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Contents of research report.
The researcher must keep in mind that his research report must contain following aspects:
These can be discussed in detail as under:
Research is one direction oriented study. He should discuss the problem of his study. He must give background of the problem. He must lay down his hypothesis of the study. Hypothesis is the statement indicating the nature of the problem. He should be able to collect data, analyze it and prove the hypothesis . The importance of the problem for the advancement of knowledge or removed of some evil may also be explained. He must use review of literature or the data from secondary source for explaining the statement of the problems.
(2) Significance of study:
(3) Review of Literature :
Research is a continuous process. He cannot avoid earlier research work. He must start with earlier work. He should note down all such research work, published in books, journals or unpublished thesis. He will get guidelines for his research from taking a review of literature . He should collect information in respect of earlier research work. He should enlist them in the given below:
(4) Methodology:
It is related to collection of data. There are two sources for collecting data; primary and secondary. Primary data is original and collected in field work, either through questionnaire interviews. The secondary data relied on library work. Such primary data are collected by sampling method . The procedure for selecting the sample must be mentioned. The methodology must give various aspects of the problem that are studied for valid generalization about the phenomena. The scales of measurement must be explained along with different concepts used in the study.
(5) Interpretation of data :
Mainly the data collected from primary source need to be interpreted in systematic manner. The tabulation must be completed to draw conclusions. All the questions are not useful for report writing . One has to select them or club them according to hypothesis or objectives of study .
Data analysis forms the crux of the research problem . The information collected in field work is useful to draw conclusions of study. In relation with the objectives of study the analysis of data may lead the researcher to pin point his suggestions. This is the most important part of study. The conclusions must be based on logical and statistical reasoning. The report should contain not only the generalization of inference but also the basis on which the inferences are drawn. All sorts of proofs, numerical and logical, must be given in support of any theory that has been advanced. He should point out the limitations of his study.
(7) Bibliography:
(8) Appendices:
The general information in tabular form which is not directly used in the analysis of data but which is useful to understand the background of study can be given in appendix.
(1) Preliminary Pages:
These must be title of the research topic and data. There must be preface of foreword to the research work. It should be followed by table of contents. The list of tables, maps should be given.
It provides the complete outline of research report along with all details. The title page is reported in the main text. Details of text are given continuously as divided in different chapters.
(a) Introduction :
The methodology should point out the method of study, the research design and method of data collection.
(b) Statement of the problem :
(c) Analysis of data :
Data so collected should be presented in systematic manner and with its help, conclusions can be drawn. This helps to test the hypothesis . Data analysis must be made to confirm the objectives of the study.
The results based on the analysis of data must be valid. This is the main body of research. It contains statistical summaries and analysis of data. There should be logical sequence in the analysis of data. The primary data may lead to establish the results. He must have separate chapter on conclusions and recommendations. The conclusions must be based on data analysis. The conclusions must be such which may lead to generalization and its applicability in similar circumstances. The conditions of research work limiting its scope for generalization must be made clear by the researcher.
(e) Summary :
(3) End Matter:
It covers relevant appendices covering general information, the concepts and bibliography. The index may also be added to the report.
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A research report is one big argument about how and why you came up with your conclusions. To make it a convincing argument, a typical guiding structure has developed. In the different chapters, there are distinct issues that need to be addressed to explain to the reader why your conclusions are valid. The governing principle for writing the report is full disclosure: to explain everything and ensure replicability by another researcher.
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Barros, L. O. (2016). The only academic phrasebook you’ll ever need . Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
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Correspondence to Stefan Hunziker .
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© 2024 Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH, part of Springer Nature
Hunziker, S., Blankenagel, M. (2024). Writing up a Research Report. In: Research Design in Business and Management. Springer Gabler, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-42739-9_4
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The introduction leads the reader from a general subject area to a particular topic of inquiry. It establishes the scope, context, and significance of the research being conducted by summarizing current understanding and background information about the topic, stating the purpose of the work in the form of the research problem supported by a hypothesis or a set of questions, explaining briefly the methodological approach used to examine the research problem, highlighting the potential outcomes your study can reveal, and outlining the remaining structure and organization of the paper.
Key Elements of the Research Proposal. Prepared under the direction of the Superintendent and by the 2010 Curriculum Design and Writing Team. Baltimore County Public Schools.
Think of the introduction as a mental road map that must answer for the reader these four questions:
According to Reyes, there are three overarching goals of a good introduction: 1) ensure that you summarize prior studies about the topic in a manner that lays a foundation for understanding the research problem; 2) explain how your study specifically addresses gaps in the literature, insufficient consideration of the topic, or other deficiency in the literature; and, 3) note the broader theoretical, empirical, and/or policy contributions and implications of your research.
A well-written introduction is important because, quite simply, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. The opening paragraphs of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions about the logic of your argument, your writing style, the overall quality of your research, and, ultimately, the validity of your findings and conclusions. A vague, disorganized, or error-filled introduction will create a negative impression, whereas, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will lead your readers to think highly of your analytical skills, your writing style, and your research approach. All introductions should conclude with a brief paragraph that describes the organization of the rest of the paper.
Hirano, Eliana. “Research Article Introductions in English for Specific Purposes: A Comparison between Brazilian, Portuguese, and English.” English for Specific Purposes 28 (October 2009): 240-250; Samraj, B. “Introductions in Research Articles: Variations Across Disciplines.” English for Specific Purposes 21 (2002): 1–17; Introductions. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; “Writing Introductions.” In Good Essay Writing: A Social Sciences Guide. Peter Redman. 4th edition. (London: Sage, 2011), pp. 63-70; Reyes, Victoria. Demystifying the Journal Article. Inside Higher Education.
I. Structure and Approach
The introduction is the broad beginning of the paper that answers three important questions for the reader:
Think of the structure of the introduction as an inverted triangle of information that lays a foundation for understanding the research problem. Organize the information so as to present the more general aspects of the topic early in the introduction, then narrow your analysis to more specific topical information that provides context, finally arriving at your research problem and the rationale for studying it [often written as a series of key questions to be addressed or framed as a hypothesis or set of assumptions to be tested] and, whenever possible, a description of the potential outcomes your study can reveal.
These are general phases associated with writing an introduction: 1. Establish an area to research by:
2. Identify a research niche by:
3. Place your research within the research niche by:
NOTE: It is often useful to review the introduction late in the writing process. This is appropriate because outcomes are unknown until you've completed the study. After you complete writing the body of the paper, go back and review introductory descriptions of the structure of the paper, the method of data gathering, the reporting and analysis of results, and the conclusion. Reviewing and, if necessary, rewriting the introduction ensures that it correctly matches the overall structure of your final paper.
II. Delimitations of the Study
Delimitations refer to those characteristics that limit the scope and define the conceptual boundaries of your research . This is determined by the conscious exclusionary and inclusionary decisions you make about how to investigate the research problem. In other words, not only should you tell the reader what it is you are studying and why, but you must also acknowledge why you rejected alternative approaches that could have been used to examine the topic.
Obviously, the first limiting step was the choice of research problem itself. However, implicit are other, related problems that could have been chosen but were rejected. These should be noted in the conclusion of your introduction. For example, a delimitating statement could read, "Although many factors can be understood to impact the likelihood young people will vote, this study will focus on socioeconomic factors related to the need to work full-time while in school." The point is not to document every possible delimiting factor, but to highlight why previously researched issues related to the topic were not addressed.
Examples of delimitating choices would be:
Review each of these decisions. Not only do you clearly establish what you intend to accomplish in your research, but you should also include a declaration of what the study does not intend to cover. In the latter case, your exclusionary decisions should be based upon criteria understood as, "not interesting"; "not directly relevant"; “too problematic because..."; "not feasible," and the like. Make this reasoning explicit!
NOTE: Delimitations refer to the initial choices made about the broader, overall design of your study and should not be confused with documenting the limitations of your study discovered after the research has been completed.
ANOTHER NOTE: Do not view delimitating statements as admitting to an inherent failing or shortcoming in your research. They are an accepted element of academic writing intended to keep the reader focused on the research problem by explicitly defining the conceptual boundaries and scope of your study. It addresses any critical questions in the reader's mind of, "Why the hell didn't the author examine this?"
III. The Narrative Flow
Issues to keep in mind that will help the narrative flow in your introduction :
IV. Engaging the Reader
A research problem in the social sciences can come across as dry and uninteresting to anyone unfamiliar with the topic . Therefore, one of the goals of your introduction is to make readers want to read your paper. Here are several strategies you can use to grab the reader's attention:
NOTE: It is important that you choose only one of the suggested strategies for engaging your readers. This avoids giving an impression that your paper is more flash than substance and does not distract from the substance of your study.
