{"id":21697,"date":"2019-04-12T10:00:59","date_gmt":"2019-04-12T04:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/?p=21697"},"modified":"2022-04-29T22:36:35","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T16:36:35","slug":"why-are-progress-reports-important-in-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/why-are-progress-reports-important-in-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Progress Reports Important in Research?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did your supervisor ask you to write a progress report? A significant part of your supervisor\u2019s job is to be a project manager and be accountable to funders. Remember, your research project is just one cog in the wheel of science in your lab. Therefore, your supervisor will need reports on the progress of each project. Their job is to evaluate your progress and adjust your action plan if things go wrong. These reports are not simply a report of your results.<\/p>\n

Set SMART Goals<\/h2>\n

First, set \u201cSMART\u201d goals<\/a> for your project (SMART = Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-targeted goals). I like SMART goals because they are more than a list of things to achieve. They are part of an action plan. Your progress reports will help you check whether your goals are on track.<\/p>\n

Progress Report Intervals<\/h2>\n

Your supervisor will tell you how often they need progress reports. The time interval depends on the nature of your work. I like to monitor my projects regularly<\/a>, on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.<\/p>\n

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  1. Daily: this is an informal walk around the lab where I have a quick chat with my team members on what they are doing. I also set myself a daily \u201cto do\u201d list.<\/li>\n
  2. Weekly: my team meets once a week for coffee and an informal journal club. After discussing a paper, we give a quick verbal report on our progress during the past week and any challenges that have arisen. If we find that someone is struggling or their work needs further discussion, we schedule a meeting.<\/li>\n
  3. Monthly: once a month we write a formal progress report of our work and meet on a one-to-one basis to discuss it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Purpose of Progress Reports<\/h2>\n

    Your report should include your results obtained so far, experiments you are working on, plans for future work and any problems you might have with your work. It is a report on your overall plan. This plan needs constant assessment to ensure you reach your goals and to help you make informed decisions and justify any changes.<\/p>\n

    Progress reports also keep stakeholders informed. Anyone involved with your project wants to know:<\/p>\n