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• Ücret Politikası

Research Paper Nasıl Yazılır? [5 Research Paper Örneği]

Research paper, yazarın bir konu hakkında gerek kendi verilerini topladığı gerekse literatürden verileri alarak bu verileri incelediği, analiz ettiği ve bir sonuca vardığı, Türkçe’de araştırma makalesi ya da bilimsel makale olarak adlandırılan, akademik bir makale türüdür.

Research paper, akademik olarak yazılan makalelere (essay) benzer, ancak genellikle daha uzun ve daha ayrıntılı olarak yazılan bir makale türüdür. Bir research paper yazmak, yazacağınız konunuz hakkında detaylı araştırma yapmayı, bulduğunuz çeşitli kaynaklar arasında bağlantı kurmanızı ve literatüre özgün bir katkıda bulunmanızı gerektirir.

Bir paper yazmak bazen biraz korkutucu olabilir. Ama Essay Sepeti’nin uzman hocaları yanınızda. Size burada en ince detayına kadar research paper yazmayı anlatacağız. Ama yazmakta zorluk çekiyorsanız ve bu konuda danışmanlık almak isterseniz bize sağ aşağıda bulunan mesaj butonundan, iletişim bölümünden ya da [email protected] adresinden ulaşabilirsiniz. Hadi başlayalım : )

İçindekiler

• 1.1 Research paper konusunu seçmek
• 1.2 Konunuzu daraltın
• 2.1 Bulduğunuz araştırma notlarını organize edin.
• 3 Research Paper Structure – Research Paper Formatı
• 4 Research Paper Thesis Statement Nasıl Yazılır?
• 5 Research Proposal
• 6.1 Research Paper Introduction (Giriş) Bölümü Nasıl Yazılır?
• 6.2 Issue (Problem) Bölümü
• 6.3.1 Literature Review Outline
• 6.4.1 Research Question Nasıl Yazılır?
• 6.4.2 Research Method Outline
• 6.5.1 Result bölümü
• 6.5.2 Discussion Bölümü
• 6.5.3 Results and Discussion Outline
• 6.6.1 Conclusions and Recommendations Outline
• 6.7 References (Referans) Bölümü
• 7 Editing ve Proofreading 
• 8.0.1 Research Paper Content Checklist
• 8.0.2 Research Paper Grammar Checklist
• 9.1 Research paper örneği
• 9.2 Research paper örneği PDF

Research Paper Konusu Nasıl Seçilir?

Research paper konusunu seçmek.

Bilimsel makale yazmaya başlarken en önemli adımlardan biri sizi en çok ilgilendiren ve üzerine içerik üretebileceğiniz bir research paper konusu seçmektir. Eğer sizi ilgilendiren ve merak duyduğunuz bir konu seçerseniz yazma süreciniz çok kolaylaşacaktır.

Bilimsel makale yazarken konu seçerken ne çok geniş ne de çok dar bir konu seçmelisiniz. Örneğin dinler üzerine yazacaksanız, sadece din üzerine bir  yazamazsınız. Bu çok geniş bir konu olacaktır. Konuyu “Din”den “Dünya Dinleri”ne ve “Budizm”e daraltmalısınız.

Kapsamlı bir araştırma yapmadan önce yazacağınız research question (araştırma sorusu) ve thesis statement için profesörünüzden onay almalısınız. Onay alınmadan başlanan research paper, term paper veya bitirme tezlerinde profesörünüzün konuyu değiştirmesiyle hayal kırıklığına uğrayabilirsiniz. Yazdığınız onca içerik boşa gidebilir.

Research paper, term paper veya bitirme tezine başlarken sizden ne beklendiğinden emin değilseniz, öğretmeninize sorun. Üzerine yazabileceğiniz bir konu seçin. Çok teknik veya çok uzmanlık gerektiren konulardan kaçının. Üzerine çok az kaynak materyal bulabileceğiniz konuların üzerine eğilmekten kaçının.

Öğrencilerin sevdikleri ve daha iyi bildikleri research paper konuları üzerine yazmaları esastır. Konuyu iyice inceleyen ve okuyan öğrenciler, yazdıkları araştırma yazılarının güzel bir sonuca ulaşması için detaylara dikkat etmelidirler.

Güzel bir research paper veya bilimsel makale yazmak, diğerlerinin yanı sıra araştırma soruları, yöntemleri, analizleri ve tartışmaları gibi her bir research paper bölümünün gereksinimlerine dikkat etmeyi de gerektirir. Research paper formatının nasıl olacağına da ilerki bölümlerde değineceğiz.

Başarılı bir research paper yazmak için atmanız gereken ilk adımlar, konu hakkında bilgi edinmek için biraz başlangıç ​​araştırması yapmak, outline çıkarmak, thesis statement veya research question (tezin araştırma sorusu ya da tez hipotezi) hakkında düşünmektir.

Yazacağınız konu hakkında geçmişte hangi araştırmalar yapıldığını ve bilimsel makaleler yazıldığını araştırarak işe başlayabilirsiniz. Henüz keşfedilmemiş, literatürde olmayan hangi konular var? Hangi research topic ile aha önce literatürde olmayan bir konuyu inceleyebilirsiniz? Bunları düşünmeniz gerekir.

Konunuzu daraltın

Üzerine yazmak istediğiniz konuyla ilgili gerekli miktarda bilgi, veri ve literatürü inceledikten sonra, research topic daraltmanın zamanı geldi. Seçtiğiniz research topic birkaç alt kola ayrılabileceği için seçilen konunun çok geniş olması uygun değildir. Geniş bir research topic seçmek konuyu çok geniş bir biçimde ele almak manasına geleceği, bu konuların hepsini tek bir araştırma makalesinde ele almak iyi bir çözüm olmayacaktır.

İlginizi çeken benzersiz bir research topic veya research question seçmelisiniz. Bu benzersiz research konusu literatüre katkıda bulunduğu için hem araştırmanın değerini arttıracak hem de sizin insanlığa bir katkıda bulunmanıza yarayacaktır. Önceden çalışılmış konular üzerine bir research paper yazmanın kimseye faydası yoktur. Bu aşamada yazdığınız research paper veya bitirme tezinin neden önemli olduğunu açıklamalı ve araştırmanızın önemini ayrıntılı olarak okuyucuya anlatmalısınız.

Bilimsel Makale İçin Araştırma Nasıl Yapılır?

Research paper veya term paper yazmak için, öncelikle, bir research paper outline oluşturmanız gerekmektedir. Bunu için gereken genel bilgiler veya background information için;

• Firmaların web sitelerine, yıllık raporlarına, hakkımızda kısımlarına,
• Britannica gibi çevrimiçi ansiklopedilere;
• JSTOR, Science Direct, Springer, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ProQuest, eLibrary, Wiley, IEEE Xplore ya da EBSCOhost gibi veri tabanlarına
• Euromonitor, TUİK, Statista ya da EMIS gibi istatistik veri sağlayabilecek kaynaklara
• Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Financial Times, BBC gibi saygın online gazetelere

başvurabilirsiniz. Wikipedia akademik bir kaynak değildir ve bilimsel makaleler için kullanılamazlar. Buradan genel olarak bilgi edinebilirsiniz ama Wikipedia’yı akademik kaynak olarak kullanmamalısınız.

Başlangıç ​​noktası olarak arama motorlarını veya diğer arama araçlarını kullanabilirsiniz. Alan adı uzantılarına, .edu (eğitim kurumu), .org (kar amacı gütmeyen kuruluş) veya .gov (hükümet) dikkat edin. Bu siteler kurumları temsil eder ve daha güvenilirdir.

Halk ve üniversite kütüphanelerine, işletmelere, devlet kurumlarının web sitelerine de göz atabilirsiniz. Bu kaynakları okuyup ve değerlendirin, ana hatlarıyla konuyu şekillendirin. İlgili bilgilerin çıktısını ve fotokopisini alabilir veya not tutabilirsiniz.

Kaynaklarınızı toplarken, tam bibliyografik bilgileri (yazar, başlık, yayın yeri, yayıncı, yayın tarihi, sayfa numaraları, URL’ler, Web sayfalarında oluşturma veya değiştirme tarihleri ve erişim tarihiniz) çalışma sayfanıza, çıktınıza not edin veya daha sonra aradığınızda bulmak için bilgisayarınıza bu bilgileri kaydedin.

Kaynak olarak gösteremeyeceğiniz için bibliyografik bilgisi olmayan bir makalenin faydasız olduğunu unutmayın.

Bulduğunuz araştırma notlarını organize edin.

Topladığınız malzemeler research outline yapısına göre düzenlenmelidir. Araştırma verilerinizi eleştirel olarak analiz edin. Elinizde mevcut olan ve ulaşabileceğiniz en iyi kaynakları kullanarak verilerin doğruluğunu kontrol edin ve bilgilerin gerçek, güncel ve doğru olduğundan emin olun.

Araştırma yazısındaki argümanınızı desteklemeye yardımcı oluyorlarsa, karşıt görüşler de not edilmelidir. Bu, bir bilimsel araştırma makalesi yazısı en önemli aşamasıdır. Bu bilgiler daha sonra discussion bölümünde ele alınıp araştırmanız sonucunda bulduğunuz bulgularla (findings) karşılaştırılarak tartışılacaktır.

Ayrıca düşüncelerinizi, fikirlerinizi, argümanlarınızı ve araştırma bulgularınızı bir sunum sunuyormuşçasına akıcı bir tonda raporda, bir essay parçasında, bir research paper veya term paper ödevin ifade etmelisiniz. Düşüncelerinizi akıcı bir şekilde paper ödevine aktarmazsanız okuyucular sıkılacaktır ve bu da paper kalitesini düşürecektir.

Research question ile ilgili olmayan hiçbir bilgiyi araştırmanıza dahil etmeyin. Not ettiğiniz bilgilerin dikkatli bir şekilde kaydettiğinizden ve mümkünse kendi kelimelerinizle yazdığınızdan emin olun. Kendi kelimelerinizle anlatamadığınız bir bilgiyi anlamamışsınız demektir.

Plagiarism (intihal) kesinlikle söz konusu olmamalıdır. Araştırmalardan ve literatürden alınan tüm fikirleri veya kullanılan alıntılara doğru bir şekilde referans verin. Notlarınızı sınıflandırırken, alıntı yapılan her bilgi için ayrıntılı reference ve citation bilgileri not edin ve onu Works Cited (references) kısmında okuyucuya verilmek üzere hazır hale getirin.

Research Paper Structure – Research Paper Formatı

Research paper belli başlı bazı bölümlerden oluşur. Bunlar:

• Introduction (giriş) bölümü
• Issue (problem) bölümü
• Literature review (literatür araştırması) bölümü
• Research Method (Araştırma Metodu) bölümü
• Results and Discussion (Sonuçlar ve Tartışma) bölümü
• Conclusions and Recommendations (Sonuç ve Öneriler) bölümü
• References (Referans) bölümü

gibi bölümlerden oluşur. Bu formata aynı zamanda outline da denir. Outline nasıl yazılır ayrıntılı olarak öğrenmek isterseniz makalemizi ücretsiz olarak ziyaret edebilirsiniz.

Research paper outline resmi veya gayri resmi olabilir. Kabataslak bir outline (çalışma taslağı), yazarların fikirlerini yazmalarına ve düzenlemelerine yardımcı olan bir araçtır. Biçime çok dikkat edilmeden revize, ekleme ve iptallere olanak tanır. Yazarların kilit noktalarını netleştirmelerine ve düzenlemelerine yardımcı olur.

Bazen öğrencilerden araştırma yazılarıyla birlikte resmi outline sunmaları istenir. Resmi bir outline, konuları ve alt konuları düzenlemek için sayılar ve harfler kullanır. Aynı türden harfler ve sayılar doğrudan birbirinin altına yerleştirilmelidir. Başlıkları ve alt başlıkları ile belirtilen konular mantıklı bir sıraya göre gruplandırılmalıdır.

Research paper structure veya research paper formatı

Research Paper Thesis Statement Nasıl Yazılır?

Çoğu bilimsel bilimsel makale, outline oluşturma aşamasında bile, normalde bir thesis statement gerektirir. Gerektirip gerektirmediği konusunda emin değilseniz, öğretmeninize ödevinizin gerektirip gerektirmediğini ve araştırma ödevi thesis statement kısmında neyi görmeyi beklediklerini sorun. Thesis statement nasıl yazılır ve örnekleri nelerdir daha ayrıntılı bilgi almak için thesis statement yazımızı okuyabilirsiniz.

Kısacası, thesis statement, research paper yazarken oluşturacağınız araştırmanın ana fikirdir, araştırma makalenizin merkezi noktasıdır. Makalenizde sunduğunuz argümanlar bu ana fikre dayanmalıdır, bu yüzden çok önemlidir.

Thesis statement tek bir cümle ile yazılmalıdır. Research paper yazarken thesis statement, savunduğunuz pozisyonun bir beyanı gibidir. Makalenizin ana kısmı, bu pozisyonu ve fikri desteklemek ve savunmak kurulan için argümanlardan oluşacaktır.

Makalenizin başında – giriş bölümünde yani introduction paragrafında bir thesis statement ile savunduğunuz argümanı okuyucuya vermelisiniz. Paper yapmaya yeni başladığınızda hemen bir thesis statement oluşturmanız mümkün değildir. Ana hatlarıyla birlikte bir thesis statement yazmadan önce konu hakkındaki materyalleri toplamalı, savunacağınız argümanı şekillendirmeli, organize etmeli ve analiz etmelisiniz.

Genel, çok belirsiz ifadelerden ve argümanlardan uzak durmalısınız. Belirli bir konuyu seçmeli ve ona odaklanmalısınız. Yazdığınız essay, okuyucular için yeni bir şey sunmalı; okuma sürecini okuyucularınız için ilginç ve eğitici hale getirmelidir.

İyi bir thesis statement;

• Okuyuculara araştırma konusunu nasıl yorumladığınızı ana hatlarıyla belirtmeli ve açıklamalıdır.
• Okuyuculara makalenizden ne beklemeleri gerektiğini söyleyin.
• Size sorulan soruyu cevaplayın.
• Başkalarının itiraz edebileceği bir thesis statement yazın. Thesis statement yanlışlanabilir olmalıdır.

Bilimsel makale yazarken thesis statement güçlü oluşturulmalıdır. Vaktiniz ve fırsatınız varsa, thesis statement cümlenizi hocanıza gösterin, thesis statement hakkında yorumları alın, bu yorumlara göre revize edin, zayıf noktaların iyileştirilmesi için çalışın.

Bunun yanı sıra, thesis statement yazarken şunlara dikkat etmelisiniz:

• Thesis statement research question cevap veriyor mu?
• Thesis statement yeterince kesin mi? Yazdığınız thesis statement genel ve belirsiz olmamalıdır.
• Essay body paragrafları thesis statement cümlesini destekliyor mu? Bunları karşılaştırın ve gerekirse değiştirin. Yazma ve gözden geçirme sürecinde çalışmanızın değişen unsurlarının olması normaldir.
• Thesis statement üzerinden savunduğunuz argüman itiraz edilebilir veya karşı çıkılabilir nitelikte mi? Değilse, belki bir argüman oluşturmak yerine bir özet cümlesi yazmış olabilirsiniz.
• Thesis statement “ne olmuş” testini geçiyor mu? Okuyucular için yeni/ilginç bilgiler sağlıyor mu yoksa sadece genel bir gerçeği mi ifade ediyor?

