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Requirements for Preparing RIRDC Research Reports
The Final Report is the final milestone of a project. It must be submitted to the relevant research manager at RIRDC by the completion date of the project.
If the report, or part of the report, is confidential to the extent that publication may extinguish intellectual property rights then that should be clearly stated in a covering letter and each page of the report must have a header with the words “NOT TO BE PUBLISHED PENDING CONSULTATION BETWEEN RIRDC AND THE RESEARCH ORGANISATION”.
A decision whether to approve publication will be made within three months of receipt by RIRDC. By submitting the report in the RIRDC template, the researcher acknowledges that the material may be published in its edited form by RIRDC
Release of Reports
A strategy of release of the Final Report or information from the project will be agreed between the researchers and RIRDC staff. Where a Final Report contains confidential information, an edition of the Final Report in a form suitable for general distribution should also be submitted. RIRDC publishes many of its final reports as part of its Research Publications series (contact RIRDC for a publications catalogue or view on our website at www.rirdc.gov.au). These reports are generally sold by RIRDC.
Plain English Compendium Summary
As part of the Final Report requirements, authors need to provide a one page, plain English compendium summary along with each Final Report in electronic and hard copy format. This summary forms part of the Corporation’s Annual Report and is included in the annual Research in Progress compilation on our website.
Some Final Reports will be selected for publication in Short Report format (a 4 to 12 page free summary of the full report). RIRDC will prepare these Short Reports based on the Final Report. These reports are produced and freely distributed either in conjunction with the full report or instead of the full report.
To help RIRDC publish electronically (such as the Internet) all final reports and summaries are now required not only in printed (hard) copy form, but also electronically in Microsoft Word (not Macintosh).
Graphs, charts and tables should be placed within the text file (so that the complete report is in one document)
One single-sided, unbound hard copy of the report should be sent with the electronic copy.
Templates and Further Information
A template with the requirements for final reports is available on our website (www.rirdc.gov.au) or from RIRDC program area (02 6272 4819).
Editorial Requirements for Reports Typestyle and LayoutTo maintain a consistent format and style to our Research Publications series, and to ensure speedy pre-press handling of your final report, we require that you follow the guidelines below (as closely as practical) when preparing your report:
Research Report Structure
- Page format: A4 portrait (mandatory).
- Page numbers: Please number all pages in the report, including the appendices. The appendix page numbers should continue on from the body of the report. The preliminary pages (from title page to just before introduction) should be in roman numerals, not bold, and centred (eg. iv, ix). Page numbers for body of report, (ie. from Introduction section) should be in normal Arabic numbers (eg 1, 2), and centred.
- Headings: All headings and sub-headings to be in a bold sans serif type (eg Univers or Arial) and left-hand aligned, not indented or centred.
- Text font and size: to be in Times New Roman, 11 point or closest available font.
- Line spacing: to be single spaced.
- Graphics and tables: All graphics and tables are to be embedded in the report – not sent on separate disks.
- Colour: RIRDC reports are usually printed in black and white (with a few exceptions). If using colour in your reports ensure that the graphs/pictures/diagrams will still be effective if reproduced in black and white only.
- All reports will be printed double-sided (NB. The hard copy sent to RIRDC should be single sided)
Reports are required to be structured in the following order (according to AGPS Australian standards). Please refer to RIRDC’s final report template (available on our homepage and via email).
Preliminary Pages: i Title page (right-hand side) – please hide page number ii Disclaimer page iii Foreword (right-hand side) iv Acknowledgments if any, or About the Author (or just leave blank) v Contents (right-hand side) vi List of Tables, Figures, Abbreviations (if necessary) vii Executive Summary (max 5 pages, focus on results)
Body of Report: Introduction Background to the project. starts as page 1. Objectives Methodology Including a description and justification. Detailed Results Including statistical analysis. Discussion of Results Compared with the objectives. Implications Assessment of the impact of the outcomes on industry in Australia (where possible provide a statement of costs and benefits). Recommendations On the activities or other steps that may be taken to further develop, disseminate or to exploit commercially the results of the Project. Appendices If necessary. Glossary Optional. Bibliography/references
Plain English Compendium Summary StructureNote that this one-page summary will be read by people without expertise in the field of study. It should therefore be as easy to read and understand as possible.
Project Title:
RIRDC Project No.:
Researcher:
Organisation:
Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Objectives (as per Part A Project Description from project contract)
Background
Research
Outcomes
Implications
Publications
(See also the new RIRDC Style Guide (PDF -100k) to be used when compiling reports and submitting work to be published - PDF
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