Both a REPORT and a RESEARCH PROJECT involve locating information from a number of different places – encyclopedias, books, magazines, Internet sources.
When you write a REPORT, you assemble your researched information and present or summarize it into one piece of writing, presentation, etc. You are merely “reporting” facts on a topic.
A RESEARCH PROJECT requires you to analyze and make decisions about the information you find. Instead of just giving the facts, you draw conclusions about your research to help you answer a larger question.
Obviously, research requires more work. On the bright side, it's much more interesting.
To help you see the difference, here are some examples of REPORTS and RESEARCH PROJECTS:
REPORT: What sort of healthy menu choices does McDonald’s offer?
RESEARCH PROJECT: Which fast food restaurant has the best healthy menu choices? Present your information in graph format.
REPORT: Research a famous scientist and describe why he or she is important.
RESEARCH PROJECT: Select and research a famous scientist. What if this person never existed? How would the world today be different?
REPORT: Research the life of William Shakespeare.
RESEARCH PROJECT: Who was William Shakespeare and why do people continue to make such a big deal about him?
REPORT: What are the physical, economic, and cultural characteristics of Latin America and the Caribbean?
RESEARCH PROJECT: Which Latin American and/or Caribbean country has the best quality of life for its residents? Include the physical, economic, and cultural characteristics in your decision.
Need help turning your report topic into a research question? Use the Question Brainstormer.