ABSTRACT
Section headings It is customary for research reports published in professional journals or submitted to universities in order to fulfill academic requirements to be divided into the following six parts, or sections: Abstract, Introduction,
Methods, Results, Discussion, and References. A perusal of articles in scientific publications indicates some variability in the number and names of headings, though. For example, the Methods section is sometimes called Methods and Data, and the Results and Discussion sections are sometimes combined and referred to as Findings. Research reports that are not intended for a scientific audience – for example, research paid for by a client, or carried out by an agency – differ somewhat in their form and content. The major differences between them will be explained.
