.

Corporate report template 

Looking for a corporate report template example with an editable table of contents and foreword? This template is the perfect fit!

Whether you’re presenting to investors or sharing information with your team, this corporate report template will help you create a polished and informative executive summary for any corporate organization.

Case study report template

Whether you’re conducting a business case study or an academic case study, this case study report template can help you earn your readers’ trust. This template is specifically designed with fashion as its main theme, but you can edit the photos and details to make it more on-brand with your niche.

Marketing report template

Use this template to create comprehensive marketing reports. The template includes editable sections for social media, data from search engines, email marketing, and paid ads. 

Financial report template 

With this customizable finance report template, you don’t need to make a financial report from scratch. Once you’ve written your content, save your report in PDF or PNG formats.

Annual report template 

This annual report template is the right template for creating a professional and informative executive summary of your organization’s performance over the past year. This template was designed for HR annual reports, but you can also repurpose it for other types of yearly reports. 

See more report templates by creating a free Piktochart account . 

Quick checklist for better report writing

Before you submit or present your report, use the quick checklist below to help ensure that your report is well-structured, accurate, clear, and properly cited. Most of all, you must ensure that your report meets your audience’s expectations and has all the information and details they need. 

Purpose and audience

• Does the report address its purpose and meet the needs of the intended audience?

Structure and organization

• Is the material appropriately arranged in sections?
• Have irrelevant details been removed?

Accuracy and analysis

• Has all the material been checked for accuracy?
• Are graphs and tables clearly labeled? Check the page numbers too.
• Is the data in graphs or tables analyzed and explained in words?
• Does the discussion or conclusion show how the results relate to the objectives mentioned in the introduction?
• Have the results been compared with existing research from the literature survey?

Writing style and clarity

• Is the report written in a tone that’s indicated in the brand style guide (for corporate reports)? Does it avoid colloquialisms or contractions? 
• Does it follow the organization’s specific guidelines for writing style? 
• Is it jargon-free and clearly written? Have you translated technical terms into simpler words?
• Use the active voice when you can because it helps improve clarity. A written report in a passive voice may make it sound less concise. 

Acknowledgment and citation

• Have all ideas and event data taken from or inspired by someone else’s work been acknowledged with a reference?
• Have all illustrations and figures taken from someone else’s work been cited correctly?

Proofreading

• Has the report been carefully proofread for typos, spelling errors, and grammatical mistakes?

Make engaging and effective reports quickly with Piktochart

Writing a report is a must-have skill for anyone looking to communicate more effectively in their personal and professional lives. 

With the steps we’ve provided in this guide, anyone can learn how to write a report that is informative, engaging, and comprehensive.

Plus, the free templates we highlighted are valuable for individuals looking to create reports quickly and efficiently. They can also be used to transform a longer report filled with texts into something more engaging and easy to digest.

Sign up for a free Piktochart account today, and look forward to writing reports with its library of modern, customizable report templates. 

Piktochart offers professionally designed templates for all your visual communication needs. It is your one-stop shop for presentations , posters , logos , email signatures , infographics , and more. Customize all templates according to your brand assets in seconds. Get started for free today.

Other Posts

8 Best Project Report Templates (With Examples and Tips)

7 CSR Report Examples for Corporate Communication

7 Employee Handbook Examples For an Inclusive Workplace

Top 17 Printable Research Report Templates [PDF & WORD]

Find a ready-to-use research report template below and you can save a copy of this template on your computer for later use when writing a research report. A research report is a useful document and is also known as a professional problem-solving method because it provides comprehensive details and information about something like a subject, company, incident or event, etc.

There are various types of research reports and are also used for a variety of different reasons. A research report may focus on a specific industry sector, a particular subject, market, commodity, or even on a geographic region or country for a definite purpose. For example, a market research report is a famous kind of research report and is widely used in the business field to understand about latest market trends, change in the requirement of customers as well beneficial marketing strategies, etc that a business can use to improve production method and marketing procedures.

Free Research Report Template:

Research reports are also written by researchers, scientists, and graduate students to let people know about their work. Research is a method to get information and details about something and usually requires the use of superior concepts, a variety of different experimental techniques, and a collection of art instrumentation to get better results. On another hand, a research report is a document used to document all necessary details and data in writing format regarding particular research.

For instance, a market researcher may responsible to write a market research report after the accomplishment of market research work. As it is mentioned above research reports are different in type, and a wide range of samples and templates can be used to write them. Here on this page, you can get some printable as well as editable research report templates free of cost which are very easy to edit and customize as per personal needs. Download the template on the computer and open it in MS Word for further customization.

Download Research Report Templates Here:

Sample research report template.

Research Progress Report PDF Template

Free Editable Research Report Template

Off-Campus Research Report Form Sample

Final Research Report Draft Template

Printable Integrative Research Report Example

Audit Quality Research Report Sample

Market Research Report Template in WORD

Sample Action Research Report PDF

Detailed Market Research Report Template Printable

Research Project Report Template

Holding Company Research Report Template

Undergraduate Research Report Template

Sample Market Research & Analysis Report Template

Student’s Research Reflection Report PDF Template

Research Report Outline Template

Financial Research Report Example

Related posts:

• 15+ Printable School Report Templates [in WORD & PDF] Write spotless school reports shortly by means of this school report template which is given below the content. A report is a document normally used to communicate useful details and information about something like a subject, event, department or performance, etc. A school report is a similar document used by...
• Top 18 Business Analysis Report Templates [Word, Excel & PDF] Hit the download button below and save a copy of the business analysis report templates free of cost. Business analysis is one of the most important business documents in which the overall needs of the business have been identified and solutions to problems are determined in detail. You can download...
• 16 BEST Analysis Report Templates [WORD, EXCEL, PDF] An analysis report template is a ready-to-use document that lets you develop an analysis for your business or company in fewer minutes. An analysis report can be explained as a document having a comprehensive summary of the results of your research regarding a particular subject, project, problem, or situation and...
• Top 16 Printable Medical Report Templates – General Pharmacy / Hospital Doc Need a proper format and instructions for making a medical report? Try our editable medical report template, we are sure it will provide you with everything you need to write a good medical report shortly. Doctors and other medical professionals are frequently requested to provide information about their patients and...

How to Write a Research Proposal: (with Examples & Templates)

Table of Contents

Before conducting a study, a research proposal should be created that outlines researchers’ plans and methodology and is submitted to the concerned evaluating organization or person. Creating a research proposal is an important step to ensure that researchers are on track and are moving forward as intended. A research proposal can be defined as a detailed plan or blueprint for the proposed research that you intend to undertake. It provides readers with a snapshot of your project by describing what you will investigate, why it is needed, and how you will conduct the research.  

Your research proposal should aim to explain to the readers why your research is relevant and original, that you understand the context and current scenario in the field, have the appropriate resources to conduct the research, and that the research is feasible given the usual constraints.  

This article will describe in detail the purpose and typical structure of a research proposal , along with examples and templates to help you ace this step in your research journey.  

What is a Research Proposal ?  

A research proposal¹ ,²  can be defined as a formal report that describes your proposed research, its objectives, methodology, implications, and other important details. Research proposals are the framework of your research and are used to obtain approvals or grants to conduct the study from various committees or organizations. Consequently, research proposals should convince readers of your study’s credibility, accuracy, achievability, practicality, and reproducibility.   

With research proposals , researchers usually aim to persuade the readers, funding agencies, educational institutions, and supervisors to approve the proposal. To achieve this, the report should be well structured with the objectives written in clear, understandable language devoid of jargon. A well-organized research proposal conveys to the readers or evaluators that the writer has thought out the research plan meticulously and has the resources to ensure timely completion.  

Purpose of Research Proposals  

A research proposal is a sales pitch and therefore should be detailed enough to convince your readers, who could be supervisors, ethics committees, universities, etc., that what you’re proposing has merit and is feasible . Research proposals can help students discuss their dissertation with their faculty or fulfill course requirements and also help researchers obtain funding. A well-structured proposal instills confidence among readers about your ability to conduct and complete the study as proposed.  

Research proposals can be written for several reasons:³  

• To describe the importance of research in the specific topic  
• Address any potential challenges you may encounter  
• Showcase knowledge in the field and your ability to conduct a study  
• Apply for a role at a research institute  
• Convince a research supervisor or university that your research can satisfy the requirements of a degree program  
• Highlight the importance of your research to organizations that may sponsor your project  
• Identify implications of your project and how it can benefit the audience  

What Goes in a Research Proposal?    

Research proposals should aim to answer the three basic questions—what, why, and how.  

The What question should be answered by describing the specific subject being researched. It should typically include the objectives, the cohort details, and the location or setting.  

The Why question should be answered by describing the existing scenario of the subject, listing unanswered questions, identifying gaps in the existing research, and describing how your study can address these gaps, along with the implications and significance.  

The How question should be answered by describing the proposed research methodology, data analysis tools expected to be used, and other details to describe your proposed methodology.   

Research Proposal Example  

Here is a research proposal sample template (with examples) from the University of Rochester Medical Center. 4 The sections in all research proposals are essentially the same although different terminology and other specific sections may be used depending on the subject.  

Structure of a Research Proposal  

If you want to know how to make a research proposal impactful, include the following components:¹  

1. Introduction  

This section provides a background of the study, including the research topic, what is already known about it and the gaps, and the significance of the proposed research.  

2. Literature review  

This section contains descriptions of all the previous relevant studies pertaining to the research topic. Every study cited should be described in a few sentences, starting with the general studies to the more specific ones. This section builds on the understanding gained by readers in the Introduction section and supports it by citing relevant prior literature, indicating to readers that you have thoroughly researched your subject.  

3. Objectives  

Once the background and gaps in the research topic have been established, authors must now state the aims of the research clearly. Hypotheses should be mentioned here. This section further helps readers understand what your study’s specific goals are.  

4. Research design and methodology  

Here, authors should clearly describe the methods they intend to use to achieve their proposed objectives. Important components of this section include the population and sample size, data collection and analysis methods and duration, statistical analysis software, measures to avoid bias (randomization, blinding), etc.  

5. Ethical considerations  

This refers to the protection of participants’ rights, such as the right to privacy, right to confidentiality, etc. Researchers need to obtain informed consent and institutional review approval by the required authorities and mention this clearly for transparency.  

6. Budget/funding  

Researchers should prepare their budget and include all expected expenditures. An additional allowance for contingencies such as delays should also be factored in.  

7. Appendices  

This section typically includes information that supports the research proposal and may include informed consent forms, questionnaires, participant information, measurement tools, etc.  

8. Citations  

Important Tips for Writing a Research Proposal  

Writing a research proposal begins much before the actual task of writing. Planning the research proposal structure and content is an important stage, which if done efficiently, can help you seamlessly transition into the writing stage. 3,5  

The Planning Stage  

• Manage your time efficiently. Plan to have the draft version ready at least two weeks before your deadline and the final version at least two to three days before the deadline.
• What is the primary objective of your research?  
• Will your research address any existing gap?  
• What is the impact of your proposed research?  
• Do people outside your field find your research applicable in other areas?  
• If your research is unsuccessful, would there still be other useful research outcomes?  

