Writing a Managerial Report on a Statistical Study



Writing a Managerial Report on a Statistical Study

First of all a good statistical report requires good writing. However, there are some aspects of statistical reporting that are different from other forms of writing. In what follows we outline and specify a few points of good practice.

PLANNING

Clarify the object: Why are you doing the analysis? For whom are you writing the report? (ie. Know your audience.)

Develop a clear format such as: Use the following as headings in your paper.

1. Executive Summary (in an applied report) [This would be an Abstract in theoretical writing]: A one paragraph summary of the paper. It should include the result/conclusion.

2. Introduction - Problem Description: A statement of the problem and the data that will be used for the analysis. (Largely a rewrite of the problem statement)

3. Statistical Methodology: What statistical methods (such as regression analysis, confidence intervals, analysis of variance, etc.) and possibly, what software is being used. This section will most likely be very brief in the cases you are doing. [appropriate statistical summary – mean, proprotions in different categories, etc. – and appropriate graphs would be assumed and not mentioned]

4. Results: What your analysis revealed (eg. Give the confidence intervals, results of tests, comparison of proportions, etc. and explain how they solve the problem)

5. Conclusions: What are your recommendations, their limitations and what else could be investigated. Need for further study.

6. [If necessary – not required for our Case studies] Technical Appendix: Computer printout of calculations, with veriables defined, etc.

DEVELOPING THE REPORT

Write a quick first draft.

Edit and Proofread

Make it look professional but without too much glitz.

GUIDELINES FOR AN EFFECTIVE REPORT

Be precise

Delineate assumptions and potential limitations. Limit the decimal places.

Be concise

Let tables and charts do the talking - if it sounds redundant you probably need a table or chart. Tables and charts should have a heading (eg. Table 1: description) Be very selective in the computer output that you include-only what is mentioned in the narrative.

Be clear

Provide sufficient background information.

Make statistical explanations fit your audiences (eg. Don't include formulas and computation).

Place appropriate charts and tables in the body of the report, not the appendix ..

Report the results fairly.

If appropriate, consult with the intended recipient.

Including tables and figures, these reports should be no more than five pages in length with 12 point font and 1.5 line spacing. The narrative should not exceed 3 pages.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download