The last step of the research process is writing a report.

A research report is a well-crafted

document that outlines the processes, data, and findings of a systematic investigation. It is an
important document that serves as a first-hand account of the research process, and it is typically
considered as an objective and accurate source of information. In many ways, a research report
can be considered as a summary of the research process that clearly highlights findings,
recommendations, and other important details. Reading a well-written research report should
provide you with all the information you need about the core areas of the research process.

Every step is important in research as it can damage the whole study. As well as writing a
research report. This is most crucial step. Most people will not be aware of the amount and
quality of work that has gone into your study. While much hard work and care may have been
put into every stage of the research, every readers see is the report. Therefore, the whole work
can be spoiled if the report is not well written. The researcher will arrange all the findings into
writing through interpretation.

Meaning of Interpretation

An essential step in the research process is the interpretation of results and preparation of the
research report. The entire data collected has no practical relevance till the time the findings are
not interpreted in the light of problem being faced. It is through proper interpretation of result
that the researcher can convey the obvious and latent relationships that underlie his findings.
“Interpretation refers to the task of drawing inferences from the collected facts after an analytical
and/or experimental study”. In fact, it is a search for broader meaning of research findings. It is
also said to be a device through which the factors that seem to explain what has been observed
by researcher in the course of the study can be better understood and it also provides a theoretical
conception which can serve as a guide for further researches. The task of interpretation has two
major aspects:

(i) the effort to establish continuity in research through linking the results of a given
study with those of another, and
(ii) the establishment of some explanatory concepts.

Importance of Interpretation

Interpretation is important because it brings out the usefulness and utility of research findings
and makes it open to practical application. It is being considered a basic component of research
process because of the following reasons:

i) It is through interpretation that the researcher can well understand the abstract
principle that works beneath his findings. Through this he can link up his findings
 with those of other studies, having the same abstract principle, and thereby can
predict about the concrete world of events. Fresh inquiries can test these predictions
later on. This way the continuity in research can be maintained.
ii) Interpretation leads to the establishment of explanatory concepts that can serve as a
guide for future research studies; it opens new avenues of intellectual adventure and
stimulates the quest for more knowledge.
(iii) Researcher can better appreciate only through interpretation why his findings are
what they are and can make others to understand the real significance of his research
findings.
(iv) The interpretation of the findings of exploratory research study often results into
hypotheses for experimental research and as such interpretation is involved in the
transition from exploratory to experimental research. Since an exploratory study does
not have a hypothesis to start with, the findings of such a study have to be interpreted
on a post-factum basis in which case the interpretation is technically described as
‘post factum’ interpretation.

Techniques of Interpretation

The task of interpretation is not an easy job, rather it requires a great skill and dexterity on the
part of researcher. Interpretation is an art that one learns through practice and experience. The
researcher may, at times, seek the guidance from experts for accomplishing the task of
interpretation. The technique of interpretation often involves the following steps:

1. Researcher must give reasonable explanations of the relations which he has found and he
must interpret the lines of relationship in terms of the underlying processes and must try
to find out the thread of uniformity that lies under the surface layer of his diversified
research findings. In fact, this is the technique of how generalization should be done and
concepts be formulated.
2. Extraneous information, if collected during the study, must be considered while
interpreting the final results of research study, for it may prove to be a key factor in
understanding the problem under consideration.
3. It is advisable, before embarking upon final interpretation, to consult someone having
insight into the study and who is frank and honest and will not hesitate to point out
omissions and errors in logical argumentation. Such a consultation will result in correct
interpretation and, thus, will enhance the utility of research results.
4. Researcher must accomplish the task of interpretation only after considering all relevant
factors affecting the problem to avoid false generalization. He must be in no hurry while
interpreting results, for quite often the conclusions, which appear to be all right at the
beginning, may not at all be accurate.
Pitfalls in Interpretation

Interpretation is a difficult job demanding high degree of skill and objectivity on the part of the
researcher. While interpreting the results the researcher should be alert and take certain precautions like:

(i) Firstly the researcher should ensure that the data available for interpretation has been collected through
reliable sources and is valid.

(ii) The statistical methods used for data analysis must be looked into and the researcher should be
satisfied that the appropriate methods have been used.

(iii) The sampling and non-sampling errors that have crept into the research process must be listed.
Generalizations made on a very small sample size or errors in the editing, coding or tabulating process
can severely damage the authenticity of data. Such errors would lead to errors of interpretation and which
if committed would nullify the findings of even the best research.

(iv) A researcher should have a clear understanding of the problem.

(v) At the other extreme broad generalizations should also be avoided.

(vi) It has been seen that it is easier to interpret results that conform to existing theories.

(vii) Interpretation should not be left in the hands of inexperienced people. Objectivity, dexterity,
professionalism are the qualities which a researcher interpreting the results should possess. Further, to the
extent possible, interpretation should be done by people who have been associated with the project right
from the beginning.

(viii) Lastly, interpretation should consider dynamism. The data of which interpretation has been done
relates to a single point of time or period of time in the past and by the time the interpretation is done,
things might have changed. Hence interpretation should be done keeping in mind the past, as well as the
changed conditions.