  The Writing Stage  

• Create an outline with main section headings that are typically used.  
• Focus only on writing and getting your points across without worrying about the format of the research proposal , grammar, punctuation, etc. These can be fixed during the subsequent passes. Add details to each section heading you created in the beginning.   
• Ensure your sentences are concise and use plain language. A research proposal usually contains about 2,000 to 4,000 words or four to seven pages.  
• Don’t use too many technical terms and abbreviations assuming that the readers would know them. Define the abbreviations and technical terms.  
• Ensure that the entire content is readable. Avoid using long paragraphs because they affect the continuity in reading. Break them into shorter paragraphs and introduce some white space for readability.  
• Focus on only the major research issues and cite sources accordingly. Don’t include generic information or their sources in the literature review.  
• Proofread your final document to ensure there are no grammatical errors so readers can enjoy a seamless, uninterrupted read.  
• Use academic, scholarly language because it brings formality into a document.  
• Ensure that your title is created using the keywords in the document and is neither too long and specific nor too short and general.  
• Cite all sources appropriately to avoid plagiarism.  
• Make sure that you follow guidelines, if provided. This includes rules as simple as using a specific font or a hyphen or en dash between numerical ranges.  
• Ensure that you’ve answered all questions requested by the evaluating authority.  

Key Takeaways   

Here’s a summary of the main points about research proposals discussed in the previous sections:  

• A research proposal is a document that outlines the details of a proposed study and is created by researchers to submit to evaluators who could be research institutions, universities, faculty, etc.  
• Research proposals are usually about 2,000-4,000 words long, but this depends on the evaluating authority’s guidelines.  
• A good research proposal ensures that you’ve done your background research and assessed the feasibility of the research.  
• Research proposals have the following main sections—introduction, literature review, objectives, methodology, ethical considerations, and budget.  

Frequently Asked Questions  

Q1. How is a research proposal evaluated?  

A1. In general, most evaluators, including universities, broadly use the following criteria to evaluate research proposals . 6  

• Significance —Does the research address any important subject or issue, which may or may not be specific to the evaluator or university?  
• Content and design —Is the proposed methodology appropriate to answer the research question? Are the objectives clear and well aligned with the proposed methodology?  
• Sample size and selection —Is the target population or cohort size clearly mentioned? Is the sampling process used to select participants randomized, appropriate, and free of bias?  
• Timing —Are the proposed data collection dates mentioned clearly? Is the project feasible given the specified resources and timeline?  
• Data management and dissemination —Who will have access to the data? What is the plan for data analysis?  

Q2. What is the difference between the Introduction and Literature Review sections in a research proposal ?  

A2. The Introduction or Background section in a research proposal sets the context of the study by describing the current scenario of the subject and identifying the gaps and need for the research. A Literature Review, on the other hand, provides references to all prior relevant literature to help corroborate the gaps identified and the research need.  

Q3. How long should a research proposal be?  

A3. Research proposal lengths vary with the evaluating authority like universities or committees and also the subject. Here’s a table that lists the typical research proposal lengths for a few universities.  

Q4. What are the common mistakes to avoid in a research proposal ?  

A4. Here are a few common mistakes that you must avoid while writing a research proposal . 7  

• No clear objectives: Objectives should be clear, specific, and measurable for the easy understanding among readers.  
• Incomplete or unconvincing background research: Background research usually includes a review of the current scenario of the particular industry and also a review of the previous literature on the subject. This helps readers understand your reasons for undertaking this research because you identified gaps in the existing research.  
• Overlooking project feasibility: The project scope and estimates should be realistic considering the resources and time available.   
• Neglecting the impact and significance of the study: In a research proposal , readers and evaluators look for the implications or significance of your research and how it contributes to the existing research. This information should always be included.  
• Unstructured format of a research proposal : A well-structured document gives confidence to evaluators that you have read the guidelines carefully and are well organized in your approach, consequently affirming that you will be able to undertake the research as mentioned in your proposal.  
• Ineffective writing style: The language used should be formal and grammatically correct. If required, editors could be consulted, including AI-based tools such as Paperpal , to refine the research proposal structure and language.  

Thus, a research proposal is an essential document that can help you promote your research and secure funds and grants for conducting your research. Consequently, it should be well written in clear language and include all essential details to convince the evaluators of your ability to conduct the research as proposed.  

This article has described all the important components of a research proposal and has also provided tips to improve your writing style. We hope all these tips will help you write a well-structured research proposal to ensure receipt of grants or any other purpose.  

References  

• Sudheesh K, Duggappa DR, Nethra SS. How to write a research proposal? Indian J Anaesth. 2016;60(9):631-634. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5037942/  
• Writing research proposals. Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Harvard University. Accessed July 14, 2024. https://uraf.harvard.edu/apply-opportunities/app-components/essays/research-proposals  
• What is a research proposal? Plus how to write one. Indeed website. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/research-proposal  
• Research proposal template. University of Rochester Medical Center. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/MediaLibraries/URMCMedia/pediatrics/research/documents/Research-proposal-Template.pdf  
• Tips for successful proposal writing. Johns Hopkins University. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://research.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Tips-for-Successful-Proposal-Writing.pdf  
• Formal review of research proposals. Cornell University. Accessed July 18, 2024. https://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/surveys/survey-assessment-review-group/research-proposals  
• 7 Mistakes you must avoid in your research proposal. Aveksana (via LinkedIn). Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-mistakes-you-must-avoid-your-research-proposal-aveksana-cmtwf/  

Paperpal is a comprehensive AI writing toolkit that helps students and researchers achieve 2x the writing in half the time. It leverages 21+ years of STM experience and insights from millions of research articles to provide in-depth academic writing, language editing, and submission readiness support to help you write better, faster.  

Get accurate academic translations, rewriting support, grammar checks, vocabulary suggestions, and generative AI assistance that delivers human precision at machine speed. Try for free or upgrade to Paperpal Prime starting at US$19 a month to access premium features, including consistency, plagiarism, and 30+ submission readiness checks to help you succeed.  

Experience the future of academic writing – Sign up to Paperpal and start writing for free!  

Related Reads:

How to write a phd research proposal.

• What are the Benefits of Generative AI for Academic Writing?
• How to Avoid Plagiarism When Using Generative AI Tools
• What is Hedging in Academic Writing?  

How to Write Your Research Paper in APA Format

The future of academia: how ai tools are changing the way we do research, you may also like, dissertation printing and binding | types & comparison , what is a dissertation preface definition and examples , how to write your research paper in apa..., how to choose a dissertation topic, how to write an academic paragraph (step-by-step guide), maintaining academic integrity with paperpal’s generative ai writing..., research funding basics: what should a grant proposal..., how to write an abstract in research papers..., how to write dissertation acknowledgements.

Short Research Report

Report generator.

Carrying out a particular research means adding existing knowledge. When you do some research, document all the processes you have taken. Consider taking note of the findings too. Research reports are commonly used to present a particular topic which focuses on the communication of the relevant information. It is made to convey details pertaining to marketers to implement a new strategic plan .

With the use of research reports, you will be able to share facts, events and other details based on an incident. It will become easier to outline your findings from an investigation and anything that requires inquiry. It is best to know how to make or create a detailed and specific report that proves useful all throughout the research process.

3+ Short Research Report Examples

1. short research report template.

Size: 120 KB

2. Basic Short Research Report

Size: 29 KB

3. General Short Research Report

Size: 342 KB

4. Short Research Assessment Report

Size: 61 KB

Short Research Report Definition

A research report is a type of document that gives you an outline of the processes, data and findings based on an investigation. It is considered as a first-hand account in research that needs to be properly written, objective and accurate. This may be a summary of the research process that presents findings, recommendation and other relevant matters regarding the report subject. This time, the length differs. It has to be short.

Features of a Research Report

How can you be able to identify that what you are reading is a research report?

1. It gives a very detailed presentation of the overall research process and findings. It may even use graphic organizers such as tables, charts or graph.

2. It is written formally.

3. It is written in third person.

4. It is highly informative.

5. It has organized structures that uses bullet points, headings, subheadings and sections.

6. It presents recommendations.

Types of Research Report

There are two types of research report: qualitative research report and quantitative research report .

Qualitative Research Report

This type of research report outlines the processes, methods and findings. In academic research, a qualitative research report gives an opportunity to apply one’s learnings and skills in planning and implementing a particular qualitative research projects. Qualitative is descriptive. Aside from having the details of the research process itself, might as well consider giving descriptions by narrating a specific information.

Quantitative Research Report

This type of research report focuses on the numbers and statistics that aids in finding answers to its research questions. The researcher maybe able to present a quantitative data that supports the process. Unlike qualitative research that focuses on describing an information, a quantitative gives importance to numerical values.

Importance of Research Report

1. Knowledge

One of the reasons why conducting research is beneficial because it contributes knowledge. A research report is a tool that can be used to communicate the findings of an investigation.

2. Identifies gaps

Research reports allow you to identify gaps that can be used for further inquiries. This type of report shows what was already done while helping other areas that needs systematic investigation.

Tips for Writing Research Reports

1. Be prepared before you start writing about your topic

Choose the topic that interests you. You should consider your readers too. One of the most difficult thing is when you ask yourself as to how you should be able to start the writing process. Know what could be your title first then make an introduction. Once you have the information, you can write for a conclusion.

2. You should have a clear research objective

Always make sure that the data is in lined with the objectives. Do not speculate. Speculations are only made for conversations, not research reports.

3. Check grammar and spelling

It is advisable to use verbs in the present tense. This will make your research report sound more immediate.

4. Discuss only what is important

If you find some data irrelevant, do not take much of your time to include them in your research report.

5. Include graphs

The graphs will help your readers understand your data. However, you should label your graphs properly to avoid confusion. They should have proper indications, sample, and correct wording.

Does a research report requires an executive summary

Yes. An executive summary , also known as the abstract, summarizes your report to make the readers more acquainted without the need to read it all.

What is a good research report?

A good research report has to be accurate with the information it is presenting. It must be incorporated with its objectives and its conclusion. It must follow the correct structure and most of all, it must be written clearly.

What are the main contents of research report?

Most research reports contain a title page, abstract, introduction, methodology, results and discussion, references, appendix and an author’s note.

Always remember that in making a research report, you must be able to create a very concise document that summarizes all the research process. It is necessary just like when you are conducting a systematic investigation. It allows you to communicate with the use of the research findings. Consider your readers as well. This will help you adjust to the right tone for your report.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Generate a report on the impact of technology in the classroom on student learning outcomes

Prepare a report analyzing the trends in student participation in sports and arts programs over the last five years at your school.

6 Free Market Research Templates to Help Win Your Market

Market research templates save time and give clarity about what should and shouldn’t be included in any type of market research .

These days, doing regular market research is key. Particularly given how quickly consumer behaviors shift and companies change tactics to keep up with the ever-growing number of competitors in their industry.

In this post, I’m sharing six market research report templates to give you a head start and help steer your analysis in the right direction from the onset.

