Research Paper

A substantial piece of academic writing, usually done

as a requirement for a class, in which the author does
independent research into a topic and writes a
description of the findings of that research.

Research Paper is also called scholarly paper, which is

published in an academic journals and contains original
research results or reviews existing results or show a
totally new invention
The words "research paper" on a syllabus may fill
you with dread. Research papers mean hours spent in
the library, more hours toiling with notes and drafts,
and the headache of dealing with the arcane rules of
documentation.
Before you begin working on a research paper,
it is important to understand what a research
paper is not
A research paper is not "about" a subject
A research paper should have a thesis -- a clear point
of view. It is not simply a generalized discussion of
an issue.
A research paper is not a summary of everything
you can find
Your goal is not to collect everything you can find
out about a subject and summarize it. Although you
should review as much material as possible, you
should select sources that directly support your thesis
. A research paper is not a list of quotes
The focus of your paper is your point of view, your commentary.
Direct quotations, facts, and statistics may be woven throughout
your paper, but they should support your position. Your
commentary should do more than simply introduce or link
quotations.
A research paper does not support a pre-conceived point of
view
Looking up facts that support what you already believe is not
genuine research. You should examine evidence then form an
opinion.
A research paper does not present the ideas of others without
documentation
Research papers must use documentation methods to prevent you
from plagiarizing sources. Do not borrow ideas, statistics, or facts
without noting their original source.
A research paper, no matter what the subject,
must achieve specific goals
A research paper meets the needs of the
assignment
Many instructors give specific requirements for
research papers, detailing topics, use of sources, and
documentation methods. Make sure you fully
understand the scope of the assignment.
Keep the needs of the assignment in mind as you work
on your paper. Constantly refer to the instructor's
guidelines to keep your research on track
A research paper has a clear focus

The more narrow you make your subject, the easier

your paper will be to write.
It is better to write about one dimension of the
problem in a paper than attempt to work on an entire
problem.
It is easier to focus on one treatment for a single
psychiatric disorder than trying to address mental
health
A research paper has a clear thesis

A thesis is the main thing that you want to prove in

your paper.
It should be one or two sentences long.
It should go near the end of your introduction
paragraph.
It let’s the reader know what the rest of the paper is
about.
Without it, you do NOT have a research paper.
A research paper comments on the quantity
and quality of sources
A research paper does not simply summarize and
present the ideas of others. A good research paper
distinguishes between reliable and biased sources,
between authoritative and questionable statistics,
between fact and opinion.
Research Paper vs Review Paper

A research paper is based on original research. The

kind of research may vary depending on your field or
the topic (experiments, survey, interview,
questionnaire, etc.), but authors need to collect and
analyze raw data and conduct an original study. The
research paper will be based on the analysis and
interpretation of this data.
Review Paper
A review article or review paper is based on other
published articles. It does not report original research.
Review articles generally summarize the existing
literature on a topic in an attempt to explain the current
state of understanding on the topic.
Review papers form valuable scientific literature as they
summarize the findings of existing literature. So readers
can form an idea about the existing knowledge on a topic
without having to read all the published works in the
field. Well-written review articles are very popular
especially in social sciences. Review articles can be of
three kinds
Types of Review Paper

A narrative review explains the existing knowledge

on a topic based on all the published research
available on the topic.
A systematic review searches for the answer to a
particular question in the existing scientific literature
on a topic.
A meta-analysis compares and combines the findings
of previously published studies, usually to assess the
effectiveness of an intervention or mode of treatment.
Where Do We Begin?
How to write a great research paper

Many papers are badly written

Good writing is a skill you can learn
It’s a skill that is worth learning:
◦ You will get more brownie points (more papers
accepted etc)
◦ Your ideas will have more impact
◦ You will have better ideas
Writing Research Paper: Model 1

Idea Do research Write paper

Writing Research Paper: Model 2

Idea Write paper Do research

Motivation: Why should I do research

Internal drive
◦ Research interest (sense of achievement/fulfillment,
curiosity)
◦ Strong ambition (self-expectation)
External drive
◦ Degree and diploma
◦ Parents, teachers, friends
◦ Peer pressure (sense of honor and responsibility)
◦ Small success
When you should write a paper

You should have something important enough

to share with others
◦ new ideas
◦ new facts or data
◦ intelligent reviews of old facts and ideas
When you should NOT write a paper

Wrong reasons
want or need publications
increase publication count
fame
publish or perish
peer pressure
want to go to a conference

Bad papers/work will reflect badly on you!

