Research Report: Analysis of Communication Skills Survey Results

This research report presents a comprehensive analysis of a communication skills survey focused on assessing the use of plain language and language instruction in a communication course. The student conducted a SWOC (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges) analysis of the survey results, identifying strengths such as the importance of plain language and the respondents' ability to use it. Weaknesses were also pinpointed, including a lack of proper language instruction for some respondents. Based on this analysis, the student identified an opportunity to provide better language instruction, which could enhance communication skills and awareness. The report includes an outline of the analysis, an informal email report to the instructor, and a keyword search strategy chart, demonstrating the process of conducting the research and formulating research goals to provide value for the client. The student also explores internet research techniques to find relevant information and evidence.

Research Report Workbook
Scenario
You are required to conduct research and write a report on one of the survey topics for your Research
Report. This workbook will assist you to
 the process of analysing a survey (primary research)
 determining an opportunity that you can research to provide information that might be of value
for your client
 conducting research using Internet search engines (secondary research)
 conducting research using Article databases (secondary research)
 writing an informal report
 capturing information as it is gathered in an Outline for a final Research Report
Contents
These 3 Workshop Worksheets that you will complete each week will support you in the completion of
your Research Report. There is a Research Report Workbook Guide that provides you with samples and
advice for each of these components:
1. Workshop 1 Worksheet
 Part A1: SWOC Analysis
 Part A2: Survey Results Explained
 Part A3: Identify Opportunity
 Part B1: Informal Report of SWOC Analysis
 Part B2: Informal Report Outline
 Part B3: Informal Report Email
2. Workshop 2 Worksheet
 Part C: Articulating Research Goals
 Part D: Conducting Internet Research
 Part E: Keyword Search Strategy Chart
 Part F: Creating Search Statements
3. Workshop 3 Worksheet
 Part G: Article Database Research Log
 Part H: Search Results
 Part I: Research Report Outline