Freedman, Leora and Jerry Plotnick. Introductions and Conclusions. University College Writing Centre. University of Toronto; Introduction. The Structure, Format, Content, and Style of a Journal-Style Scientific Paper. Department of Biology. Bates College; Introductions. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Introductions. The Writer’s Handbook. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Introductions, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusions for an Argument Paper. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; “Writing Introductions.” In Good Essay Writing: A Social Sciences Guide . Peter Redman. 4th edition. (London: Sage, 2011), pp. 63-70; Resources for Writers: Introduction Strategies. Program in Writing and Humanistic Studies. Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Sharpling, Gerald. Writing an Introduction. Centre for Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick; Samraj, B. “Introductions in Research Articles: Variations Across Disciplines.” English for Specific Purposes 21 (2002): 1–17; Swales, John and Christine B. Feak. Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Skills and Tasks . 2nd edition. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, 2004 ; Writing Your Introduction. Department of English Writing Guide. George Mason University.
Avoid the "Dictionary" Introduction
Giving the dictionary definition of words related to the research problem may appear appropriate because it is important to define specific terminology that readers may be unfamiliar with. However, anyone can look a word up in the dictionary and a general dictionary is not a particularly authoritative source because it doesn't take into account the context of your topic and doesn't offer particularly detailed information. Also, placed in the context of a particular discipline, a term or concept may have a different meaning than what is found in a general dictionary. If you feel that you must seek out an authoritative definition, use a subject specific dictionary or encyclopedia [e.g., if you are a sociology student, search for dictionaries of sociology]. A good database for obtaining definitive definitions of concepts or terms is Credo Reference .
Saba, Robert. The College Research Paper. Florida International University; Introductions. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina.
When Do I Begin?
A common question asked at the start of any paper is, "Where should I begin?" An equally important question to ask yourself is, "When do I begin?" Research problems in the social sciences rarely rest in isolation from history. Therefore, it is important to lay a foundation for understanding the historical context underpinning the research problem. However, this information should be brief and succinct and begin at a point in time that illustrates the study's overall importance. For example, a study that investigates coffee cultivation and export in West Africa as a key stimulus for local economic growth needs to describe the beginning of exporting coffee in the region and establishing why economic growth is important. You do not need to give a long historical explanation about coffee exports in Africa. If a research problem requires a substantial exploration of the historical context, do this in the literature review section. In your introduction, make note of this as part of the "roadmap" [see below] that you use to describe the organization of your paper.
Introductions. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; “Writing Introductions.” In Good Essay Writing: A Social Sciences Guide . Peter Redman. 4th edition. (London: Sage, 2011), pp. 63-70.
Always End with a Roadmap
The final paragraph or sentences of your introduction should forecast your main arguments and conclusions and provide a brief description of the rest of the paper [the "roadmap"] that let's the reader know where you are going and what to expect. A roadmap is important because it helps the reader place the research problem within the context of their own perspectives about the topic. In addition, concluding your introduction with an explicit roadmap tells the reader that you have a clear understanding of the structural purpose of your paper. In this way, the roadmap acts as a type of promise to yourself and to your readers that you will follow a consistent and coherent approach to addressing the topic of inquiry. Refer to it often to help keep your writing focused and organized.
Cassuto, Leonard. “On the Dissertation: How to Write the Introduction.” The Chronicle of Higher Education , May 28, 2018; Radich, Michael. A Student's Guide to Writing in East Asian Studies . (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Writing n. d.), pp. 35-37.
The research process, explore more of umgc.
Formal research structure.
These are the primary purposes for formal research:
enter the discourse, or conversation, of other writers and scholars in your field
learn how others in your field use primary and secondary resources
find and understand raw data and information
For the formal academic research assignment, consider an organizational pattern typically used for primary academic research. The pattern includes the following: introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions/recommendations.
Usually, research papers flow from the general to the specific and back to the general in their organization. The introduction uses a general-to-specific movement in its organization, establishing the thesis and setting the context for the conversation. The methods and results sections are more detailed and specific, providing support for the generalizations made in the introduction. The discussion section moves toward an increasingly more general discussion of the subject, leading to the conclusions and recommendations, which then generalize the conversation again.
The introduction section.
Many students will find that writing a structured introduction gets them started and gives them the focus needed to significantly improve their entire paper.
Introductions usually have three parts:
presentation of the problem statement, the topic, or the research inquiry
purpose and focus of your paper
summary or overview of the writer’s position or arguments
In the first part of the introduction—the presentation of the problem or the research inquiry—state the problem or express it so that the question is implied. Then, sketch the background on the problem and review the literature on it to give your readers a context that shows them how your research inquiry fits into the conversation currently ongoing in your subject area.
In the second part of the introduction, state your purpose and focus. Here, you may even present your actual thesis. Sometimes your purpose statement can take the place of the thesis by letting your reader know your intentions.
The third part of the introduction, the summary or overview of the paper, briefly leads readers through the discussion, forecasting the main ideas and giving readers a blueprint for the paper.
The following example provides a blueprint for a well-organized introduction.
Example of an Introduction
Entrepreneurial Marketing: The Critical Difference
In an article in the Harvard Business Review, John A. Welsh and Jerry F. White remind us that “a small business is not a little big business.” An entrepreneur is not a multinational conglomerate but a profit-seeking individual. To survive, he must have a different outlook and must apply different principles to his endeavors than does the president of a large or even medium-sized corporation. Not only does the scale of small and big businesses differ, but small businesses also suffer from what the Harvard Business Review article calls “resource poverty.” This is a problem and opportunity that requires an entirely different approach to marketing. Where large ad budgets are not necessary or feasible, where expensive ad production squanders limited capital, where every marketing dollar must do the work of two dollars, if not five dollars or even ten, where a person’s company, capital, and material well-being are all on the line—that is, where guerrilla marketing can save the day and secure the bottom line (Levinson, 1984, p. 9).
By reviewing the introductions to research articles in the discipline in which you are writing your research paper, you can get an idea of what is considered the norm for that discipline. Study several of these before you begin your paper so that you know what may be expected. If you are unsure of the kind of introduction your paper needs, ask your professor for more information. The introduction is normally written in present tense.
The methods section of your research paper should describe in detail what methodology and special materials if any, you used to think through or perform your research. You should include any materials you used or designed for yourself, such as questionnaires or interview questions, to generate data or information for your research paper. You want to include any methodologies that are specific to your particular field of study, such as lab procedures for a lab experiment or data-gathering instruments for field research. The methods section is usually written in the past tense.
How you present the results of your research depends on what kind of research you did, your subject matter, and your readers’ expectations.
Quantitative information —data that can be measured—can be presented systematically and economically in tables, charts, and graphs. Quantitative information includes quantities and comparisons of sets of data.
Qualitative information , which includes brief descriptions, explanations, or instructions, can also be presented in prose tables. This kind of descriptive or explanatory information, however, is often presented in essay-like prose or even lists.
There are specific conventions for creating tables, charts, and graphs and organizing the information they contain. In general, you should use them only when you are sure they will enlighten your readers rather than confuse them. In the accompanying explanation and discussion, always refer to the graphic by number and explain specifically what you are referring to; you can also provide a caption for the graphic. The rule of thumb for presenting a graphic is first to introduce it by name, show it, and then interpret it. The results section is usually written in the past tense.
Your discussion section should generalize what you have learned from your research. One way to generalize is to explain the consequences or meaning of your results and then make your points that support and refer back to the statements you made in your introduction. Your discussion should be organized so that it relates directly to your thesis. You want to avoid introducing new ideas here or discussing tangential issues not directly related to the exploration and discovery of your thesis. The discussion section, along with the introduction, is usually written in the present tense.
Your conclusion ties your research to your thesis, binding together all the main ideas in your thinking and writing. By presenting the logical outcome of your research and thinking, your conclusion answers your research inquiry for your reader. Your conclusions should relate directly to the ideas presented in your introduction section and should not present any new ideas.
You may be asked to present your recommendations separately in your research assignment. If so, you will want to add some elements to your conclusion section. For example, you may be asked to recommend a course of action, make a prediction, propose a solution to a problem, offer a judgment, or speculate on the implications and consequences of your ideas. The conclusions and recommendations section is usually written in the present tense.
Mailing Address: 3501 University Blvd. East, Adelphi, MD 20783 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . © 2022 UMGC. All links to external sites were verified at the time of publication. UMGC is not responsible for the validity or integrity of information located at external sites.
Chapter 1: College Writing
How Does College Writing Differ from Workplace Writing?
What Is College Writing?
Why So Much Emphasis on Writing?
