ABSTRACT
If the purpose of science is to discover or understand the world we live in, then the purpose of scientific writing must be to communicate our discoveries or understandings to others in as effective a manner as possible. Just as science, or social science, itself must be explicit, systematic, and controlled, the descriptions and assessments of scientific findings must be clear, complete, and-most especially-well organized. Because it often constitutes the first statement of discovery, and because it provides a primary means for developing a shared understanding, the research report is one of the most important, and potentially most effective, instruments of scientific communication.
