अनुसन्धान

A research report presents the purpose, method, findings and conclusions of a study in a clear, organised way. In population education/studies, the main steps in writing it are:

1. Select and define the problem/title. Choose a clear topic (for example, "causes of early marriage in a ward") and state it precisely.
2. Set objectives and research questions or hypotheses. State what the study wants to find out.
3. Review of literature. Study earlier research, census and survey reports to see what is known and to find the gap.
4. Plan the methodology. Decide the study area, population and sample, sampling method, sources of data (primary and secondary) and tools such as questionnaire, interview and observation.
5. Collect the data. Gather data in the field in an ethical way, with consent and confidentiality.
6. Process and organise data. Edit, code, tabulate and, where needed, present with tables, charts and graphs.
7. Analyse and interpret. Use statistics such as percentages, mean, and correlation to explain the results and relate them to the objectives.
8. Draft the report. Common structure: title page, acknowledgement, abstract, table of contents, introduction, literature review, methodology, findings and analysis, summary, conclusion and recommendations, references, annexes.
9. Revise, edit and finalise. Check facts, language, citation and formatting, and have the report reviewed before submission.

A good report is clear, accurate, objective and supported by evidence.

Formulation of research problem and review of literature.

Primary data is collected firsthand by the researcher directly from the field, while secondary data is already collected by others and used by the researcher from published or unpublished sources.

Five questions for collecting data on personal hygiene:

1. How many times do you take a bath in a week?

   • (a) Daily (b) 4–6 times (c) 2–3 times (d) Once or less

2. How often do you brush your teeth?

   • (a) Twice a day or more (b) Once a day (c) Occasionally (d) Never

3. Do you wash your hands with soap before eating food?

   • (a) Always (b) Often (c) Sometimes (d) Never

4. How often do you cut your nails?

   • (a) Weekly (b) Every two weeks (c) Monthly (d) Only when they grow too long

5. How do you dispose of used tissues or sanitary waste?

   • (a) In a dustbin (b) Burn them (c) Throw anywhere (d) Other: ______

Each question should be clear, simple, unbiased and relevant to the objective of the study.