Chapter 2: The Writing Process
Doing Exploratory Research
Getting from Notes to Your Draft
Introduction
Prewriting - Techniques to Get Started - Mining Your Intuition
Prewriting: Targeting Your Audience
Prewriting: Techniques to Get Started
Prewriting: Understanding Your Assignment
Rewriting: Being Your Own Critic
Rewriting: Creating a Revision Strategy
Rewriting: Getting Feedback
Rewriting: The Final Draft
Techniques to Get Started - Outlining
Techniques to Get Started - Using Systematic Techniques
Thesis Statement and Controlling Idea
Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Freewriting
Writing: Getting from Notes to Your Draft - Summarizing Your Ideas
Writing: Outlining What You Will Write
Chapter 3: Thinking Strategies
A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone
A Word About Style, Voice, and Tone: Style Through Vocabulary and Diction
Critical Strategies and Writing
Critical Strategies and Writing: Analysis
Critical Strategies and Writing: Evaluation
Critical Strategies and Writing: Persuasion
Critical Strategies and Writing: Synthesis
Developing a Paper Using Strategies
Kinds of Assignments You Will Write
Patterns for Presenting Information
Patterns for Presenting Information: Critiques
Patterns for Presenting Information: Discussing Raw Data
Patterns for Presenting Information: General-to-Specific Pattern
Patterns for Presenting Information: Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern
Patterns for Presenting Information: Specific-to-General Pattern
Patterns for Presenting Information: Summaries and Abstracts
Supporting with Research and Examples
Writing Essay Examinations
Writing Essay Examinations: Make Your Answer Relevant and Complete
Writing Essay Examinations: Organize Thinking Before Writing
Writing Essay Examinations: Read and Understand the Question
Chapter 4: The Research Process
Planning and Writing a Research Paper
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Ask a Research Question
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Cite Sources
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Collect Evidence
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Decide Your Point of View, or Role, for Your Research
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Draw Conclusions
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Find a Topic and Get an Overview
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Manage Your Resources
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Outline
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Survey the Literature
Planning and Writing a Research Paper: Work Your Sources into Your Research Writing
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Human Resources
Research Resources: What Are Research Resources?
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found?
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Electronic Resources
Research Resources: Where Are Research Resources Found? - Print Resources
Structuring the Research Paper: Formal Research Structure
Structuring the Research Paper: Informal Research Structure
The Nature of Research
The Research Assignment: How Should Research Sources Be Evaluated?
The Research Assignment: When Is Research Needed?
The Research Assignment: Why Perform Research?
Chapter 5: Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity
Giving Credit to Sources
Giving Credit to Sources: Copyright Laws
Giving Credit to Sources: Documentation
Giving Credit to Sources: Style Guides
Integrating Sources
Practicing Academic Integrity
Practicing Academic Integrity: Keeping Accurate Records
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Paraphrasing Your Source
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Quoting Your Source
Practicing Academic Integrity: Managing Source Material - Summarizing Your Sources
Types of Documentation
Types of Documentation: Bibliographies and Source Lists
Types of Documentation: Citing World Wide Web Sources
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - APA Style
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - CSE/CBE Style
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - Chicago Style
Types of Documentation: In-Text or Parenthetical Citations - MLA Style
Types of Documentation: Note Citations
Chapter 6: Using Library Resources
Finding Library Resources
Chapter 7: Assessing Your Writing
How Is Writing Graded?
How Is Writing Graded?: A General Assessment Tool
The Draft Stage
The Draft Stage: The First Draft
The Draft Stage: The Revision Process and the Final Draft
The Draft Stage: Using Feedback
The Research Stage
Using Assessment to Improve Your Writing
Chapter 8: Other Frequently Assigned Papers
Reviews and Reaction Papers: Article and Book Reviews
Reviews and Reaction Papers: Reaction Papers
Writing Arguments
Writing Arguments: Adapting the Argument Structure
Writing Arguments: Purposes of Argument
Writing Arguments: References to Consult for Writing Arguments
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Anticipate Active Opposition
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Determine Your Organization
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Develop Your Argument
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Introduce Your Argument
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - State Your Thesis or Proposition
Writing Arguments: Steps to Writing an Argument - Write Your Conclusion
Writing Arguments: Types of Argument
Dictionaries
General Style Manuals
Researching on the Internet
Special Style Manuals
Writing Handbooks
Collaborative Writing: Assignments to Accompany the Group Project
Collaborative Writing: Informal Progress Report
Collaborative Writing: Issues to Resolve
Collaborative Writing: Methodology
Collaborative Writing: Peer Evaluation
Collaborative Writing: Tasks of Collaborative Writing Group Members
Collaborative Writing: Writing Plan
General Introduction
Peer Reviewing
Working with Your Instructor’s Comments and Grades
Devising a Writing Project Plan and Schedule
Reviewing Your Plan with Others
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A research report is a concise document that summarizes the findings, methods, and conclusions of a research study or investigation. There are various types of research reports available for different purposes.
It typically includes details on the research question, methodology, data analysis, and results, providing a structured and informative account of the research process and outcomes.
Limitations, key highlights.
1. technical or scientific reports.
Technical and scientific reports communicate research findings to experts and professionals in a particular field.
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Characteristics:
Popular reports are designed for a general audience and aim to inform, educate, or entertain on a wide range of topics.
Survey reports include data collected through surveys and focus on presenting insights and opinions on specific issues or questions.
Market research reports provide insights into consumer behavior, market trends, and industry analysis.
Case study reports focus on an in-depth examination of a single entity, often to explore complex, real-life situations.
Analytical research reports involve a deep analysis of data to uncover patterns, trends, or relationships.
Literature review reports provide an overview of existing research on a specific topic, highlighting gaps and trends.
Experimental research reports involve controlled experiments to test hypotheses and determine if the results support or reject the hypothesis.
Descriptive research reports aim to provide a comprehensive picture of a phenomenon, group, or situation. They seek to answer the “what” and “how” questions.
Exploratory research reports are conducted when there is little prior knowledge about a subject. They aim to identify key variables and research questions.
Explanatory research reports seek to understand the relationships between variables and explain why certain phenomena occur.
Policy or white papers aim to inform policymakers, stakeholders, and the public about specific issues and recommend actions.
These are some common components you must know while writing different types of research reports.
1. Title Page:
2. Abstract: Add a concise summary of the research, including the research question or objective, methodology, key findings, and implications. Typically, it should be no more than 150-250 words.
3. Table of Contents: Include a list of sections and subsections with page numbers.
4. List of Figures and Tables: If your research includes numerical data, add all the statistics and tables along with their corresponding page numbers. It is similar to a table of contents for quantitative data.
5. List of Abbreviations and Symbols: Include any abbreviations or symbols you have used in the report and their meanings.
6. Introduction:
7. Literature Review:
8. Methodology:
9. Results:
10. Discussion:
11. Conclusion:
12. References: Include a list of all the sources cited in your report in a standardized citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
Let us see an example of a research report.
Research Report: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Labor Market
This research study explores the profound changes occurring in the labor market due to the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The study examines the potential benefits and challenges AI poses for the workforce, job displacement, and the skills required in the future job market.
Introduction, literature review, methodology.
The introduction section provides an overview of the research topic. It explains the significance of studying the impact of AI on the labor market, outlines the research questions, and previews the structure of the report.
The literature review section reviews existing research on the effects of AI on employment and the labor market. It discusses the different perspectives on whether AI will create new jobs or lead to job displacement. It also explores the skills and education required for the future workforce.
This section explains the research methods used, such as data collection methods, sources, and analytical techniques. It outlines how data on AI adoption, job displacement, and future job projections were gathered and analyzed.
The results section presents the key findings of the study. It includes data on the extent of AI adoption across industries, job displacement rates, and projections for AI-related occupations.
The discussion section interprets the results in the context of the research questions. It analyzes the potential benefits and challenges AI poses for the labor market, discusses policy implications, and explores the role of education and training in preparing the workforce for the AI era.
In conclusion, this research highlights the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market. While AI brings opportunities for innovation and efficiency, it also presents challenges related to job displacement and workforce adaptation. Preparing for this evolving job landscape is crucial for individuals and policymakers.
Given below are various types of research reports writing that researchers and organizations use to present findings, progress, and other information.
Outlines a plan for a project or research for approval or funding. | Research proposal submitted to study the impact of climate change on local ecosystems. | |
Generated at regular intervals to provide project updates. | Weekly sales reports summarizing product sales figures. | |
Detailed, structured reports often used in academic, scientific, or business settings. | Formal business report analyzing a company’s financial performance for the year. | |
Less structured reports for quick internal communication. | Email summarizing key takeaways from a team meeting. | |
Concise documents offering a brief overview of a specific topic. | A one-page summary of customer feedback from a product launch. | |
Comprehensive reports with in-depth analysis and information. | 100-page research report on the effects of a new drug on a medical condition. | |
Focus on data analysis and provide insights or recommendations. | Market research report analyzing consumer behavior trends and recommending marketing strategies. | |
Convey information without providing analysis or recommendations. | Report detailing the steps of a manufacturing process for new employees. | |
Flow within the organizational hierarchy, moving up or down. | Report from a department manager to the company’s vice president on department performance. | |
Sent between individuals or departments at the same organizational level. | Report from one project manager to another project manager in a different department. | |
Created and distributed within an organization for internal purposes. | Internal audit report examining the company’s financial records for compliance. | |
Prepared for external audiences, such as clients, investors, or regulators. | A publicly traded company publishes an annual report for shareholders and the general public. |
Here is why the different types of research reports are important.