◦ should always be proud of your paper
The Idea
Figure out what your idea is
Make certain that the reader is in no doubt what the
idea is. Be 100% explicit:
◦ “The main idea of this paper is....”
◦ “In this section we present the main contributions of the
paper.”
Many papers contain good ideas, but do not distil what
they are.
One ping

Your paper should have just one “ping”: one clear,

sharp idea

Read your paper again: can you hear the “ping”?

You may not know exactly what the ping is when you
start writing; but you must know when you finish

If you have lots of ideas, write lots of papers

One major contribution is better than many small
ones
What is the contribution type?
◦ Knowledge discovery, invention, integration,
application
Identify, describe, and demonstrate the big idea
Asking the right problem, then asking the problem
right
Innovation! Innovation! Innovation!
How to generate idea

Depending on your thesis, subject, and instructor

guidelines, there are a range of sources you can use as
support.
Each source should be carefully examined and
weighed for accuracy, value, and relevance.
Too often we collect statistics, copy quotations, and
present facts without questioning their validity
EVALUATING SOURCES
Books
In reviewing books, consider the following questions before you
accept any or all of the author's conclusions.

What kind of book is it -- a factual account, a

personal biography, a general text?
What does the author provide, a general overview of a
situation, event, or problem or a specific analysis?
Is the author of a book about John F. Kennedy a historian or
a personal friend who worked in his administration?
Does the book rely on facts, statistics, and surveys or
personal observations and experiences?*
Who is the author or authors?

Does the book contain any biographical information

about the author, such as his or her education,
experience, or credentials? Search for the author on the
Internet to locate biographical information.
Is the writer a recognized authority?
Has he or she published other works?
Is the author objective or subjective?
Does the book reflect a bias?*
When was the book published?
Is the information still relevant
.

Who published the book?

Recognized publishers and university presses have
editorial staffs that review books for accuracy and use
of professional standards. Small presses may have
defined political aims and publish materials that are
little more than propaganda.
Can you locate reviews?
Check the library reference room or conduct an
Internet search to locate reviews of the book. How
was it received by critics?
Does the author support his or her thesis with
factual detail? Does the author provide citations?
Does the author exercise critical
thinking?
Does the book ignore alternative
interpretations, overlook conflicting evidence,
or draw conclusions on fragmentary details?
Periodicals/Journals

What is the nature of the periodical or journal?

Quarterly academic and monthly professional journals are
carefully edited. Articles are often subjected to peer
review. Some journals are less rigorous and inaccurate or
providing misleading information.
Do academic articles follow standard methods and cite
sources?
Like JCR
ISI
Scopus
.

Does the journal or newspaper have a bias?

Many mainstream, academic, and professional journals
attempt to remain objective, although individual articles
may represent specific viewpoints. Other publications have
clearly defined ideological agendas and only publish
information supporting their opinions. If you are unsure of
the publication, review as many copies as you can. Examine
the articles, editorials, and letters to the editor for signs of a
consistent bias.
Can you verify newspaper reports from other sources?
Newspaper reports are filed within hours of an event and
can often contain factual errors. Use the Internet to locate
other accounts or sources to verify the content of newspaper
articles
SURVEYS
Statements based on surveys should be examined
carefully before accepting them as valid.
Who conducted the survey?
Some organizations attempt objectivity and accurate
reporting. Other groups have clear agendas and only
assemble data that supports their point of view.
Who was surveyed and how many?
Surveys are based on personal responses. The more number
of people who are polled, the more likely it will accurately
reflect the larger population.
What method was used for survey?
.