İyi hazırlanmış bir thesis statement, iyi şekillendirilmiş bir fikir demektir. Essay yazı parçasının güvenilirliğini artırır ve yazarı hakkında iyi bir izlenim bırakır.

Research Proposal

Research proposal, research paper yazmadan önce bu yazının nasıl olacağını anlatan kısa bir akademik makaledir. Araştırma yazısına benzer bölümlerden oluşur. Bu bölümler üniversitenize ve profesörünüzün istediklerine göre değişiklik gösterse de şu bölümlerden oluşabilir:

• Research question ile uyumlu başlık atmalısınız.
• Araştırmanızın neden önemi olduğunu anlatmalı (rationale veya justification); ve araştırmanız hakkında genel bilgiler veren background bölümünü yazmalısınız.
• Research problem ile uyumlu bir research question formüle etmelisiniz.
• Araştırmanın hangi metot ile yapılacağını anlatmalısınız.
• Araştırmanın hangi zaman çizelgesini izleyeceğini ve bu araştırma süresince neler yapacağınızı bu bölümde anlatmalısınız.
• Araştırma içinde kullandığınız referansları bu bölümde belirtmelisiniz.

Research proposal hemen her üniversite tarafından istenen bir yazı parçasıdır. Bu konuda danışmanlık almak için bize sağ aşağıda bulunan mesaj butonundan, iletişim bölümünden ya da [email protected] adresinden ulaşabilirsiniz.

Research Paper Nasıl Yazılır?

Research paper formatı birçok farklı formatta veya yapıda olabilir. Bizim bu yazıda kullanacağımız veya yapısı şu şekildedir:

Research Paper Introduction (Giriş) Bölümü Nasıl Yazılır?

• Üzerine çalıştığınız konuya hakkında okuyucuya genel bir bakış sunun – ana iddianızı veya argümanınızı ekleyin (thesis statement)
• Bu tezi neden yazdığınız hakkında kısa bir gerekçe (justification of the research) verin – okuyucularınıza araştırma makalenizin neden önemli olduğunu açıklayın (importance of the study)
• Research question kapsamı (research scope) ve planlanan yöntemin kısaca açıklayın (research method)

Issue (Problem) Bölümü

• Üzerine çalıştığınız konuyu ve problemin geçmişi hakkında bilgi verin.
• Bu problemin toplumu nasıl etkilediğini anlatın.
• Problemi tetikleyen sorunlar ve faktörler hakkında bilgi verin.
• Problemi çözmek için göstereceğiniz olası çözümler hakkında kısaca bilgi verin.

Research Paper  Literature Review (Literatür Araştırması) Bölümü Nasıl Yazılır?

Bilimsel makale yazarken kullanılan araştırma eylemi, kendi içinde birikimli bir süreçtir. Bu, kişinin araştırma sürecinde topladığı bilgilerle literatüre bir şeyler katması anlamına gelir. Ve bu beklenti nedeniyle, literature review (literatür tarama) sürecinin konuyu daraltmada ve ayrıca konuyla ilgili background information sağlamada çok yardımcı olduğu yer burasıdır.

Bir literature review (literatür taraması) yapmak, araştırma yaptığınız konu hakkında hali hazırda bilinenleri belirlemeye yardımcı olur. Kapsamlı bir literature review yapmak, aynı zamanda size research probleminize her açıdan bakma fırsatı da sağlayacaktır.

Literature review birkaç yolla yapılır. Bunlar:

• İnternette anahtar kelime taraması : Literatürün gözden geçirilmesine başlamak için en iyi yerlerden biri online databaselerde anahtar kelime araması yapmaktır. Daha önce online databaselerin JSTOR, JSTOR, Science Direct, Springer, Web of Science, Google Scholar gibi siteler olduğunu belirtmiştik. Bu sitelerde, bir öğrenci, anahtar kelime araması ile, akademik dergileri ve akademik makaleleri inceleyebilir ve bulardan kendi araştırması için bilgiler alabilir. Burada amaç güvenilirliği yüksek olan, güncel ve saygın akademik yayınlardan bilgileri almaktır. Dergilerin bağımsız olması ve peer reviewed hakemli dergiler olması da önemlidir.
• Önceki araştırmaların kontrol edilmesi: Arama sürecinin bir sonraki adımı, güvenilir ve saygın kuruluşların konu ile ilgili yaptığı çalışmalara bakmaktır. Bu kuruluşlar araştırma konunuz hakkında ne buldular, ne paylaşıyorlar ve yayınlıyorlar? Araştırma özel olarak mı yoksa kamu tarafından mı finanse ediliyor? Araştırmacılar bir şirket veya vakıfla mı bağlantılı, yoksa üniversite araştırma kurumlarına mı bağlı? Finansman kaynaklarına veya olası çıkar çatışmalarına bakmak esastır çünkü araştırma çalışmasının güvenilirliğini tartarken bulgulardaki doğal önyargının dikkate alınması gerekir.
• Üniversite kütüphanesindeki kitapların incelenmesi: Artık üzerinde çalışılacak epeyce background information sahibi olduğunuza göre, üniversite kütüphanelerine de bir göz atabilirsiniz. Araştırma konunuzla ilgili akademik dergi makalelerini veya diğer primary kaynakları aramak için research database kullanın. Bu tür kütüphane araştırması, araştırmak istediğiniz konuyu (uzmanlıklardan alt uzmanlıklara kadar) araştıran kurumlardan ve akademisyenlerden işinize yarayacak çok bilgi almanıza yarayabilir.
• Akademik kaynakları kullanın: Hakemli akademik dergiler, özellikle kör hakemli değerlendirme sürecine (blind peer-review process) dahil olan hakemli dergiler araştırma çalışmasının kalitesini değerlendirmede altın standart olarak bilinir; ve akademik araştırma makalelerinde en yüksek güvenilirliğe sahiptirler. Bu tarzda değerlendirilmiş akademik yayınlardan alacağınız akademik bilgiler en yüksek güvenilirliğe sahip olacaktır. Ayrıca, araştırdığınız ve hakkında yazdığınız konuyla ilgili tanınmış araştırmacılar ve akademisyenler tarafından yayınlanan bazı kitapları da kullanabilirsiniz. Çalışmanız bir konferansta yayınlanır veya kabul edilirse, takip ettiğiniz alandaki diğer araştırmacılar tarafından sonraki çalışmalarda alıntılanma veya alıntılanma şansınız yüksektir.

Literature Review Outline

Research paper literature review kısmına bir outline çıkarmamız gerekirse, outline şu şekilde olacaktır:

• Sorunu açıklamak için kullanılan ilgili teorileri veya konuya bir çözüm önermek için kullanılan teorileri tanımlayın
• Kavramlar veya teorik yapıları tanımlayın
• Konuyu açıklamak için kullanılan başlıca teorileri ve konu ile ilgili alaka düzeylerini anlatın
• Bugüne kadar yapılmış ilgili ampirik çalışmalara genel bakış
• Metodolojinin özeti
• Çalışmanızın ana bulguları nelerdi?
• Çalışmanın bulgularına ilişkin sınırlamalar nelerdi?
• Kendi araştırmanızda (varsa) kimin kavram(lar)ını ve tanım(lar)ını kullanacaksınız?
• İnceleyeceğiniz konunun benzersiz yönlerini açıklayın
• Şimdiye kadar okuduklarınıza dayanarak, kendi araştırmanız için en uygun yöntemi tanımlayın.

Research Method (Araştırma Metodu) Bölümü

Research paper için bilgi toplarken kullanabileceğiniz çeşitli research method türleri bulunmaktadır. Sizin için en doğru yöntemi belirlemek için research problem’ı iyi anlamalısınız.

• Focus group: Amaç, zaman ve paraya fazla yatırım yapmadan küçük bir grup insandan çok fazla bilgi elde etmekse focus group kurmak participant kişilerden bilgi almak için iyi bir yöntemdir. Katılımcıları (participant), bir yerde toplamak ve onlardan research question maddelerine ilişkin bilgi sağlamalarını istemek iyi bir yöntemdir. Kolaylık açısından uygun olsa da, focus group yönteminden elde edilen bulgular, katılımcılar keyfi olarak seçildiğinden, tüm popülasyona genelleştirilemez. Araştırmacı eğer research paper için nokta atışı bilgiler istiyorsa purposive sampling metodunu kullanıp katılımcıları kendi belirlediği kıstaslar ile seçebilir. Böylece katılımcıların research problem hakkında yeteri kadar bilgisi olduğu için katılımcılar sorulara güvenilir yanıtlar verebilir.
• Survey veya questionnaire (anketler): Rastgele seçilen katılımcılarla büyük bir örneklem kullanılarak yürütülen araştırmalar, literatürde yaygın olarak görülmektedir. Bununla birlikte, survey veya questionnaire metotlarının da zayıf yönleri olduğunu unutmamak gerekir çünkü katılımcılar araştırma problemi hakkındaki fikirlerini dürüstlükle beyan etmeyebilirler (yani, politik cevaplar verebilirler). Bunun için de survey veya questionnaire sorularına cross-check yapılabilecek validity ve reliability skorlarını arttıracak sorular koyulur.
• Field experiments (saha deneyleri): Field experiment, bazı katılımcıları sabit tutarak diğer grupta oynamalar yaparak yapılan oynamaların nasıl sonuçlar vereceğini görmek için yapılır. Mesela, bir ilaç firması yeni çıkan bir baş ağrısı ilacının etkinliğini ölçüyor olsun. Başı ağrıyan iki gruptan birine gerçek ilaç verilirken ötekine ilaç yerine etkisi olmayan bir hap verilir. Etkisiz hap verilen gruba placebo grubu denir. Araştırmacılar burada ilacın etkisini (oynama burada ilaçtır) anlamak için bir gruba ilaç verirken placebo grubuna vermez ve ilacın gercekten işe yarayıp yaramadığını ölçmeye çalışır. Bu deney, field experiment olarak adlandırılır. Bunun yanı sıra, içerik analizi, deneyler, doğrudan gözlem veya katılımcı gözlemler gibi yöntemler de araştırmacılar tarafından araştırma sorularına cevap bulmak için kullanılan geleneksel yöntemlerdir.

Research Question Nasıl Yazılır?

Research question ve research method bir bilimsel araştırma makalesindeki en önemli kısımlardır. İlk olarak, research question belirlenmesinde kapsam (scope) ve zaman çerçevesi açısından spesifik olmalıdır. Bilimsel araştırmalarda, research question nicel, nitel veya karma bir metot aracılığı ile ölçülebilir olmalıdır.

Örneğin, araştırma sorunuz, seçmenlerin kadın bir başkan adayını destekleyip desteklemediğini göstermek istiyorsa, belki de en iyi yöntem, field interview yapmak veya bu seçmenlerle rastgele bir örnekleme yöntemi (random sampling method) kullanarak bir telefon anketi yapmaktır. Sorularınıza yanıt almanıza yardımcı olabilecek birçok yol vardır. Bununla birlikte, her yöntemin kendine özgü güçlü ve zayıf yönleri olduğunun farkında olmak çok önemlidir.

Research Method Outline

Research paper methods kısmına bir outline çıkarmamız gerekirse, outline şu şekilde olacaktır:

• Bilimsel araştırma makalenizdeki research question cümlelerini okuyucuya tanımlayın.
• Kullanacağınız research method (araştırma yöntemini) tanımlayın.
• Research sample (araştırma örneklemi) tanımlayın.
• Data analiz metodunuzu tanımlayın.
• Neden bu research method (araştırma metodunu) seçtiğinizi belirtin (research method justification).
• Study limitation (araştırma yazısındaki kısıtlamalar) bahsedin.

Results and Discussion (Sonuçlar ve Tartışma) Bölümü

Research methods (araştırma yöntemleri) ile veri topladıktan sonra sıra elinizdeki bilgileri anlamlandırmaya geldi. Results ve discussion bölümü, araştırmacının çalışmasındaki bulguları sunduğu ve önceki literatür ile karşılaştırarak yorumladığı bölümdür. Araştırmacı bu kısımda aynı zamanda konu üzerinde gelecekte yapılacak olası araştırmalar için yol da gösterir.

Result bölümü

İlk olarak, çalışmanızın bulgularından bahsetmek büyük önem taşır. Result kısmını yazan bir araştırmacı şu soruları kendine sormalıdır:

• Araştırmanızdaki bulgular research question (araştırma sorularını) yanıtladı mı?
• Eğer araştırmanıza paralel olarak hipotezler oluşturduysanız, araştırma sonuçları hipotezleri destekledi mi?

Ayrıca, okuyucunun verilerinizi ve bilgilerinizi anlamaya ve anlamlandırmaya çalışmasına yardımcı olmak için araştırma bulgularınıza tablolar, grafikler, istatistiksel şekiller ve diğer görsel temsiller biçiminde destek sağlamanız okuyucularınız için yararlı olacaktır.

Discussion Bölümü

Analiz yaparken, bir yazar ve araştırmacı olarak, çalışmanızın bulgularını yorumlamanız gerekecektir. Bu bağlamda şu soruları kendinize sormanız önemlidir:

• Sonuçlarınız akademik literatüre bir katkı sağlıyor mu
• Sonuçlarınız akademik literatür için önemli mi?
• Bulgular önceki literatürü destekliyor mu?

Mevcut kanıtlarla, bir araştırmacı olarak, ortaya çıkardığınız bilgilerin önceki literatür ile bağlamını kurmak ve önemini açıklamak size düşüyor. Discussion bölümü bulgularınızın önceki bulgularla karşılaştırıldığı ve analiz edildiği bölümdür.

Results and Discussion Outline

• Bulgulardan (findings) bahsedin.
• Bulgulardan bahsederken grafikler, chartlar ve illustration’lar kullanın.
• Araştırmanızın daha önceki araştırmalarla olan benzerliklerini ve ayrı düştüğü kısımları anlatın.
• Sizi şaşırtan araştırma sonuçlarını anlatın. Bazen research hypothesis (araştırma hipotezi) ile ters düşen sonuçlar elde edebilirsiniz.
• Study limitation (araştırma yazısındaki kısıtlamalar) bahsedin. Neler sizi zorladı? Neler araştırma yapmanızı kısıtladı?

Conclusions and Recommendations (Sonuç ve Öneriler) Bölümü

Conclusion and recommendations bölümü, yazarın her şeyi özetlemesi ve tutarlı bir anlatıya bağlamasını sağlar. Bir conclusion tipik olarak research question, methods, results gibi araştırmanın önemli bölümlerine değinir. Conclusion bölümü, okuyucuların çalışmanızın özünü tekrar hatırlamasını sağlar. Bu bölüm özellikle okuyucuların yeterli zamanları olmadığında veya hızlıca göz atmak istediklerinde hızlı bir şekilde araştırma yazınızı okumalarına yarar.

Conclusions and Recommendations Outline

• Kısaca research question (araştırma sorusu), research method (araştırma metodu) ve önemli bulgulardan bahsedin.
• Okuyuculara bu çalışmanın asıl amacını ve araştırma yazınızda neler başardığınızı kısaca hatırlatın.
• Gelecekteki araştırmacıların çalışmanızı nasıl genişletebileceğini veya geliştirebileceğini açıklayın.
• Research problem (araştırma problemi) çözmek için hazırladığınız önerilerini okuyucularla paylaşın.