Listed below are some limitations of different types of research reports.
Different types of research reports are important for sharing knowledge, making smart choices, and moving forward in different areas of study. It’s vital for both researchers and those who use research to grasp the different kinds of reports, what goes into them, and why they matter.
Q1. Are research reports the same as research papers? Answer: Research reports and research papers share similarities but have distinct purposes and structures. Research papers are often more academic and can vary in structure, while research reports are typically more structured and cater to a broader audience.
Q2. How do I choose the right type of research report for my study? Answer: The choice of research report type depends on your research goals, audience, and the nature of your study. Consider whether you are conducting scientific research, market analysis, academic research, or policy analysis, and select the format that aligns with your objectives.
Q3. Can research reports be used as references in other research reports? Answer: Yes, research reports can be cited and used as references in other research reports as long as they are credible sources. Citing previous research reports adds depth and credibility to your work.
This article lists all the types of research reports available for research methodologies. We have also included its format, example, and several report-writing methods. For similar articles, you can check the following articles,
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Published on October 30, 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on April 13, 2023.
The content of the conclusion varies depending on whether your paper presents the results of original empirical research or constructs an argument through engagement with sources .
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Step 1: restate the problem, step 2: sum up the paper, step 3: discuss the implications, research paper conclusion examples, frequently asked questions about research paper conclusions.
The first task of your conclusion is to remind the reader of your research problem . You will have discussed this problem in depth throughout the body, but now the point is to zoom back out from the details to the bigger picture.
While you are restating a problem you’ve already introduced, you should avoid phrasing it identically to how it appeared in the introduction . Ideally, you’ll find a novel way to circle back to the problem from the more detailed ideas discussed in the body.
For example, an argumentative paper advocating new measures to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture might restate its problem as follows:
Meanwhile, an empirical paper studying the relationship of Instagram use with body image issues might present its problem like this:
Avoid starting your conclusion with phrases like “In conclusion” or “To conclude,” as this can come across as too obvious and make your writing seem unsophisticated. The content and placement of your conclusion should make its function clear without the need for additional signposting.
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Having zoomed back in on the problem, it’s time to summarize how the body of the paper went about addressing it, and what conclusions this approach led to.
Depending on the nature of your research paper, this might mean restating your thesis and arguments, or summarizing your overall findings.
In an argumentative paper, you will have presented a thesis statement in your introduction, expressing the overall claim your paper argues for. In the conclusion, you should restate the thesis and show how it has been developed through the body of the paper.
Briefly summarize the key arguments made in the body, showing how each of them contributes to proving your thesis. You may also mention any counterarguments you addressed, emphasizing why your thesis holds up against them, particularly if your argument is a controversial one.
Don’t go into the details of your evidence or present new ideas; focus on outlining in broad strokes the argument you have made.
In an empirical paper, this is the time to summarize your key findings. Don’t go into great detail here (you will have presented your in-depth results and discussion already), but do clearly express the answers to the research questions you investigated.
Describe your main findings, even if they weren’t necessarily the ones you expected or hoped for, and explain the overall conclusion they led you to.
Having summed up your key arguments or findings, the conclusion ends by considering the broader implications of your research. This means expressing the key takeaways, practical or theoretical, from your paper—often in the form of a call for action or suggestions for future research.
An argumentative paper generally ends with a strong closing statement. In the case of a practical argument, make a call for action: What actions do you think should be taken by the people or organizations concerned in response to your argument?
If your topic is more theoretical and unsuitable for a call for action, your closing statement should express the significance of your argument—for example, in proposing a new understanding of a topic or laying the groundwork for future research.
In a more empirical paper, you can close by either making recommendations for practice (for example, in clinical or policy papers), or suggesting directions for future research.
Whatever the scope of your own research, there will always be room for further investigation of related topics, and you’ll often discover new questions and problems during the research process .
Finish your paper on a forward-looking note by suggesting how you or other researchers might build on this topic in the future and address any limitations of the current paper.
Full examples of research paper conclusions are shown in the tabs below: one for an argumentative paper, the other for an empirical paper.
While the role of cattle in climate change is by now common knowledge, countries like the Netherlands continually fail to confront this issue with the urgency it deserves. The evidence is clear: To create a truly futureproof agricultural sector, Dutch farmers must be incentivized to transition from livestock farming to sustainable vegetable farming. As well as dramatically lowering emissions, plant-based agriculture, if approached in the right way, can produce more food with less land, providing opportunities for nature regeneration areas that will themselves contribute to climate targets. Although this approach would have economic ramifications, from a long-term perspective, it would represent a significant step towards a more sustainable and resilient national economy. Transitioning to sustainable vegetable farming will make the Netherlands greener and healthier, setting an example for other European governments. Farmers, policymakers, and consumers must focus on the future, not just on their own short-term interests, and work to implement this transition now.
As social media becomes increasingly central to young people’s everyday lives, it is important to understand how different platforms affect their developing self-conception. By testing the effect of daily Instagram use among teenage girls, this study established that highly visual social media does indeed have a significant effect on body image concerns, with a strong correlation between the amount of time spent on the platform and participants’ self-reported dissatisfaction with their appearance. However, the strength of this effect was moderated by pre-test self-esteem ratings: Participants with higher self-esteem were less likely to experience an increase in body image concerns after using Instagram. This suggests that, while Instagram does impact body image, it is also important to consider the wider social and psychological context in which this usage occurs: Teenagers who are already predisposed to self-esteem issues may be at greater risk of experiencing negative effects. Future research into Instagram and other highly visual social media should focus on establishing a clearer picture of how self-esteem and related constructs influence young people’s experiences of these platforms. Furthermore, while this experiment measured Instagram usage in terms of time spent on the platform, observational studies are required to gain more insight into different patterns of usage—to investigate, for instance, whether active posting is associated with different effects than passive consumption of social media content.
If you’re unsure about the conclusion, it can be helpful to ask a friend or fellow student to read your conclusion and summarize the main takeaways.
You can also get an expert to proofread and feedback your paper with a paper editing service .
The conclusion of a research paper has several key elements you should make sure to include:
No, it’s not appropriate to present new arguments or evidence in the conclusion . While you might be tempted to save a striking argument for last, research papers follow a more formal structure than this.
All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the results and discussion sections if you are following a scientific structure). The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.
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, April 13). Writing a Research Paper Conclusion | Step-by-Step Guide. Scribbr. Retrieved August 28, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/research-paper-conclusion/
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1. Read the Abstract Section
The first step in reading a scholarly article is to read the abstract or summary of the article. Abstracts are always found at the beginning of an article and provide a basic summary or roadmap to the article. The abstract also introduces the purpose of the article.
Take a few minutes to carefully read the abstract of the practice article. Note that the abstract is not formally labeled "abstract" but is called "background and aims." Any summary at the start of an article is considered the abstract.
The abstract should always be read first to make sure the article is relevant to your topic. However, reading the abstract should never replace reading the entire article as the abstract is too brief to be used to fully understand the article.
2. Read the Conclusion Section Reading the conclusion will help you understand the main points of the article and what the authors are attempting to prove.
3. Read the Introduction Section Now that you have an overview of the article from the abstract and understand the main points the authors are trying to prove from the conclusion, you will want to read the introduction.
4. Read the Results Section
Read the results section. Here are a couple of suggestions for deciphering results:
5. Read the Methods Section Reading the methods section will help you understand how the study or experiment was conducted. It is necessary for other researchers to understand the methods used so that they can replicate the study.
The methods section can also be difficult to read due to technical language used and density of the section. Try circling words, acronyms, and surveys you are unfamiliar with and look them up as those may be important to fully understand the article and may be necessary for future research.
6. Read the Discussion & Limitations Section
The discussion section is where you will find the researcher's interpretation of the results. The author should answer the article's research question. Remember, you should evaluate the data to form your own conclusions. Don't just accept the author's conclusions without looking at the data for yourself.
Often authors will include a section detailing the limits to their research and their conclusions. The limitation section will usually explain conclusions that could not be drawn from the research as well as areas that future research is needed.
7. Read Through One More Time After you have jumped around and read the different sections of the article, go back to the beginning and read the article in order. The article should be easier to read and make more sense as you will already be familiar with the main points in each section.
Why Watch This Video? You'll learn essential strategies for reading scientific or scholarly journal articles, including:
Our natural environment is in crisis, and nature in this country is currently in a state of managed decline.
The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. With just half of its biodiversity intact, the UK sits in the bottom 10 per cent globally for remaining biodiversity. 41 per cent of our species have experienced a long-term strong or moderate decline in population since 1970.
Four years on from the commitment to protect at least 30 per cent of the UK’s land and sea for nature by 2030 and with less than six years left to meet it, the area of England effectively protected for nature is only around 3 per cent on land and 8 per cent at sea. As a result, the new government has inherited a series of pressing policy challenges.
Restoring nature is vital for meeting our climate and environmental targets. By meeting the challenges of nature recovery, the new government can drive progressive change across the country.