What is a market research template?

Market research templates provide questions and specific fields to fill out – relevant to specified market research objectives. You can add or remove fields according to what’s relevant to your market and research goal. It provides a framework to develop your own research methodology if you don’t want to go full-scale with a research firm.

What are the advantages of using market research templates?

There are many ways market research templates benefit organizations of any size.

• It costs less than hiring an external market research firm.
• Completion is often quicker because pre-set fields guide your research.
• Little to no professional training is required to complete a template.
• Templates can be easily shared with other business units.
• Files can be easily updated internally in the future.
• Research Intelligence tools like Similarweb make it much easier to access market research data than ever before.
• Using a template enables you to stay focused and organized.

Doing market research with a template can help you generate results faster than any agency can deliver. You set your priorities and start collecting information without untimely back-and-forth correspondence. This is particularly valuable for online companies in markets that develop and change quickly. You need real-time data to improve your results, so time is always of the essence.

In addition to time, you also save costs. Comprehensive market research usually demands additional financial resources. By using shareable templates, you can involve relevant internal business units at minimal extra cost.

This presents another advantage: You own your information. You can come back to the files, reuse, update, and compare whenever it’s relevant. This is particularly useful in the dynamic world of online business because you’ll want to research the market repeatedly to detect and adapt to changes.

What are market research templates used for?

Most types of market research templates provide a robust framework that steers market research efforts in the right direction. When we consider the “journeys” a market research report template can help with – most use cases aren’t merely one-time research projects but should include periodic monitoring and analysis.

• Assess your brand’s strength and influential power. Evaluate your market share , and measure which percentage of the market you reach and sell to.
• Launch a new product or enter a new market . Get to know the territory and the key players to avoid unnecessary risks and recognize new opportunities.
• Identify and keep tabs on your top competitors. Be aware of your competitor’s strengths and weaknesses to align your strategic planning.
• Understand your target audience. If you truly want people to resonate with your product or service, you need to take the time to get to know them, their interests, pain points, likes, and dislikes.
• Innovate your business model. Before applying changes to products or business strategies, understand user demand and need shifts.
• Drive more sales. Optimize product placement by identifying your product’s uniqueness and the specific value to boost your marketing campaigns.
• Fine-tune your digital advertising and analytics. Find and optimize the marketing channels and keywords with the highest potential and lowest competition .
• Find and follow emerging trends. Detect changes in the market development early and use them to your advantage.

Five things to do before using a market research analysis template

As you’ll soon discover, there are lots of tools and resources at your disposal – and you won’t need all of them to reach your goal. Your choices should depend on the goal of your research, something you’ll need to clarify before you start to use any type of market research report template.

Take a little time to do the following pre-planning steps 1-3 before you use any template in your research.

• Define the reason for your research and its goals.
• Identify the most suitable research types and methods.
• Prepare the materials you need to conduct the research, i.e., templates, tools, and market research questions ; then delegate responsibilities if applicable.
• Identify your market’s characteristics.
• Define your target audience and segments.
• Consider both qualitative and quantitative data points.
• Decide whether to use primary research, secondary research , or a mixture of both.
• Google Analytics vs. Similarweb
• Free online sources and tools
• Advanced competitor analysis
• Summarize your findings in a template and start to analyze.

Get a step-by-step roadmap for easy and comprehensive market research in our guide – Market Research: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How To Get It Right .

Types of market research templates

In this next section, I’m sharing the most important types of market research templates you need to fulfil your research goals. I’ll cover what each is and how a template can help with the research. In the final section of this post, I’ll share the quickest way to find the data you need to complete your template.

SWOT analysis template

Many of you will have heard of or used a SWOT analysis framework before. It’s a tried and trusted tool that helps organizations and individuals uncover the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of their business and the competition. A template gives you pre-set fields to consider and complete, helping you know the essential metrics. Once complete, it shows a range of factors relevant to your business and market that can help you adapt for growth.

Use this type of market research analysis template to review your business, along with each of your competitors – analysis of the top four rivals is enough, but you might want to extend this up to eight. This market analysis template provides key questions to answer in each section to help guide your responses.

Market sizing template

Using a market analysis template shows you exactly how to do market sizing correctly. What’s more, it can ensure others within your organization are clear about how the figures have been calculated and provide a consistent and transparent framework for repeating the process in the future.

Use this simple market research template to get the formulas for the total addressable market (TAM), serviceable addressable market (SAM), and serviceable obtainable market (SOM).

Competitive analysis framework template

Pick between 2-4 direct and indirect competitors , then compile the same data and information about each. Start with company research, then customer research, and add information about products and marketing strategies to build the ultimate competitive framework. Collecting the same data points gives you a straightforward comparison and clear picture of the competitive landscape .

This market analysis template covers both B2C and B2B markets. It gives you a detailed framework that helps you map company, customer, product, go-to-market, and marketing channels for your business, and that of your rivals.

Further reading: this post covers seven different types of Competitive Analysis Frameworks that can be used for this form of market research.

Use this market research template for a business plan or as a base document to do regular checks on the state of the competitive landscape.

Trend analysis template

Completing regular market trend analysis is vital – particularly given how fast consumer behavior and markets change. Sure, you can set up news alerts and keep an ear close to the ground, but this is not necessarily the most effective way to future-proof a business and stay ahead of the curve. Rather, it’s a slow and unreliable way to access the intel you need, not just to survive but to flourish.

Early detection of fluctuations, shifts, and changes is key; and a trend analysis template, when done periodically, can help you quickly identify and prepare your business to react.

This market trend analysis template is designed specifically for those operating in the B2B space. It clearly guides you through industry research, historical competitive data, desktop vs. mobile trends , and seasonal keyword research ; each of which can help you discover market-specific trends effectively.

Further reading: Trendspotting: Why All the Market Leaders Are Doing It

Buyer persona template

Define the customer who would benefit most from your product or service. Based on what you’ve learned about consumers and your target market , characterize your ideal customer. Who are they, what are their pain points, and how can you help them?

This template shows you exactly what kind of data to include when you build a new buyer person. We’ve completed an example for you as a guide; but also given you empty slides you can fill-in yourself for your own business and market.

Further reading: How to Create Buyer Personas That Boost Conversions

Audience analysis template

An Audience analysis looks at a group of people in much the same way you examine your current customers. It can help you discover how to turn more of your audience into paying customers by segmenting visitor and behavioral characteristics.

This market analysis template will guide you through the different types of data you should collect from both your own and your rival’s channels. It takes into account various characteristics of company, product, purchase, consumers, interests, and more to help you form a clear and comprehensive view of your target audience.

It’s split into three tabs, each covering B2B, transactional, and informative businesses separately.

Further reading: If this is your first time doing audience analysis, read this guide to understand what a target audience is and how to analyze it .

Get started with all the free market research templates you need to succeed!

How to use Similarweb to help with market research templates

Similarweb Digital Research Intelligence can help you complete almost any market research project quickly and effectively. One of the most-cited reasons people choose tools like Similarweb is due to the accuracy and timeliness of data. Unlike other forms of market research, like secondary research; Similarweb’s information is always the most up-to-date there is.

• Benchmarking tool : Accelerate your new digital strategy and learn how you stack up against the competition and market leaders.
• Market research tool : Analyze market trends in near-real time so that you can take action when it matters most, not a quarter later.
• Company research : Take a closer look at any company’s digital performance and expose your competitor’s digital strategies.
• Audience analysis tool : Engage more deeply with your audience, explore new audience segments and expand your reach.
• Customer journey analytics : Understand your customers and explore bottom-of-the-funnel metrics to discover what makes them convert.
• Mobile app intelligence : See the impact of mobile apps in your market: spot trends and emerging players.

Wrapping up…..

Good market research shouldn’t have to take an age; but as a task that requires careful planning, meticulous attention, and focus – even with the best tools, you’ve got to know the right questions to ask, and the best places to uncover the best intel.

Using market research templates will save significant time in the market research process while providing a clear and comprehensive set of guidelines that can be easily replicated or revisited in the future.

Market analysis templates allow for consistency and provide a clear framework that allows the inexperienced market researcher to do the task with ease.

Use these templates to jumpstart your research efforts and make strategic decisions more effectively, and in a more informed way.

Boost Your Market Research with Similarweb

Enjoy 360° visibility into your industry and instantly adapt to market changes

What is the importance of market research?

Market research is important because you can’t succeed if you’re not aware of market conditions, potential obstacles, purported budget, and how to market your products effectively.

How do you write a market research document?

The simplest way to write a market research document is to obtain a free market research template to guide your content. It can prompt you with the right questions to ask, and shape research efforts and outcomes effectively.

Which type of market research should I use?

To employ a highly effective market research strategy, you should combine the two methods. We advise you to use secondary research as a preparation for your primary research.

by Liz March

Digital Research Specialist

Liz March has 15 years of experience in content creation. She enjoys the outdoors, F1, and reading, and is pursuing a BSc in Environmental Science.

Related Posts

Unlocking Consumer Behavior: What Makes Your Customers Tick?

Customer Segmentation: Expert Tips on Understanding Your Audience

Market Demand 101: How to Gauge Demand for Your Products

Data Quality and Its Importance: Examples, Benefits, and Best Practices

What Is Data Visualization? Your Complete Guide

What is Data-as-a-Service (DaaS), and Why Do You Need It?

Wondering what similarweb can do for your business.

Give it a try or talk to our insights team — don’t worry, it’s free!

• Business Templates
• Sample Reports

Sample Research Reports

The sole goal of a school is to see to it that their students are learning. Teachers have a variety of methods to make their students learn and have their knowledge assessed or evaluated. Some of the most common activities students are very familiar with are assignments, seat work, and term sample papers .

Sample Research Report – 6+ Sample, Example, Format

Sample research report - 6+ documents in pdf, 12+ research report templates - free sample, example, format.

However, students will come to a point in their academic lives when they have to produce a thing called a research paper . A research paper is a document that contains an individual or a group’s systematic investigation about a certain topic or inquiry. If you are already asked to do your fair share of researching, below are Sample Reports you shouldn’t miss out on.

Download Research Reports Bundle

Academic Research Report

• Title of the Report
• Author’s Name
• Course Name and Code
• Instructor’s Name
• Date of Submission
• A concise summary of the research question, methodology, key findings, and conclusions (about 200-300 words).

Table of Contents

• Lists all sections and subsections with page numbers.

List of Figures and Tables

• If applicable, list all figures and tables included in the report with page numbers.

Introduction

• Introduce the research topic, providing background information and context.
• Clearly state the research question or hypothesis.
• Outline the report’s structure.

Literature Review

• Summarize and critique existing research related to your topic.
• Identify gaps in the current knowledge that your research aims to fill.

Methodology

• Describe the research design and methods used for data collection and analysis.
• Include details on participants, instruments, procedures, and data processing.
• Present the findings of your research without interpretation.
• Use charts, graphs, and tables to illustrate data where appropriate.
• Interpret the results, linking them to your research question and the literature review.
• Discuss the implications of your findings and any limitations of your study.
• Summarize the key findings and their relevance.
• Suggest areas for future research.
• List all sources cited in your report in the appropriate citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).
• Include any additional materials (e.g., raw data, detailed analyses, questionnaires) that are relevant to the report but too voluminous for the main body.