References (Referans) Bölümü

Referanslar (references) araştırma makalelerinde kulladığınız kaynakları belirttiğiniz bölümdür. Referans tarzı araştırmanızın alanına veya üniversitenizin gereksinimlerine bağlı olarak değişebilir.

Tipik olarak kullanılan birkaç referans stili vardır. En yaygın kullanılanları APA stili ve MLA stilidir. Ancak, Harvard, Chicago, American Medical Association (AMA), APSA (American Political Science Association), ASA (American Sociological Association), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) gibi birçok referans yöntemi vardır. References bölümünü yapmadan ve research paper için citation vermeden önce üniversitenizin stil kılavuzlarını kontrol edin ve sizden hangi yöntemi kullanmanızı istediğini iyice öğrenin.

APA (American Psychological Association) stili daha çok sosyal bilimler alanındaki kaynaklara atıfta bulunmak için kullanılmaktadır. Ayrıntılı bilgi American Psychological Association Handbook’da bulunabilir (6. baskı, 2. baskı).

MLA (Modern Language Association) stili en çok liberal sanatlar ve beşeri bilimler için kullanılır. Üzerindeki en son basılı kılavuz MLA Handbook’tur (8. baskı). Bu basım, her bir paper formatı için (basılı, çevrimiçi, e-kitaplar, vb.) bireysel öneriler sunmak yerine, yazarların her türlü kaynağa uygulayabilecekleri tek bir evrensel yönergeler setidir. Ayrıca, MLA stili ile research paper formatı ile yazarken parantez içindeki alıntıları doğru kullanmayı unutmayın.

Research Paper Nasıl Yazılır ? Essay Sepeti

Editing ve Proofreading 

Term paper veya araştırma yazınızı yazdıktan sonra yaptığınız hataları gözden geçirmelisiniz. Yazma aşaması hızlı sürdüğü için gözden kaçan birçok yanlış olabilir. Bunlar,

• Yazım Hataları (Spelling Hataları)
• Dilbilgisi Hataları (Grammar Hataları)
• Noktalama Hataları (Punctuation Hataları)
• Yanlış Kelime Kullanımı (Incorrect Word Usage)
• Tutarsız Ton (Inconsistent Voice)
• Tire ve Büyük Harf Kullanımı Hataları (Capitalization and Hyphenation Hataları)
• Fiil Zaman Hataları (Verb Tense Hataları)
• Cümle Yapısı Hataları (Sentence Structure Hataları)
• Biçimlendirme Hataları (Formatting Errors)
• Deyim Hataları (Idiom Errors)

gibi hatalar olabilir. Proofreading konusunu daha ayrıntılı öğrenmek için tıklayabilir, ya da proofreading ve editing hizmeti almak isterseniz bize sağ aşağıda bulunan mesaj butonundan, iletişim bölümünden ya da [email protected] adresinden ulaşabilirsiniz.

Bunun dışında editing yaparken soruları kendinize sormalısınız:

• Thesis statement açık ve net mi?
• Makaleniz iyi organize edilmiş mi ve başından sonuna kadar mantıksal geçişlerle kolay bir okuma sağlıyor mu?
• Fikirleriniz her paragrafta mantıklı bir sıra izliyor mu?
• Somut ayrıntıları ve gerçekleri kullandınız ve genellemelerden kaçındınız mı?
• Argümanlarınız thesis statement veya research question destekliyor ve kanıtlıyor mu?
• Tekrardan kaçındınız mı?
• Kaynaklarınız düzgün bir şekilde alıntılanmış mı?
• Yanlışlıkla intihal (plagiarism) olup olmadığını kontrol ettiniz mi?
• Diliniz açık ve net mi?
• Cümleleriniz akıcı ve anlaşılır mı?
• Sırf kelime veya sayfa tamamlamak için laf salatası yapmaktan kaçındınız mı?
• Dilbilgisi, yazım ve noktalama işaretlerini kontrol ettiniz mi?

Research Paper Checklist ve İlk Draft

Draft, araştırma makalenizin ilk taslağıdır ve olası değişikliklerin ilk gerçekleşeceği safhadır.

Research paper outline kısmındaki ilk bölümle başlayın. Yazdığınız, her şeyi okuyun. Paper yazarken kullanmayı planladığınız her fikri özetleyin, paraphrase edin veya quotation (alıntılar) yapın.

İlk outline, hele ilk kez term paper veya araştırma makalesi yazıyorsanız, hiçbir zaman mükemmel olmaz. Term paper veya araştırma yazınızı göndermeden önce research question’ı cevapladığından  emin olmak için en az üç kere review edin ve inceleyin. Bir arkadaşınızdan veya bir profesyonelden draft’ınızı okumasını isteyin. Anlamakta güçlük çektiği yerleri sorun.

Burada size term paper outline yazarken dikkat etmeniz gereken bir research paper checklist vereceğiz. Bunları en az iki kez kontrol etmenizi öneririz.

Herhangi bir içerik hatası olup olmadığını bulmak için araştırma makalenizi okuyun. İstatistikleri ve rakamları iki kez kontrol edin. Argümanlarınızı outline biçiminize uyacak şekilde düzenleyin. Gerekirse draft’ı yeniden düzenleyin.

Research Paper Content Checklist

• Thesis statement kısa ve net mi?
• Yazdığım outline formuna uydum mu?
• Argümanlarım mantıklı bir sırayla sunuyor muyum?
• Plagiarism yaptım mı?
• Tüm kaynaklara uygun şekilde atıfta bulunuyor muyum?
• Referans yöntemine uydum mu?
• Tezimi güçlü argümanlarla kanıtladım mı?
• Niyetlerimi paper yazarken açıkça belirttim mi?

Research Paper Grammar Checklist

• Her paragrafa uygun bir topic sentence ile başladım mı?
• Argümanlarımı kanıtlarla veya örneklerle destekledim mi?
• Devam eden veya bitmeyen cümleler var mı?
• Gereksiz veya tekrarlanan kelimeler var mı?
• Cümle uzunlukları farklı mı?
• Bir paragraf veya fikir diğerine sorunsuzca akıyor mu?
• Herhangi bir yazım veya dilbilgisi hatası var mı?
• Alıntılar kaynak, yazım ve noktalama açısından doğru mu?
• Tüm alıntılarım doğru ve doğru biçimde mi?
• Contractions kullanmaktan kaçındım mı? “Can’t” yerine “cannot”, “don’t” yerine “do not” kullanın.
• Mümkün olduğunca third person ifade tarzı kullandım mı? “I think”, “I guess”, “I suppose” gibi ifadeler kullanmaktan kaçının.
• Argümanlarımı açık ve akıcı bir hale getirdim, ancak nesnel kalabildim mi?
• Bilimsel makalenin sonunda okuyucularımın aklında bir soru işareti bıraktım mı?

Research Paper Örnekleri

Bu bölümde size research paper örnekleri vereceğiz. Siz de eğer research paper yazmak isterseniz Academia’da hazırladığımız bu research paper PDF outline dosyasını kullanabilirsiniz. Ayrıntılı olarak İngilizce makale örnekleri okumak isterseniz tıklayabilirsiniz.

Research paper örneği

Bu research paper örneği, Obama’nın eski tweet’lerine content analizi yapan bir research paper örneği olarak verilmiştir. Daha önceki research paper örneği incelenirse, aşağıdaki örneğin yukarıda verilen formata uyduğu görülecektir. Siz de verdiğimiz araştırma makalesi formatına uygun olarak bu şekilde research paper yazabilirsiniz.

Research paper örneği – Essay Sepeti

Bu research outline amacı, yazmaya başlamadan önce konunuzu dikkatlice düşünmenize ve mantıklı bir şekilde düzenlemenize yardımcı olmaktır. İyi bir research outline, iyi bir research paper yazmanın en önemli adımıdır. Anlatmak istediğiniz noktaların mantıksal olarak birbirini izlediğinden ve tamamladığından emin olmak için research outline formatınızı iyice kontrol edin. Araştırma taslağınıza (research paper outline) bir introduction, body paragrafları ve bir conclusion paragrafı ekleyin. İlk taslağı draft olarak oluşturabilir ve bir araştırma yazısı (research paper) yazarken düzenleyebilirsiniz.

Introduction paragrafı: Thesis statement ve research aim noktalarını (araştırma amacı) açıkça belirtin. Bu paper’ı yazmanızın nedeni nedir? Araştırmada ele alacağınız soruna nasıl yaklaşmayı planladığınızı da belirtin. Bu araştırmanızın metod kısmını oluşturacaktır. Bu research, bir olgusal rapor mudur, bir kitap incelemesi midir, bir karşılaştırma makalesi midir yoksa bir problemin analizi midir? Paper üzerinde ele alacağınız ana noktaları ve okuyucuların neden araştırma konunuzla ilgilenmesi gerektiğini kısaca açıklayın.

Body paragrafları: Thesis statement (tez cümlesini) desteklemek için argümanlarınızı sunduğunuz yer burasıdır. Bu bölüm, bölümünüze, profesörlerinizin gereksinimlerine vb. bağlı olarak değişebilen birçok bölüme ayrılmıştır. Bu bölüm genellikle bir literatür taraması (literature review), metodoloji (methods), analiz (analysis), sonuçlar (results) ve tartışmadan (discussion) oluşur.

Conclusion paragrafı: Bu bölümde thesis statement ya da research question yeniden ifade edilir ve argümanlarınızı özetlenir. Elde edilen bulgulardan neden bu sonuca vardığınız açıklanır. Araştırmanızın neden değerli olduğu ve elde edilen sonuçların gelecekteki araştırmalar için nasıl kullanılabileceği de gözler önüne serilir.

Research paper örneği PDF

Bu kısımda ise size ayrıntılı olarak hazırlanmış bir research paper (PDF) örneği vereceğiz. Linke tıklayarak Academia sayfamızdan örneğe ulaşabilirsiniz.

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Home » Research Paper – Structure, Examples and Writing Guide

Research Paper – Structure, Examples and Writing Guide

Table of Contents

Research Paper

Definition:

Research Paper is a written document that presents the author’s original research, analysis, and interpretation of a specific topic or issue.

It is typically based on Empirical Evidence, and may involve qualitative or quantitative research methods, or a combination of both. The purpose of a research paper is to contribute new knowledge or insights to a particular field of study, and to demonstrate the author’s understanding of the existing literature and theories related to the topic.

Structure of Research Paper

The structure of a research paper typically follows a standard format, consisting of several sections that convey specific information about the research study. The following is a detailed explanation of the structure of a research paper:

The title page contains the title of the paper, the name(s) of the author(s), and the affiliation(s) of the author(s). It also includes the date of submission and possibly, the name of the journal or conference where the paper is to be published.

The abstract is a brief summary of the research paper, typically ranging from 100 to 250 words. It should include the research question, the methods used, the key findings, and the implications of the results. The abstract should be written in a concise and clear manner to allow readers to quickly grasp the essence of the research.

Introduction

The introduction section of a research paper provides background information about the research problem, the research question, and the research objectives. It also outlines the significance of the research, the research gap that it aims to fill, and the approach taken to address the research question. Finally, the introduction section ends with a clear statement of the research hypothesis or research question.

Literature Review

The literature review section of a research paper provides an overview of the existing literature on the topic of study. It includes a critical analysis and synthesis of the literature, highlighting the key concepts, themes, and debates. The literature review should also demonstrate the research gap and how the current study seeks to address it.

The methods section of a research paper describes the research design, the sample selection, the data collection and analysis procedures, and the statistical methods used to analyze the data. This section should provide sufficient detail for other researchers to replicate the study.

The results section presents the findings of the research, using tables, graphs, and figures to illustrate the data. The findings should be presented in a clear and concise manner, with reference to the research question and hypothesis.

The discussion section of a research paper interprets the findings and discusses their implications for the research question, the literature review, and the field of study. It should also address the limitations of the study and suggest future research directions.

The conclusion section summarizes the main findings of the study, restates the research question and hypothesis, and provides a final reflection on the significance of the research.

The references section provides a list of all the sources cited in the paper, following a specific citation style such as APA, MLA or Chicago.

How to Write Research Paper

You can write Research Paper by the following guide:

• Choose a Topic: The first step is to select a topic that interests you and is relevant to your field of study. Brainstorm ideas and narrow down to a research question that is specific and researchable.
• Conduct a Literature Review: The literature review helps you identify the gap in the existing research and provides a basis for your research question. It also helps you to develop a theoretical framework and research hypothesis.
• Develop a Thesis Statement : The thesis statement is the main argument of your research paper. It should be clear, concise and specific to your research question.
• Plan your Research: Develop a research plan that outlines the methods, data sources, and data analysis procedures. This will help you to collect and analyze data effectively.
• Collect and Analyze Data: Collect data using various methods such as surveys, interviews, observations, or experiments. Analyze data using statistical tools or other qualitative methods.
• Organize your Paper : Organize your paper into sections such as Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Ensure that each section is coherent and follows a logical flow.
• Write your Paper : Start by writing the introduction, followed by the literature review, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. Ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and follows the required formatting and citation styles.
• Edit and Proofread your Paper: Review your paper for grammar and spelling errors, and ensure that it is well-structured and easy to read. Ask someone else to review your paper to get feedback and suggestions for improvement.
• Cite your Sources: Ensure that you properly cite all sources used in your research paper. This is essential for giving credit to the original authors and avoiding plagiarism.

Research Paper Example

Note : The below example research paper is for illustrative purposes only and is not an actual research paper. Actual research papers may have different structures, contents, and formats depending on the field of study, research question, data collection and analysis methods, and other factors. Students should always consult with their professors or supervisors for specific guidelines and expectations for their research papers.

Research Paper Example sample for Students:

Title: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health among Young Adults

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the impact of social media use on the mental health of young adults. A literature review was conducted to examine the existing research on the topic. A survey was then administered to 200 university students to collect data on their social media use, mental health status, and perceived impact of social media on their mental health. The results showed that social media use is positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. The study also found that social comparison, cyberbullying, and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) are significant predictors of mental health problems among young adults.

Introduction: Social media has become an integral part of modern life, particularly among young adults. While social media has many benefits, including increased communication and social connectivity, it has also been associated with negative outcomes, such as addiction, cyberbullying, and mental health problems. This study aims to investigate the impact of social media use on the mental health of young adults.

Literature Review: The literature review highlights the existing research on the impact of social media use on mental health. The review shows that social media use is associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health problems. The review also identifies the factors that contribute to the negative impact of social media, including social comparison, cyberbullying, and FOMO.

Methods : A survey was administered to 200 university students to collect data on their social media use, mental health status, and perceived impact of social media on their mental health. The survey included questions on social media use, mental health status (measured using the DASS-21), and perceived impact of social media on their mental health. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis.

Results : The results showed that social media use is positively associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. The study also found that social comparison, cyberbullying, and FOMO are significant predictors of mental health problems among young adults.

Discussion : The study’s findings suggest that social media use has a negative impact on the mental health of young adults. The study highlights the need for interventions that address the factors contributing to the negative impact of social media, such as social comparison, cyberbullying, and FOMO.

Conclusion : In conclusion, social media use has a significant impact on the mental health of young adults. The study’s findings underscore the need for interventions that promote healthy social media use and address the negative outcomes associated with social media use. Future research can explore the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing the negative impact of social media on mental health. Additionally, longitudinal studies can investigate the long-term effects of social media use on mental health.