In this report, we argue that protecting nature and increasing biodiversity has the potential to drive progressive change across three vital areas and should therefore be a central priority for the new government. We make recommendations for how the new government can enhance security, improve fairness, and drive national renewal.
Plugged in: accelerating the electrification of road transport, a second wind: maximising the economic opportunity for uk wind manufacturing, moving together: a people-focussed pathway to fairer and greener transport.
Executive summary, cash-back transactions, benefits and costs to merchants.
Access to cash is a necessary component of a resilient financial system and dynamic economy. Many people rely on cash for day-to-day transactions due its privacy and reliability, and cash accessibility is particularly critical in the case of a disruption or outage of digital payment systems. While people use various means of getting cash, one common method is to get “cash back” at a store when making a purchase with a debit or prepaid card. This option may be particularly important in banking deserts and in areas where banks and ATM operators charge significant fees. Retailers are essentially filling a void in access to cash, which has historically been supplied by banks and credit unions in an affordable way.
Providing cash back is valuable to consumers and merchants. Survey data show that it is a popular method to get money via consumers’ bank debit or prepaid cards. Merchants offer cash back to attract customers and reduce their cash handling costs. In its recent engagement and market monitoring, the CFPB observed that some retailers charge a fee for this transaction.
This spotlight provides an overview of consumers’ use of cash back, the benefits and costs of such transactions to merchants, and the practices of other market actors which do not charge fees for this service. The CFPB also analyzed the cash-back fees of a sample of national retailers.
Fees for cash back may serve as a barrier and reduce people’s access to cash when they need it. The CFPB will continue to monitor developments related to the fees consumers pay for accessing cash, and the underlying failure of banks and credit unions to adequately supply cash throughout the country in an affordable manner.
This section summarizes the importance of cash availability and the use of cash-back as an access point for consumers.
Cash is a critical part of a resilient payment ecosystem. Surveys show people still try to have cash on hand 1 and nearly 90 percent of people used cash in the last 30 days. 2 Cash accessibility is necessary should other types of digital payment systems experience failures, 3 such as in the event of a natural disaster or some other catastrophe, 4 or a technological malfunction at a single company. 5 Additionally, some populations are more reliant on cash than others for day-to-day transactions. For example, cash is more frequently used by people with lower incomes, racial minorities, and older Americans than other populations. 6 As discussed below, cash back is a common method for obtaining cash for many consumers.
Consumers may obtain cash during the completion of a purchase transaction at certain stores when using a PIN-authenticated debit card or prepaid card at the register. Some merchants also provide cash back at self-service registers. Consumers typically must choose from pre-set withdrawal amount options presented at the payment terminal at the time of the transaction. In a cash-back transaction, consumers are usually limited to a maximum withdrawal amount ranging from $5 to $50, though some merchants may allow higher amounts.
CFPB analysis of data from the Diary and Survey of Consumer Payment Choice (Survey) found that from 2017 to 2022, cash withdrawals at retail locations made up 17 percent of all transactions by which people got cash from their checking account, savings account, or prepaid card. As shown in Figure 1, cash withdrawals at retail are second only to ATMs (61%) and more frequently used than bank tellers (14%). The Survey and methodology are discussed in the Tables and Notes section .
Source : CFPB tabulations of the Diary and Survey of Consumer Payment Choice.
The Survey data also show that from 2017 to 2022, cash withdrawals at a retail location (restricted to those where the source of funds was the consumer’s checking, savings, or a prepaid card) had a mean withdrawal amount of $34 (median: $20). 7 By contrast, during this same timeframe, the mean ATM withdrawal among survey participants was $126 (median: $100). 8 A study by researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta utilizing Survey data found that cash withdrawals at a retail store had the lowest average amount of cash withdrawal, and noted that “[t]he amount of cash received at a retail store is constrained by the store’s limits, so the amount of cash received in this way is not necessarily at the discretion of the consumer.” 9
Cash back may serve as a particularly important point of access in the absence of other banking services. A 2014 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond analyzed cash-back transactions from a national discount retail chain from 2010 to 2012. 10 Looking specifically at the Richmond bank’s district, the area with the highest frequency of cash-back transactions was in the southeastern region of South Carolina, an area “that has been subject to ‘persistent poverty’” and “has some of the sparsest dispersion of bank branches.” 11 The study also illustrated the lucrative nature of cash-back fees: During the course of this study period, the merchant introduced a fee for cash back. Data from this report indicates that the retailer collected approximately $21 million in cash-back fees in a year. 12
Merchants benefit from offering cash back at point-of-sale. First, the service may attract potential shoppers, either people making a purchase in order to get cash back or people who prefer one retail location over another in order to conveniently combine tasks. Second, it reduces merchants’ cash handling costs. 13 Dispensing cash to consumers, such as through cash-back transactions, reduces merchants’ supply of cash and therefore also reduces their cost of handling, transporting, and depositing excess cash.
Merchants incur costs for processing any type of payment transaction, including cash-back transactions. On any purchase using an electronic payment method, including a PIN-authorized debit-card or prepaid card, a merchant will incur a range of fees for processing that payment, such as interchange, network, and processing fees. While the merchant incurs these fees for a consumer’s purchase, there is an additional cost for providing cash back to the consumer.
To assess this additional transaction cost to the merchant for providing cash back, the CFPB modeled potential scenarios based on publicly available data and our market monitoring activities. The model incorporates estimates of merchant-incurred fees, such as interchange, network, processing, and fraud control fees. Methodology is discussed in detail in the Table and Figure Notes. The CFPB estimates that the additional marginal transactional cost to a merchant for processing a typical cash-back debit card transaction may range from a penny to about 20 cents (Table 1).
Example Retailer | Purchase Amount | Merchant Transaction Cost for Purchase Only | Additional Merchant Cost for $10 Cash Back | Additional Merchant Cost for $40 Cash Back |
---|---|---|---|---|
National Discount Chain | $20 | $0.33 | $0.05 | $0.19 |
National Grocery Store | $20 | $0.33 | $0.01 | $0.02 |
Source : CFPB calculations based on public data about industry practices and averages. See Table and Figure Notes below for methodology .
This section provides an analysis of cash-back fee practices of eight national retail chains. It includes a discussion of the variation of these practices among these national chains and other actors, such as local independent grocers. The analysis is supplemented by market monitoring discussions with merchants about fees, costs, and consumer trends, both among merchants who charge cash back fees and those who do not. The CFPB also conducted consumer experience interviews and reviewed consumer complaints submitted to the CFPB. It concludes with a discussion of how these fees appear to function differently than fees for cash withdrawals at ATMs.
As of August 2024, there is no publicly available survey data regarding merchants’ cash-back practices or fees. To establish a baseline, the CFPB documented the fee practices of eight large retail companies. The sample consists of the two largest retail actors, measured by number of locations, across four different sectors: Dollar Stores, Grocery Stores, Drugstores, and Discount Retailers. 14 Using this approach, the eight retailers sampled are: Dollar General and Dollar Tree Inc. (Dollar Stores), Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies (Grocery Stores), Walgreens and CVS (Drugstores), and Walmart and Target (Discount Retailers).
All retailers in our sample offer cash-back services, but only Dollar General, Dollar Tree Inc., and Kroger Co. brands charge a fee. Other retailers offer cash-back for free, even for withdrawal amounts similar to or larger than those provided by the three retailers who charge. (Table 2). Among the national chains that charge these cash-back fees, the CFPB estimates that they collect over $90 million in fees annually for people to access their cash. 15
Company | U.S. Stores | Fee for Cash Back | Maximum Withdrawal Amount (Per Transaction) |
---|---|---|---|
Dollar General | 20,022 | $1 to $2.50, depending on amount and other variables | $40 |
Dollar Tree Inc. | 16,278 | Family Dollar: $1.50 | $50 |
Kroger Co. | 2,722 | Harris Teeter brand: | Harris Teeter brand: $200 |
Albertsons Brand | 2,271 | No | $200 |
Walmart | 5,214 | No | $100 |
Target | 1,956 | No | $40 |
Walgreens | 8,600 | No | $20 |
CVS | 7,500 | No | $60 |
Source : CFPB analysis of the retail cash-back market. See Table and Figure Notes for methodology .
Beyond these national chains, there are other providers offering cash back as a free service to their customers. Through its market monitoring activities, the CFPB observed that many local independent grocers offer the service, but do not charge a fee. They do not charge a fee even though they are likely to have thinner profit margins and less bargaining power than national chains to negotiate on pricing on costs they incur from wholesalers or fees for payment processors. The U.S. Postal Service also offers cash back on debit transactions, in increments of $10 up to a $50 maximum, free of charge. 16
Among the merchants sampled, Dollar General and Dollar Tree Inc. charge the highest fees for withdrawal amounts under $50. These fees combined with the constrained withdrawal amount may mean that the fee takes up a hefty percentage relative to the amount of cash withdrawn, and people may be less able to limit the impact of the fee by taking out more cash.
