A research report’s structure mirrors the four-stage process of scientific investigation

Evidence

This format roughly mirrors the process of scientific investigation, wherein researchers do the following: (1) start with a broad idea from which they formulate a narrower set of hypotheses, informed by past empirical findings (Introduction); (2) design a specific set of concrete operations to test these hypotheses (Method); (3) analyze the observations collected in this way, and decide if they support the original hypotheses (Results); and (4) explore the broader theoretical and practical implications of the findings, and consider how they contribute to an understanding of the problem under investigation (Discussion). Although these stages are somewhat arbitrary distinctions—research actually proceeds in a number of different ways—they help elucidate the inner logic of research reports. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4585

Categorization

• DEFINE: Lays out the canonical IMRAD logic of a research report as a framework for reading them.