Limitations : The study has some limitations, including the use of self-report measures and a cross-sectional design. The use of self-report measures may result in biased responses, and a cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causality.

Implications: The study’s findings have implications for mental health professionals, educators, and policymakers. Mental health professionals can use the findings to develop interventions that address the negative impact of social media use on mental health. Educators can incorporate social media literacy into their curriculum to promote healthy social media use among young adults. Policymakers can use the findings to develop policies that protect young adults from the negative outcomes associated with social media use.

References :

• Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2019). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive medicine reports, 15, 100918.
• Primack, B. A., Shensa, A., Escobar-Viera, C. G., Barrett, E. L., Sidani, J. E., Colditz, J. B., … & James, A. E. (2017). Use of multiple social media platforms and symptoms of depression and anxiety: A nationally-representative study among US young adults. Computers in Human Behavior, 69, 1-9.
• Van der Meer, T. G., & Verhoeven, J. W. (2017). Social media and its impact on academic performance of students. Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, 16, 383-398.

Appendix : The survey used in this study is provided below.

Social Media and Mental Health Survey

• How often do you use social media per day?
• Less than 30 minutes
• 30 minutes to 1 hour
• 1 to 2 hours
• 2 to 4 hours
• More than 4 hours
• Which social media platforms do you use?
• Others (Please specify)
• How often do you experience the following on social media?
• Social comparison (comparing yourself to others)
• Cyberbullying
• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
• Have you ever experienced any of the following mental health problems in the past month?
• Do you think social media use has a positive or negative impact on your mental health?
• Very positive
• Somewhat positive
• Somewhat negative
• Very negative
• In your opinion, which factors contribute to the negative impact of social media on mental health?
• Social comparison
• In your opinion, what interventions could be effective in reducing the negative impact of social media on mental health?
• Education on healthy social media use
• Counseling for mental health problems caused by social media
• Social media detox programs
• Regulation of social media use

Thank you for your participation!

Applications of Research Paper

Research papers have several applications in various fields, including:

• Advancing knowledge: Research papers contribute to the advancement of knowledge by generating new insights, theories, and findings that can inform future research and practice. They help to answer important questions, clarify existing knowledge, and identify areas that require further investigation.
• Informing policy: Research papers can inform policy decisions by providing evidence-based recommendations for policymakers. They can help to identify gaps in current policies, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and inform the development of new policies and regulations.
• Improving practice: Research papers can improve practice by providing evidence-based guidance for professionals in various fields, including medicine, education, business, and psychology. They can inform the development of best practices, guidelines, and standards of care that can improve outcomes for individuals and organizations.
• Educating students : Research papers are often used as teaching tools in universities and colleges to educate students about research methods, data analysis, and academic writing. They help students to develop critical thinking skills, research skills, and communication skills that are essential for success in many careers.
• Fostering collaboration: Research papers can foster collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers by providing a platform for sharing knowledge and ideas. They can facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and partnerships that can lead to innovative solutions to complex problems.

When to Write Research Paper

Research papers are typically written when a person has completed a research project or when they have conducted a study and have obtained data or findings that they want to share with the academic or professional community. Research papers are usually written in academic settings, such as universities, but they can also be written in professional settings, such as research organizations, government agencies, or private companies.

Here are some common situations where a person might need to write a research paper:

• For academic purposes: Students in universities and colleges are often required to write research papers as part of their coursework, particularly in the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. Writing research papers helps students to develop research skills, critical thinking skills, and academic writing skills.
• For publication: Researchers often write research papers to publish their findings in academic journals or to present their work at academic conferences. Publishing research papers is an important way to disseminate research findings to the academic community and to establish oneself as an expert in a particular field.
• To inform policy or practice : Researchers may write research papers to inform policy decisions or to improve practice in various fields. Research findings can be used to inform the development of policies, guidelines, and best practices that can improve outcomes for individuals and organizations.
• To share new insights or ideas: Researchers may write research papers to share new insights or ideas with the academic or professional community. They may present new theories, propose new research methods, or challenge existing paradigms in their field.

Purpose of Research Paper

The purpose of a research paper is to present the results of a study or investigation in a clear, concise, and structured manner. Research papers are written to communicate new knowledge, ideas, or findings to a specific audience, such as researchers, scholars, practitioners, or policymakers. The primary purposes of a research paper are:

• To contribute to the body of knowledge : Research papers aim to add new knowledge or insights to a particular field or discipline. They do this by reporting the results of empirical studies, reviewing and synthesizing existing literature, proposing new theories, or providing new perspectives on a topic.
• To inform or persuade: Research papers are written to inform or persuade the reader about a particular issue, topic, or phenomenon. They present evidence and arguments to support their claims and seek to persuade the reader of the validity of their findings or recommendations.
• To advance the field: Research papers seek to advance the field or discipline by identifying gaps in knowledge, proposing new research questions or approaches, or challenging existing assumptions or paradigms. They aim to contribute to ongoing debates and discussions within a field and to stimulate further research and inquiry.
• To demonstrate research skills: Research papers demonstrate the author’s research skills, including their ability to design and conduct a study, collect and analyze data, and interpret and communicate findings. They also demonstrate the author’s ability to critically evaluate existing literature, synthesize information from multiple sources, and write in a clear and structured manner.

Characteristics of Research Paper

Research papers have several characteristics that distinguish them from other forms of academic or professional writing. Here are some common characteristics of research papers:

• Evidence-based: Research papers are based on empirical evidence, which is collected through rigorous research methods such as experiments, surveys, observations, or interviews. They rely on objective data and facts to support their claims and conclusions.
• Structured and organized: Research papers have a clear and logical structure, with sections such as introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion. They are organized in a way that helps the reader to follow the argument and understand the findings.
• Formal and objective: Research papers are written in a formal and objective tone, with an emphasis on clarity, precision, and accuracy. They avoid subjective language or personal opinions and instead rely on objective data and analysis to support their arguments.
• Citations and references: Research papers include citations and references to acknowledge the sources of information and ideas used in the paper. They use a specific citation style, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, to ensure consistency and accuracy.
• Peer-reviewed: Research papers are often peer-reviewed, which means they are evaluated by other experts in the field before they are published. Peer-review ensures that the research is of high quality, meets ethical standards, and contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field.
• Objective and unbiased: Research papers strive to be objective and unbiased in their presentation of the findings. They avoid personal biases or preconceptions and instead rely on the data and analysis to draw conclusions.

Advantages of Research Paper

Research papers have many advantages, both for the individual researcher and for the broader academic and professional community. Here are some advantages of research papers:

• Contribution to knowledge: Research papers contribute to the body of knowledge in a particular field or discipline. They add new information, insights, and perspectives to existing literature and help advance the understanding of a particular phenomenon or issue.
• Opportunity for intellectual growth: Research papers provide an opportunity for intellectual growth for the researcher. They require critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, which can help develop the researcher’s skills and knowledge.
• Career advancement: Research papers can help advance the researcher’s career by demonstrating their expertise and contributions to the field. They can also lead to new research opportunities, collaborations, and funding.
• Academic recognition: Research papers can lead to academic recognition in the form of awards, grants, or invitations to speak at conferences or events. They can also contribute to the researcher’s reputation and standing in the field.
• Impact on policy and practice: Research papers can have a significant impact on policy and practice. They can inform policy decisions, guide practice, and lead to changes in laws, regulations, or procedures.
• Advancement of society: Research papers can contribute to the advancement of society by addressing important issues, identifying solutions to problems, and promoting social justice and equality.

Limitations of Research Paper

Research papers also have some limitations that should be considered when interpreting their findings or implications. Here are some common limitations of research papers:

• Limited generalizability: Research findings may not be generalizable to other populations, settings, or contexts. Studies often use specific samples or conditions that may not reflect the broader population or real-world situations.
• Potential for bias : Research papers may be biased due to factors such as sample selection, measurement errors, or researcher biases. It is important to evaluate the quality of the research design and methods used to ensure that the findings are valid and reliable.
• Ethical concerns: Research papers may raise ethical concerns, such as the use of vulnerable populations or invasive procedures. Researchers must adhere to ethical guidelines and obtain informed consent from participants to ensure that the research is conducted in a responsible and respectful manner.
• Limitations of methodology: Research papers may be limited by the methodology used to collect and analyze data. For example, certain research methods may not capture the complexity or nuance of a particular phenomenon, or may not be appropriate for certain research questions.
• Publication bias: Research papers may be subject to publication bias, where positive or significant findings are more likely to be published than negative or non-significant findings. This can skew the overall findings of a particular area of research.
• Time and resource constraints: Research papers may be limited by time and resource constraints, which can affect the quality and scope of the research. Researchers may not have access to certain data or resources, or may be unable to conduct long-term studies due to practical limitations.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Reference management. Clean and simple.

What is a research paper?

A research paper is a paper that makes an argument about a topic based on research and analysis.

Any paper requiring the writer to research a particular topic is a research paper. Unlike essays, which are often based largely on opinion and are written from the author's point of view, research papers are based in fact.

A research paper requires you to form an opinion on a topic, research and gain expert knowledge on that topic, and then back up your own opinions and assertions with facts found through your thorough research.

➡️ Read more about  different types of research papers .

What is the difference between a research paper and a thesis?

A thesis is a large paper, or multi-chapter work, based on a topic relating to your field of study.

A thesis is a document students of higher education write to obtain an academic degree or qualification. Usually, it is longer than a research paper and takes multiple years to complete.

Generally associated with graduate/postgraduate studies, it is carried out under the supervision of a professor or other academic of the university.

A major difference between a research paper and a thesis is that:

• a research paper presents certain facts that have already been researched and explained by others
• a thesis starts with a certain scholarly question or statement, which then leads to further research and new findings

This means that a thesis requires the author to input original work and their own findings in a certain field, whereas the research paper can be completed with extensive research only.

➡️ Getting ready to start a research paper or thesis? Take a look at our guides on how to start a research paper or how to come up with a topic for your thesis .

Frequently Asked Questions about research papers

Take a look at this list of the top 21 Free Online Journal and Research Databases , such as ScienceOpen , Directory of Open Access Journals , ERIC , and many more.

Mason Porter, Professor at UCLA, explains in this forum post the main reasons to write a research paper:

• To create new knowledge and disseminate it.
• To teach science and how to write about it in an academic style.
• Some practical benefits: prestige, establishing credentials, requirements for grants or to help one get a future grant proposal, and so on.

Generally, people involved in the academia. Research papers are mostly written by higher education students and professional researchers.

Yes, a research paper is the same as a scientific paper. Both papers have the same purpose and format.

A major difference between a research paper and a thesis is that the former presents certain facts that have already been researched and explained by others, whereas the latter starts with a certain scholarly question or statement, which then leads to further research and new findings.

Related Articles

How To Write A Research Paper

Step-By-Step Tutorial With Examples + FREE Template

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Expert Reviewer: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | March 2024

For many students, crafting a strong research paper from scratch can feel like a daunting task – and rightly so! In this post, we’ll unpack what a research paper is, what it needs to do , and how to write one – in three easy steps. 🙂 

Overview: Writing A Research Paper

What (exactly) is a research paper.

• How to write a research paper
• Stage 1 : Topic & literature search
• Stage 2 : Structure & outline
• Stage 3 : Iterative writing
• Key takeaways

Let’s start by asking the most important question, “ What is a research paper? ”.

Simply put, a research paper is a scholarly written work where the writer (that’s you!) answers a specific question (this is called a research question ) through evidence-based arguments . Evidence-based is the keyword here. In other words, a research paper is different from an essay or other writing assignments that draw from the writer’s personal opinions or experiences. With a research paper, it’s all about building your arguments based on evidence (we’ll talk more about that evidence a little later).

Now, it’s worth noting that there are many different types of research papers , including analytical papers (the type I just described), argumentative papers, and interpretative papers. Here, we’ll focus on analytical papers , as these are some of the most common – but if you’re keen to learn about other types of research papers, be sure to check out the rest of the blog .

With that basic foundation laid, let’s get down to business and look at how to write a research paper .

Overview: The 3-Stage Process

While there are, of course, many potential approaches you can take to write a research paper, there are typically three stages to the writing process. So, in this tutorial, we’ll present a straightforward three-step process that we use when working with students at Grad Coach.

These three steps are:

• Finding a research topic and reviewing the existing literature
• Developing a provisional structure and outline for your paper, and
• Writing up your initial draft and then refining it iteratively

Let’s dig into each of these.

Need a helping hand?

Step 1: Find a topic and review the literature

As we mentioned earlier, in a research paper, you, as the researcher, will try to answer a question . More specifically, that’s called a research question , and it sets the direction of your entire paper. What’s important to understand though is that you’ll need to answer that research question with the help of high-quality sources – for example, journal articles, government reports, case studies, and so on. We’ll circle back to this in a minute.

The first stage of the research process is deciding on what your research question will be and then reviewing the existing literature (in other words, past studies and papers) to see what they say about that specific research question. In some cases, your professor may provide you with a predetermined research question (or set of questions). However, in many cases, you’ll need to find your own research question within a certain topic area.

Finding a strong research question hinges on identifying a meaningful research gap – in other words, an area that’s lacking in existing research. There’s a lot to unpack here, so if you wanna learn more, check out the plain-language explainer video below.

Once you’ve figured out which question (or questions) you’ll attempt to answer in your research paper, you’ll need to do a deep dive into the existing literature – this is called a “ literature search ”. Again, there are many ways to go about this, but your most likely starting point will be Google Scholar .

If you’re new to Google Scholar, think of it as Google for the academic world. You can start by simply entering a few different keywords that are relevant to your research question and it will then present a host of articles for you to review. What you want to pay close attention to here is the number of citations for each paper – the more citations a paper has, the more credible it is (generally speaking – there are some exceptions, of course).

Ideally, what you’re looking for are well-cited papers that are highly relevant to your topic. That said, keep in mind that citations are a cumulative metric , so older papers will often have more citations than newer papers – just because they’ve been around for longer. So, don’t fixate on this metric in isolation – relevance and recency are also very important.

Beyond Google Scholar, you’ll also definitely want to check out academic databases and aggregators such as Science Direct, PubMed, JStor and so on. These will often overlap with the results that you find in Google Scholar, but they can also reveal some hidden gems – so, be sure to check them out.

Once you’ve worked your way through all the literature, you’ll want to catalogue all this information in some sort of spreadsheet so that you can easily recall who said what, when and within what context. If you’d like, we’ve got a free literature spreadsheet that helps you do exactly that.

Step 2: Develop a structure and outline

With your research question pinned down and your literature digested and catalogued, it’s time to move on to planning your actual research paper .

It might sound obvious, but it’s really important to have some sort of rough outline in place before you start writing your paper. So often, we see students eagerly rushing into the writing phase, only to land up with a disjointed research paper that rambles on in multiple

Now, the secret here is to not get caught up in the fine details . Realistically, all you need at this stage is a bullet-point list that describes (in broad strokes) what you’ll discuss and in what order. It’s also useful to remember that you’re not glued to this outline – in all likelihood, you’ll chop and change some sections once you start writing, and that’s perfectly okay. What’s important is that you have some sort of roadmap in place from the start.

At this stage you might be wondering, “ But how should I structure my research paper? ”. Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here, but in general, a research paper will consist of a few relatively standardised components:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology

Let’s take a look at each of these.

