As reported in Chapters 8 and 9, Ningwakwe/E. Priscilla George (2008), Jenny Horsman (2008) and Sheila Stewart (2008) used arts-based approaches in their data collection and analysis, as did Christianna Jones (2008). The drawings, collage and poetry that were created were also included in their reports. In my report about using arts-based approaches in adult literacy programs (Norton, 2008), I included examples and stories about my own expressive arts work, as a way to bring myself into the research and connect it with my own practice. As well as illustrating the research process, including examples of the arts-based work can invite readers into research reports.
Research reports can also be combined with suggestions or guides for practice. In reporting on research about writing in ABE programs in Newfoundland and Labrador, Helen Woodrow and I (Woodrow & Norton, 1996) included a section about the research and a section of activities and examples for facilitating writing groups and instruction. For her research about addressing impacts of violence on learning, Brenda Squair (2004) developed and facilitated workshops for tutors. Her report included the workshop outline and her reflections about facilitating the workshops, given her own experiences with violence.
However you share your research, it's important that it is shared. Sharing our research is one of the ways that research in practice differs from day-to-day reflection and reflective conversations, and is a way to add to knowledge about literacy practice. What we learn about our practice may also prompt others to reflect about and possibly change or affirm theirs.
The rest of this chapter is about what to include in a written report. Think about your report as a story about your research, written for other educators in the literacy field. Speak to your audience and include yourself in the story (its okay to use "I"- despite what we might have been taught about writing reports.) You'll want to include enough information about the research process so readers can follow how you did the research and how you made meaning from it.
If you report in a form other than writing, such as a workshop or video, think about how you'll cover information usually included in a written report. You also might need to write some of the information to accompany your oral or visual report. If you used arts-based approaches in your research, think about how to include examples of the art in your report.