After a study has finished, researchers should write a simple summary explaining the research findings and send it to the participants who took part. They should produce study reports for other members of the community. This page has examples of research summaries and reports.

Top 5 considerations for a research summary or report:

1. Remind participants about your study. Include information that reminds participants about the research they took part in because it might have been a long time ago or they might have taken part in several studies around the same time. Don't forget to thank them for taking part!
2. Highlight the key findings. In your summary you should focus on one or two standout findings from your study and, if they have a real world application, be sure to explain how your findings could impact people like your participants in day-to-day life.
3. Use simple language. It can be challenging to explain research without using jargon or research terminology. To be as accessible as possible, use language that is no higher than a reading age of a young teenager, and explain terminology if it must be used, we recommend checking the reading age of your documents using sites like readable.com or hemingwayapp.com
4. Link to contact details and further information. This will allow people to get in touch to ask further questions they might have or to read project websites or social media that provide further updates about the study, the researchers or others involved.
5. Test your summary is understandable. Ask some people like those in your sample to check your summary is easily understood, sets the right tone and provides all the detail you want to convey. There is a risk that simplifying the language can remove important details you want to include so it is important to test for both readability and completeness of your summary.