First up is the introduction section . As the name suggests, the purpose of the introduction is to set the scene for your research paper. There are usually (at least) four ingredients that go into this section – these are the background to the topic, the research problem and resultant research question , and the justification or rationale. If you’re interested, the video below unpacks the introduction section in more detail. 

The next section of your research paper will typically be your literature review . Remember all that literature you worked through earlier? Well, this is where you’ll present your interpretation of all that content . You’ll do this by writing about recent trends, developments, and arguments within the literature – but more specifically, those that are relevant to your research question . The literature review can oftentimes seem a little daunting, even to seasoned researchers, so be sure to check out our extensive collection of literature review content here .

With the introduction and lit review out of the way, the next section of your paper is the research methodology . In a nutshell, the methodology section should describe to your reader what you did (beyond just reviewing the existing literature) to answer your research question. For example, what data did you collect, how did you collect that data, how did you analyse that data and so on? For each choice, you’ll also need to justify why you chose to do it that way, and what the strengths and weaknesses of your approach were.

Now, it’s worth mentioning that for some research papers, this aspect of the project may be a lot simpler . For example, you may only need to draw on secondary sources (in other words, existing data sets). In some cases, you may just be asked to draw your conclusions from the literature search itself (in other words, there may be no data analysis at all). But, if you are required to collect and analyse data, you’ll need to pay a lot of attention to the methodology section. The video below provides an example of what the methodology section might look like.

By this stage of your paper, you will have explained what your research question is, what the existing literature has to say about that question, and how you analysed additional data to try to answer your question. So, the natural next step is to present your analysis of that data . This section is usually called the “results” or “analysis” section and this is where you’ll showcase your findings.

Depending on your school’s requirements, you may need to present and interpret the data in one section – or you might split the presentation and the interpretation into two sections. In the latter case, your “results” section will just describe the data, and the “discussion” is where you’ll interpret that data and explicitly link your analysis back to your research question. If you’re not sure which approach to take, check in with your professor or take a look at past papers to see what the norms are for your programme.

Alright – once you’ve presented and discussed your results, it’s time to wrap it up . This usually takes the form of the “ conclusion ” section. In the conclusion, you’ll need to highlight the key takeaways from your study and close the loop by explicitly answering your research question. Again, the exact requirements here will vary depending on your programme (and you may not even need a conclusion section at all) – so be sure to check with your professor if you’re unsure.

Step 3: Write and refine

Finally, it’s time to get writing. All too often though, students hit a brick wall right about here… So, how do you avoid this happening to you?

Well, there’s a lot to be said when it comes to writing a research paper (or any sort of academic piece), but we’ll share three practical tips to help you get started.

First and foremost , it’s essential to approach your writing as an iterative process. In other words, you need to start with a really messy first draft and then polish it over multiple rounds of editing. Don’t waste your time trying to write a perfect research paper in one go. Instead, take the pressure off yourself by adopting an iterative approach.

Secondly , it’s important to always lean towards critical writing , rather than descriptive writing. What does this mean? Well, at the simplest level, descriptive writing focuses on the “ what ”, while critical writing digs into the “ so what ” – in other words, the implications . If you’re not familiar with these two types of writing, don’t worry! You can find a plain-language explanation here.

Last but not least, you’ll need to get your referencing right. Specifically, you’ll need to provide credible, correctly formatted citations for the statements you make. We see students making referencing mistakes all the time and it costs them dearly. The good news is that you can easily avoid this by using a simple reference manager . If you don’t have one, check out our video about Mendeley, an easy (and free) reference management tool that you can start using today.

Recap: Key Takeaways

We’ve covered a lot of ground here. To recap, the three steps to writing a high-quality research paper are:

• To choose a research question and review the literature
• To plan your paper structure and draft an outline
• To take an iterative approach to writing, focusing on critical writing and strong referencing

Remember, this is just a b ig-picture overview of the research paper development process and there’s a lot more nuance to unpack. So, be sure to grab a copy of our free research paper template to learn more about how to write a research paper.

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• He has dedicated his life to scientific research.
• He emphasized that all the people taking part in the research were volunteers .
• The state of Michigan has endowed three institutes to do research for industry .
• I'd like to see the research that these recommendations are founded on.
• It took months of painstaking research to write the book .
• absorptive capacity
• dream something up
• modularization
• nanotechnology
• non-imitative
• operational research
• think outside the box idiom
• think something up
• uninventive
• study What do you plan on studying at university?
• major US She majored in philosophy at Harvard.
• cram She's cramming for her history exam.
• revise UK I'm revising for tomorrow's test.
• review US We're going to review for the test tomorrow night.
• research Scientists are researching possible new treatments for cancer.
• The amount of time and money being spent on researching this disease is pitiful .
• We are researching the reproduction of elephants .
• She researched a wide variety of jobs before deciding on law .
• He researches heart disease .
• The internet has reduced the amount of time it takes to research these subjects .
• adjudication
• interpretable
• interpretive
• interpretively
• investigate
• reinvestigate
• reinvestigation
• risk assessment
• run over/through something
• run through something

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Bunlar, çoğunlukla research ile kombinasyon halinde kullanılan sözcüklerdir.

Daha fazla örnek görmek için bir eşdizime tıklayın

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What Is a Research Paper?

• An Introduction to Punctuation

Olivia Valdes was the Associate Editorial Director for ThoughtCo. She worked with Dotdash Meredith from 2017 to 2021.

• B.A., American Studies, Yale University

A research paper is a common form of academic writing . Research papers require students and academics to locate information about a topic (that is, to conduct research ), take a stand on that topic, and provide support (or evidence) for that position in an organized report.

The term research paper may also refer to a scholarly article that contains the results of original research or an evaluation of research conducted by others. Most scholarly articles must undergo a process of peer review before they can be accepted for publication in an academic journal.

Define Your Research Question

The first step in writing a research paper is defining your research question . Has your instructor assigned a specific topic? If so, great—you've got this step covered. If not, review the guidelines of the assignment. Your instructor has likely provided several general subjects for your consideration. Your research paper should focus on a specific angle on one of these subjects. Spend some time mulling over your options before deciding which one you'd like to explore more deeply.

Try to choose a research question that interests you. The research process is time-consuming, and you'll be significantly more motivated if you have a genuine desire to learn more about the topic. You should also consider whether you have access to all of the resources necessary to conduct thorough research on your topic, such as primary and secondary sources .

Create a Research Strategy 

Approach the research process systematically by creating a research strategy. First, review your library's website. What resources are available? Where will you find them? Do any resources require a special process to gain access? Start gathering those resources—especially those that may be difficult to access—as soon as possible.

Second, make an appointment with a reference librarian . A reference librarian is nothing short of a research superhero. He or she will listen to your research question, offer suggestions for how to focus your research, and direct you toward valuable sources that directly relate to your topic.

Evaluate Sources

Now that you've gathered a wide array of sources, it's time to evaluate them. First, consider the reliability of the information. Where is the information coming from? What is the origin of the source? Second, assess the  relevance  of the information. How does this information relate to your research question? Does it support, refute, or add context to your position? How does it relate to the other sources you'll be using in your paper? Once you have determined that your sources are both reliable and relevant, you can proceed confidently to the writing phase. 

Why Write Research Papers? 

The research process is one of the most taxing academic tasks you'll be asked to complete. Luckily, the value of writing a research paper goes beyond that A+ you hope to receive. Here are just some of the benefits of research papers. 

• Learning Scholarly Conventions:  Writing a research paper is a crash course in the stylistic conventions of scholarly writing. During the research and writing process, you'll learn how to document your research, cite sources appropriately, format an academic paper, maintain an academic tone, and more.
• Organizing Information: In a way, research is nothing more than a massive organizational project. The information available to you is near-infinite, and it's your job to review that information, narrow it down, categorize it, and present it in a clear, relevant format. This process requires attention to detail and major brainpower.
• Managing Time: Research papers put your time management  skills to the test. Every step of the research and writing process takes time, and it's up to you to set aside the time you'll need to complete each step of the task. Maximize your efficiency by creating a research schedule and inserting blocks of "research time" into your calendar as soon as you receive the assignment. 
• Exploring Your Chosen Subject:  We couldn't forget the best part of research papers—learning about something that truly excites you. No matter what topic you choose, you're bound to come away from the research process with new ideas and countless nuggets of fascinating information. 

The best research papers are the result of genuine interest and a thorough research process. With these ideas in mind, go forth and research. Welcome to the scholarly conversation!

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• 5 Steps to Writing a Position Paper
• How to Find Journal Articles
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• Academic Writing

What is a Research Paper?

• Steps in Writing a Research Paper
• Critical Reading and Writing
• Punctuation
• Writing Exercises
• ELL/ESL Resources

"Research paper." What image comes into mind as you hear those words: working with stacks of articles and books, hunting the "treasure" of others' thoughts? Whatever image you create, it's a sure bet that you're envisioning sources of information--articles, books, people, artworks. Yet a research paper is more than the sum of your sources, more than a collection of different pieces of information about a topic, and more than a review of the literature in a field. A research paper analyzes a perspective argues a point . Regardless of the type of research paper you are writing, your finished research paper should present your own thinking backed up by others' ideas and information.

To draw a parallel, a lawyer researches and reads about many cases and uses them to support his or her own case. A scientist reads many case studies to support an idea about a scientific principle. In the same way, a history student writing about the Vietnam War might read newspaper articles and books and interview veterans to develop and/or confirm a viewpoint and support it with evidence.

A research paper is an expanded essay that presents your own interpretation or evaluation or argument. When you write an essay, you use everything that you personally know and have thought about a subject. When you write a research paper you build upon what you know about the subject and make a deliberate attempt to find out what experts know. A research paper involves surveying a field of knowledge in order to find the best possible information in that field. And that survey can be orderly and focused, if you know how to approach it. Don't worry--you won't get lost in a sea of sources.

In fact, this guide is designed to help you navigate the research voyage, through developing a research question and thesis, doing the research, writing the paper, and correctly documenting your sources.

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How to Write a Research Paper

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Research Paper Fundamentals

How to choose a topic or question, how to create a working hypothesis or thesis, common research paper methodologies, how to gather and organize evidence , how to write an outline for your research paper, how to write a rough draft, how to revise your draft, how to produce a final draft, resources for teachers .

It is not fair to say that no one writes anymore. Just about everyone writes text messages, brief emails, or social media posts every single day. Yet, most people don't have a lot of practice with the formal, organized writing required for a good academic research paper. This guide contains links to a variety of resources that can help demystify the process. Some of these resources are intended for teachers; they contain exercises, activities, and teaching strategies. Other resources are intended for direct use by students who are struggling to write papers, or are looking for tips to make the process go more smoothly.

The resources in this section are designed to help students understand the different types of research papers, the general research process, and how to manage their time. Below, you'll find links from university writing centers, the trusted Purdue Online Writing Lab, and more.

What is an Academic Research Paper?

"Genre and the Research Paper" (Purdue OWL)

There are different types of research papers. Different types of scholarly questions will lend themselves to one format or another. This is a brief introduction to the two main genres of research paper: analytic and argumentative. 

"7 Most Popular Types of Research Papers" (Personal-writer.com)

This resource discusses formats that high school students commonly encounter, such as the compare and contrast essay and the definitional essay. Please note that the inclusion of this link is not an endorsement of this company's paid service.

How to Prepare and Plan Out Writing a Research Paper

Teachers can give their students a step-by-step guide like these to help them understand the different steps of the research paper process. These guides can be combined with the time management tools in the next subsection to help students come up with customized calendars for completing their papers.

"Ten Steps for Writing Research Papers" (American University)  

This resource from American University is a comprehensive guide to the research paper writing process, and includes examples of proper research questions and thesis topics.

"Steps in Writing a Research Paper" (SUNY Empire State College)

This guide breaks the research paper process into 11 steps. Each "step" links to a separate page, which describes the work entailed in completing it.

How to Manage Time Effectively

The links below will help students determine how much time is necessary to complete a paper. If your sources are not available online or at your local library, you'll need to leave extra time for the Interlibrary Loan process. Remember that, even if you do not need to consult secondary sources, you'll still need to leave yourself ample time to organize your thoughts.

"Research Paper Planner: Timeline" (Baylor University)

This interactive resource from Baylor University creates a suggested writing schedule based on how much time a student has to work on the assignment.

"Research Paper Planner" (UCLA)

UCLA's library offers this step-by-step guide to the research paper writing process, which also includes a suggested planning calendar.

There's a reason teachers spend a long time talking about choosing a good topic. Without a good topic and a well-formulated research question, it is almost impossible to write a clear and organized paper. The resources below will help you generate ideas and formulate precise questions.

"How to Select a Research Topic" (Univ. of Michigan-Flint)

This resource is designed for college students who are struggling to come up with an appropriate topic. A student who uses this resource and still feels unsure about his or her topic should consult the course instructor for further personalized assistance.

"25 Interesting Research Paper Topics to Get You Started" (Kibin)

This resource, which is probably most appropriate for high school students, provides a list of specific topics to help get students started. It is broken into subsections, such as "paper topics on local issues."

"Writing a Good Research Question" (Grand Canyon University)

This introduction to research questions includes some embedded videos, as well as links to scholarly articles on research questions. This resource would be most appropriate for teachers who are planning lessons on research paper fundamentals.

"How to Write a Research Question the Right Way" (Kibin)

This student-focused resource provides more detail on writing research questions. The language is accessible, and there are embedded videos and examples of good and bad questions.

It is important to have a rough hypothesis or thesis in mind at the beginning of the research process. People who have a sense of what they want to say will have an easier time sorting through scholarly sources and other information. The key, of course, is not to become too wedded to the draft hypothesis or thesis. Just about every working thesis gets changed during the research process.

CrashCourse Video: "Sociology Research Methods" (YouTube)

Although this video is tailored to sociology students, it is applicable to students in a variety of social science disciplines. This video does a good job demonstrating the connection between the brainstorming that goes into selecting a research question and the formulation of a working hypothesis.

"How to Write a Thesis Statement for an Analytical Essay" (YouTube)

Students writing analytical essays will not develop the same type of working hypothesis as students who are writing research papers in other disciplines. For these students, developing the working thesis may happen as a part of the rough draft (see the relevant section below). 

"Research Hypothesis" (Oakland Univ.)

This resource provides some examples of hypotheses in social science disciplines like Political Science and Criminal Justice. These sample hypotheses may also be useful for students in other soft social sciences and humanities disciplines like History.

When grading a research paper, instructors look for a consistent methodology. This section will help you understand different methodological approaches used in research papers. Students will get the most out of these resources if they use them to help prepare for conversations with teachers or discussions in class.

"Types of Research Designs" (USC)

A "research design," used for complex papers, is related to the paper's method. This resource contains introductions to a variety of popular research designs in the social sciences. Although it is not the most intuitive site to read, the information here is very valuable. 

"Major Research Methods" (YouTube)

Although this video is a bit on the dry side, it provides a comprehensive overview of the major research methodologies in a format that might be more accessible to students who have struggled with textbooks or other written resources.

"Humanities Research Strategies" (USC)

This is a portal where students can learn about four methodological approaches for humanities papers: Historical Methodologies, Textual Criticism, Conceptual Analysis, and the Synoptic method.

