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A French research summary: data collected, report issued, policy proposed

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Order French research events and distinguish collection dates from publication dates. Practise a summary that keeps older measurements in view.

In short

A later publication can contain older measurements. Track collecte, analyse, publication and proposition as separate events. To date the evidence, read when the data were gathered, not only when the report appeared.

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Research objects arranged in a sequence.
Collection, analysis, publication and proposal are separate events. Illustration: Atelier

A September policy note cites a report published in July. A newspaper calls it “new research”. The underlying interviews may still have taken place in January. The research timeline below lets you separate what is newly released from what is newly observed. Use the ordering mode after reading the events once.

Du terrain à la proposition

  1. 8–19 janvier
    Les enquêteurs interrogent les usagers dans quatre gares.Researchers interview users at four stations.
  2. Février–mars
    L’équipe classe les réponses et compare les gares.The team categorises responses and compares stations.
  3. 12 avril
    Un premier tableau de résultats est transmis au comité.An initial results table is sent to the committee.
  4. 3 juillet
    Le rapport complet est publié avec la méthode de collecte.The full report is published with the collection method.
  5. 10 septembre
    Une note propose de modifier les horaires à partir de cette enquête.A note proposes changing timetables on the basis of this survey.

Choose the date that answers your question

Three distinct date questions
QuestionRelevant eventFrench wording
When were passengers observed?January collectionLes données ont été recueillies en janvier.
When could readers access the full report?July publicationLe rapport a été rendu public en juillet.
When was the policy change proposed?September noteLa proposition a été formulée en septembre.

The September note is later than the July report, but it does not describe a second collection. It may add an argument or a proposal. That is new output, not necessarily new measurement. Likewise, the April table makes some results available before the full publication. Its existence does not establish that the report’s methods changed in July.

Publié en juillet, le rapport repose sur des entretiens menés en janvier. La note de septembre en tire une proposition sur les horaires.

Published in July, the report rests on interviews conducted in January. The September note draws a timetable proposal from it.

Question 1No account needed
Which month dates the supplied passenger interviews?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

January. The interviews were collected from 8 to 19 January; July is the full report’s publication date.

Question 2No account needed
What does the September note add in the timeline?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A timetable proposal. The note proposes a policy change based on the existing survey; no further interviews are specified.

Question 3No account needed
Which sentence preserves both dates?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Le rapport de juillet présente des entretiens de janvier.. It identifies July as publication and January as interview collection, matching the timeline.

Before comparing two reports, make two short entries for each: période de collecte and date de publication. If collection is not given, record non précisée. This prevents a recent headline from silently updating old observations. You can still discuss why the earlier data matter, but make that argument explicitly rather than moving the collection date forward.

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