程序段。研究报告的第二个主要段落详尽，带着尽可能多的资料，指出这项研究是怎样确切地进行。这个段包括任何必需设备的描述，如果项目被使用这个项目是怎样被选中的，什么样的统计技术被使用来评估这个发现的意义，做了多少观察，在什么时候观察的，等等。一个各种游泳的相对有效性的调查会有详细的游泳者的数字、测试时天气的状况以及任何其他参与实验的所有因素。程序段的目的是允许读者复制这个实验，如果你的发现期待肯定或者反驳的话。

　　Results Section. The third, and perhaps most important, section of the research report is the presentation of the results obtained from the investigation. The basic rule in this section is to give all data relevant to the research question initially asked. Although, of course, one’s natural tendency might be to suppress any findings which do not in some way support one’s hypothesis, such dishonesty is antithetical to good research reporting in any field. If the experiments undertaken fail to prove anything, if the data was inadequate or contrary to expectations, the report should be honestly written and as complete as possible, just as it would be if the hypothesis were totally proven by the research.

　　结果段。第三段，可能是最重要的。研究报告的这一段是对于从调查中获得的结果的表述。在这一段的基本规则是给出与起初问到的研究问题相关的所有资料。当然，研究报告的自然倾向应该是隐藏任何从某些方式上不支持其假设的发现，但如此不诚实的是与任何领域优秀的研究报告相对立的。如果实验开始失败于证明任何事情，如果资料是不充分的或者与期待相反，这个报告应该诚实地写进来，而且像可能的那样完整，要像这个假设被研究完全证实了一样，如实地写进来。

　　Discussion Section. The final required section of a research report is a discussion of the results obtained and a statement of any conclusions which may be drawn from those results. Of primary interest in business and technical research reports is the validity of the results as the bases for company decisions: Will our planned construction project meet federal environmental guidelines and be approved for building? Will this new program attact skilled personnel to our company? Will this new oil recovery technique be financially feasible? Thus, the discussion section of the research report must evaluate the research results fully: were they validly obtained, are they complete or limited, are they applicable over a wide range of circumstances? The discussion section should also point out what questions remain unanswered and perhaps suggest directions for further research.

　　讨论段。一个研究报告的这个最终需要的段落是所获得的结果的讨论或者是一个可能取自那些结果的任何结论的陈述。在商业和技术研究报告中，这个段的基本兴趣是结果作为公司决策基础的有效性：我们计划的建筑项目将符合联邦政府的环境指导方针并被批准施工吗？这个新项目将能吸引有技术的全体人员到我们公司来？这项新的石油恢复技术在经费上将是可行的？所以，这个研究报告的讨论段必须充分评估这个研究结果：它们是被靠得住地获得？它们是完整的或是有限的？它们适用于一个宽泛区域的情形？这个讨论段也应该指出什么问题留着没有回答以及为进一步研究可能提及的方向。