Methodology · Concise and clear synopsis of the steps that were followed to answer the research question. Enough detail needs to be provided so results can be replicated however not too much detail so...

· Concise and clear synopsis of the steps that were followed to answer the research question. Enough detail needs to be provided so results can be replicated however not too much detail so it reads like your notes. Mention the software used for the analysis (e.g., Excel, Excel analysis toolpak).

· Briefly describes the dataset being analysed (make sure you cite it here). How was it compiled? What does it consist of?

· Identifies any potential limitations. For instance, there could be missing data, the data collected may be limited in some way (e.g., records only come from one source)

· Materials and Methods are normally written in the past tense as they describe what has been done.
Note: Do not write this section as bullet points or numbered items.

· Between
125 and 200 words.

· The results should present, summarise, and describe the dataset you are analysing through
at least ONE table and TWO figures (two tables and four figures max).

· The table(s) and figure(s) contain appropriate captions, which should have sufficient information that allows the reader to understand what is being shown without having to read the main text. When presenting a graph, please consider whether you have labelled axes (with units), etc. Likewise include units in the column headings.

· The table and figure are accompanied by descriptive text (written in full sentences and paragraphs) which presents a high level overview of the main findings that can be drawn from them. Any trends and/or patterns are described using scientific terminology, as well as results of any statistical tests which you have conducted (it is not a requirement to do statistical analysis).
Note:
Your Results section should not ‘discuss’ the data (save this for the Discussion).

· Tables and Figures are placed immediately after the paragraph in which they are first referred to in the text.

· Identifies any potential limitations on the reliability or validity of your evaluation.

· Results section is typically written in the past/passive tense as they describe what has been found.

· Between
150 and 200 words.

Guide:

· Clear statement of findings that is consistent with research question/s and hypotheses.

· Write about how the results you obtained compare to related studies.

· Interpretation of the results, their significance and appropriate recommendations. What do your results mean? What are the implications?

· Considers limitations/weaknesses and caveats of the study.

· Includes a short discussion of possible future opportunities for extending, developing or improving the study (for instance, if you think the results could be more comprehensive by investigating a dataset that covers a longer timespan…).

· Finishes with a short concluding sentence or two summarizing the key findings (answering your question from your Introduction) and wider significance of the research.

· Tense usage in this section will vary as it depends on whether you are discussing what is already known (present), what was found in your data (past/passive), or what you might do in the future (future tense).

· Between
175 to 250 words.

Guide:

· All supporting references (between 5 and 10, at least 3 from peer reviewed sources) cited in your report are listed in the
RMIT Harvard Referencing Style.

· Reference entries are consistent with referencing style.

· References are appropriate and correctly embedded throughout the text.

· Avoid excessive use of quotations.

· Max one page for your reference list.

Concise reflection (2-5 sentences) about how you implemented the feedback given by the teaching team on Assessment 4b Scientific Report Part 1- tables & figures. For example:

I included labels in my axes, I fixed the number of decimal places in my table, I included units in my table headings, I removed the title from my graph and included it in the figure caption.