"Selected Major Social Science Research Methods: Overview" (National Academies Press)

This appendix from the book  Using Science as Evidence in Public Policy , printed by National Academies Press, introduces some methods used in social science papers.

"Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: 6. The Methodology" (USC)

This resource from the University of Southern California's library contains tips for writing a methodology section in a research paper.

How to Determine the Best Methodology for You

Anyone who is new to writing research papers should be sure to select a method in consultation with their instructor. These resources can be used to help prepare for that discussion. They may also be used on their own by more advanced students.

"Choosing Appropriate Research Methodologies" (Palgrave Study Skills)

This friendly and approachable resource from Palgrave Macmillan can be used by students who are just starting to think about appropriate methodologies.

"How to Choose Your Research Methods" (NFER (UK))

This is another approachable resource students can use to help narrow down the most appropriate methods for their research projects.

The resources in this section introduce the process of gathering scholarly sources and collecting evidence. You'll find a range of material here, from introductory guides to advanced explications best suited to college students. Please consult the LitCharts  How to Do Academic Research guide for a more comprehensive list of resources devoted to finding scholarly literature.

Google Scholar

Students who have access to library websites with detailed research guides should start there, but people who do not have access to those resources can begin their search for secondary literature here.

"Gathering Appropriate Information" (Texas Gateway)

This resource from the Texas Gateway for online resources introduces students to the research process, and contains interactive exercises. The level of complexity is suitable for middle school, high school, and introductory college classrooms.

"An Overview of Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection Methods" (NSF)

This PDF from the National Science Foundation goes into detail about best practices and pitfalls in data collection across multiple types of methodologies.

"Social Science Methods for Data Collection and Analysis" (Swiss FIT)

This resource is appropriate for advanced undergraduates or teachers looking to create lessons on research design and data collection. It covers techniques for gathering data via interviews, observations, and other methods.

"Collecting Data by In-depth Interviewing" (Leeds Univ.)

This resource contains enough information about conducting interviews to make it useful for teachers who want to create a lesson plan, but is also accessible enough for college juniors or seniors to make use of it on their own.

There is no "one size fits all" outlining technique. Some students might devote all their energy and attention to the outline in order to avoid the paper. Other students may benefit from being made to sit down and organize their thoughts into a lengthy sentence outline. The resources in this section include strategies and templates for multiple types of outlines. 

"Topic vs. Sentence Outlines" (UC Berkeley)

This resource introduces two basic approaches to outlining: the shorter topic-based approach, and the longer, more detailed sentence-based approach. This resource also contains videos on how to develop paper paragraphs from the sentence-based outline.

"Types of Outlines and Samples" (Purdue OWL)

The Purdue Online Writing Lab's guide is a slightly less detailed discussion of different types of outlines. It contains several sample outlines.

"Writing An Outline" (Austin C.C.)

This resource from a community college contains sample outlines from an American history class that students can use as models.

"How to Structure an Outline for a College Paper" (YouTube)

This brief (sub-2 minute) video from the ExpertVillage YouTube channel provides a model of outline writing for students who are struggling with the idea.

"Outlining" (Harvard)

This is a good resource to consult after completing a draft outline. It offers suggestions for making sure your outline avoids things like unnecessary repetition.

As with outlines, rough drafts can take on many different forms. These resources introduce teachers and students to the various approaches to writing a rough draft. This section also includes resources that will help you cite your sources appropriately according to the MLA, Chicago, and APA style manuals.

"Creating a Rough Draft for a Research Paper" (Univ. of Minnesota)

This resource is useful for teachers in particular, as it provides some suggested exercises to help students with writing a basic rough draft. 

Rough Draft Assignment (Duke of Definition)

This sample assignment, with a brief list of tips, was developed by a high school teacher who runs a very successful and well-reviewed page of educational resources.

"Creating the First Draft of Your Research Paper" (Concordia Univ.)

This resource will be helpful for perfectionists or procrastinators, as it opens by discussing the problem of avoiding writing. It also provides a short list of suggestions meant to get students writing.

Using Proper Citations

There is no such thing as a rough draft of a scholarly citation. These links to the three major citation guides will ensure that your citations follow the correct format. Please consult the LitCharts How to Cite Your Sources guide for more resources.

Chicago Manual of Style Citation Guide

Some call  The Chicago Manual of Style , which was first published in 1906, "the editors' Bible." The manual is now in its 17th edition, and is popular in the social sciences, historical journals, and some other fields in the humanities.

APA Citation Guide

According to the American Psychological Association, this guide was developed to aid reading comprehension, clarity of communication, and to reduce bias in language in the social and behavioral sciences. Its first full edition was published in 1952, and it is now in its sixth edition.

MLA Citation Guide

The Modern Language Association style is used most commonly within the liberal arts and humanities. The  MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing  was first published in 1985 and (as of 2008) is in its third edition.

Any professional scholar will tell you that the best research papers are made in the revision stage. No matter how strong your research question or working thesis, it is not possible to write a truly outstanding paper without devoting energy to revision. These resources provide examples of revision exercises for the classroom, as well as tips for students working independently.

"The Art of Revision" (Univ. of Arizona)

This resource provides a wealth of information and suggestions for both students and teachers. There is a list of suggested exercises that teachers might use in class, along with a revision checklist that is useful for teachers and students alike.

"Script for Workshop on Revision" (Vanderbilt University)

Vanderbilt's guide for leading a 50-minute revision workshop can serve as a model for teachers who wish to guide students through the revision process during classtime. 

"Revising Your Paper" (Univ. of Washington)

This detailed handout was designed for students who are beginning the revision process. It discusses different approaches and methods for revision, and also includes a detailed list of things students should look for while they revise.

"Revising Drafts" (UNC Writing Center)

This resource is designed for students and suggests things to look for during the revision process. It provides steps for the process and has a FAQ for students who have questions about why it is important to revise.

Conferencing with Writing Tutors and Instructors

No writer is so good that he or she can't benefit from meeting with instructors or peer tutors. These resources from university writing, learning, and communication centers provide suggestions for how to get the most out of these one-on-one meetings.

"Getting Feedback" (UNC Writing Center)

This very helpful resource talks about how to ask for feedback during the entire writing process. It contains possible questions that students might ask when developing an outline, during the revision process, and after the final draft has been graded.

"Prepare for Your Tutoring Session" (Otis College of Art and Design)

This guide from a university's student learning center contains a lot of helpful tips for getting the most out of working with a writing tutor.

"The Importance of Asking Your Professor" (Univ. of Waterloo)

This article from the university's Writing and Communication Centre's blog contains some suggestions for how and when to get help from professors and Teaching Assistants.

Once you've revised your first draft, you're well on your way to handing in a polished paper. These resources—each of them produced by writing professionals at colleges and universities—outline the steps required in order to produce a final draft. You'll find proofreading tips and checklists in text and video form.

"Developing a Final Draft of a Research Paper" (Univ. of Minnesota)

While this resource contains suggestions for revision, it also features a couple of helpful checklists for the last stages of completing a final draft.

Basic Final Draft Tips and Checklist (Univ. of Maryland-University College)

This short and accessible resource, part of UMUC's very thorough online guide to writing and research, contains a very basic checklist for students who are getting ready to turn in their final drafts.

Final Draft Checklist (Everett C.C.)

This is another accessible final draft checklist, appropriate for both high school and college students. It suggests reading your essay aloud at least once.

"How to Proofread Your Final Draft" (YouTube)

This video (approximately 5 minutes), produced by Eastern Washington University, gives students tips on proofreading final drafts.

"Proofreading Tips" (Georgia Southern-Armstrong)

This guide will help students learn how to spot common errors in their papers. It suggests focusing on content and editing for grammar and mechanics.

This final set of resources is intended specifically for high school and college instructors. It provides links to unit plans and classroom exercises that can help improve students' research and writing skills. You'll find resources that give an overview of the process, along with activities that focus on how to begin and how to carry out research. 

"Research Paper Complete Resources Pack" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This packet of assignments, rubrics, and other resources is designed for high school students. The resources in this packet are aligned to Common Core standards.

"Research Paper—Complete Unit" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This packet of assignments, notes, PowerPoints, and other resources has a 4/4 rating with over 700 ratings. It is designed for high school teachers, but might also be useful to college instructors who work with freshmen.

"Teaching Students to Write Good Papers" (Yale)

This resource from Yale's Center for Teaching and Learning is designed for college instructors, and it includes links to appropriate activities and exercises.

"Research Paper Writing: An Overview" (CUNY Brooklyn)

CUNY Brooklyn offers this complete lesson plan for introducing students to research papers. It includes an accompanying set of PowerPoint slides.

"Lesson Plan: How to Begin Writing a Research Paper" (San Jose State Univ.)

This lesson plan is designed for students in the health sciences, so teachers will have to modify it for their own needs. It includes a breakdown of the brainstorming, topic selection, and research question process. 

"Quantitative Techniques for Social Science Research" (Univ. of Pittsburgh)

This is a set of PowerPoint slides that can be used to introduce students to a variety of quantitative methods used in the social sciences.

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• How to write a research paper

Last updated

11 January 2024

Reviewed by

With proper planning, knowledge, and framework, completing a research paper can be a fulfilling and exciting experience. 

Though it might initially sound slightly intimidating, this guide will help you embrace the challenge. 

By documenting your findings, you can inspire others and make a difference in your field. Here's how you can make your research paper unique and comprehensive.

• What is a research paper?

Research papers allow you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of a particular topic. These papers are usually lengthier and more detailed than typical essays, requiring deeper insight into the chosen topic.

To write a research paper, you must first choose a topic that interests you and is relevant to the field of study. Once you’ve selected your topic, gathering as many relevant resources as possible, including books, scholarly articles, credible websites, and other academic materials, is essential. You must then read and analyze these sources, summarizing their key points and identifying gaps in the current research.

You can formulate your ideas and opinions once you thoroughly understand the existing research. To get there might involve conducting original research, gathering data, or analyzing existing data sets. It could also involve presenting an original argument or interpretation of the existing research.

Writing a successful research paper involves presenting your findings clearly and engagingly, which might involve using charts, graphs, or other visual aids to present your data and using concise language to explain your findings. You must also ensure your paper adheres to relevant academic formatting guidelines, including proper citations and references.

Overall, writing a research paper requires a significant amount of time, effort, and attention to detail. However, it is also an enriching experience that allows you to delve deeply into a subject that interests you and contribute to the existing body of knowledge in your chosen field.

• How long should a research paper be?

Research papers are deep dives into a topic. Therefore, they tend to be longer pieces of work than essays or opinion pieces. 

However, a suitable length depends on the complexity of the topic and your level of expertise. For instance, are you a first-year college student or an experienced professional? 

Also, remember that the best research papers provide valuable information for the benefit of others. Therefore, the quality of information matters most, not necessarily the length. Being concise is valuable.

Following these best practice steps will help keep your process simple and productive:

1. Gaining a deep understanding of any expectations

Before diving into your intended topic or beginning the research phase, take some time to orient yourself. Suppose there’s a specific topic assigned to you. In that case, it’s essential to deeply understand the question and organize your planning and approach in response. Pay attention to the key requirements and ensure you align your writing accordingly. 

This preparation step entails

Deeply understanding the task or assignment

Being clear about the expected format and length

Familiarizing yourself with the citation and referencing requirements 

Understanding any defined limits for your research contribution

Where applicable, speaking to your professor or research supervisor for further clarification

2. Choose your research topic

Select a research topic that aligns with both your interests and available resources. Ideally, focus on a field where you possess significant experience and analytical skills. In crafting your research paper, it's crucial to go beyond summarizing existing data and contribute fresh insights to the chosen area.

Consider narrowing your focus to a specific aspect of the topic. For example, if exploring the link between technology and mental health, delve into how social media use during the pandemic impacts the well-being of college students. Conducting interviews and surveys with students could provide firsthand data and unique perspectives, adding substantial value to the existing knowledge.

When finalizing your topic, adhere to legal and ethical norms in the relevant area (this ensures the integrity of your research, protects participants' rights, upholds intellectual property standards, and ensures transparency and accountability). Following these principles not only maintains the credibility of your work but also builds trust within your academic or professional community.

For instance, in writing about medical research, consider legal and ethical norms , including patient confidentiality laws and informed consent requirements. Similarly, if analyzing user data on social media platforms, be mindful of data privacy regulations, ensuring compliance with laws governing personal information collection and use. Aligning with legal and ethical standards not only avoids potential issues but also underscores the responsible conduct of your research.

3. Gather preliminary research

Once you’ve landed on your topic, it’s time to explore it further. You’ll want to discover more about available resources and existing research relevant to your assignment at this stage. 

This exploratory phase is vital as you may discover issues with your original idea or realize you have insufficient resources to explore the topic effectively. This key bit of groundwork allows you to redirect your research topic in a different, more feasible, or more relevant direction if necessary. 

Spending ample time at this stage ensures you gather everything you need, learn as much as you can about the topic, and discover gaps where the topic has yet to be sufficiently covered, offering an opportunity to research it further. 

4. Define your research question

To produce a well-structured and focused paper, it is imperative to formulate a clear and precise research question that will guide your work. Your research question must be informed by the existing literature and tailored to the scope and objectives of your project. By refining your focus, you can produce a thoughtful and engaging paper that effectively communicates your ideas to your readers.

5. Write a thesis statement

A thesis statement is a one-to-two-sentence summary of your research paper's main argument or direction. It serves as an overall guide to summarize the overall intent of the research paper for you and anyone wanting to know more about the research.

A strong thesis statement is:

Concise and clear: Explain your case in simple sentences (avoid covering multiple ideas). It might help to think of this section as an elevator pitch.

Specific: Ensure that there is no ambiguity in your statement and that your summary covers the points argued in the paper.

Debatable: A thesis statement puts forward a specific argument––it is not merely a statement but a debatable point that can be analyzed and discussed.

Here are three thesis statement examples from different disciplines:

Psychology thesis example: "We're studying adults aged 25-40 to see if taking short breaks for mindfulness can help with stress. Our goal is to find practical ways to manage anxiety better."

Environmental science thesis example: "This research paper looks into how having more city parks might make the air cleaner and keep people healthier. I want to find out if more green spaces means breathing fewer carcinogens in big cities."

UX research thesis example: "This study focuses on improving mobile banking for older adults using ethnographic research, eye-tracking analysis, and interactive prototyping. We investigate the usefulness of eye-tracking analysis with older individuals, aiming to spark debate and offer fresh perspectives on UX design and digital inclusivity for the aging population."

6. Conduct in-depth research

A research paper doesn’t just include research that you’ve uncovered from other papers and studies but your fresh insights, too. You will seek to become an expert on your topic––understanding the nuances in the current leading theories. You will analyze existing research and add your thinking and discoveries.  It's crucial to conduct well-designed research that is rigorous, robust, and based on reliable sources. Suppose a research paper lacks evidence or is biased. In that case, it won't benefit the academic community or the general public. Therefore, examining the topic thoroughly and furthering its understanding through high-quality research is essential. That usually means conducting new research. Depending on the area under investigation, you may conduct surveys, interviews, diary studies , or observational research to uncover new insights or bolster current claims.

7. Determine supporting evidence

Not every piece of research you’ve discovered will be relevant to your research paper. It’s important to categorize the most meaningful evidence to include alongside your discoveries. It's important to include evidence that doesn't support your claims to avoid exclusion bias and ensure a fair research paper.

