IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

JOURNAL OF LAW AND GLOBAL POLICY (JLGP )

E-ISSN 2579-051X
P-ISSN 2695-2424
VOL. 10 NO. 1 2025
DOI: 10.56201/JLGP.vol.10.no1.2025.pg37.53

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Legal Research Methodology: A Practical Approach to Research Report Writing

Gogo George Otuturu, PhD

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Abstract

A research report is the end product of a successful research. It contains the procedure a researcher followed in the investigation of a research problem; the techniques he adopted in collecting, analyzing and interpreting data; the findings; the recommendations and the conclusion; and, in the case of higher degree research, the contributions to knowledge and the suggested areas for further research. This paper presents a practical approach to research report writing. It adopts the doctrinal research methodology. It examines the major parts of a research report under preliminary part, main part and terminal part. It demonstrates the various parts of a research report with practical examples that cut across disciplinary boundaries. It found that there is dearth of standard journal articles and textbooks on research methodology based on the NALT Guide. It suggests that institutions of higher learning and research funding organizations should fund the production of standard journal articles and textbooks on research methodology based on the NALT Guide.

keywords:

Abstract, Appendix, Bibliography, Table of Cases, Research Report

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References:

1 Nigerian Association of Law Teachers, NALT Uniform Format and Citation Guide (NALT 2021) (hereinafter simply
referred to as “the NALT Guide”)2
Jessica L Wherry and Kristen E Murray, Scholarly Writing: Ideas, Examples and Execution (3rd edn, Carolina
Academic Press 2019) 10-11.
3 See generally Ngozi Anigbogu and Chinwe Ahumareze, ‘Report Writing’ in Queen U Njemanze and others (eds),
Essentials of Communication Skills and Technical Writing for Higher Education (Jil Publishers Global Ltd 2017) 3,
13; Arvind Kumar, ‘Business Research Methodology: Report Writing’ accessed 12 July
2023.
4 Ngozi Anigbogu and Chinwe Ahumareze, ‘Report Writing’ in Queen U Njemanze and others (eds), Essentials of
Communication Skills and Technical Writing for Higher Education (Jil Publishers Global Ltd 2017) 3, 4.
5 AB Mohammed, Research and Engagement: A Functional Approach (Ahmadu Bello University Press 2021) 32.
6 M Anjali, ‘Preparation and Presentation of Legal Research Report’ 9 accessed
27 July 2023
7 NALT Guide (n 1) 22-23.
8 Ibid 23. See also Faculty of Law, Post Graduate Manual for Research Writing (Rivers State University 2019) 26-
27.
9 OC Nwankwo, A Practical Guide to Research Writing (6th edn, University of Port Harcourt Printing Press 2026) xvi.
10 TO Oyetunde, Writing Research Projects, Journal Articles, Conference Papers and Documenting References
Accurately (University of Jos 2002) 13.
11 Adapted from Faculty of Law, Post Graduate Manual for Research Writing (Rivers State University 2019) 28.
12 Nwankwo (n 9) xix. See also Arvind Kumar, ‘Business Research Methodology: Report Writing’
accessed 12 July 2023.
13 Anjali (n 6) 10.
14 NALT Guide (n 1) 25.
5 Ibid 25.
16 Ibid 25.
17 SB Bavdekar and NJ Gogtay, ‘Writing an Abstract for a Research Manuscript: Providing an Honest, Succinct and
Complete Summary’ [2015] 63 Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 64.
18 Sarah Cuschieri, Victor Grech and Charles Savona-Ventura, ‘WASP (Write a Scientific Paper): Structuring a
Scientific Paper’ [2019] 128 Early Human Development 114
19 Anna Harvey and others, ‘Anatomy of an Abstract: A Guide to Writing a Scientific Abstract’ [2018] 1(2) Journal
of the National Student Association of Medical Research 54.
20 Sarah Cuschieri, Victor Grech and Charles Savona-Ventura, ‘WASP (Write a Scientific Paper): Structuring a
Scientific Paper’ [2019] 128 Early Human Development 115.
21 SB Bavdekar and NJ Gogtay, ‘Writing an Abstract for a Research Manuscript: Providing an Honest, Succinct and
Complete Summary’ [2015] 63 Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 64.
22 HJM Vrijhoef and LMG Steuten, ‘How to Write an Abstract’ [2007] 4(3) EDN 124.
23 Indrajeet P Shah, ‘How to Write a Research Article’ [2019] 7(2) International Journal of Pharmaceutical and
Biological Science Archive 1.
24 Anna Harvey and others, ‘Anatomy of an Abstract: A Guide to Writing a Scientific Abstract’ [2018] 1(2) Journal
of the National Student Association of Medical Research 57.
25 SB Bavdekar and NJ Gogtay, ‘Writing an Abstract for a Research Manuscript: Providing an Honest, Succinct and
Complete Summary’ [2015] 63 Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 64.
26 Anna Harvey and others, ‘Anatomy of an Abstract: A Guide to Writing a Scientific Abstract’ [2018] 1(2) Journal
of the National Student Association of Medical Research 54.
27 Indrajeet P Shah, ‘How to Write a Research Article’ [2019] 7(2) International Journal of Pharmaceutical and
Biological Science Archive 2.
28 Caroline JH Martin and Valerie Fleming, ‘A 15-Step Model for Writing a Research Proposal’ [2010] 18(12) British
Journal of Midwifery 791.
29 GG Otuturu, ‘Legal Research Methodology: The Nuts and Bolts of Research Proposal’ [2024]
30 NALT Guide (n 1) 29 and 46.
31 Ibid 30.
32 Ibid 29 and 48.
33 Ibid 31.
34 Ibid 32 and 43.
35 Ibid 33 and 43.
36 Ibid 42.
37 Niger Delta University, ‘Research Guide’ (Faculty of Law 2023) 3 (hereinafter simply referred to as “NDU Research
Guide”).
38 Ibid 3.
39 NALT Guide (n 1) 44; NDU Research Guide (n 34) 4.
40 Ibid 34-35
41 Niger Delta University, Research Guide: Guide for Preparation of PGD Project, Thesis and Dissertation (Niger
Delta University 2021) 14.
42 NALT Guide (n 1) 26.
43 Ibid 84.
44 Anjali (n 6) 8.
45 Ibid 26.
46 Arvind Kumar, ‘Business Research Methodology: Report Writing’ accessed 12 July
2023.
47 Anjali (n 6) 15.
48 See generally NALT Guide (n 1) 27-56.

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