Workshop 1 Worksheet
Please submit this completed worksheet.
Part A1: SWOC Analysis
This section of the worksheet uses the Analysing Surveys and SWOC Analysis guides from the learning
materials.
 Indicate the survey topic you are investigating:
The survey topic is the communication skill
Complete the table below:
 Analyse the results of your survey to determine if question are a strength or a weakness for the
client
Question SWOC Analysis:
Strength / Weakness
Evidence: Explain your analysis and the reason for
your decision for strength of weakness
QA. Use of plain language The use of plain language has been considered as the
strength because 55 people among 80 have
responded to this question equalling 69 % of strength.
55 people answered to this question to be very
important. Hence, this is the strong point that is
important for the communication skill survey. The
studies and the practical knowledge show that the
more the language will be lucid and simple, the more
the communication will become smooth and easily
understandable.
QB. Ability to use plain language In terms of their ability to use plain language in the
communication course, 46% people have answered to
the very strong option signifying that 37 people have
selected this option. This is another strong point
which shows that most of the people are able to use
plain language in the communication course. This
symbolises that they find the plain language to be
easily accessible, understandable and deliverable
which the most important aspect of communication
is.
QC. Ability to use plain language In another question people numbering 4 among or
5% of the whole population have shown weakness in
their ability to use plain language in the
communication course.
QD. Instructions received on
language
Also 46% answered that they have received proper
instruction on the communication course in terms of
language showing that there is improvement
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required.
QE.
QF.
QG.
QH.
QI.
QJ.
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Part A2: Survey Results Explained:
Based on your analysis of the weaknesses and strengths in the survey,
 transform the analysis into an Outline of how you would explain the analysis to the client
 do not simply list the information in the order in which the questions are presented
 look for patterns that highlights the strengths and weakness from the survey
This section of the worksheet should be considered your “outline” for the email you are asked to write
for the instructor in Part B.
Outline: Survey Results
The development of the communication skills in various aspects of life starting with the professional
career to the social gathering the family life is extremely important step. As a contrast people really are
dependent on sharing the information, the result of which is that good emphasis is put on achievement
of good communication skill the good written and verbal communication are extremely essential in
terms of delivering and understanding information faster and properly. As a contrast the poor
communication skills can live in a negative impact of the delivered message that can result in the
misunderstanding of organisation. In the way of communication skill I have found that most of the
people support using plain language in their way of communication. Also, 5% of them are neutral
regarding using clean language 2% find it quite an important subject to be focused on. Also regarding
how the respondent started themselves for their use of plain language 38% answer that they have very
strong ability, 31% responded as they have somewhat strong ability, 18% of them responded to be
strong, 9%, weak and 5% responded that they have very weak ability to use plain language. Regarding
how much amount they have received as an instruction on the language in the communication course
46% found it about right 31% showing that they need a little more, 9% show that they need a lot more.
So these are the survey results where the strength is that most of the people consider the plain
language important and easily deliverable along with the fact that people also have strong ability of
delivering clean language but weakness is that few people do not receive proper instruction on the
language in the communication course which should be address fast.
Part A3: Identify Opportunity
Based on your explanation of the weaknesses and strengths in the survey,
 select an Opportunity that could potentially add value for the client
 explain your Survey Analysis so that it highlights the strengths, weakness and the reason you
choose the opportunity that you have
Opportunity: From the survey results it is found that there is a
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From your analysis of the survey, in plain
language, describe the opportunity you would
like to research further that
 would be of interested to your client
and not already known by them
 has the most potential to add value to
the client if researched further
percentage of people who have not become able to
receive good amount of instruction on the language
in communication course. This signifies that good
instruction on language can be given to those people
which can increase awareness among them. This
aspect I have found to be quite interesting for my
client and has the most potential to add some value
to the client when is research further.
Rationale:
Explain why you chose this opportunity
 Specifically explain why you chose
the opportunity you have in
relation to all the questions in the
survey
The opportunity is selected because from the survey
question is found that only 46% think right about
getting instruction on receiving language and rest of
them are not that happy with it. This opportunity
can be made use of and through proper training and
instruction sessions the language of the staffs can be
improved and they can feel at ease with using plain
language in the communication course
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Part B1: Informal Report of SWOC Analysis Instructions
Once you have analysed the survey, you need to explain to your supervisor (your instructor)
 The survey you have analysed
 The results of your analysis
 The opportunity from your analysis that you have decided to do more research on and why you
chose it over the other questions
You must explain your analysis as if the recipient has NOT seen Part A of the worksheet. Use the Survey
analysis as your outline, and complete the following:
1. Write an informal report using an email format to your instructor:
 Indicate the survey you are analyzing.
 Use section A2 (Survey Results Explained) to organize and explain the strengths and
weaknesses from your SWOC analysis of the survey; include the evidence from your
analysis of the survey.
 Use section A3 (Opportunity Identified) to explain which opportunity you have decided
to conduct further research on and why.
2. Do not use the headings in the template below; they are there to help you: create functional
and descriptive headings and sub-headings in your email to guide the reader.
Part B2: Informal Report Outline
Create an outline for the informal report to the instructor from your analysis of the survey.
Opening
 The purpose of the email is to provide an outline of the report on the survey analysis
Details
The survey on the communication skill has shown that the survey has been successful
since most of the people have responded to the survey questions. Most of the people have
supported to the usage of plain language along with the ability of using the plain language in
the communication course.
Closing
It can be said that people who have not been able to receive proper instruction in the
communication course should be given proper instruction. It has been considered as an opportunity
which will be worked on in future.
Part B3: Informal Report Email
TO: The Client
FROM:
DATE: 20. 03. 2020
SUBJECT: providing language training to people
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Dear Sir/Ma’am
This is to inform you that the survey on the communication skill has found that the usage of plain
language that is most important aspect of communication has been supported by most of the people.
Many of them strongly agreed to this and some of them are quite unsure about it. Regarding the ability
of using plain language, it is found that most of the respondents are having a strong ability
communication. Out of the survey, it is further found that there is a scope for delivering the language
instruction that can increase the language awareness among people and improve their communication
skills. Therefore, in this future project you are requested to put your part and collaborate so that it can
be made a successful one.
Communications Dept. 7