Download In

PDF Word Google Docs

Research Report for Students

Title of the Research Report Subtitle (if applicable)

Author(s): Name of the Student(s) Department, University Email Address(es)

Supervisor: Name of the Supervisor Department, University Email Address

Date of Submission: [Day Month Year]

Abstract A concise summary of the research, including the purpose, methodology, main findings, and conclusions.

Table of Contents I. Introduction II. Literature Review III. Methodology IV. Results V. Discussion VI. Conclusion and Recommendations VII. References VIII. Appendices

I. Introduction

• Background of the study
• Research objectives/questions
• Significance of the research

II. Literature Review

• Overview of existing research related to the topic
• Identification of gaps in the literature

III. Methodology

• Description of the research design
• Data collection methods
• Data analysis procedures

IV. Results

• Presentation of findings (use charts, graphs, and tables where applicable)

V. Discussion

• Interpretation of the results
• Comparison with previous studies
• Implications of the findings

VI. Conclusion and Recommendations

• Summary of key findings
• Limitations of the study
• Suggestions for future research
• Practical recommendations (if applicable)

VII. References List all sources cited in the report following the required citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

VIII. Appendices Include supplementary material such as raw data, detailed tables, questionnaires, etc.

Final Research Report

• Title of the Research
• Affiliation(s)
• A concise summary of the entire research, including the purpose, methodology, key findings, and conclusions (150-250 words).
• Lists the main sections and their page numbers for easy navigation.
• Itemizes all figures and tables included in the report with page numbers.
• Introduces the research topic, states the research problem, and outlines the objectives.
• Presents the background and significance of the study.
• Specifies the research questions or hypotheses.
• Reviews relevant existing research and theoretical frameworks.
• Establishes the foundation for the research and highlights gaps the study aims to fill.
• Describes the research design, data collection methods, and analysis procedures.
• Details the sample selection, instruments used, and any limitations of the study.

Results (or Findings)

• Presents the data collected in an organized manner, using tables, graphs, and descriptive text.
• Summarizes the findings without interpretation.
• Interprets the results, linking them back to the research questions and existing literature.
• Discusses the implications of the findings and any unexpected results.
• Addresses the limitations of the study and suggests areas for future research.
• Summarizes the key findings and their relevance.
• Restates the significance of the study and its contributions to the field.

Recommendations  (if applicable)

• Provides suggestions based on the research findings for practical actions, policy changes, or further research.
• Lists all sources cited in the research report following the appropriate academic style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.).

Appendices  (if necessary)

• Includes additional materials like raw data, detailed analyses, questionnaires, or maps.

Acknowledgments  (optional)

• Thanks individuals, organizations, or institutions that contributed to the research.

Formatting Tips:

• Ensure consistency in headings, subheadings, and text formatting throughout the document.
• Use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon where possible.
• Proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
• Adhere to the citation style and formatting guidelines specified by your institution or publication.

This structure provides a comprehensive overview for writing a final research report, ensuring that all critical aspects of the research are communicated effectively.

Browse More Templates On Research Reports

Market research report template.

• Google Docs

Sample Academic Research Report Template

Business Research Report Template

Research Report Cover Page Template

Sample Investment Research Report Template

Corporate Research Report Template

Company Research Report Template

Sample Brand Research Report Template

Research Report Executive Summary Template

Tips For Writing Research Reports

• Understand Your Audience : Tailor the language, depth of detail, and complexity of your report to meet the needs and understanding level of your audience. Whether it’s for academic peers, industry professionals, or the general public, ensure the content is accessible and relevant.
• Start with a Clear Abstract : Provide a concise and informative abstract that summarizes the key points of your research, including the problem, methodology, results, and conclusions. This helps readers quickly understand the essence of your report.
• Organize Your Report Logically : Follow a structured format that includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, findings/results, discussion, conclusion, and references. A logical flow helps readers follow your research process and findings.
• Be Precise and Concise : Use clear and direct language to convey your research. Avoid unnecessary jargon and verbosity. Make every word count by being as concise as possible without omitting crucial information.
• Use Visuals Effectively : Incorporate charts, graphs, tables, and figures to illustrate key findings and support your analysis. Visuals can help clarify complex data and make your report more engaging.
• Cite Sources Rigorously : Accurately cite all sources of information, data, and literature you’ve used in your research. This not only adds credibility to your report but also acknowledges the work of others in your field.
• Discuss Limitations and Implications : Be honest about the limitations of your research statement and discuss the implications of your findings. This demonstrates your critical thinking and understanding of the research context.
• Proofread and Edit : Thoroughly proofread your report for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Consider having a peer or mentor review your work for clarity and coherence.
• Include Recommendations : If appropriate, end your report with practical recommendations based on your findings. This can add value to your research by suggesting future directions or actions.
• Stay Ethical : Ensure your research and reporting practices are ethical. Respect privacy, obtain necessary permissions, and report data and findings truthfully.

Following these tips can enhance the quality of your research report, making it informative, credible, and impactful.

Product Research Report Template

Sample Equity Research Report Template

Monthly Research Report Template

Survey Research Report Template

Sample Research Progress Report Template

Quantitative Research Report Template

Scientific Report Template

Size: US, A4

Basic Equity Research Report Template

Size: 109 KB

Annual Research Progress Report in PDF

Market Research Report Example

Size: 504 KB

Research Methodology Report Template

Size: 794 KB

Research Project Report Template

Size: 181 KB

Sample Qualitative Research Report Template

Size: 141 KB

Types of Research Report

• Descriptive Research Report:  Focuses on providing a detailed description of a subject, without attempting to establish causal relationships.
• Analytical Research Report:  Analyzes and interprets research findings to draw conclusions and make recommendations.
• Experimental Research Report:  Presents the methods, results, and analysis of controlled experiments.
• Case Study Report:  Examines in-depth the details of a particular case or situation, often in real-world contexts.
• Survey Research Report:  Reports on the data and analysis of surveys conducted to gather information from a sample of a population.
• Review Research Report:  Summarizes and evaluates existing research and literature on a specific topic, providing a comprehensive overview.

When you do your research report, make sure that you have all these parts I have enumerated. Also, do not forget to write your paper in an objective manner. For more information on other reports, you may check out our Sample Service Reports and Sample Trip Reports .

Research Reflection Report Template

Size: 152 KB

Research Proposal Report Outline Template

Size: 89 KB

Action Research Report Template

Size: 52 KB

Scientific Research Report Template

Size: 103 KB

Sample Primary Research Report Template

What is Formal Research Report?

A formal research report is a structured and detailed document that follows a specific format and style. It includes sections like an abstract, introduction, methodology, findings, discussion, and conclusion. These  report outline  are often used in academic and professional settings to present research findings in a standardized and systematic manner.

What is the Role of a Research Report?

The role of a research report is to communicate the results, analysis, and conclusions of a research study to inform and educate readers, such as researchers, policymakers, or the general public, about a specific topic or issue. It serves as a valuable resource for decision-making, further research, or reference in various fields.

When do you need Research Report?

A research report is needed when you want to communicate the findings of a systematic investigation. It serves to document, share, and disseminate research outcomes to various audiences, contributing to knowledge and decision-making.

What is research report title?

The research report title is a concise and descriptive phrase that provides an overview of the study’s focus. It should capture the essence of the research, guiding readers on its subject.

Why do you need Research Report Samples?

Research  report samples  are required so that you can refer to the method of  writing a research paper . As per the rules and guidelines, all the research papers must be submitted in a specific way. Your papers will not be accepted if they are written in any manner.

In conclusion, the research report serves as a comprehensive documentation of a study’s findings and insights. It plays a crucial role in advancing knowledge and facilitating informed decision-making in various fields.

A research report can be made for many situations, not just for school. It can be for matters on business and/or marketing. Likewise, it is not the only type of report as well, reports can actually come in many forms for different contexts; we have Sample Survey Reports in case you need these.

Related Posts

Free 11+ sample school visit report templates in ms word | google docs | pages | pdf, free 10+ sample weekly construction report templates in ms word | google docs | pages | pdf, free 15+ sample visit reports in pdf | ms word | apple pages, free 11+ student performance report samples [ medical, academic, class ], free 15+ field report samples in pdf | ms word, free 49+ sample reports in ms word | pdf, free 12+ sample construction project report templates in ms word | google docs | pages | pdf, free 11+ sample project completion reports in ms word | google docs | pages | numbers | excel | pdf, free 10+ physics lab report samples in pdf | ms word, free 13+ construction inspection report samples in pdf | ms word, free 20+ annual report samples in pdf | ms word | pages | google docs | ai, free 9+ land survey report samples [ project, market, online ], free 12+ writing assessment report samples [ risk, psychological, security ], free 37+ sample hr report templates in ms word | pdf |apple pages | google docs, free 9+ child observation report samples [ school, behavior, physical ], sample report - 44+ examples in word, pdf, 10+ sample business report - free sample, example, format ..., sample case report template - 8+ free documents download in ..., sample forensic report - 6+ documents in word, pdf.

• Design for Business
• Most Recent
• Presentations
• Infographics
• Data Visualizations
• Forms and Surveys
• Video & Animation
• Case Studies
• Digital Marketing
• Design Inspiration
• Visual Thinking
• Product Updates
• Visme Webinars
• Artificial Intelligence

Report Examples With Sample Templates [To Edit and Download]

Written by: Orana Velarde

Looking for report examples? You’ve probably noticed in your search that there many different kinds.

It can get a little confusing if you don’t know exactly what report example you’re looking for. Don’t worry, we can help.

But first, what is a report anyway?

A report is a document that details a specific set of information about any number of topics. It’s a compilation of data and facts put together to show or explain to someone or a group of people.

This definition of a report applies to both businesses and schools. 

When a teacher or student thinks of the term "report," they think:

• Book Report
• Progress Report
• Report Card
• Science Experiment Report

Businesspeople, on the other hand, think of:

• Sales Reports
• Marketing Reports
• Progress Reports
• Social Media Reports
• Market Research Reports
• Weekly Reports
• Monthly Reports
• Annual Reports
• And many more...

If you think about it though, all the reports above fit under the same description. It’s just the environment where it’s produced and presented that’s different.

In this post, we’ll take a look at the most common report examples in both education and business.

And to help you out, here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit report templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

1 Progress Report Examples

A progress report is a business report shows how a specific project or plan is progressing. It shows and visualizes a variety of the following things:

• If goals are being met or not
• When a specific task needs to be either repeated or discarded
• A timeframe of task completed and results
• New or adjusted goals created with data from the ongoing process

Good visualization tools for progress reports include comparison widgets showing the goal against what was achieved. 

Another type of progress report is for school-aged children. Teachers put together progress reports and report cards of what they learn in class throughout the year.

Below is a Visme template for a preschool progress report. Teachers can print this out , make copies and send home with the kids. Alternatively, and as a way to save paper, they can fill it in digitally and send the parents a link to the report published online.