Additionally, the geographic distribution of dollar store chains and their primary consumer base raises concerns that these fees may be borne by economically vulnerable populations and those with limited banking access. Dollar stores are prevalent in rural communities, low-income communities, and communities of color – the same communities who may also face challenges in accessing banking services. 17 For example, Dollar General noted that in 2023 “approximately 80% of [its] stores are located in towns of 20,000 or fewer people,” 18 while Dollar Tree Inc. operated at least 810 dual-brand combination stores (Family Dollar and Dollar Tree in a single building) designed specifically “for small towns and rural communities…with populations of 3,000 to 4,000 residents.” 19
Though they are open to and serve consumers of all income levels, dollar stores report that they locate stores specifically to serve their core customers: lower-income consumers. 20 In urban communities, one study shows, “proximity to dollar stores is highly associated with neighborhoods of color even when controlling for other factors.” 21 These same communities may also face challenges in accessing banking services. Low-income communities and communities of color often face barriers to access to banking services, and rural communities are 10 times more likely to meet the definition of a banking desert than urban areas. 22
Though the dollar store concept existed as far back as the 1950s, it has experienced significant expansion and consolidation since the 2000s. 23 Dollar Tree Inc. acquired Family Dollar in 2015. 24 From 2018 to 2021, nearly half of all retail locations opened in the U.S. were dollar stores. 25 In research examining the impact of dollar store expansion, studies indicate that the opening of a dollar store is associated with the closure of nearby local grocery retailers. 26
In its scan of current market practices, the CFPB found variations in fee charges among store locations and brands owned by the same company. For example, as reflected in Table 2, Dollar Tree charges consumers $1 for cash back at Dollar Tree branded stores, but $1.50 in its Family Dollar stores. Similarly, Kroger Co. has two different fee tiers for its brands. In 2019, Kroger Co. rolled out a $0.50 cash-back fee for amounts of $100 or less, and $3.50 for amounts between $100 and $300. This took effect at brands such as Kroger, Fred Meyers, Ralph’s, QFC, Pick ‘N Save, and others. At the time of the rollout, the company noted two exceptions: Electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card users would not be charged a fee, and customers using their Kroger Plus card would not be charged for amounts under $100 but would be charged $0.50 for larger amounts. Kroger Co. acquired the southern grocery chain Harris Teeter in 2014, but it did not begin charging a cash-back fee at those stores until January 2024, at $0.75 for amounts of $100 or less, and $3 for larger amounts. 27
In its engagement with stakeholders, the CFPB learned that Dollar General’s fees appeared to vary in different locations. To better understand this potential variation, in December 2022, the CFPB mystery shopped at nine locations in one state, across a mix of rural, suburban, and urban communities. The CFPB acknowledges this is a small sample and is not intended to be representative. The data collected is based on the knowledge of the store associates at the time of each interaction.
In these findings, the CFPB learned of a range of fee variations across store locations: five of the nine respondents noted that the fee varies depending on the type of card used for the transaction. When probed for the meaning of “type of card,” most noted that it is dependent on the customer’s bank, though it is not exactly clear what fees will be triggered by what card type prior to initiating the transaction. Additionally, reported fees range from $1 to $2.50, with some stores reporting a flat fee structure of $1.50 and others reporting a range that tiered up with larger withdrawal amounts (with a cap of withdrawal amounts at $40). Most stores in this sample had a range of fees between $1.00 and $1.50, although two stores located in small, completely rural counties had a higher range of fees. The store located in the smallest and most isolated county within the sample, with only about 3,600 people, had the highest reported fee amount of $2.50.
One of the market dynamics likely contributing to retailers’ ability to charge these fees is the high fees also charged to consumers for using out-of-network automated teller machines (ATMs). One source estimates that the average out-of-network ATM fee is $4.77, accounting for both the surcharge fee charged by the ATM owner and the foreign fee charged by the consumer’s financial institution. 28 By comparison, a $2 fee for cash back at a retailer may appear cheaper, and usually does not trigger an additional fee by the consumers’ financial institution or prepaid card issuer. Notwithstanding the high ATM fees, there are reasons for focused attention on the consumer risk of cash-back fees charged by retailers, primarily the amount of the fee relative to the value of the cash withdrawal and the distribution of the fee burden across income groups.
In a typical ATM transaction, a consumer has a greater ability to distribute the cost of the fee across a larger amount of cash than with cash back. There may be some exceptions to this for consumers who have only $10 or $20 in their bank account, but as shown in Table 3, low-income consumers and others withdraw greater amounts at ATMs than via cash-back, on average. In cash-back transactions, lower withdrawal limits are in place, and consumers do not have that option to withdraw larger amounts. CFPB analysis of the Diary and Survey of Consumer Payment Choice from 2017 to 2022 show that even among consumers with incomes below $50,000, the amount withdrawn at an ATM is more than double the typical cash-back withdrawal amount. Additionally, for the average and median amounts, across all incomes the ATM withdrawal amounts are larger than cash-back withdrawal amounts. (Table 3).
Income | Average ATM Withdrawal | Average Cash-back Withdrawal | Median ATM Withdrawal | Median Cash-back Withdrawal |
---|---|---|---|---|
Less than $25,000 | $144 | $45 | $65 | $20 |
$25,000 to $49,999 | $113 | $35 | $60 | $25 |
$50,000 to $74,999 | $113 | $29 | $84 | $20 |
$75,000 to $99,000 | $114 | $45 | $100 | $26 |
$100,000 or more | $146 | $33 | $100 | $20 |
|
|
|
|
|
Source: CFPB tabulations of the Diary and Survey of Consumer Payment Choice. See Table and Figure Notes for methodology .
Further, while merchants limit the amount of a single withdrawal, there is no limit on the number of withdrawals. So, if a consumer needs $100 cash at a store which limits a single withdrawal to a maximum amount of $50 with a $2 fee, the consumer would have to make two $50 withdrawals for a $4 fee plus the cost of any otherwise unwanted purchase required to access the cash-back service.
Finally, the burden of cash-back fees may be distributed differently than ATM fee burdens. The share of borrowers who pay ATM fees for cash withdrawals is relatively evenly distributed across income levels, according to a study based on the Diary and Survey of Consumer Payment Choice. 29 The study found little variation in the percentage of consumers who encountered a fee for an ATM cash withdrawal by income quintile, though the study did not look at the amount of the ATM fees paid. Analogous data are not available for cash-back fees, but a similarly even distribution across incomes is unlikely given the demographics of the consumer base served by the largest retailers which charge fees (dollar stores).
While the use of digital payment methods is on the rise, cash accessibility remains a critical component of a resilient financial infrastructure and dynamic economy. Bank mergers, branch closures, and bank fee creep have reduced the supply of free cash access points for consumers. In this void, people may be more reliant on retailers for certain financial services historically provided by banks and credit unions, such as cash access. In this context, we observe that some retailers provide cash back as a helpful service to their customers, while other retailers may be exploiting these conditions by charging fees to their consumers for accessing their cash.
This spotlight examines the presence of retailer cash-back fees and impact to consumers. Cash-back fees are being levied by just a small handful of large retail conglomerates (Dollar General, Dollar Tree Inc., and Kroger Co.) amidst a backdrop of consolidation in these segments. Meanwhile, other larger retailers continue to offer cash-back services free. The CFPB estimates cash-back fees cost consumers about $90 million a year.
The CFPB is concerned that reduced access to cash undermines the resilience of the financial system and deprives consumers of a free, reliable, and private means of engaging in day-to-day transactions. The CFPB will continue to monitor developments related to the fees consumers pay for accessing cash, and work with agencies across the federal government to ensure people have fair and meaningful access to the money that underpins our economy.
Notes for figure 1.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s annual Diary and Survey of Consumer Payment Choice (Survey) tracks consumers’ self-reported payment habits over a three-day period in October using a nationally representative sample. The survey includes a question about whether and how consumers access cash, such as where they made the withdrawal, the source of the cash, and the amount of the withdrawal. Figure 1 provides a percentage of all cash-back withdrawal transactions from a bank account, checking account, or prepaid card reported between 2017 and 2022, by location (ATM, Retail point-of-sale, Bank teller, and Other). The number of observations during this time is 192 transactions. It does not include cash-back transactions made using a credit card cash advance feature or other form of credit.
This model assumes that 80 percent of the merchant transaction cost is due to interchange fees, 15 percent due to network fees, and 5 percent due to payment acquirer fees. It also includes a $0.01 fee for fraud protection. For regulated transactions, the interchange fees are $0.22 + 0.05% of the transaction amount. Regulated transactions are those where the debit card used is issued by a bank with more than $10 billion in assets, and subject to 15 U.S.C. § 1693o-2. Exempt transactions are those not subject to this statutory cap on interchange fees. While Mastercard does not publish its fees for exempt transactions, Visa does. This model uses Visa’s published fees as of October 2023 for card-present transactions: for the National Discount Chain, the fees for Exempt Retail Debit ($0.15 + 0.80%), and for the National Grocery Chain, Exempt Supermarket Debit ($0.30 flat fee). An October 2023 Federal Reserve report on interchange fee revenue found that in 2021, the most recent data available, 56.21 percent of debit transactions were regulated and 43.79 percent were exempt. This composition is reflected in the table.
