How can you simplify your research reports for non-technical readers?

Focus on their needs and what they will get the most value from. Non-technical readers are looking for solutions and "so-what's". Make sure these are clear and upfront.

Use unconventional methods! Most readers struggle to understand what the variables are and the links we are trying to establish between them through the research. Try to introduce a small quiz or a game at the start of the report to open their minds to the different perspectives and links we are trying to establish. This way, the data, the numbers and the different implications will all make sense.

I usually apply the following structure for my research reports for non-technical readers. 1. Always have one slide describing the research background and the top 3 business issues/ key objectives the research report addresses. By this, everyone can have a clear understanding of what we are going to deliver in the next pages. 2. The executive summary slide is a must 3. Using infographic visuals for mass audiences and topline tables for functional teams. 4. On each slide, we need a main header/title to describe the key information of the slide and a sub-title for the key outcome. 5. The final slides should always be key take-outs and precise plans for growth.

Does it past the "so what?" test? Ask yourself what the reader will do with the information ... e.g. in a commercial environment, will it help them "make money" or "save money". If that's the objective, does your report make clear what they need to do, how and why. If it meets those tests you're half way there ...

A very focused and simple storyline using infographics and other visualization tools in a smart way will definitely help non-technical audience to have a better overview of the big picture. Going too much into details will be surely boring and confusing at the same time. Know the audience first, identify the need, customize accordingly.

1. Know your audience, how they communicate and are motivated to take action 2. Keep your findings short and crisp written in business language 3. Pictures/visual charts can be helpful, but not too many (unless as attached supporting detail) 4. Give them the option to contact you with any questions or comments

Humor. Pure and simple. Make it funny. It is absolutely possible to inject levity without sacrificing gravitas. A witty turn of phrase will keep people engaged - and wanting to read more.

Usar uma linguagem simples em relatórios técnicos é fundamental para que a compreensão seja eficiente e o relatório cumpra seu propósito. Para acompanhar os dados agrupados, é preciso usar uma linguagem concisa e muito coerente. Dessa forma, o aproveitamento do compilado de informações será muito maior. E, é claro, não podemos confundir a linguagem simples com textos vazios e pouco convincentes. É preciso sintetizar o conteúdo de modo que a ideia seja transmitida de forma clara e direta aos leitores não-técnicos.

If the information you're presenting needs to land in a high-stakes environment - for client work, or in a board meeting, for example - try practicing the presentation with someone who's both unfamiliar with the project and unfamiliar with the research being presented. Ask the person to summarize key points and assumptions they take from the presentation. Using their fresh eyes can be an opportunity to gut-check the language you're using, and if something isn't landing right away, the words you use out loud to describe the concept to them are a great way to inform more approachable language for the deliverable. We all tend to get carried away in writing - usually the words we saying out loud are natural, approachable, and effective.

We are all guilty of using overtly technical terms and phrases that only a market research professional might understand, sometimes out of habit and at other times to sound smarter. It's best to avoid acronyms and any assumptions. The audience doesn't need to know the methodology you adopted to derive the results. The language of the report must relate to the industry and be comprehensible to the region.

Catering to non-technical readers requires a focused approach. Begin with a succinct introduction outlining the research's purpose, scope, and objectives. Structure the report logically, employing sections like problem, solution, results, and implications. Use clear headings, subheadings, and bullet points to facilitate easy comprehension. Within each segment, present key findings, insights, and recommendations, substantiated by pertinent data and evidence. This approach ensures that essential points are highlighted, providing non-technical readers with a streamlined understanding of the research's core aspects.

Keeping a focus on the main points is essential in delivering a clear and concise message. In addition, it's super important to value the executive summary as it not only encapsulates the main highlights but also provides valuable suggestions, actionable recommendations for strategic decision-making. The executive summary serves as a key tool for stakeholders to grasp the core insights efficiently.

Another consideration is to focus on the use case for the audience, what would they look for in the report, how fast can they find it and what are their goals. This will help inform decisions on structuring sections, titles, callouts, bullet points, and graphics.

Focusing on the main points applies to everything. Sometimes people get so deep into their work, they forget the bigger picture & the audience who is listening to their message. I always say - present your results like you would to the CEO of a company who has 2-5 minutes to divert attention from their precious time to your own work - or even tell your story like you would to a 6-year old - same principle applies. You need to grab attention quickly & make the most of those 5 mins to deliver key points & messages. First impressions are crucial - make the most of people’s attention and you will get them sufficiently engaged to ask deeper questions & dive in to the sections that interest them most.

Keep the main thing the main thing as a wise man said. In each subsequent section ensure you connect back the local context to the main thing. Each call back will be a reinforcing brick in the wall of narrative you seek to build in your readers' minds. Too often weak writers end up throwing up a light spun chaotic cobweb of spaghetti that makes no sense to no one.