Working on multiple progress reports can be nerve-wracking. But with Visme’s Dynamic Fields , you can easily update information throughout your reports from a single source.

Customize this progress report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

2 Sales Report Examples

A sales report showcases the results of a sales campaign. These are presented by the sales team to the stakeholders of a company or the other teams like marketing and content marketing. It’s usually presented at the end of a campaign, otherwise it would be a sales progress report.

Sales reports are improved with data visualizations like line charts, bar charts and histograms. These can be presented as live reports , presentation slides, like an infographic or even a document. 

The sales report sample template below comes with enough slides with charts to get your data organized nicely. Using the Visme editor, add slides in between the sample template slides to add explanatory content if necessary.

Take advantage of Visme analytics to see how your report is performing. You can monitor key metrics like views, unique visits, average time, average completion and more.

Customize this sales report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

3 Market Research Report Examples

A market research report is all about showing the results of a market research audit . The main idea is to describe the competitors, the ideal client, the current atmosphere in the market and ideas on how to implement a successful marketing strategy.

This reporting example uses visualizations like pie charts , maps, percentage widgets and regular visuals like photography or illustration. 

Customize this market research report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

Learn more about how to visualize statistics in your reports by watching this video.

4 “The State Of” Report Examples

Similar to market research reports, this type of report can be about any topic whatsoever. The research will go in-depth, with surveys and studies that show trends and statistics that are then visualized and presented. 

The similarity between these reports is their title, it always starts with “The State Of”. For example, SlackHQ released the State of Work Report this year while other companies do the same for other topics.

The Visme sample template below was created as a State of the Ecommerce Fashion Industry but can easily be customized for your needs.

Customize this report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

5 Weekly / Monthly / Quarterly Report Examples

Similar to daily progress reports , weekly, monthly and quarterly reports are constants in a business setting. They’re usually more generalized than a progress report, which is about a specific project.

Weekly and monthly reports are sometimes condensed sections of different analytics reports put together into one document. Other times it can be a live dashboard that shows each week’s or month’s activity. 

The sample template below is a monthly report for sustainable development. It’s in document format, which you can print or share as a PDF. With a few clicks, you can share your reports with superiors or team members or publish them on the web. 

Customize this monthly report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

6 Annual Report Examples

An annual report is the cumulative data about a company for an entire year. These reports are much larger than others because they have a lot more information. Many companies create beautifully designed annual reports to show off their data. 

Annual reports come in all shapes and sizes. Like printed books, as slide presentations, as scrollable infographics or even entire websites . With Visme, you can create many different types of annual reports easily.

The sample annual report template below is a slide presentation.

Customize this annual report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

This sample template is in document format.

7 Forecast Report Examples

Another business-minded report is the forecast report. This type of report is similar to the “state of the” report but instead of being about the present, it’s about the future. 

Many well-established companies create forecast reports because they are trendsetters and want to stay ahead of other companies in the industry.

Such is the case for The Pantone Institute. They publish color trend forecast reports every year, and for seasons and themes as well.

If you publish a forecast report to set yourself up as an influential entity in your niche, it’s best to promote it and share it as much as possible. Also, be sure that what you’re presenting as a forecast has good informational backing it, and you aren’t just making it up.

The sample report below is a document format forecast report for a tech company.

Customize this forecast report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

8 Book Report Examples

In the educational aspect, reports are a little different. A book report, for example, is meant to show that a student has read a book and can give a summary of it to the class and the teacher. 

There doesn’t tend to be much data visualization involved, but graphic organizers can help add visuals to the written content.

Book reports can be set up as presentations or as printed PDFs . It really depends on the teacher and what they assign to the student.

The Visme template below is a book report slide presentation ready to customize with the information the student gathered from the book. 

Customize this book report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

9 Scientific Finding Report Examples

Scientific finding reports can be used in the classroom as a way to teach students about the scientific method and how to present the findings. 

In a more professional scenario, scientists and researchers will create these types of reports to show their superiors or the people funding their work.

These reporting examples are generally full of data visualizations, along with photographs of the experiments – if there were any – as they progress. In some cases, there can be illustrations and video embedded into the report to add extra visuals.

The reporting example below is a study about stress in the workplace. It’s not a detailed visualization of microbes in a lab, but the report writing format is the same.

10 Analysis Report Examples

Here’s another standout example of report template. An analysis report in school is mostly used in Literature classes. The main idea is to analyze a book or a group of books and analyze them. This can be done with one analysis term or in a more general sense. 

This type of report works well with graphic organizers instead of data visualizations.

An analysis report can also be considered a visual analytical essay because it follows the same format. There must be a main idea and thesis to begin with. The content must then reinforce or counter the thesis.

The sample report below is about the idea that going to university isn’t for everyone. The slides are in a modern creative style and will look great with any content.

Customize this analysis report template and make it your own! Edit and Download

Which Report Example is Right for You?

Now that you’ve seen all the different report examples and what each one is used for, it’s time to create your own ! Put together all your content, data and notes, and get ready to make it all look amazing. 

Open up your Visme dashboard or simply click on any of the examples of templates in this post to get started. If you need more images, you can find plenty inside the Visme library. If you want to add data visualizations, just use the graph engine !

Hey marketers! Need to create scroll-stopping visual content fast?

• Transform your visual content with Visme’s easy-to-use content creation platform
• Produce beautiful, effective marketing content quickly even without an extensive design skillset
• Inspire your sales team to create their own content with branded templates for easy customization

Sign up. It’s free.

Bookmark this post and you’ll never have to wonder about report examples again, then check out our video below to learn even more about how Visme makes document design easy.

Create stunning reports faster using Visme

Trusted by leading brands

Recommended content for you:

Create Stunning Content!

Design visual brand experiences for your business whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice.

About the Author

Orana is a multi-faceted creative. She is a content writer, artist, and designer. She travels the world with her family and is currently in Istanbul. Find out more about her work at oranavelarde.com

Join 307,012+ Monthly Readers

Get Free and Instant Access To The Banker Blueprint : 57 Pages Of Career Boosting Advice Already Downloaded By 115,341+ Industry Peers.

• Break Into Investment Banking
• Write A Resume or Cover Letter
• Win Investment Banking Interviews
• Ace Your Investment Banking Interviews
• Win Investment Banking Internships
• Master Financial Modeling
• Get Into Private Equity
• Get A Job At A Hedge Fund
• Recent Posts
• Articles By Category

What’s in an Equity Research Report?

If you're new here, please click here to get my FREE 57-page investment banking recruiting guide - plus, get weekly updates so that you can break into investment banking . Thanks for visiting!

Even though you can easily find real equity research reports via the magical tool known as “Google,” we’ve continued to get questions on this topic.

Whenever I see the same question over and over again, you know what I do: I bash my head in repeatedly and contemplate jumping off a building…

…and then I write an article to answer the question.

To understand an equity research report, you must understand what goes into a  stock pitch first.

The idea is similar, but an ER report is a “watered-down” version of a stock pitch.

But banks have some very solid reasons for publishing equity research reports:

Why Do Equity Research Reports Matter?

You might remember from previous articles that equity research teams do not spend that much time writing these reports .

Most of their time is spent speaking with management teams and institutional investors and sharing their views on sectors and companies.

However, equity research reports are still important because:

• You do still spend some time doing the required modeling work (~15%) and writing the reports (~20%).
• You might have to write a research report as part of the interview process.

For example, if you apply to an equity research role or an equity research internship , especially in an off-cycle process, you might be asked to draft a short report on a company.

And then in roles outside of ER, you need to know how to interpret reports quickly and extract the key information.

Equity Research Reports: Myth vs. Reality

If you want to understand equity research reports, you have to understand first why banks publish them: to earn higher commissions from trading activity.

A bank wants to encourage institutional investors to buy more shares of the companies it covers.

Doing so generates more trading volume and higher commissions for the bank.

This is why you rarely, if ever, see “Sell” ratings, and why “Hold” ratings are far less common than “Buy” ratings.

Different Types of Equity Research Reports

One last point before getting into the tutorial: There are many different types of research reports.

“Initiating Coverage” reports tend to be long – 50-100 pages or more – and have tons of industry research and data.

“Sector Reports” on entire industries are also very long. And there are other types, which you can read about here .

In this tutorial, we’re focusing on the “Company Update” or “Company Note”-type reports, which are the most common ones.

The Full Tutorial, Video, and Sample Equity Research Reports

For our full walk-through of equity research reports, please see the video below:

Table of Contents:

• 1:43: Part 1: Stock Pitches vs. Equity Research Reports
• 6:00: Part 2: The 4 Main Differences in Research Reports
• 12:46: Part 3: Sample Reports and the Typical Sections
• 20:53: Recap and Summary

You can get the reports and documents referenced in the video here:

• Equity Research Report – Jazz Pharmaceuticals [JAZZ] – OUTPERFORM [BUY] Recommendation [PDF]
• Equity Research Report – Shawbrook [SHAW] – NEUTRAL [HOLD] Recommendation [PDF]
• Equity Research Reports vs. Stock Pitches – Slides [PDF]

If you want the text version instead, keep reading:

Watered-Down Stock Pitches

You should think of equity research reports as “watered-down stock pitches.”

If you’ve forgotten, a hedge fund or asset management stock pitch ( sample stock pitch here ) has the following components:

• Part 1: Recommendation
• Part 2: Company Background
• Part 3: Investment Thesis
• Part 4: Catalysts
• Part 5: Valuation
• Part 6: Investment Risks and How to Mitigate Them
• Part 7: The Worst-Case Scenario and How to Avoid It

In a stock pitch, you’ll spend most of your time and energy on the Catalysts, Valuation, and Investment Risks because you want to express a VERY different view of the company .

For example, the company’s stock price is $100, but you believe it’s worth only $50 because it’s about to report earnings 80% lower than expectations.

Therefore, you recommend shorting the stock. You also recommend purchasing call options at an exercise price of $125 to limit your losses to 25% if the stock moves in the opposite direction.

In an equity research report, you’ll still express a view of the company that’s different from the consensus, but your view won’t be dramatically different.

You’ll spend more time on the Company Background and Valuation sections, and far less time and space on the Catalysts and Risk Factors. And you won’t even write a Worst-Case Scenario section.

If a company seems overvalued by 50%, a research analyst would probably write a “Hold” recommendation, say that there’s “uncertainty around several customers,” and claim that the company’s current market value is appropriate.

Oh, and by the way, one risk factor is that the company might report lower-than-expected earnings.

The Four Main Differences in Equity Research Reports

The main differences are as follows:

1) There’s More Emphasis on Recent Results and Announcements

For example, how does a recent product announcement, clinical trial result, or earnings report impact the company?

You’ll almost always see recent news and updates on the first page of a research report:

These factors may play a role in hedge fund stock pitches as well, but more so in short recommendations since timing is more important there.

2) Far-Outside-the-Mainstream Views Are Less Common

One comical example of this trend is how all 15 equity research analysts covering Enron rated it a “buy” right before it collapsed :

Sell-side analysts are far less likely to point out that the emperor has no clothes than buy-side analysts.