8. Write a research paper outline

Before diving in and writing the whole paper, start with an outline. It will help you to see if more research is needed, and it will provide a framework by which to write a more compelling paper. Your supervisor may even request an outline to approve before beginning to write the first draft of the full paper. An outline will include your topic, thesis statement, key headings, short summaries of the research, and your arguments.

9. Write your first draft

Once you feel confident about your outline and sources, it’s time to write your first draft. While penning a long piece of content can be intimidating, if you’ve laid the groundwork, you will have a structure to help you move steadily through each section. To keep up motivation and inspiration, it’s often best to keep the pace quick. Stopping for long periods can interrupt your flow and make jumping back in harder than writing when things are fresh in your mind.

10. Cite your sources correctly

It's always a good practice to give credit where it's due, and the same goes for citing any works that have influenced your paper. Building your arguments on credible references adds value and authenticity to your research. In the formatting guidelines section, you’ll find an overview of different citation styles (MLA, CMOS, or APA), which will help you meet any publishing or academic requirements and strengthen your paper's credibility. It is essential to follow the guidelines provided by your school or the publication you are submitting to ensure the accuracy and relevance of your citations.

11. Ensure your work is original

It is crucial to ensure the originality of your paper, as plagiarism can lead to serious consequences. To avoid plagiarism, you should use proper paraphrasing and quoting techniques. Paraphrasing is rewriting a text in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. Quoting involves directly citing the source. Giving credit to the original author or source is essential whenever you borrow their ideas or words. You can also use plagiarism detection tools such as Scribbr or Grammarly to check the originality of your paper. These tools compare your draft writing to a vast database of online sources. If you find any accidental plagiarism, you should correct it immediately by rephrasing or citing the source.

12. Revise, edit, and proofread

One of the essential qualities of excellent writers is their ability to understand the importance of editing and proofreading. Even though it's tempting to call it a day once you've finished your writing, editing your work can significantly improve its quality. It's natural to overlook the weaker areas when you've just finished writing a paper. Therefore, it's best to take a break of a day or two, or even up to a week, to refresh your mind. This way, you can return to your work with a new perspective. After some breathing room, you can spot any inconsistencies, spelling and grammar errors, typos, or missing citations and correct them. 

• The best research paper format 

The format of your research paper should align with the requirements set forth by your college, school, or target publication. 

There is no one “best” format, per se. Depending on the stated requirements, you may need to include the following elements:

Title page: The title page of a research paper typically includes the title, author's name, and institutional affiliation and may include additional information such as a course name or instructor's name. 

Table of contents: Include a table of contents to make it easy for readers to find specific sections of your paper.

Abstract: The abstract is a summary of the purpose of the paper.

Methods : In this section, describe the research methods used. This may include collecting data , conducting interviews, or doing field research .

Results: Summarize the conclusions you drew from your research in this section.

Discussion: In this section, discuss the implications of your research . Be sure to mention any significant limitations to your approach and suggest areas for further research.

Tables, charts, and illustrations: Use tables, charts, and illustrations to help convey your research findings and make them easier to understand.

Works cited or reference page: Include a works cited or reference page to give credit to the sources that you used to conduct your research.

Bibliography: Provide a list of all the sources you consulted while conducting your research.

Dedication and acknowledgments : Optionally, you may include a dedication and acknowledgments section to thank individuals who helped you with your research.

• General style and formatting guidelines

Formatting your research paper means you can submit it to your college, journal, or other publications in compliance with their criteria.

Research papers tend to follow the American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), or Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) guidelines.

Here’s how each style guide is typically used:

Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS):

CMOS is a versatile style guide used for various types of writing. It's known for its flexibility and use in the humanities. CMOS provides guidelines for citations, formatting, and overall writing style. It allows for both footnotes and in-text citations, giving writers options based on their preferences or publication requirements.

American Psychological Association (APA):

APA is common in the social sciences. It’s hailed for its clarity and emphasis on precision. It has specific rules for citing sources, creating references, and formatting papers. APA style uses in-text citations with an accompanying reference list. It's designed to convey information efficiently and is widely used in academic and scientific writing.

Modern Language Association (MLA):

MLA is widely used in the humanities, especially literature and language studies. It emphasizes the author-page format for in-text citations and provides guidelines for creating a "Works Cited" page. MLA is known for its focus on the author's name and the literary works cited. It’s frequently used in disciplines that prioritize literary analysis and critical thinking.

To confirm you're using the latest style guide, check the official website or publisher's site for updates, consult academic resources, and verify the guide's publication date. Online platforms and educational resources may also provide summaries and alerts about any revisions or additions to the style guide.

Citing sources

When working on your research paper, it's important to cite the sources you used properly. Your citation style will guide you through this process. Generally, there are three parts to citing sources in your research paper: 

First, provide a brief citation in the body of your essay. This is also known as a parenthetical or in-text citation. 

Second, include a full citation in the Reference list at the end of your paper. Different types of citations include in-text citations, footnotes, and reference lists. 

In-text citations include the author's surname and the date of the citation. 

Footnotes appear at the bottom of each page of your research paper. They may also be summarized within a reference list at the end of the paper. 

A reference list includes all of the research used within the paper at the end of the document. It should include the author, date, paper title, and publisher listed in the order that aligns with your citation style.

10 research paper writing tips:

Following some best practices is essential to writing a research paper that contributes to your field of study and creates a positive impact.

These tactics will help you structure your argument effectively and ensure your work benefits others:

Clear and precise language:  Ensure your language is unambiguous. Use academic language appropriately, but keep it simple. Also, provide clear takeaways for your audience.

Effective idea separation:  Organize the vast amount of information and sources in your paper with paragraphs and titles. Create easily digestible sections for your readers to navigate through.

Compelling intro:  Craft an engaging introduction that captures your reader's interest. Hook your audience and motivate them to continue reading.

Thorough revision and editing:  Take the time to review and edit your paper comprehensively. Use tools like Grammarly to detect and correct small, overlooked errors.

Thesis precision:  Develop a clear and concise thesis statement that guides your paper. Ensure that your thesis aligns with your research's overall purpose and contribution.

Logical flow of ideas:  Maintain a logical progression throughout the paper. Use transitions effectively to connect different sections and maintain coherence.

Critical evaluation of sources:  Evaluate and critically assess the relevance and reliability of your sources. Ensure that your research is based on credible and up-to-date information.

Thematic consistency:  Maintain a consistent theme throughout the paper. Ensure that all sections contribute cohesively to the overall argument.

Relevant supporting evidence:  Provide concise and relevant evidence to support your arguments. Avoid unnecessary details that may distract from the main points.

Embrace counterarguments:  Acknowledge and address opposing views to strengthen your position. Show that you have considered alternative arguments in your field.

7 research tips 

If you want your paper to not only be well-written but also contribute to the progress of human knowledge, consider these tips to take your paper to the next level:

Selecting the appropriate topic: The topic you select should align with your area of expertise, comply with the requirements of your project, and have sufficient resources for a comprehensive investigation.

Use academic databases: Academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and JSTOR offer a wealth of research papers that can help you discover everything you need to know about your chosen topic.

Critically evaluate sources: It is important not to accept research findings at face value. Instead, it is crucial to critically analyze the information to avoid jumping to conclusions or overlooking important details. A well-written research paper requires a critical analysis with thorough reasoning to support claims.

Diversify your sources: Expand your research horizons by exploring a variety of sources beyond the standard databases. Utilize books, conference proceedings, and interviews to gather diverse perspectives and enrich your understanding of the topic.

Take detailed notes: Detailed note-taking is crucial during research and can help you form the outline and body of your paper.

Stay up on trends: Keep abreast of the latest developments in your field by regularly checking for recent publications. Subscribe to newsletters, follow relevant journals, and attend conferences to stay informed about emerging trends and advancements. 

Engage in peer review: Seek feedback from peers or mentors to ensure the rigor and validity of your research . Peer review helps identify potential weaknesses in your methodology and strengthens the overall credibility of your findings.

• The real-world impact of research papers

Writing a research paper is more than an academic or business exercise. The experience provides an opportunity to explore a subject in-depth, broaden one's understanding, and arrive at meaningful conclusions. With careful planning, dedication, and hard work, writing a research paper can be a fulfilling and enriching experience contributing to advancing knowledge.

How do I publish my research paper? 

Many academics wish to publish their research papers. While challenging, your paper might get traction if it covers new and well-written information. To publish your research paper, find a target publication, thoroughly read their guidelines, format your paper accordingly, and send it to them per their instructions. You may need to include a cover letter, too. After submission, your paper may be peer-reviewed by experts to assess its legitimacy, quality, originality, and methodology. Following review, you will be informed by the publication whether they have accepted or rejected your paper. 

What is a good opening sentence for a research paper? 

Beginning your research paper with a compelling introduction can ensure readers are interested in going further. A relevant quote, a compelling statistic, or a bold argument can start the paper and hook your reader. Remember, though, that the most important aspect of a research paper is the quality of the information––not necessarily your ability to storytell, so ensure anything you write aligns with your goals.

Research paper vs. a research proposal—what’s the difference?

While some may confuse research papers and proposals, they are different documents. 

A research proposal comes before a research paper. It is a detailed document that outlines an intended area of exploration. It includes the research topic, methodology, timeline, sources, and potential conclusions. Research proposals are often required when seeking approval to conduct research. 

A research paper is a summary of research findings. A research paper follows a structured format to present those findings and construct an argument or conclusion.

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Genre and the Research Paper

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Research: What it is.

A research paper is the culmination and final product of an involved process of research, critical thinking, source evaluation, organization, and composition. It is, perhaps, helpful to think of the research paper as a living thing, which grows and changes as the student explores, interprets, and evaluates sources related to a specific topic. Primary and secondary sources are the heart of a research paper, and provide its nourishment; without the support of and interaction with these sources, the research paper would morph into a different genre of writing (e.g., an encyclopedic article). The research paper serves not only to further the field in which it is written, but also to provide the student with an exceptional opportunity to increase her knowledge in that field. It is also possible to identify a research paper by what it is not.

Research: What it is not.

A research paper is not simply an informed summary of a topic by means of primary and secondary sources. It is neither a book report nor an opinion piece nor an expository essay consisting solely of one's interpretation of a text nor an overview of a particular topic. Instead, it is a genre that requires one to spend time investigating and evaluating sources with the intent to offer interpretations of the texts, and not unconscious regurgitations of those sources. The goal of a research paper is not to inform the reader what others have to say about a topic, but to draw on what others have to say about a topic and engage the sources in order to thoughtfully offer a unique perspective on the issue at hand. This is accomplished through two major types of research papers.

Two major types of research papers.

Argumentative research paper:

The argumentative research paper consists of an introduction in which the writer clearly introduces the topic and informs his audience exactly which stance he intends to take; this stance is often identified as the thesis statement . An important goal of the argumentative research paper is persuasion, which means the topic chosen should be debatable or controversial. For example, it would be difficult for a student to successfully argue in favor of the following stance.

Perhaps 25 years ago this topic would have been debatable; however, today, it is assumed that smoking cigarettes is, indeed, harmful to one's health. A better thesis would be the following.

In this sentence, the writer is not challenging the current accepted stance that both firsthand and secondhand cigarette smoke is dangerous; rather, she is positing that the social acceptance of the latter over the former is indicative of a cultural double-standard of sorts. The student would support this thesis throughout her paper by means of both primary and secondary sources, with the intent to persuade her audience that her particular interpretation of the situation is viable.

Analytical research paper:

The analytical research paper often begins with the student asking a question (a.k.a. a research question) on which he has taken no stance. Such a paper is often an exercise in exploration and evaluation. For example, perhaps one is interested in the Old English poem Beowulf . He has read the poem intently and desires to offer a fresh reading of the poem to the academic community. His question may be as follows.

His research may lead him to the following conclusion.

Though his topic may be debatable and controversial, it is not the student's intent to persuade the audience that his ideas are right while those of others are wrong. Instead, his goal is to offer a critical interpretation of primary and secondary sources throughout the paper--sources that should, ultimately, buttress his particular analysis of the topic. The following is an example of what his thesis statement may look like once he has completed his research.

This statement does not negate the traditional readings of Beowulf ; instead, it offers a fresh and detailed reading of the poem that will be supported by the student's research.

It is typically not until the student has begun the writing process that his thesis statement begins to take solid form. In fact, the thesis statement in an analytical paper is often more fluid than the thesis in an argumentative paper. Such is one of the benefits of approaching the topic without a predetermined stance.

What Is a Research Paper?

Definition of a research paper

A research paper is a scientific piece that covers a certain topic. It requires in-depth research, analysis, evaluation of literature or qualitative research performed via interviews or observations. 

A standard research paper includes these sections: 

• Review of literature 
• Methodology

The topic usually pertains to your area of study and is often connected to the papers you’ve written before. You will either choose the topic on your own or select it from the options proposed by your professor.

If you need to write a research paper but don’t know where to start, read on! This article will guide you through the entire process. 

What Is a Research Paper Purpose?

The main purpose of this type of academic paper is to either research a new topic or add to existing research. You may be covering a topic that has been explored long ago to update the information and possibly debunk some assumptions. Or you may be conducting brand new research that hasn’t been done before. Sometimes, you will also write a paper like that to add to the existing research if it is insufficient.

8 Steps to Writing a Research Paper

Writing a research paper is a lengthy process that many may find complicated. However, it becomes more manageable if you break it down into these steps:

• Pick a topic; approve it with your academic advisor.
• Conduct research, review the available sources, and pick the ones you find the most useful.
• Develop a thesis statement.
• Write an outline; put your ideas, potential sources and notes in it.
• Write the introduction chapter; this may also be done last.
• Move on to the body paragraphs & conclusion.
• Give it a rest, then edit without mercy.
• Format the paper and the references.

This may feel like a lot. It’s true. If you’re still confused as to how to write a research paper , refer to our expert writers for help. Studyfy can help you handle all eight steps of the writing process. 

Ensure you consult your academic advisor every step of the way. They may have valuable remarks, questions and advice.

How to Conduct Research?

When it comes to writing, research papers emphasize a solid base. The literature review is the whale that carries your paper. You must take enough time to discover all the relevant, timely information on the topic.

Otherwise, you risk redundancy. Search for keywords in Google Scholar and focus on publications made in the last 5-10 years, depending on the topic.

Conducting research for a research paper involves several steps to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. Here's a simplified guide:

• Define Your Topic : Clearly define the scope and focus of your research. This helps narrow down your search and ensures relevance.
• Identify Keywords : Brainstorm and identify keywords related to your topic. These will be crucial when searching for relevant sources.
• Use Reliable Sources : Utilize academic databases, scholarly journals, books, and reputable websites for your research. Evaluate the credibility and reliability of each source.
• Gather Information : Collect relevant data, statistics, quotes, and examples to support your thesis or argument. Take notes and keep track of your sources for citations.
• Analyze and Synthesize : Evaluate the information you've gathered critically. Identify patterns, themes, and relationships between different sources. Synthesize the information to develop your own perspective or argument.
• Organize Your Notes : Organize your notes and findings in a logical manner. Create an outline to structure your research paper effectively.
• Cite Your Sources : Make sure to properly cite all sources used in your research paper. Follow the citation style guidelines specified by your instructor or academic institution (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
• Review and Revise : Review your research paper draft carefully. Make revisions as needed to strengthen your arguments, improve clarity, and ensure coherence.
• Seek Feedback : Consider seeking feedback from peers, instructors, or mentors to gain additional insights and improve the quality of your research paper.
• Finalize Your Paper : Once you're satisfied with your research paper, finalize it by proofreading for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Make sure your paper adheres to formatting guidelines before submission.

