Neno Macadamia Trust (NMT) Report Writing Project
Instructions
The data provided by the NMT provide an opportunity to explore many relationships between different aspects of the system. In this task, you have the freedom to select any question that could be tested statistically.
The steps involved are listed below.
Study the data available and formulate a question of interest to you.
Frame a hypothesis that can be tested using the available data.
Justify your rationale for selecting this hypothesis.
Decide which test you will use to investigate the hypothesis.
Frame an appropriate null hypothesis for the chosen test.
Extract the relevant data from the spreadsheet and analyse it using an appropriate statistical test. (You may use the statistical spreadsheets provided in the ‘Resources’ section of the module website to carry out your analysis.)
Comment on the statistical significance of your chosen analysis. Can your null hypothesis be accepted or rejected? Do the survey data support your main hypothesis or not?
Think about the implications of your result. What would you do next to address your question more thoroughly?
You will need to write-up your investigation as part of your submission for the next question, so ensure that you make sufficient notes as you design and carry out your test.
Write up your analysis of the survey data from Malawi, based on the question you chose to address.
The survey was coordinated by the Neno Macadamia Trust (NMT). This registered charity is working in Malawi to alleviate poverty among disadvantaged communities. Specifically, it supports an agroforestry-based industry to produce macadamia nuts.
Note the data are the property of NMT and hence they should not be shared with anyone outside this module.
Your analysis may address either agricultural or social aspects, or a combination of the two. You should frame your own main hypothesis, generate a suitable null hypothesis, select an appropriate statistical test and then conduct the test. Don’t forget to consider how the number of trees in a smallholding will affect yield.
Your report should be no more than 1000 words (mandatory limit), excluding references.
You should state the word count at the end of your analysis.
Also include your completed statistical test spreadsheet as part of your submission. (In other words, you will need to submit a ‘.zip’ file for this assignment, consisting of your question answers and your spreadsheet.)
Further information about how to address this question are provided below.
Report structure
Divide your report into five sections using the following subheadings.
Note that the word counts indicated here for each section are just an indicative guide.
Overall, you must not exceed the mandatory limit of 1000 words.
See Module Guide: Section 6.2 Word limits.
Title
Give your report a concise title that clearly conveys the content.
Introduction
Provide the context of the study, in relation to the importance of macadamia nuts to the food security of Malawian smallholders. Clearly present your chosen question and justify your choice.
Include a formal statement of your main hypothesis and the corresponding null hypothesis that you tested.
References should be cited in appropriate OU style. (About 300 words.)
Method
Briefly describe the data and your chosen method of analysis. (About 200 words.)
Results
Present your results using appropriately labelled tables and/or figures, which are explicitly referred to in the supporting text in this section.
Indicate the result of statistical tests. (About 200 words.)
Discussion/Conclusions
State the implications of your findings supported by the research literature.
Describe how you might improve the study, and comment on what work may be required to further address the research question that you chose. (About 300 words.)
References
Provide references for any sources of information that you have used in your report, including the module materials.
Present your references in the styles outlined in the Cite them right Harvard guide to referencing including DOIs.
Hints and tips
In your analysis and report, your tutor will be looking for the following.
Clarity of the presentation. Your report should provide a clear logical narrative throughout. Support from the relevant literature, with correct citation of sources.
General advice on question development, data analysis and report writing is available in Project strand Parts 2–4.