3) Research Reports Give “Target Prices” Rather Than Target Price Ranges

For example, the company is trading at $50.00 right now, but we expect its price to increase to exactly $75.00 in the next twelve months.

This idea is completely ridiculous because valuation is always about the range of possible outcomes, not a specific outcome.

Despite horrendously low accuracy , this practice continues.

To be fair, many analysts do give target prices in different cases, which is an improvement:

4) The Investment Thesis, Catalysts, and Risk Factors Are “Looser”

These sections tend to be “afterthoughts” in most reports.

For example, the bank might give a few reasons why it expects the company’s share price to rise: the company will capture more market share than expected, it will be able to increase its product prices more rapidly than expected, and a competitor is about to go bankrupt.

However, the sell-side analyst will not tie these factors to specific share-price impacts as a buy-side analyst would.

Similarly, the report might mention catalysts and investment risks, but there won’t be a link to a specific valuation impact from each factor.

So the typical stock pitch logic (“We think there’s a 50% chance of gaining 80% and a 50% chance of losing 20%”) won’t be spelled out explicitly:

Your Sample Equity Research Reports

To illustrate these concepts, I’m sharing two equity research reports from our financial modeling courses :

The first one is from the valuation case study in our Advanced Financial Modeling course , and the second one is from the main case study in our Bank Modeling course .

These are comprehensive examples, backed by industry data and outside research, but if you want a shorter/simpler example you can recreate in a few hours, the Core Financial Modeling course has just that.

In each case, we started by creating traditional HF/AM stock pitches and valuations and then made our views weaker in the research reports.

The Typical Sections of an Equity Research Report

So let’s briefly go through the main sections of these reports, using the two examples above:

Page 1: Update, Rating, Price Target, and Recent Results

The first page of an “Update” report states the bank’s recommendation (Buy, Hold, or Sell, sometimes with slightly different terminology), and gives recent updates on the company.

For example, in both these reports we reference recent earnings results from the companies and expectations for the next fiscal year:

We also give a “target price,” explain where it comes from, and give our estimates for the company’s key financial metrics.

We mention catalysts in both reports, but we don’t link anything to a specific valuation impact.

One problem with providing a specific “target price” is that it must be based on specific multiples and specific assumptions in a DCF or DDM.

So with Jazz, we explain that the $170.00 target is based on 20.7x and 15.3x EV/EBITDA multiples for the comps, and a discount rate of 8.07% and Terminal FCF growth rate of 0.3% in the DCF.

Next: Operations and Financial Summary

Next, you’ll see a section with lots of graphs and charts detailing the company’s financial performance, market share, and important metrics and ratios.

For a pharmaceutical company like Jazz, you might see revenue by product, pricing and # of patients per product per year, and EBITDA margins.

For a commercial bank like Shawbrook, you might see loan growth, interest rates, interest income and net income, and regulatory capital figures such as the Common Equity Tier 1 (CET 1) and Tangible Common Equity (TCE) ratios:

This section of the report explains how the analyst or equity research associate forecast the company’s performance and came up with the numbers used in the valuation.

The valuation section is the one that’s most similar in a research report and a stock pitch.

In both fields, you explain how you arrived at the company’s implied value, which usually involves pasting in a DCF or DDM analysis and comparable companies and transactions.

The methodologies are the same, but the assumptions might differ substantially.

In research, you’re also more likely to point to specific multiples, such as the 75 th percentile EV/EBITDA multiple, and explain why they are the most meaningful ones.

For example, you might argue that since the company’s growth rates and margins exceed the medians of the set, it deserves to be valued at the 75 th percentile multiples rather than the median multiples:

Investment Thesis, Catalysts, and Risks

This section is short, and it is more of an afterthought than anything else.

We do give reasons for why these companies might be mis-priced, but the reasoning isn’t that detailed.

For example, in the Shawbrook report we state that the U.K. mortgage market might slow down and that regulatory changes might reduce the market size and the company’s market share:

Those are legitimate catalysts, but the report doesn’t explain their share-price impact in the same way that a stock pitch would.

Finally, banks present Investment Risks mostly so they can say, “Well, we warned you there were risks and that our recommendation might be wrong.”

By contrast, buy-side analysts present Investment Risks so they can say, “There is a legitimate chance we could lose 50% – let’s hedge against that risk with options or other investments so that our fund does not collapse .”

How These Reports Both Differ from the Corresponding Stock Pitches

The Jazz equity research report corresponds to a “Long” pitch that’s much stronger:

• We estimate its intrinsic value as $180 – $220 / share , up from $170 in the report.
• We estimate the per-share impact of each catalyst: price increases add 15% to the share price, more patients from marketing efforts add 10%, and later-than-expected generics competition adds 15%.
• We also estimate the per-share impact from the risk factors and conclude that in the worst case , the company’s share price might decline from $130 to $75-$80. But in all likelihood, even if we’re wrong, the company is simply valued appropriately at $130.
• And then we explain how to hedge against these risks with put options.

The same differences apply to the Shawbrook research report vs. the stock pitch, but the stock pitch there is a “Short” recommendation where we claim that the company is overvalued by 30-50%.

And that sums up the differences perfectly: A Short recommendation with 30-50% downside in a stock pitch turns into a “Hold” recommendation with roughly equal upside and downside in a sell-side research report.

I’ve been harsh on equity research here, but I don’t want to disparage it too much.

There are many positives: You do get more creativity than in IB, it might be better for hedge fund or asset management exits, and it’s more fun to follow companies than to grind through grunt work on deals.

But no matter how you slice it, most equity research reports are watered-down stock pitches.

So, make sure you understand the “strong stuff” first before you downgrade – even if your long-term goal is equity research.

You might be interested in:

• The Equity Research Analyst Career Path: The Best Escape from a Ph.D. Program, or a Pathway into the Abyss?
• Private Equity Regulation : 2023 Changes and Impact on Finance Careers
• Stock Pitch Guide: How to Pitch a Stock in Interviews and Win Offers

About the Author

Brian DeChesare is the Founder of Mergers & Inquisitions and Breaking Into Wall Street . In his spare time, he enjoys lifting weights, running, traveling, obsessively watching TV shows, and defeating Sauron.

Free Exclusive Report: 57-page guide with the action plan you need to break into investment banking - how to tell your story, network, craft a winning resume, and dominate your interviews

Read below or Add a comment

15 thoughts on “ What’s in an Equity Research Report? ”

Hi Brian, what softwares are available to publish Research Reports?

We use Word templates. Some large banks have specialized/custom programs, but not sure how common they are.

Is it possible if you can send me a template in word of an equity report? It will help the graduate stock management fund a lot at Umass Boston.

We only have PDF versions for these, but Word should be able to open any PDF reasonably well.

Do you also provide a pre constructed version of an ER in word?

We have editable examples of equity research reports in Word, but we generally only share PDF versions on this site.

Hey Brian Can you please help me with coverage initiated reports on oil companies. I could not find them on the net. I need to them to get equity research experience, after which only I will be able to get into the field. I searched but reports could not be found even for a price. Thanks

We have an example of an oil & gas stock pitch on this site… do a search…

https://mergersandinquisitions.com/oil-gas-stock-pitch/

Beyond that, sorry, we cannot look for reports and then share them with you or we’d be inundated with requests to do that every day.

No worries. Thanks!

Hi! Brian! Do u know how investment bankers design and layout an equity research? the software they use. like MS Word, Adobe Indesign or something…? And how to create and layout one? Thanks

where can I get free equity research report? I am a Chinese student and now study in Australia. Is the Morning Star a good resource for research report?

Get a TD Ameritrade to access free reports there for certain companies.

How do you view the ER industry since the trading commission has been down 50% since 2007. And there are new in coming regulation governing the ER reports have to explicitly priced and funds need to pay for the report explicity rather than as a service comes free with brokerage?

In addition the whole S&T environment is becoming highly automated.

People have been predicting the death of equity research for over a decade, but it’s still here. It may not be around in 100 years, but it will still be around in another 10 years, though it will be smaller and less relevant.

Yes, things are becoming more automated, but the actual job of an equity research analyst or associate hasn’t changed dramatically. A machine can’t speak with investors to assess their sentiment on a company – only humans can do that.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn Valuation and Financial Modeling

Get a crash course on accounting, 3-statement modeling, valuation, and M&A and LBO modeling with 10+ global case studies.

Free Al Office Suite with PDF Editor

Edit Word, Excel, and PPT for FREE.

Read, edit, and convert PDFs with the powerful PDF toolkit.

Microsoft-like interface, easy to use.

Windows • MacOS • Linux • iOS • Android

• Articles of Word

How to Write A Report - A Guide to Report Format with Examples

A report is a major aspect of every academic's life, serving as a vital reflection of the depth and quality of your research. For those in research, the report is especially crucial, as it details the thoroughness of your work. Ensuring that your report is comprehensive and perfectly formatted is essential, particularly for university students, where it can define your greatest achievements. In this article, I will guide you on how to write a report properly, detailing everything you should include to ensure it meets high standards.

Types of Report Formats

Reports serve various purposes across different contexts, each tailored to meet specific needs and audiences. Here's a detailed breakdown of their classifications:

1.Academic Reports:

Academic reports are meticulously created by students or researchers to present findings on a specific topic. They typically include sections like an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. Examples include research papers, thesis reports, and lab reports.

2.Business Reports:

These reports facilitate communication within or between businesses, offering insights into market research, financial analysis, project progress, and more. Examples encompass financial reports, market analysis reports, and project status updates.

3.Scientific Reports:

Scientific reports are comprehensive documents that detail research and experiments, structured to ensure clarity and reproducibility. Examples range from research articles and clinical study reports to technical reports.

Classification of Reports:

1.Formal and Informal Reports:

Formal Reports: Structured and detailed, adhering to specific formats for official use. Examples include annual business reports.

Informal Reports: Less structured and straightforward, often used for internal updates like project status emails.

2.Short and Long Reports:

Short Reports: Concise documents providing essential information swiftly, such as executive summaries.

Long Reports: Detailed and extensive documents offering comprehensive insights, like in-depth research studies.

3.Internal and External Reports:

Internal Reports: Used within organizations to communicate among employees or departments, such as internal audit reports.

External Reports: Shared outside the organization with stakeholders or the public, such as annual financial statements.

4.Vertical and Lateral Reports:

Vertical Reports: Communicate vertically within organizational hierarchies, either upward (e.g., from employees to management) or downward (e.g., from management to employees). Examples include performance review reports.

Lateral Reports: Shared horizontally among peers or departments at the same hierarchical level within an organization, facilitating inter-departmental collaboration on projects.

Structure and Organization

When it comes to writing reports, the structure and organization can vary depending on the type of report you're creating. Let's explore some common report outlines to help you understand the differences and choose the right structure for your needs.