The storefront counts for each of the retailers come from their websites, last visited on March 28, 2024, or their most recent reports to investors. Fee information was gathered either through publicly available information such as the merchant’s website, and/or verified through the CFPB’s market monitoring activities.
Dollar Tree Inc. announced on March 13, 2024 that it will close 1,000 of its Family Dollar and Dollar Tree brands stores over the course of the year. If those closures occur, Dollar Tree, Inc. will still have over 15,000 storefronts across the country.
In October 2022, Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies announced their proposal to merge, though on February 26, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission and nine state attorneys general sued to block this proposal, alleging that the deal is anti-competitive. On April 22, 2024, Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies announced a revised plan in which, if the merger is approved, the combined entity would divest 579 stores to C&S Wholesalers. If the divestiture occurs, the combined entity will still have over 4,400 stores across the country.
See above notes for Figure 1 about the Diary and Survey of Consumer Payment Choice (Survey). Table 3 provides mean and median amounts of ATM and Retail point-of-sale cash withdrawal transactions by income. In the Survey, participants were asked to report the total combined income of all family members over age 15 living in the household during the past 12 months. From these responses, we constructed five income brackets – four of $25,000 each plus a fifth bin for any respondents reporting more than $100,000 in annual household income for each respondent in each year.
See e.g., Jay Lindsay, A Fatal Cash Crash? Conditions Were Ripe for It After the Pandemic Hit, but It Didn’t Happen , Fed. Rsrv. Bank of Boston (Nov. 2, 2023), https://www.bostonfed.org/news-and-events/news/2023/11/cash-crash-pandemic-increasing-credit-card-use-diary-of-consumer-payment-choice.aspx
Kevin Foster, Claire Greene, & Joanna Stavins, The 2023 Survey and Diary of Consumer Payment Choice , Fed. Rsrv Bank of Atlanta (June 2024), https://doi.org/10.29338/rdr2024-01
See e.g., Hilary Allen, Payments Failure, Boston College Law Review, Forthcoming, American University, WCL Research Paper No. 2021- 11, (Feb. 21, 2020) available at https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3539797
See e.g., Scarlett Heinbuch, Cash Is Critical in Times of Crisis , Fed. Rsrv. Bank of Atlanta (Mar. 7, 2022), https://www.atlantafed.org/blogs/take-on-payments/2022/03/07/cash-in-crisis
See e.g., Carly Page, Square Says It Has Resolved Daylong Outage , TechCrunch, (Sept. 8, 2023), https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/08/square-day-long-outage-resolved/ . See also Caroline Haskins, The Global CrowdStrike Outage Triggered a Surprise Return to Cash , Wired, (July 19, 2024), https://www.wired.com/story/microsoft-crowdstrike-outage-cash/ .
See Berhan Bayeh, Emily Cubides and Shaun O’Brien, 2024 Findings from the Diary of Consumer Payment Choice , Fed. Rsrv. (May 13, 2024), https://www.frbservices.org/binaries/content/assets/crsocms/news/research/2024-diary-of-consumer-payment-choice.pdf (findings related to low-income consumers and older Americans use of cash); Emily Cubides and Shaun O’Brian, 2023 Findings from the Diary of Consumer Payment Choice , Fed. Rsrv., (May 19, 2024), https://www.frbsf.org/cash/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2023-Findings-from-the-Diary-of-Consumer-Payment-Choice.pdf (findings related to unbanked households use of cash), and Michelle Faviero, , More Americans are Joining the ‘Cashless’ Economy ,” Pew Rsch. Ctr, (Oct. 5, 2022), https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/10/05/more-americans-are-joining-the-cashless-economy/ (findings related to use of cash by race and other demographics).
Similarly, the average cash-back withdrawal amount was $33 in 2012, the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve Payments Study. The study was based on self-reported information from financial institutions surveyed by the Federal Reserve. Of the reported transactions, 73 percent were debit cards with an average amount of $33 and 27 percent on general purpose prepaid cards with an average withdrawal amount of $19. 2013 Federal Reserve Payments Study: Recent and Long-Term Payment Trends in the United States: 2003 – 2012 , Fed. Rsrv. Bd. (July 2014), https://www.frbservices.org/binaries/content/assets/crsocms/news/research/2013-fed-res-paymt-study-summary-rpt.pdf
The amounts in the Survey are lower than the average ATM withdrawal amounts reported in 2022 Federal Reserve Payments study, which utilizes data from surveying financial institutions. Per this study, in 2021, the average ATM withdrawal was $198. The Federal Reserve Payments Study: 2022 Triennial Initial Data Release , Fed. Rsrv. Bd. (Apr. 21, 2023), https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/fr-payments-study.htm
Claire Green and Oz Shy, How Consumers Get Cash: Evidence from a Diary Survey , Fed. Rsrv. Bank of Atlanta, (Apr. 2019), at 5, https://www.atlantafed.org/-/media/documents/banking/consumer-payments/research-data-reports/2019/05/08/how-consumers-get-cash-evidence-from-a-diary-survey/rdr1901.pdf (finding, “For the largest amounts of cash, respondents mostly turned to employers, with an average dollar value of cash received of $227. At bank tellers and ATMs, consumers also received average dollar values greater than the overall average: $159 and $137, respectively. Consumers received smaller amounts from family or friends ($93) and, notably, cash back at a retail store ($34). All these dollar amounts are weighted. The amount of cash received at a retail store is constrained by the store’s limits, so the amount of cash received in this way is not necessarily at the discretion of the consumer.”)
Neil Mitchell and Ann Ramage, The Second Participant in the Consumer to Business Payments Study , Fed. Rsrv. Bank of Richmond (Sept. 15, 2014), https://www.richmondfed.org/~/media/richmondfedorg/banking/payments_services/understanding_payments/pdf/psg_ck_20141118.pdf
Id. at 8, Figures 7 and 8.
See e.g., Stan Sienkiewicz, The Evolution of EFT Networks from ATMs to New On-Line Debit Payment Products , Discussion Paper, Payment Cards Ctr. of the Fed. Rsrv. Bank of Philadelphia (Apr. 2002), https://www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/frbp/assets/consumer-finance/discussion-papers/eftnetworks_042002.pdf?la=en&hash=88302801FC98A898AB167AC2F9131CE1 (“The cash back option became popular with supermarket retailers, since store owners recognized savings as a result of less cash to count at the end of the day, a chore that represented a carrying cost to the establishment.”).
These market segments and retailers for purposes of markets analysis are similar to those used in other academic literature related to dollar store locations in the context of food access or impact on other market dynamics, such as on local grocers. See e.g., El Hadi Caoui, Brett Hollenbeck, and Matthew Osbourne, The Impact of Dollar Store Expansion on Local Market Structure and Food Access ,” (June 22, 2022), available at https://ssrn.com/abstract=4163102 (finding "In 2021, there were more of these stores operating than all the Walmarts, CVS, Walgreens, and Targets combined by a large margin.”) and Yue Cao, The Welfare Impact of Dollar Stores ,” available at https://yuecao.dev/assets/pdf/YueCaoDollarStore.pdf (last visited Aug. 23, 2024) (using the categories of dollar stores, groceries, and mass merchandise (such as Walmart) for comparisons across retail segments and noting that dollar stores regard these other segments as competitors).
Estimate based on information voluntarily provided in the CFPB's market monitoring activities.
What Forms of Payment are Accepted? U.S. Postal Serv., https://faq.usps.com/s/article/What-Forms-of-Payment-are-Accepted (last visited Aug. 23, 2024).
See generally, Stacy Mitchell, Kennedy Smith, and Susan Holmberg , The Dollar Store Invasion , Inst. for Local Self Reliance (Mar. 2023), https://cdn.ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/ILSR-Report-The-Dollar-Store-Invasion-2023.pdf . There is also extensive research on dollar store locations in other contexts such as food access and impact on consumer spending habits. El Hadi Caoui, Brett Hollenbeck, and Matthew Osbourne, The Impact of Dollar Store Expansion on Local Market Structure and Food Access ,” at 5, (June 22, 2022), available at https://ssrn.com/abstract=4163102
Dollar General Annual Report (Form10-K) at 7 (Mar. 25. 2024), https://investor.dollargeneral.com/websites/dollargeneral/English/310010/us-sec-filing.html?format=convpdf&secFilingId=003b8c70-dfa4-4f21-bfe7-40e6d8b26f63&shortDesc=Annual%20Report .
