38 Questions
What is the primary purpose of an audit report?
To examine the company's books and provide a comment on the degree of efficiency.
What is the benefit of technical accuracy in a report?
It preserves the writer's image as a careful and dependable person.
What is the importance of consistency in presenting data in a report?
It avoids disorientation and makes the report more pleasurable to read.
Why is clarity important in a technical report?
It caters to the comprehension capabilities of varied audiences.
What is the role of audience analysis in technical report writing?
To carry out a preliminary consideration of the target reader(s) of the report.
What is the importance of communication in technical report writing?
It is an act of the recipient.
What is the main challenge in writing a technical report?
Catering to the comprehension capabilities of varied audiences.
What is the characteristic of a good technical report?
It should be technically accurate and consistent in presenting data.
What is the primary purpose of a technical proposal?
To convince another company or institution of its technical capability to offer a specific service or perform a specific task
Which type of report is used to assess the economic or technical feasibility of an idea or concept?
Feasibility report
What is the main difference between an evaluation report and an investigation report?
The purpose of the report
Which type of technical report is typically written by a scientist or technologist after a field trip?
Field trip report
What is the primary purpose of a technical brief?
To present a new idea in sufficient depth to enable the recipient to assess its practicability and cost
How can technical reports be classified according to regularity?
Routine, periodic, or occasional
What is the main difference between a technical report and a staff report?
The purpose of the report
Which type of report is used to describe how to perform tests, examine data, and elicit or weigh tangible evidence in order to arrive at a conclusion?
Investigation report
What is the primary challenge for a technical report writer when addressing a report to multiple departments?
Finding a common denominator in expressing ideas
What is the purpose of avoiding the use of jargon in a generalist report?
To establish rapport with the reading audience
What characterizes mechanical accuracy in a report?
The adherence to standard rules of spelling, punctuation, and grammar
What is the primary purpose of including main keywords in a technical report title?
To facilitate database searches
What is the significance of the term 'CAMS' in the context of the doctorate project?
It is a descriptive term for the program's purpose
Why is it important to consult dictionaries and standard reference works when in doubt?
To avoid mechanical mistakes and language errors
What is the primary goal of conciseness in a report?
To say what needs to be said in the shortest possible form
What is the primary function of the computer program developed in the doctorate project?
To select materials based on stress and abrasion requirements
What is the role of the designer in the material selection process?
To enter the requirements for the material selection
What is the benefit of presenting a report in brief sections with sub-titles?
It makes the report easier to read and understand
What is the implication of using clichés and colloquialisms in a report?
It shows a lack of concern about the work
What is the characteristic of a good title for a technical report?
It should be short, accurate, and honest
What is the principle behind preferring specific to general expressions in a report?
It allows for more precision and accuracy
What is the purpose of creating a subtitle in a technical report?
To provide additional information about the topic
What is the primary goal when describing the methods of data collection?
To leave the reader in no doubt about the methods used
What is the main distinction between 'results' and 'findings' in research?
Results are used in experimental research, while findings are used in field observations
What is the primary purpose of the discussion section in a research report?
To cite relevant references and logically lead to the conclusions
What should be the primary consideration when writing the recommendations section?
To justify the recommendations with pertinent conclusions
Why is it important to number the conclusions in a research report?
To facilitate quick reference and easy grasp of the conclusions
What should be the primary focus when comparing the analysis and interpretation with those of previous researchers?
To ensure the reader's attention is not unduly diverted away from the analysis
What is the main reason for providing detailed explanations of the methods used in data collection?
To remove any doubt about the methods used
What should be the primary consideration when writing the findings/results section?
To present the findings in a logical and coherent manner
Study Notes
Types of Technical Reports
- Classified according to:
- Degree of formality (formal and informal reports)
- Length (long and short reports)
- Regularity (routine, periodic, or occasional reports; annual, biannual, or quarterly reports)
- Phase (interim, pilot, progress, or terminal reports)
- Format (alarm form, letter form, schematic form, or mixed form)
- Classified by content:
- Occurrence report (describes an event)
- Field trip report (written by an engineer, agricultural specialist, or technologist after a field assignment)
- Feasibility report (develops and analyzes an idea or concept to assess its economic or technical feasibility)
- Investigation report (describes how to perform tests, examine data, and weigh tangible evidence to arrive at conclusions)
- Evaluation report (starts with an idea to be developed and evaluated)
- Other types of technical reports:
- Technical proposal (prepared by a company to convince another company or institution of its technical capability to offer a specific service or perform a specific task)
- Technical brief (presents a new idea in sufficient depth to enable the recipient to assess its practicability and cost)
- Staff report (gives a brief account of the deployment and disposition of staff within a given period)
- Audit report (a short comment on the degree of efficiency with which a company has operated its financial and material accounts and kept records of such operations)
Characteristics of Technical Reports
- Technical accuracy (ensures sound scientific judgment and preserves the writer's image as a careful and dependable person)
- Consistency in presenting (maintains consistency in weights and measures, decimal or imperial systems, numbers, alphabetic style, and punctuation)
- Clarity (ensures easy comprehension by the non-technical reader, requires audience analysis, and explores the richness of the English language)
- Mechanical accuracy (follows standard rules of spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and uses dictionaries and standard reference works when in doubt)
- Conciseness (presents information in the shortest possible form, avoids needless repetition, and uses brief sections with sub-titles)
- Persuasiveness (creates interest and curiosity, has a good speech melody, and includes an additional subtitle)
- Interest (uses a clear, true, honest, short, and accurate title that creates interest and curiosity)
Requirements of the Title of a Technical Report
- Must be clear, true, honest, short, and accurate
- Must contain the main topics or main keywords
- Must create interest and curiosity
- Must have a good speech melody
- Must have an additional subtitle
Methods of Data Collection
- Gives sufficient detail to leave the reader in no doubt about the methods used, why they were used, and any special circumstances for using them
Analysis and Interpretation of Data
- Analyzes and interprets data for the study, not someone else's
- Compares analysis and interpretation with those of previous or contemporary writers with care
Findings/Results
- Lists results/findings in a logical manner suitable for the kind of study being reported
- 'Results' are the outcome of experimental research, while 'findings' normally relate to field observations
Discussion and Conclusions
- Gives discussion full reign by citing as many relevant references as possible
- Leads logically to conclusions and numbers all conclusions for easy grasp
Recommendations
- Based on conclusions, presented in a numbered list, and justified with pertinent conclusions
- Must derive scientifically from material within the report, not outside it
Learn about the different components of a technical report, including types of reports classified by degree of formality, length, regularity, phase, and format.
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