First, it's important to note that there's a basic outline that many reports follow, which typically includes:

Now, let's dive into specific types of reports and their unique structures:

Scientific Report

Scientific reports follow a specific structure designed to present research methods and findings clearly:

Book Report

Book reports, often assigned in school, have their own unique structure:

Business Report

Business reports are used to communicate information within an organization:

Newspaper or School Assignment Report

Newspaper articles and some school assignments follow a more concise structure:

These outlines provide a general guide, so it's best to always check your specific assignment requirements or organizational guidelines. The key is to choose a structure that best presents your information in a logical, easy-to-follow manner for your intended audience.

How to Write a Report Faster in 5 Steps- Using WPS AI

Learning how to write a report with the proper format and structure can be valuable in your academics. Not only will this help you with your assignments, but following a report structure can also make describing events or incidents with more clarity much easier in other situations.

Now, since we are just setting off on what report writing is, we will be taking help from WPS AI. It is a major resource for me whenever I start writing a report for an assignment, while writing my research papers, or even a simple class assignment. Its AI features make every task easier for me. With the help of AI, I can research better, get better ideas, and even improve my writing. So, let's begin learning how to write a report and also look at a few examples along the way.

1.Choose a topic

So, the first step in starting our report writing is selecting a topic for our research. Choosing the right topic is crucial for a successful report. It should align with your assignment requirements or your audience's expectations. Additionally, selecting a topic at the beginning gives us a clear direction—what to research and what keywords to use—making our research more focused and concise.

Now, this can be a bit challenging. Let's say our assignment requires us to write about battery-powered cars. This requirement is quite broad, and there are many different topics within battery-powered cars. The traditional approach would be to learn about the topic first, conduct a Google search, and read various articles to select a topic for our report. However, this process can be lengthy. Let's make it quicker by using WPS Office :

Step 1: Open WPS Office and create a new blank document by clicking on New > Docs > Blank.

Step 2: In WPS Writer's blank document, simply type "@ai" and then press Enter to activate the WPS AI assistant.

Step 3: Since we want topic ideas for our report, we'll click on "Brainstorm" and ask WPS AI to generate a few topic ideas for our report with a prompt. Here's an example:

"Generate ideas for a report topic focused on battery-powered cars, exploring recent advancements in electric vehicle technology and their environmental impact."

Step 4: WPS AI will generate a few topic ideas for your report. If you find a topic you like, click on "Accept". Otherwise, click on "Continue" to get more topic ideas.

Using WPS AI to generate topic ideas helps students quickly find their preferred topic and saves them the trouble of extensive research to choose a topic for their report. So, with the topic chosen, let's move on to the next step.

2.Conduct research

Once we have chosen the topic for our report, the next step is to conduct research. For this part, I usually visit Google Scholar to find research papers and other helpful articles. Students can also access exclusive research papers through their university's online libraries. Additionally, for specific topics like stocks, valuable resources include official stock exchange websites for authentic data.

Now, once the research papers and relevant information are gathered, going through these resources to extract information can take hours of reading time. To streamline this process, you can upload your research paper PDFs to WPS Office and get key insights in just a few moments.

Step 1: Open the PDF document using WPS Office and click on the WPS AI widget at the top right corner of the screen.

Step 2: The WPS AI pane will open on the right side of the screen. Simply click on "Upload" to upload the research paper to WPS AI.

Step 3: WPS AI will process the PDF, and in a few moments, it will present all the key insights available in the PDF.

Step 4: If you need further information from the PDF, simply click on the "Inquiry" tab and chat with the WPS AI chatbot to extract more details.

With this approach, conducting research becomes not only quicker but also more meaningful. After conducting research, I quickly move on to the next step, which is creating an outline for my report and starting the writing process.

3.Prepare an outline

Creating an outline before we begin writing our report is essential, as it helps our report follow a proper order and prevents confusion or getting lost while writing. If creating an outline seems challenging, you can always use WPS AI to assist in creating one. A simple AI prompt allows students to generate an effective and detailed outline for their report with the help of WPS AI.

So, let's say my topic is "Advancements in the Range and Charging Speeds of Electric Cars." Let's ask WPS AI to create a detailed outline for our report on this topic:

Step 1: First, type "@AI" to activate WPS AI and then click on "Outline" since we need help creating an outline.

Step 2: Enter an AI prompt to guide WPS AI in creating an outline for your topic. The more detailed your prompt, the better the outline will be.

Step 3: WPS AI will assist in generating an outline with a proper structure.

The outline generated with the help of WPS AI may or may not be the final version of your outline. You may need to make a few changes based on the content of your research. However, this outline will provide a basic structure that you can now modify according to your report's topic.

4.Write a Rough Draft

Now that you have a solid outline, it's time to start writing. Don't worry about perfection at this stage – the goal is to get your ideas down on paper.

Here's how WPS AI can assist in drafting:

Use the AI to expand on each section of your outline. For example, you could ask: "Write an Overview on the importance of advancements in the range and charging speeds of electric cars".

If you're stuck on a particular point, ask WPS AI for help. Try prompts like: "What are Lithium-ion batteries” or "List out the possible environmental benefits of Electric Cars".

Use WPS Office's formatting tools to structure your document. Apply heading styles to your outline points for easy navigation.

As you write, remember to maintain your own voice. Use the AI-generated content as a starting point, but add your own analysis, insights, and examples. This will ensure your report is original and reflects your understanding of the topic.

5.Revising and Editing your Report

At this point, you might feel like you're done with your report, but there's one last crucial step: proofreading. A mistake or two in typing or grammar can significantly diminish the professionalism of your report. It's essential to review your content, refining what needs to be included and removing anything irrelevant.

Here's how to use WPS AI for revising and editing:

Use the AI's grammar and spell-check features to catch basic errors.

We can use WPS AI to review specific paragraphs for clarity by selecting the "Improve Writing" option from the list of WPS AI options provided in the hover menu.

Here is what your report would look like at the end of this entire process:

Bonus Tips: How Can WPS AI Help your Report Writing [Not Only the Format]

WPS Office has contributed a lot to academic pursuits by providing a full-fledged office suite that aids everyone in their academic life. It gives access to advanced features that simplify report writing, eliminating frustrations related to conversions to PDF, formatting, checking, and more.

WPS Office offers multiple tools to help refine the report, including:

1. Content Generation and Refinement

WPS AI Writer: The AI-powered content generation tool in WPS Office assists users in creating well-structured and coherent content. Whether you're starting from scratch or need to enhance an existing draft, WPS AI can suggest improvements, generate additional content, and help organize your ideas effectively.

Templates: WPS Office provides a variety of templates for different types of reports, ensuring that you start with a professional format.

Smart Assistance: The AI can offer suggestions for better word choices, sentence structures, and even provide detailed outlines based on your topic.

2. Language and Style Enhancement

Grammar and Style Check: WPS Office includes advanced grammar and style checking tools that help you maintain a professional tone and clear language throughout your report.

Real-Time Feedback: Receive instant feedback on grammar, punctuation, and style issues as you type.

Customization: Adjust the settings to focus on specific style guides or preferences, ensuring that your report meets the required academic standards.

3. Proofreading and Editing

AI-Powered Proofreading: The built-in proofreading tool in WPS Office helps catch errors that you might miss. It goes beyond basic spell check to include context-aware suggestions.

Comprehensive Checks: This tool checks for consistency, coherence, and clarity, ensuring that your report is not only error-free but also easy to read and understand.

Batch Processing: Proofread and edit multiple documents simultaneously, saving time and ensuring consistency across all your reports.

FAQs About Writing a Report

1. what is a report.

A report is a written document that presents information about a particular topic, practical experiments, or research. Reports are usually well-structured, consisting of sections such as an executive summary, introduction, findings, discussion, conclusion, and recommendations. The main objective of a report is to describe and analyze the results, offering a clear understanding of the subject being addressed.

2. What is the difference between a report and an essay?

A report is a systematically organized document that presents information and analysis. Reports are used to detail the findings of a project, experiment, or investigation.It typically features specific sections with headings and subheadings and often incorporates tables, bullet points, and graphics. An essay, in contrast, has a more flexible structure with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Essays focus on developing a discussion or argument about a topic through a series of connected paragraphs. They are used to build and explore arguments and insights.

3. What are some common mistakes to avoid in report writing?

When writing a report, it is essential to avoid common pitfalls that can hinder clarity and effectiveness, such as:

Insufficient Organization: A well-defined structure is essential for clarity.

Excessive Detail: Too much information without context can confuse the reader.

Language Mistakes: Grammatical and spelling issues can diminish the report's credibility.

Audience Consideration: Not customizing content for the audience can reduce effectiveness.

Omitting Conclusions and Recommendations: Clear conclusions and actionable recommendations are crucial for impact.

Inappropriate Tense Usage: The report should be in the past tense.

Direct Speech Misuse: Use indirect speech.

Voice Misapplication: Passive voice should be utilized.

Perspective Issues: Reports must be composed in the third person.

Craft The Perfect Report WIth WPS Office

Reports can truly have a major part in shaping your ultimate future, so you want to make sure you have all the tools you need to know on how to write a report that allows you to submit it to perfection. WPS Office provides the resources and features necessary to help you achieve this goal. By using WPS Office, you equip yourself with all the necessary tools to write a perfectly formatted, professional report. Get WPS Office today to make your report writing better and ensure your reports contribute positively to shaping your future.

• 1. Guide on how to write or create weekly report in Excel 2022
• 2. Step-by-step Guide to Using ChatGPT to Write a Report, Thesis and Dissertation
• 3. Ultimate Guide to Write A Seminar PDF Report
• 4. Guide on How to Write or Create Annual Report in Word 2022
• 5. Guide on how to write or create daily report in Word 2022
• 6. Write a Teaching Philosophy Statement: Examples and Guide

15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.

Surfer Academy Learn On-Page SEO with Michał Suski  on August 22nd!

Your competitors are optimizing their content. Are you?

✅ Analyze competitor strategies ✅ Plan a path to topical authority ✅ Find profitable keywords ✅ Create winning content ✅ Scale content strategy with AI ✅ Keep old content ranking ✅ Get more organic traffic

Don’t miss out. Join 150k+ Agencies, Marketers, and SEOs.

SEO Ranking Report [Free Template Download] for SERP Analysis

Need an SEO ranking report template? You’ve come to the right place. This guide covers all the essential elements of an effective template to track and present your SEO metrics.

Key Takeaways

• SEO ranking reports are essential for evaluating website performance, highlighting trends, opportunities, and potential issues in your SEO strategy.
• Key metrics like keyword rankings, organic traffic, and backlinks are crucial for a comprehensive view of SEO performance and should be tracked regularly.
• Using reporting tools like Google Search Console, Semrush, and Ahrefs helps automate and streamline the reporting process, ensuring accurate data presentation and actionable insights.

Understanding SEO Ranking Reports

SEO ranking reports are vital for showcasing the effectiveness of your SEO efforts to executives and stakeholders. They provide a clear picture of your website’s performance in organic search results, helping you align your SEO strategy with business goals and priorities.

These reports are not just about tracking positions; they reveal trends, opportunities, and potential issues that need to be addressed.

A thorough SEO report must cover metrics such as organic traffic and backlinks. Additionally, it should include keyword rankings. Modern reports also account for changes in search visibility and not just position metrics, as high rankings do not always guarantee traffic.