I've generally found that the best way to engage a non-technical audience with data is by making the insight relatable. Going beyond just charts and graphs, consider weaving real-life stories and quotes from consumers into your presentations too. If you have consent, adding visuals or voxpops of people in real situations, such as customers using your products or shopping in-stores, can be incredibly engaging. These elements transform what's often perceived as complex data into something your audience can easily connect with.

Most non technical readers need you to tell them a data story. They would want your report to flow from one logic end leading to other and in the journey it should keep touching and answering the pain points of the research . A good story boarding plan is where you know your navigation path and have a clear idea on business questions you are addressing. Comparative charts, talking about the key takeaways and not using lot of business jargons will help.

I agree, infographics could be a great way of representing information in a different yet attractive manner and also catches the attention of readers. Infographics are one of the best ways to present important information in a small box in a highlighted way and grab user attention.

I remember my program director telling me that when he was defending his Ph.D. Thesis: One of the committee members asked, do your parents in the audience understand what you have done? Since then, he has always tried to present his marketing research in the language that his parents understand; if his marketing research presentation is not something his parents can understand, he is not communicating well. Hence, we must present the marketing research report in the audience's language. Maybe, as a marketing researcher, it makes sense for us to check if my parents understand my marketing research report.

I've always preferred presenting research results visually using charts, graphs, and infographics to non-technical readers. This approach makes it much easier to explain complex findings by visually showcasing patterns, trends, and key insights, thus enhancing the audience's understanding of the data. It simplifies the communication process and allows for a more engaging and impactful presentation of research results.

Iterate. Iterate. Iterate. Pobody is nerfect. The only way to get your report better is to get feedback 1:1 from interested readers, identify the gaps - especially in the bigger picture, the emotion, the narrative, and fill those gaps. Don't be afraid that your report is too drafty to let others' ideas in. The earlier the better - as long as you set the context right. Tell people whether it is 80% done and you want small changes, or it's 50% done and you're open to big ideas, before you ask them to read your report, and you will get what you ask for!

Inviting feedback from non-technical readers is invaluable in simplifying research reports. By encouraging readers to review drafts and share comments, suggestions, or questions, you can pinpoint gaps and enhance clarity. Conducting presentations or workshops further facilitates discussions, addressing queries and concerns directly. This interactive approach not only refines the report but also fosters trust and rapport with readers, showcasing your expertise and dedication to delivering comprehensible and meaningful content.

Asking for feedback is a great way to know if you've missed anything or if there is anything people don't understand, so you know how to word it better. If people misunderstand research, it could lead them down the 'wrong' path as they have taken a different meaning. Feedback could include: - Did the research answer your questions/learning objectives? - Did you understand it (if not, what would make it better)? - Is it in a format you found easy to view? - Do you have clear and actionable outputs or understandings now you have viewed the research? - Is there anything you would like more/less of?

Asking the feedback from the non technical audience is the great way to evaluate the overall result of the research. It helps the researcher to re-evaluate the results if needed.

Test Your Report: Before finalizing, test your report with a small group from your target audience to ensure it is understandable and meets their needs.

Good Day, Represent the data visually by creating meaningful Dashboards and keeping the audience in mind and creating similitudes for better understanding for the Non Technical audience. Now especially with AI Tools Dashboards can be Powerful Tools in such Situations.

From a behavioral standpoint, apart from visualization and language, it is critical to properly frame the data presentation into a logical and relatable narrative. People respond very well to stories because we are hardwired to comprehend and connect through stories. Given this, if we want our research output to impact the audience we're targeting, we need to communicate it as a story. Therefore, researchers must exercise their creativity not just in their analysis and visualizations but also in the way they arrange and consolidate their results to create a compelling story for the audience.

We should strive to make the key recommendations or insights easier to consume and understand for our target non-technical audience. However, we often fall in love with our handiwork and lose focus of the end goal. So, we should try to be pragmatic and avoid beautiful but complex graphics, or try using simple analysis to support insights as much as possible instead of over using complex statistics. The audience needs to be able to understand the key points accurately and with minimal effort, as most senior level executives don't have the time or patience to navigate a complex story.

Research technicalities are as complex as the research user is, when you talk to marketing you use their language, when you talk to HR use their language. This is set from the briefing stage, the brief language and the discussions before start sets the tone.

I'm not sure if an entire report should be simplified for a non-technical reader, if the report is by nature technical. Instead, I would suggest including an executive summary that clearly and briefly explains the main points and takeaways from the report in everyday language. In this way you serve both the technical reader who requires a deep understanding of the material and the non-technical reader who is seeking a more basic understanding of the material.