A research paper is a part of academic writing in which analysis, interpretation, and argumentation are given about a topic based on in-depth research. This skill is similar to academic essays but has more length, and a more detailed description of the phenomena is given.
Are you pursuing your research degree? If yes, then you will be required to create a few research papers. However, it is very difficult to outline the paper in the form of simple steps. The preparation of this outline will help the researcher to organize and format his or her thoughts. So the researcher needs to prepare the outline in the form of steps that are necessary for the preparation of the research paper.
This article will help you learn how to prepare a research paper in 10 simple steps. In these steps, a structured research paper outline will be developed. This research paper helps in the assessment of the writing and research skills of the researchers. It requires in-depth knowledge of the topic.
Research paper steps
The researcher needs to have an understanding of the best way to organize research papers. These steps are:
Title page of the paper
The title page covers the title of your research study. Along with that, you have to mention the names of authors and co-authors, along with their institutional affiliation. In some cases, the author acknowledges the agency that supported him or her by providing funds to complete the project.
Abstract
The abstract is presented in one paragraph. This represents the summary of the entire research study. The length of the abstract is usually not more than 250 words. The abstract is written in the first line in the center of the page. The abstract discusses the objectives of the study, research design, population and sample of the study, sampling technique, data collection, data analysis, findings, conclusion, and major recommendations. At the end of the abstract, some keywords are also added.
Introduction
The introduction part provides information regarding the problem which the researcher aims to tackle. Here, the researcher explains the importance of the research study. It identifies the issues which the current research will try to address.
Background information
Different historical facts and relevant theories are used to provide context for the research. This also helps the researcher discover their audience.
Literature review
This step in the preparation of the research paper deals with the provision of conducting thorough literature reviews for research papers. The relevant research conducted in the past by various researchers is presented here. Furthermore, relevant theories are also presented in this section. In some journal formats, the literature review is written without a heading.
Methodology
This section deals with the process of composition Methodology and Research Design. It is further divided into certain parts, such as research design, population, sample, sampling techniques, materials used, and the procedure of the study. This specific section also indicates whether qualitative or quantitative methodology is used.
Participants of the study
This portion discusses the total number of study participants. For example, whether they are male/female, what their age is, etc. This section discusses the method through which the participants were selected.
Data collection instruments
This section describes the details of instruments such as questionnaires or interviews. In the case of the questionnaire, one needs to mention the number of factors and the number of items in each factor. Then the details of the items are given. For example, it is mentioned whether the Likert scale was used or not. How many questions of the questionnaire were reverse-scored is also mentioned in this section.
Apparatus
In this section, the details of the apparatus used in the study are given.
Procedure
In this section, the process of gathering and analyzing effective research data for papers is presented. Here, the whole procedure for conducting the study is given. It is required that the procedure be brief and concise. For example, in the case of the social sciences, the procedure of data collection is given.
Results
In this section, the results of the study are presented. The researcher should use an objective point of view here. He or she has to describe the procedure for data analysis here. In the case of multiple experiments, a separate section of results may be mentioned. The results may start with simple analyses, such as descriptive statistics, and end up with complex ones. Here, the results of the study are described in the form of tables and graphs. In some research papers, tables and graphs are presented at the end of the paper, depending on the requirements of the research journal.
Discussion
Here, the research findings are interpreted and placed in the broader context of the literature in a particular area. In this section, the researcher’s results are compared with the results of previously conducted research and elaborated on whether these results are similar or in contrast with the previous results. Commonly, the limitations and directions for further research are also given in this part of the research.
Conclusion
In this section, the researcher sums up the paper and presents a concluding statement. He or she highlights the significant results of the study.
References
Proper citation and referencing in research papers an important section of the research paper. In this section, the researcher provides all the details of the references used in this research paper. The purpose is to ensure the quality and academic integrity of the research conducted. There are many reference styles, such as MLA, and APA. But usually, in the social sciences, the APA referencing style is used. This section is located at the end of the research paper.
Last Verdict
The art of preparing a research paper requires a systematic approach. That is why it encompasses vital steps. For example, the research paper begins with a title page and an abstract that presents a comprehensive introduction to the research problem. Similarly, the background information, along with the literature review, helps contextualize the research. Then the section of methodology describes the research design and procedure applied in conducting the research study. After that, the section on results, in conjunction with the tables and graphs, describes the findings of the study. It further paves the way to a discussion section that helps in comparing the results of the study with other relevant studies previously conducted. The last conclusion is presented which discusses the contribution of research to the field.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the goal of a research paper?
A research paper aims to amalgamate different viewpoints, proofs, and facts regarding a topic by consulting articles, books, and other sources. Furthermore, the information is interpreted into writings.
Is it possible to have a person on paper?
First-person pronouns are avoided in the majority of academic writing. For instance, when writing a research paper, the words “I,” “We” and “my” are not used.
How many people can collectively write a research paper?
There is no limit to authors who write a research paper collectively. Those who have contributed to the research process of the paper are mentioned as authors of the research paper.