Presenting data concisely with visualizations like graphs and charts makes complex SEO data more digestible and actionable.

Key Metrics in an SEO Ranking Report

Tracking specific metrics in an SEO ranking report assesses the performance of your campaigns and avoids reliance on vanity metrics.

The right metrics provide valuable insights into your site’s performance, showing where you stand in search engine rankings for specific keywords and how you can improve.

While there are many metrics to consider, the most critical ones include keyword rankings, organic traffic, and backlinks.

Each of these metrics plays a unique role in painting a comprehensive picture of your SEO performance and will be discussed in detail in the following subsections.

Keyword Rankings

Monitoring keyword rankings helps understand your website’s visibility and search result effectiveness. Keyword rankings indicate how well your content is performing and its impact on driving organic clicks. Tracking keyword positions, impressions, clicks, average position, and click-through rate provides a clear picture of your SEO performance.

Tools like Semrush and Ahrefs provide insights into keyword performance over time, including your competitors’ rankings, which can be invaluable for refining your keyword strategy.

Additionally, location-specific tracking allows you to monitor keyword rankings in different geographical areas, helping you tailor your SEO efforts to target markets.

Organic Traffic

Organic traffic metrics reveal how effectively your SEO strategies attract visitors from search engines. Tracking organic traffic determines growth in visibility and overall SEO performance.

Total clicks from Google Search Console, for example, show how efficiently your SEO efforts are driving traffic to your site.

Tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and Semrush are recommended for accurately tracking organic traffic.

Analyzing landing page traffic helps identify trends and improve underperforming pages, while reporting on both branded and non-branded organic traffic provides a comprehensive view of your site’s performance.

Backlinks play a significant role in enhancing site authority and improving search engine rankings. The quality of backlinks is more important than quantity, as high-quality backlinks can significantly impact your SEO strategies.

The backlink section of an SEO ranking report should include the number and quality of backlinks, as well as traffic from new links.

Tools like Ahrefs and Semrush are effective for tracking backlinks, providing insights into new and lost backlinks, domain authority, and the quality of linking websites.

A comprehensive backlink profile report should also include competitors’ new backlinks, total backlinks, and relevant keywords within the backlinks.

Tools for Creating SEO Ranking Reports

Creating effective SEO ranking reports requires the right SEO reporting tools. Popular tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and DashThis offer features such as customizable dashboards and automated report generation, saving significant time and effort.

These tools integrate seamlessly with platforms like Google Analytics and Google Search Console, enabling a comprehensive data approach.

DashThis, for example, can reduce reporting time from 30-40 hours to just 10-20 hours while allowing customization to match your branding.

These tools not only simplify the reporting process but also ensure that your reports are accurate, comprehensive, and tailored to your needs.

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is an essential tool for website owners to monitor their site’s performance and improve their SEO strategies.

It helps track important SEO metrics such as average click-through rate (CTR), organic clicks, keyword performance, and site indexing. Google Search Console data allows marketing agencies to automate reporting processes and generate comprehensive reports efficiently.

Semrush is a powerful tool for SEO reporting, offering features like search visibility, keyword rankings, SERP positions, and competitor opportunities.

It allows users to extract various SEO metrics, including keyword rankings and organic search results, for comprehensive reporting. Semrush integrates with Google Analytics and Google Search Console, enabling seamless data integration and enhanced report quality.

Ahrefs excels in competitor analysis, allowing users to track keyword rankings and backlinks effectively. It provides detailed insights into competitors’ search engine rankings and backlink profiles, helping refine your SEO strategies.

Ahrefs also offers tools for tracking new and lost backlinks, domain authority, and the quality of linking websites, making it an invaluable resource for SEO reporting.

Steps to Create an SEO Ranking Report

Creating an SEO ranking report involves a multi-step process, including choosing metrics, gathering data, and producing the report. The challenges associated with SEO reporting include the complexity of structuring reports, selecting metrics, and gathering data to create an seo report.

An effective SEO report should include insights, wins, and issues to provide a comprehensive view of your SEO efforts.

Gather Relevant Data

The first step in creating an SEO ranking report is gathering relevant data using tools like Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and Semrush.

Companies should decide on a reporting frequency, such as weekly, monthly, or quarterly, and maintain consistency to ensure accurate tracking and reporting.

An effective SEO report should include an organic traffic overview from Google Analytics data, often formatted with interactive charts.

Organize and Analyze Data

Clear analysis and informed decisions depend on organizing and analyzing data. Grouping related metrics together in a report enhances clarity and helps convey a coherent narrative about SEO performance.

Customizable templates allow users to include relevant metrics based on client needs, ensuring that the data presented is meaningful and actionable.

Presenting Your Findings

Presenting your findings effectively is essential for creating actionable SEO reports. Providing context to explain trends in metrics and the impact of your SEO efforts is critical. Clear language and key term definitions help stakeholders understand the data.

Incorporating visual elements like charts and graphs simplifies complex data, making it easier to understand and act upon.

Automating SEO Ranking Reports

Automating SEO ranking reports can streamline the data collection process, making it more efficient and reducing manual work. Tools like Semrush’s My Reports and DashThis offer automation features that save time and ensure consistent updates.

Customizable templates eliminate the time and resources spent on manual reporting, allowing for more focus on analysis and strategy.

Scheduled Reports

A consistent reporting schedule builds trust and keeps clients informed about their progress. Automated reports can be tailored to specific schedules, increasing reporting flexibility and ensuring that clients receive the most up-to-date metrics.

Customizable Templates

Customizable templates ensure full brand alignment in SEO reports with extensive personalization options. DashThis, for example, allows users to select metrics, adjust layouts, and add branding elements to their reports.

A customizable monthly SEO reporting template contains various metrics. These include monthly organic website traffic, historical organic traffic trends, and popular landing pages.

Best Practices for Effective SEO Ranking Reports

Effective SEO ranking reports should outline specific goals tailored to client needs and include a variety of key data points. Reports aligned with client goals ensure relevant and targeted data.

Personalizing SEO reports to match branding and client preferences enhances their value and impact. Recommendations based on data insights demonstrate actionable strategies to clients, helping to build trust and drive results.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in SEO Ranking Reports

Common pitfalls in SEO ranking reports can lead to misunderstandings and misinformed decisions regarding SEO strategies. Ignoring important metrics like organic traffic and keyword rankings results in incomplete reports.

Using outdated data without regular updates compromises the accuracy of the analysis.

Not customizing reports for specific audiences reduces their effectiveness and clarity. Complex presentations can confuse stakeholders and undermine the report’s message.

Summing up, SEO ranking reports are essential tools for understanding and improving your website’s performance. By focusing on key metrics, using the right tools, and following best practices, you can create effective and insightful reports that drive results.

Avoiding common mistakes and automating the reporting process can save time and ensure accuracy. Embrace these strategies to elevate your SEO efforts and achieve your digital marketing goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key metrics to include in an seo ranking report.

To create an effective SEO ranking report, focus on key metrics like keyword rankings, organic traffic, and backlinks. These elements will give you a clear picture of your site's performance.

How can I automate my SEO ranking reports?

You can easily automate your SEO ranking reports using tools like Semrush's My Reports or DashThis, which streamline data collection and reporting for you. This way, you can focus on strategy while your reports generate automatically!

Why are backlinks important in SEO ranking reports?

Backlinks are essential for boosting your site's authority and improving its search engine rankings, so they play a vital role in SEO ranking reports. They help search engines determine the credibility of your content.

What tools can I use to track organic traffic?

To effectively track your organic traffic, you should definitely use Google Search Console, Google Analytics, and Semrush. These tools will provide you with valuable insights and data to boost your website's performance.

How often should I create SEO ranking reports?

Creating SEO ranking reports consistently is key, so choose a frequency that works for you—whether it's weekly, monthly, or quarterly—and stick to it for the best results.

https://surferseo.com/blog/seo-ranking-report-template/

7-day Money-Back Guarantee

Choose a plan that fits your needs and try Surfer out for yourself. If you won’t be satisfied, we’ll give you a refund (yes, that’s how sure we are you’ll love it)!

All Formats

Report Templates

11+ research report format templates – word, pdf.

A certain report document needs a specific report format depending on a particular type of research and input of data needed. Whether the research is for purposes of inspection, exploration, or further studies, a Report Summary is needed to interpret results and findings. A research report is used to organize any information obtained subject to different interpretations. You may also see report samples .

• 327+ Word Report Templates
• 327+ Sample Report Templates

Report Template Bundle

• Google Docs

Market Research Report Template

Business Research Report Template

Market Research Report

Action Research Template

Unique Equity Research

Qualitative Research Report

What Is a Market Research Report?

How to write recommendations in a research report.

• Specific . Be specific up to the smallest details of what you would want to recommend.
• Highlight . Be sure you are able to highlight what you have written for easier research reference.
• Straightforward . Be direct with what you want to incorporate to the study.

Simple Research Report in PDF

Project Research

Education Research Format

Formal Research Progress

Research Methodology

What Are the Benefits of a Research Report?

• Organization . Your readers would not want to go over a confusing report. A research report suggests a presentable means of relaying all the information that you have obtained.
• Easy reference . With everything in place in a research report, it would be easier to look for information at first glance. A customized and well-written format of a research report creates an impact on the overall quality of your work.
• Track trends . You will be able to see a trend with your reports once everything is all in place and order. It would be easier for you to decode and imply or track a trend with your results too. This way, all the possible answers to your research could be directly answered through your report.
• Areas of interest . A research report could highlight different areas of interest. This would all be up to your audience and readers which of what you have obtained would be useful for them or for anyone concerned.

More in Report Templates

Elementary Research Report Template

Product research report template, research progress report template, formal research report template, university student research report template, final research report template, qualitative research report template, finance research report template, research evaluation report template, action research report template.

• How to Create a Financial Audit Report [10+ Templates to Download]
• 40+ Monthly Management Report Templates in PDF | Google Docs | Excel | Apple Pages
• 25+ Non Conformance Report Templates – PDF, Docs, Word, Pages
• 19+ Event Report Templates – Word, PDF, Docs, Pages
• 34+ Report Card Templates- Word, Docs, PDF, Pages
• 23+ Sample Inspection Report Templates- Docs, Word, Pages
• 36+ Weekly Activity Report Templates – PDF, Docs
• 10+ Free Audit Findings Report Templates in PDF | MS Word
• 10+ Audit Exception Report Templates in PDF | MS Word
• 11+ Audit Committee Report Templates in PDF | MS Word
• 6+ Logistics Audit Report Templates in PDF | MS Word
• 11+ Logistic Report Templates in PDF
• 8+ Logistics Monthly Report Templates in PDF | MS Word
• 17+ Internship Student Report Templates
• 64+ Monthly Report Samples

File Formats

Word templates, google docs templates, excel templates, powerpoint templates, google sheets templates, google slides templates, pdf templates, publisher templates, psd templates, indesign templates, illustrator templates, pages templates, keynote templates, numbers templates, outlook templates.