Writing an Inspection Report

Inspection Report Should include:

A concise description of:

Your logic
Relevant previous research Your procedures and results Your interpretation of the findings

Everything needed to evaluate your thinking and your study

Major Sections of the Report

Title Page Introduction Method

Participants Apparatus Procedures

Results/Findings

Sections should include:

References

Reference to necessary appendices

Tables if relevant Figures if relevant Photographs Full Description of Item inspected

Levels of Headings

Use headings to provide clarity and give structure these should be sequentially numbered Use sub headings correctly numbered i.e. 2, 2.1, 2.1.1,

Title Page

Title page includes:

A concise title describing the inspection

The name of the Author (You) The name of the Client, Unit, and equipment Nothing else goes on the title page

Abstract

A concise summary (maximum 250 words, describing the Inspection project) Abstract goes on a separate page Although the abstract is first, it is usually written last, after the paper is finished

Introduction

Outlines for the reader the logic of the study and how the study relates to previous inspections Usually ends with the specific hypothesis/es tested in your research study

Well written IF the hypothesis/es seem to follow clearly from the material presented in the introduction

Referencing the Work

Throughout the report, you should reference the ideas and work of others and the dates if at all possible to create and retain an Inspection History.

Method

Includes a detailed description of the participants, measures and procedures Previously published measures and procedures should be referenced

Enough details should be included so that another researcher could replicate exactly the procedure.

Results

Should include a summary of the findings, the statistical tests and the summary statistics

Descriptions of the participants Tests of the hypotheses

May use tables and figures to help organize the presentation

Must use Photographs.

Tables

Tables are numbered consecutively i.e. Table 5.1; Table 5.2 The title of the table should be underlined Tables should be referenced in the text, not duplicated in the text if you describe a table in the text then the table is unnecessary

Figures

Figures are numbered consecutively (independently of tables) Figures can be used as an effective format to explain a process or give an instant visual indication of percentages

Conclusions

The interpretation of your inspection

Summarise the findings

Relate the findings to your hypothesis/es Relate the findings to previous research and the hypothesis/es of others Acknowledge any possible weaknesses in your inspection

Discuss the directions for further research and inspections

Recommendations

These should have relevance to the body of the report and be realistic in terms of budgets, policy constraints, the market etc, but not to forego safety of possible catastrophic events.

References

Every study mentioned in the paper should be included in the references Ordered alphabetically by author and date

Writing Style

To create a professional report ensure work is

Precise
Concise Well organized Well structured Provides sufficient information for the reader to understand if it is required be able to replicate the inspection