Dollar Tree, Inc. Annual Report (Form 10-K) at 7 (Mar. 20. 2024), https://corporate.dollartree.com/investors/sec-filings/content/0000935703-23-000016/0000935703-23-000016.pdf
See e.g., Dollar General Annual Report (Form10-K) at 7 (Mar. 25. 2024) (“We generally locate our stores and plan our merchandise selections to best serve the needs of our core customers, the low and fixed income households often underserved by other retailers, and we are focused on helping them make the most of their spending dollar.” And, Dollar Tree, Inc. Annual Report (Form 10-K) at 6 (Mar. 20. 2024), (“Family Dollar primarily serves a lower than average income customer in urban and rural locations, offering great values on everyday items.”)
Dr. Jerry Shannon, Dollar Stores, Retailer Redlining, and the Metropolitan Geographies of Precarious Consumption , Ann. of the Am. Assoc. of Geographers, Vol. 111, No. 4, 1200-1218 (2021), (analyzing over 29,000 storefront locations of Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar locations across the three largest MSA in each of the nine U.S. Census Bureau-defined divisions.)
Kristen Broady, Mac McComas, and Amine Ouazad, An Analysis of Financial Institutions in Black-Majority Communities: Black Borrowers and Depositors Face Considerable Challenges in Accessing Banking Services ,” Brookings Inst., (Nov. 2, 2021), https://www.brookings.edu/articles/an-analysis-of-financial-institutions-in-black-majority-communities-black-borrowers-and-depositors-face-considerable-challenges-in-accessing-banking-services/ and Drew Dahl and Michelle Franke, Banking Deserts Become a Concern as Branches Dry Up , Fed. Rsrv. Bank of St. Louis, https://www.stlouisfed.org/publications/regional-economist/second-quarter-2017/banking-deserts-become-a-concern-as-branches-dry-up (July 25, 2017).
El Hadi Caoui, Brett Hollenbeck, and Matthew Osbourne, The Impact of Dollar Store Expansion on Local Market Structure and Food Access ,” (June 22, 2022), available at https://ssrn.com/abstract=4163102 .
Dollar Tree Completes Acquisition of Family Dollar , Dollar Tree Inc., (July 6, 2015), available at https://corporate.dollartree.com/news-media/press-releases/detail/120/dollar-tree-completes-acquisition-of-family-dollar
El Hadi Caoui, Brett Hollenbeck, and Matthew Osbourne, The Impact of Dollar Store Expansion on Local Market Structure and Food Access ,” (June 22, 2022), available at https://ssrn.com/abstract=4163102 and Yue Cao, The Welfare Impact of Dollar Stores, https://yuecao.dev/assets/pdf/YueCaoDollarStore.pdf (last visited Aug. 23. 2024).
Evan Moore, Harris Teeter Introduces New Fees that Have Customers Upset. What To Know Before You’re Charged , Charlotte Observer, (Mar. 14, 2024), https://amp.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article286627340.html
Karen Bennett and Matthew Goldberg, Survey: ATM fees Reach 26-year High While Overdraft Fees Inch Back Up , Bankrate.com (Aug. 21, 2024), https://www.bankrate.com/banking/checking/checking-account-survey/
Oz Shy and Joanna Stavins, Who Is Paying All These Fees? An Empirical Analysis of Bank Account and Credit Card Fees , Fed. Rsrv. Bank of Boston, Working Paper No. 22-18, at Table 2, (Aug. 2022), https://www.bostonfed.org/publications/research-department-working-paper/2022/who-is-paying-all-these-fees-an-empirical-analysis-of-bank-account-and-credit-card-fees .
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Thesis. 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 ...
An outline of the research questions and hypotheses; the assumptions or propositions that your research will test. Literature Review. Not all research reports have a separate literature review section. In shorter research reports, the review is usually part of the Introduction. A literature review is a critical survey of recent relevant ...
Use the section headings (outlined above) to assist with your rough plan. Write a thesis statement that clarifies the overall purpose of your report. Jot down anything you already know about the topic in the relevant sections. 3 Do the Research. Steps 1 and 2 will guide your research for this report.
What are the implications of the findings? The research report contains four main areas: Introduction - What is the issue? What is known? What is not known? What are you trying to find out? This sections ends with the purpose and specific aims of the study. Methods - The recipe for the study. If someone wanted to perform the same study ...
Idea 1: The problem to be investigated. This should be 1-2 sentences that sum up why this study was conducted. For example: "Several studies have suggested that rampart craters on Mars form in regions with high soil volatile contents - namely, water ice.". Idea 2: The purpose of the study.
Research Paper is a written document that presents the author's original research, analysis, and interpretation of a specific topic or issue. ... Actual research papers may have different structures, contents, and formats depending on the field of study, research question, data collection and analysis methods, and other factors. Students ...
A research report is a collection of contextual data, gathered through organized research, that provides new insights into a particular challenge (which, for this article, is business-related). Research reports are a time-tested method for distilling large amounts of data into a narrow band of focus. Their effectiveness often hinges on whether ...
A research report is usually broken down into multiple sections, which allows for a concise presentation of information. Structure and Example of a Research Report. Title; This is the title of your systematic investigation. Your title should be concise and point to the aims, objectives, and findings of a research report. Table of Contents
If the assignment is a 2000-word essay, the introduction should be between 160 and 200 words, while for a 3500-word report it should be between 290 and 350 words. There is no absolute rule for the length. Be as reasonable about it as you can. The introduction contains the relevant background of the problem.
Develop a thesis statement. Create a research paper outline. Write a first draft of the research paper. Write the introduction. Write a compelling body of text. Write the conclusion. The second draft. The revision process. Research paper checklist.
Table of contents. Step 1: Introduce your topic. Step 2: Describe the background. Step 3: Establish your research problem. Step 4: Specify your objective (s) Step 5: Map out your paper. Research paper introduction examples. Frequently asked questions about the research paper introduction.
Figures 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, and 11.5 show some sample pages from an APA-style empirical research report originally written by undergraduate student Tomoe Suyama at California State University, Fresno. The main purpose of these figures is to illustrate the basic organization and formatting of an APA-style empirical research report, although many ...
Then, writing the paper and getting it ready for submission may take me 3 to 6 months. I like separating the writing into three phases. The results and the methods go first, as this is where I write what was done and how, and what the outcomes were. In a second phase, I tackle the introduction and refine the results section with input from my ...
APA Table of Contents. The APA (American Psychological Association) Table of Contents is a structured outline that provides an overview of the content of a research paper or manuscript. It is typically included in the front matter of the document and lists the major sections and subsections of the paper, along with their page numbers.
Step 1: Lay Out the Facts. You have worked long hours on a research project that has produced results and are no doubt curious to determine what they exactly mean. There is no better way to do this than by preparing figures, graphics and tables. This is what the first LEAP step is focused on - diving into the results.
A research report is an end product of research. As earlier said that report writing provides useful information in arriving at rational decisions that may reform the business and society. The findings, conclusions, suggestions and recommendations are useful to academicians, scholars and policymakers.
The layout of research report means as to what the research report should contain. The contents of the research report are noted below: Preliminary Page. Main Text. End Matter. (1) Preliminary Pages: These must be title of the research topic and data. There must be preface of foreword to the research work.
Write up a state-of-the-art research report. Understand how to use scientific language in research reports. Develop a structure for your research report that comprises all relevant sections. Assess the consistency of your research design. Avoid dumbfounding your reader with surprising information.
The introduction leads the reader from a general subject area to a particular topic of inquiry. It establishes the scope, context, and significance of the research being conducted by summarizing current understanding and background information about the topic, stating the purpose of the work in the form of the research problem supported by a hypothesis or a set of questions, explaining briefly ...
Formal Research Structure. These are the primary purposes for formal research: enter the discourse, or conversation, of other writers and scholars in your field. learn how others in your field use primary and secondary resources. find and understand raw data and information. For the formal academic research assignment, consider an ...
Comprehensive reports with in-depth analysis and information. 100-page research report on the effects of a new drug on a medical condition. Analytical. Focus on data analysis and provide insights or recommendations. Market research report analyzing consumer behavior trends and recommending marketing strategies.
Table of contents. Step 1: Restate the problem. Step 2: Sum up the paper. Step 3: Discuss the implications. Research paper conclusion examples. Frequently asked questions about research paper conclusions.
1 Choose a topic based on the assignment. Before you start writing, you need to pick the topic of your report. Often, the topic is assigned for you, as with most business reports, or predetermined by the nature of your work, as with scientific reports. If that's the case, you can ignore this step and move on.
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In this report, we argue that protecting nature and increasing biodiversity has the potential to drive progressive change across three vital areas and should therefore be a central priority for the new government. We make recommendations for how the new government can enhance security, improve fairness, and drive national renewal.
Executive Summary. Access to cash is a necessary component of a resilient financial system and dynamic economy. Many people rely on cash for day-to-day transactions due its privacy and reliability, and cash accessibility is particularly critical in the case of a disruption or outage of digital payment systems.
IBM is cutting more than 1,000 jobs in China, according to multiple state media reports, as geopolitical tension between Beijing and Washington prompts many global companies to reassess their ...