Workshop 2 Worksheet
Please submit this completed worksheet.
Important: If you are using the same Workbook in which you received feedback from the instructor,
make sure the Track Changes feature (Review / Tracking / Track Changes) is not on.
Workshop 2 Worksheet Topics
 Part C: Articulating Research Goals
 Part D: Conducting Internet Research
 Part E: Keyword Search Strategy Chart
 Part F: Creating Search Statements
Part C: Articulating Research Goals
After completing Workshop 1, you should have a good idea of what you are searching based up the
analysis of the survey.
 Indicate the survey topic you are investigating:
 Based on any feedback you received from Workshop 1, in plain language, indicate the issue or
opportunity from the SWOC analysis of your survey on which you are conducting further
research to provide value for your client:
Part D: Conducting Internet Research
After identifying an opportunity that could possibly add value to your client, you need to do some
research. You will want to
1. Explore to find out what exists on the topic to help come up with some ideas.
AND/OR
2. Verify any ideas you might have as to what information or actions might be helpful to the client.
This exercise asks you to conduct an Internet search on the opportunity you have identified from your
analysis. You can use the Internet Search Engine of your choice. You will be exploring what exists on the
topic and finding evidence for any ideas you might have. It is always better to explore before jumping to
solution, especially for topics we don’t know much about.
Internet Search
This workshop is designed to help you develop effective searching skills by recording the words you use
in your search (Search Statements) to reinforce how you search for information.
Approaching Your Search
Conducting a search is much like conducting an interview:
 It is rare that you can ask one question and get all the information you need.
 You need to ask a series of questions in different ways to explore the topic.
 Your questions are informed and impacted by the words you use to search.
 Generally, searching for information is like putting together a puzzle: many pieces make
up the picture, and it is your job to fit them together.
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Search Strategies
1. If you need to find out more information about your topic, do that first.
2. Once you are ready to start investigating your topic for the client, start your search by entering
search terms for the opportunity you identified (this is called your Search Statements).
3. The main words in your search are called Keywords
 Because there might not be specific information using only the keywords from your
opportunity, try to think of related words to describe the information you are searching
for.
 For example, if you looking for ideas to help an organization, you wouldn’t only use
search terms with the organization’s name because those searches would only return
information, which the organization is already aware of.
Instructions
1. Go to an Internet Search Engine of your choice (e.g. Google, Bing) and conduct a search based
on the opportunity you have selected from your SWOC analysis.
2. Record each the search statement you use.
 Record the number relevant sites that you found for each search statement (Relevant
sites are those related to the opportunity you are focusing on).
3. Record two (2) Internet sources that are relevant to the opportunity you have identified:
 Paraphrase the key points from the websites related to the opportunity you have
identified.
 Provide a proper citation for your paraphrase using APA@Conestoga Citations and
reference using APA@Conestoga References.
 Explain the credibility of the source of the information (how credible is the website that
you found and why).
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Research Log:
 Use natural language to search the opportunity you have identified
 Record the words you use for each search
 Use any similar words returned by your Internet search to expand your search.
 Add rows to the table if necessary
Search Statements
(Words entered into
the search engine)
Number of
Relevant Sites
(for each search)
Relevant Sites
(Copy the name of the webpage and website addresses
of all relevant sites indicated.)










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(B3) Two Best Websites from Internet Research:
Once you have reviewed the sites you thought were relevant to your opportunity
1. choose the 2 “best” websites that could be included in your report because they provide value
on the opportunity you identified from the survey analysis.
2. explain what information they contain that is relevant to the opportunity you have identified
Website 1
Internet Search engine that was used
to retrieve the article:
Search statement (from your
Research Log) that retrieved the
relevant website:
Record the reference for the website
using APA@Conestoga:
Paraphrase using plain language the
key points from the website showing
how they are related to the
opportunity you have identified. –
provide an APA@Conestoga Citation:
Note: An APA@Conestoga citation
requires the 3 things: author, date,
page)
 No author: use part of title
 No date: use n.d.
 No page: count paragraphs
Paragraph numbers
Rate the credibility of the person or site that provided the information is and what makes this a credible
source of information?
Credibility Rating Credible Somewhat Credible Uncertain Credibility
Mark an X to indicate the trustworthiness
or believability of this the author or source
of information provided.
Explain your reasons for the credibility
rating you gave it author or source of
information provided.
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Website 2
Internet Search engine that was used
to retrieve the article:
Search statement (from your
Research Log) that retrieved the
relevant website:
Record the reference for the website
using APA@Conestoga
Paraphrase using plain language the
key points from the website showing
how they are related to the
opportunity you have identified. –
provide an APA@Conestoga Citation:
Note: An APA@Conestoga citation
requires the 3 things: author, date,
page)
 No author: use part of title
 No date: use n.d.
 No page: count paragraphs
Paragraph numbers
Rate the credibility of the person or site that provided the information is and what makes this a credible
source of information?
Credibility Rating Credible Somewhat Credible Uncertain Credibility
Mark an X to indicate the trustworthiness
or believability of this the author or source
of information provided.
Explain your reasons for the credibility
rating you gave it author or source of
information provided.
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