Inductive vs. deductive reports
The order of the report sections will depend on whether you are required to write an inductive or deductive report. Your assignment question should make this clear.
Inductive report
An inductive report involves moving from the specific issues, as outlined in the discussion, to the more general, summarised information, as displayed in the conclusions and recommendations:
- Introduction
- Discussion
- Conclusions
- Recommendations
Such reports are ideal for an audience who has the time to read the report from cover to cover, and also in instances where the findings may be somewhat controversial, hence, the need to demonstrate your reasoning and evidence, as laid out in the discussion, for the recommendations decided upon.
Deductive report
In contrast, in a deductive report you move from the general to the specific:
- Introduction
- Conclusions
- Recommendations
- Discussion
This type of order is effective when faced with an audience who does not have time to read the whole document, but can access the conclusions and recommendations. Consequently, such an order is also appropriate for reports which are not contentious or unexpected in their decision outcomes and recommendations.