Thesis Statement

Writing a research paper is impossible without a good thesis statement. A thesis statement is a brief description of your stance on the topic. You may decide to reason for or against the existing opinion on the topic. Your thesis statement will reflect that.

You may also be required to write a research question instead. That question will guide your research and will either be answered positively or negatively at the end of the paper.

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Compose an Outline

This is a map for your future paper. One obviously can write research papers without it, but it’s easier to use the outline method. 

An outline will act like the skeleton of your paper. You jot down all the points that will appear in the final draft and then add meat and muscle to them. Those may be details, notes from your research, potential references, expected results and, of course, your methods.

When you have an outline, you can approve it with your professor, and they will guide you on what steps to take next.

Do I Need to Write the Intro First?

According to research paper writing service experts, no, you don’t. Some students find it best to craft this part last when the rest of your paper is ready. This way, you can see the direction your research has taken and prepare the reader appropriately. 

Most of the time, the intro chapter mentions the thesis statement, methods that will be used, either qualitative or quantitative, and the expected outcomes.

How Do I Write Body Chapters?

After the introduction, where you disclosed the research paper meaning and purpose, you move on to the body. Your literature review must show adequate research and familiarity with the topic. 

The methods for your research paper may differ depending on the topic, as well as what you think is best. You can either stick with the review of the literature (aka meta-analysis) or go on the slightly more complicated path of qualitative or quantitative research. Your choice depends on what fits your topic best.

Conclusion of research paper

Your conclusion must answer the question: what is the point of a research paper? Finish your paper stating if you’ve proved or disproved your thesis statement and what can be done in the future in further research. Don’t repeat the information already given in the paper word for word. Instead, summarize it briefly and don’t add any new information.

Improving Objectivity in Editing

When it comes to bigger academic works, like research papers, it’s hard to assess them adequately immediately after you’ve written them. Your memory will be too fresh, and you’ll recall the sentences rather than read them. To edit a paper properly, you should put it away for some time. This will allow you to be more objective and critical.

How to Edit a Research Paper?

The research paper definition states that you are to present your findings on the topic backed by facts and research.

To do that, you must ensure that every statement is supported by evidence. 

When you read the paper once again, look for logic, flow and evidence-based statements. Every paragraph must support the thesis statement for the whole paper to be on topic. Look at grammar, word choice and punctuation. Make sure to bring the paper to your professor for final edits.

Which Formatting Style Should I Use?

Any research paper requires referencing and citations. Yet, there are different formatting styles to use. In most cases, your professor will specify the required style, and you’ll be able to find the guide with its instructions. Most often, Harvard or APA are used for research papers; however, your academic advisor might require you to use another style, so you must consult with them if you’re not sure.

Final Words

A research paper is a very influential phase in your educational journey. You may be wondering, “ How long should a research paper be ?” The answers vary. Usually, the length is somewhere between 15 and 50 pages. But it depends on your year of study, topic and your professors’ requirements.

Make sure that you continuously consult with your advisor. This will make your job of writing and their job of grading your paper a lot easier. Besides, if they see your involvement and willingness to learn, they might be more lenient towards you.

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How to choose topics for research papers?

Choosing a topic for a research paper involves a few key steps:

• Interest and Passion : Pick a topic that excites you, as this will keep you motivated and engaged.
• Scope : Ensure the topic is neither too broad nor too narrow. A broad topic can be overwhelming, while a narrow topic might not have enough material.
• Resources : Check the availability of resources. Make sure there are sufficient sources to support your research.
• Originality : Consider originality. Aim for a topic that offers a new perspective or fills a research gap.
• Relevance : Choose a topic that is relevant to your field and current research trends, which can increase the impact of your work.

Usually, a student chooses a topic for their paper on their own. When you are asked, “What is a research paper about?” you must justify your choice and present enough evidence to cover the scope of the paper.They will likely offer you adjustments, propose sources, or suggest that you take another approach depending on the relevancy of the topic. But in general, the topic is up to you.

What are the major stages of composing a research paper?

First, you choose the topic and approve it with your advisor. Then, you do preliminary research and form your opinion along with the thesis statement. Next, you get to writing. Start with the outline and build on it. Write your body chapters, then the intro and conclusion. Then, move on to editing and formatting. Essentially, what’s a research paper? It’s your findings on the topic backed up by evidence. 

How many references should I include? 

Just as the length of your research paper depends on many factors, so does your reference count. A good starting point is seeing how many sources you can find on your topic. Discuss them with your professor. Then, once you write, you’ll see how many you need for an adequate review of the literature.

How do I finish the writing process?

What is a research paper? It’s a presentation of your findings backed by evidence. At the end of it, you assess if you’ve proved your thesis statement or not and provide a summary. Restate your points and key findings. 

How to Write a Research Paper: Parts of the Paper

• Choosing Your Topic
• Citation & Style Guides This link opens in a new window
• Critical Thinking
• Evaluating Information
• Parts of the Paper
• Writing Tips from UNC-Chapel Hill
• Librarian Contact

Parts of the Research Paper Papers should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Your introductory paragraph should grab the reader's attention, state your main idea, and indicate how you will support it. The body of the paper should expand on what you have stated in the introduction. Finally, the conclusion restates the paper's thesis and should explain what you have learned, giving a wrap up of your main ideas.

1. The Title The title should be specific and indicate the theme of the research and what ideas it addresses. Use keywords that help explain your paper's topic to the reader. Try to avoid abbreviations and jargon. Think about keywords that people would use to search for your paper and include them in your title.

2. The Abstract The abstract is used by readers to get a quick overview of your paper. Typically, they are about 200 words in length (120 words minimum to  250 words maximum). The abstract should introduce the topic and thesis, and should provide a general statement about what you have found in your research. The abstract allows you to mention each major aspect of your topic and helps readers decide whether they want to read the rest of the paper. Because it is a summary of the entire research paper, it is often written last. 

3. The Introduction The introduction should be designed to attract the reader's attention and explain the focus of the research. You will introduce your overview of the topic,  your main points of information, and why this subject is important. You can introduce the current understanding and background information about the topic. Toward the end of the introduction, you add your thesis statement, and explain how you will provide information to support your research questions. This provides the purpose and focus for the rest of the paper.

4. Thesis Statement Most papers will have a thesis statement or main idea and supporting facts/ideas/arguments. State your main idea (something of interest or something to be proven or argued for or against) as your thesis statement, and then provide your supporting facts and arguments. A thesis statement is a declarative sentence that asserts the position a paper will be taking. It also points toward the paper's development. This statement should be both specific and arguable. Generally, the thesis statement will be placed at the end of the first paragraph of your paper. The remainder of your paper will support this thesis.

Students often learn to write a thesis as a first step in the writing process, but often, after research, a writer's viewpoint may change. Therefore a thesis statement may be one of the final steps in writing. 

Examples of Thesis Statements from Purdue OWL

5. The Literature Review The purpose of the literature review is to describe past important research and how it specifically relates to the research thesis. It should be a synthesis of the previous literature and the new idea being researched. The review should examine the major theories related to the topic to date and their contributors. It should include all relevant findings from credible sources, such as academic books and peer-reviewed journal articles. You will want  to:

• Explain how the literature helps the researcher understand the topic.
• Try to show connections and any disparities between the literature.
• Identify new ways to interpret prior research.
• Reveal any gaps that exist in the literature.

More about writing a literature review. . .

6. The Discussion ​The purpose of the discussion is to interpret and describe what you have learned from your research. Make the reader understand why your topic is important. The discussion should always demonstrate what you have learned from your readings (and viewings) and how that learning has made the topic evolve, especially from the short description of main points in the introduction.Explain any new understanding or insights you have had after reading your articles and/or books. Paragraphs should use transitioning sentences to develop how one paragraph idea leads to the next. The discussion will always connect to the introduction, your thesis statement, and the literature you reviewed, but it does not simply repeat or rearrange the introduction. You want to: 

• Demonstrate critical thinking, not just reporting back facts that you gathered.
• If possible, tell how the topic has evolved over the past and give it's implications for the future.
• Fully explain your main ideas with supporting information.
• Explain why your thesis is correct giving arguments to counter points.

7. The Conclusion A concluding paragraph is a brief summary of your main ideas and restates the paper's main thesis, giving the reader the sense that the stated goal of the paper has been accomplished. What have you learned by doing this research that you didn't know before? What conclusions have you drawn? You may also want to suggest further areas of study, improvement of research possibilities, etc. to demonstrate your critical thinking regarding your research.

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Research Paper or Term Paper: What’s the Difference?

Research papers and term papers are common assignments for students in a variety of academic disciplines, yet they can often be difficult to distinguish from one another. This article seeks to provide insight into the differences between research papers and term papers while exploring their purpose, structure, content, referencing styles, citation formats and more. It further examines how research paper topics are selected and outlines a process for selecting an appropriate topic if one is given by instructors or peers. In addition, it explains how proper use of resources enhances quality writing within both types of documents. Ultimately this article will aid readers in better understanding the distinctions between these two academic tasks so that they may produce higher-quality results with confidence.

I. Introduction

Ii. definition of a research paper, iii. definition of a term paper, iv. similarities between research and term papers, v. differences between research and term papers, vi. benefits of writing each type of paper, vii conclusion.

The Key Difference: Research Paper vs Term Paper Writing an academic paper can be daunting for some. It involves extensive research, brainstorming ideas and organizing the information you have gathered. One of the most important decisions a student has to make when writing a paper is whether it should be written as a research or term paper. Although these two types of papers share similarities, they also contain key differences which must be taken into account in order to deliver an excellent piece of work tailored towards specific requirements and objectives.

A research paper aims at investigating scientific topics by collecting evidence through conducting experiments and analysis. A typical format includes introduction, literature review, methods section (which could include data collection & sampling procedures), results with interpretation followed by discussion and conclusion sections.

• The purpose is typically exploratory – uncovering what researchers already know about the topic
• Content is usually backed up with solid references from reliable sources such as journals.

. In comparison to this ,a term paper does not require any experimentation but instead relies on researching already existing knowledge regarding its subject matter.. As opposed to simply reporting on findings like in case of a research project; here students are required to express their opinion based on facts presented throughout their argumentation. Common elements often found within term papers are abstracts, introductions, problem/purpose statements along with relevant conclusions detailing how your ideas fit together in terms of answering initial question(s).

A Comprehensive Understanding The research paper is a comprehensive document that not only contains various pieces of evidence to support its claims, but also develops and presents an argument based on the available data. It requires considerable effort to collect all pertinent information related to the subject under investigation, analyze it in order to find meaningful patterns or connections among them, and finally synthesize these findings into a logical structure which demonstrates your conclusion about the topic.

When compared with a term paper, one major difference lies within their scope; whereas a research paper may be much longer than 10-15 pages required for most term papers due to its broader nature and complexity in presenting arguments from multiple sources. Moreover, while writing this type of academic work involves extensive background study in scholarly resources such as books and journals covering your field of interest as well as interpreting primary sources like interviews or surveys you have conducted yourself if necessary. In addition, given its strict formality with regards referencing style throughout the body text following APA guidelines for example will need careful attention during proofreading at each stage when producing this kind of written assignment.

• Research Paper:

Thorough analysis based on existing literature along with primary source material where applicable over an extended period resulting in an essay that clearly supports original ideas related to specific theme.

• Term Paper:

More limited amountof time generally restricted around certain parameters set by lecturer leading towards concisely summarizing facts obtained through study already covered within module without necessarily providing individual opinion regarding matter investigated

A term paper is a lengthy academic document that demonstrates the student’s research and writing skills. It requires extensive analysis of available information, thorough study of relevant sources, and meaningful arguments that are backed up by evidence-based facts. In contrast to a research paper , which is typically longer in length and more complex in scope, a term paper centers around an argument or issue related to its assigned topic rather than simply describing what has been previously established on said subject.

When preparing their term papers, students must take into account not only the format requirements but also any expectations set forth by their professors regarding content quality. This means taking great care when selecting sources—credible journals published by well-known publishing houses should be given precedence over online articles or blog posts written without much editorial oversight—and researching as deeply as possible into the assigned area so as to provide readers with new insights or perspectives on the discussed topics. Moreover, it is essential for students’ work to include fresh points of view accompanied with logical deductions based on critical thinking and sound reasoning throughout; anything less would weaken one’s argument instead of reinforcing it.

Research papers and term papers are quite similar, as they both require the student to do in-depth research into a subject. They share many characteristics, although there are distinct differences between them.

• Both types of academic writing involve researching and summarizing facts from credible sources.
• They also rely heavily on analyzing existing data or theories about a particular topic.

Though both research papers and term papers are commonly assigned writing tasks for college students, the two projects have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Here we will explore some of the differences between these assignments.

• Scope: Research papers typically require a much wider scope of investigation than term papers as they delve into topics more deeply and aim to uncover new knowledge or innovative solutions rather than just summarizing existing materials. Term paper assignments tend to cover information in greater depth but within a narrower range of source material.
• Goals: While research paper objectives may be quite varied depending on the topic, their ultimate purpose is generally to contribute something original to an area of study or share significant findings about it. On the other hand, though also subject-specific, term paper goals usually include proving mastery over core concepts by presenting ideas from various sources such as class notes and readings with cogency.

Different Writing for Different Purposes While all forms of writing can be beneficial in some way, each type has its own set of advantages. When it comes to research papers and term papers, here are some great benefits that can come from tackling these assignments:

• Research Papers : These more lengthy projects give you the opportunity to delve deeper into a subject than a shorter assignment would allow. You’ll have time to read multiple sources, conduct interviews if necessary, and look at different points of view before developing your thesis statement and proving your argument with evidence.
• Term Papers : A good term paper will help summarize what you’ve learned during the semester or course by bringing together important concepts discussed throughout class lectures or discussions. It is an excellent chance for professors to assess how much information their students actually retained.

In this research paper, the differences between a research paper and a term paper have been highlighted. It has been demonstrated that while both of these pieces of written work can be effective tools for understanding an academic subject in depth, they are actually quite different from one another.

• Research papers , as the name suggests, involve extensive research on a particular topic. The goal is to explore every aspect of the chosen theme before providing your own thoughtful conclusions about it.
• Term papers ,on the other hand, often require students to focus more narrowly on studying existing theories or information presented by teachers during class time. Generally speaking, less independent research is involved when writing term papers than with researching and drafting full-length research projects.

The content of each type should therefore differ accordingly – where there may be multiple topics covered within a single research project due to its wide scope; such breadth would not normally be expected in shorter assignments like term papers which will usually address only one area of study at most. Ultimately then, depending upon their purpose and respective requirements , these two types remain distinct entities worthy of comparison yet also easily differentiated .

In conclusion, it is clear that research papers and term papers are two distinct types of assignments. Research papers focus on a specific topic or subject and require the author to conduct their own research and analysis in order to present an argument with evidence to support it. Term papers generally cover course material from a particular semester or quarter, often making use of existing literature rather than requiring original content from the student. Understanding the differences between these forms of writing can help students better prepare for each assignment they undertake while increasing their overall academic performance.

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