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Phase 6 : Coastal Monitoring Report

Reporting the results of this coastal monitoring project can be done in a variety of ways from the traditional written report or display board to the more technologically advanced power point presentation. In whatever media you choose the components of the report are the same. The length of the report will depend on the extent to which the surveys were done and the number of sites that were surveyed. A report of a survey comparing 3 sites can reach 20 pages in length. Students will be intimidated when they hear a number that high but the high number comes from all the data tables and graphs.

Report Score Sheet (PDF)

Coastal Monitoring Report Guidelines

A formal scientific report consists of the following sections:

Title Page
(1 page)

The title of your report should accurately describe what the project investigated. The title is often quite long.

Include :

Table Of Contents
(1 page)

Include :

1. Headings for all sections
2. Corresponding page numbers for each section

Abstract
(1/2 – 3/4 page)

An abstract is a brief summary of the entire report. It's purpose is to give the reader a quick look at the research project; to entice the person to read through the entire document. All the sections of the report are summarized in the abstract. The abstract should be written last once all the sections have been written.

Include :

1. Site Identification – what sites were surveyed, where are they located
2. Purpose – what you were trying to find out
3. Hypothesis – your prediction prior to surveying
4. Experimental Design – brief summary of how data was collected
5. Results – what was found (briefly describe patterns and trends in the data)
6. Conclusion – was the hypothesis proven, what do the results mean

Introduction
(1 - 2 pages)

An introduction provides the reader with background information on the topic of study. You want to prepare the reader as much as possible for what they are about to read. Background information about each site that was surveyed helps the reader visualize the sites while they are reading the report. They can understand the results easier if they have an idea about the area that was surveyed.

Include :

1. Background information on each site
2. Survey technique(s) used
3. Types of data collected (number of organisms, water quality, etc)
4. Purpose
5. Hypothesis

Experimental Design
(1 page +)

This section serves as an instructional manual for anyone wanting to duplicate your research. All materials that were used should be accurately listed. The procedures for conducting the survey should be given in a way that is clear to the reader and can be easily followed. Diagrams often help to explain the procedures. Anyone should be able to accurately repeat your survey using only this section of the report.

Include :

1. Complete materials list
2. Complete procedures

Results
(3 pages +)

There are 2 parts to this section. The first part is the written results where you answer the, “What happened? question. Simply state the facts that were found, do not give any reasoning at this point. The second part is the data, which follows the written section. Here you have your data tables, graphs, diagrams, maps, etc.

Include :

1. Written description (not analysis) of the data (1 page +)
   • Describe any patterns, relationships or trends
   • Explain what the data tells you
   • Explain any error in the experimental design/data collection or in the data
2. Data tables (1 data table per page with figure headings)
3. Graphs (1 graph per page with figure headings)

Conclusion
(1 page +)

Here is where you get a chance to analyze the data and answer the “How Come?” question. This section may be the longest depending on how in depth your analysis is. Some overall questions that should be answered in this section are :

Why did you get the results that you did?

What factors (habitat, temperature, etc) influenced the results?

What do the results mean for the overall status of each site?

Were there any differences between the sites? Why? Why not?

Include :

1. Brief summary of the findings
2. Data analysis
3. Thorough comparison of all sites
4. Explain if the hypothesis was proven or disproven and how
5. Recommendations for further study given