How were respondents selected?

Were the people randomly chosen?

When was the survey conducted?

.
STATISTICS
Anyone conducting research is likely to encounter
statistics. Statistics can be impressive and appear to
provide conclusive proof of an author's work. But as
with other sources, statistics have to be evaluated
carefully to measure their reliability.
Where did the statistics come from?
Who produced the statistics? Is the source reliable?
Statistics about the safety of nuclear power plants
released by utility companies or anti-nuclear
organizations may be suspect. If the source might be
biased, search for information from additional sources
.

When were they collected?

Information can become obsolete very quickly.
Determine if the numbers are still relevant.
How were the statistics collected?
Public opinion polls are commonly used to represent
support or opposition to an issue.
Are the units being counted properly defined?
All statistics count some item – like defaulted loans,
student drop outs, or AIDS patients. In some cases
confusion can occur if the items are not precisely
defined. This is particularly a problem in social science.
.

Do the statistics measure what they claim to measure?

SAT scores assumes that the tests accurately measure
achievement. If one nation's air force is 500% larger than its
neighbors, does it mean that it is five times as powerful? Counting
aircraft alone does not take quality, pilot skill, natural defenses, or
a host of other factors into account.*
Are enough statistics presented?
One statistic may be accurate but misleading.
How are the statistics being interpreted?
Numbers alone do not tell the whole story. If one teacher has a
higher retention rate than another, does it mean he or she is a
better instructor?
CHECKLIST FOR EVALUATING A RESEARCH
PAPER
1. The Title
The five characteristics of a desirable title are:
Informative:
Identify one or two main points in the paper to communicate to
the audience; a good title is capable of conveying those points.
Be as specific as possible without adding unnecessary details.
Titles that are too vague or too general do not help the reader
distinguish your work from others. Choose words carefully,
cognizant that prospective readers will often find your article
through electronic searches.
.

2. Accurate
The title should be truthful about the contents of the
paper. Do not over promise the results of the paper in
the title.
3. Clear
The audience should not have to think about what
the title means. Different people may interpret the
title differently, so ask a number of people to
critique your title and tell you what they think the
paper is about before they even read it.
.

4. Concise
Short titles are instantly recognizable and jump of the
page. Every word should have a reason for being
present, and each word should contribute to the
message of the title.
5. Attention commanding
Not all research papers can produce an
attention-commanding title, nor do all need them.
But, if you can meet the other four criteria and have a
choice between a pedestrian title and one that is a bit
provocative, consider the provocative one.
ABSTRACT
Purpose
Does the first sentence contain a clear statement of the
purpose of the article.
Design/methodology/approach
How are the objectives achieved? Include the main
method(s) used for the research. What is the approach to
the topic and what is the theoretical or practical scope of
the paper.
Findings
What was found in the course of the work? Is the most
important finding mentioned?
.

Implications
Does the researcher has provided both theoretical
and practical implications of the research?

Originality/value
What is new in the paper? State the value of the
paper and to whom.
INTRODUCTION
The Problem
a) Is it clearly stated?
b) Is it properly defined?
c) Is its significance recognized?
d) Does it properly introduce the subject
e) Does it clearly state the purpose of what is to follow?
f) Does it briefly state why this report is different from
previous publications
g) Are specific questions raised; hypotheses clearly stated?
h) Are assumptions and limitations stated?
i) Are important terms defined?
.

Review of Related Literature

a) If there is extensive literature on a topic, has the
researcher been selective?
b) Unselective referencing (inappropriate) Selective
referencing (citing only important references)
c) Is the literature review critical?
d) Is current research cited?
e) Has the researcher distinguished between research,
theory, and opinion?
f) Is the overall literature appropriate?
.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The methods section describes the rationale for the
application of specific procedures or techniques used to
identify, select, and analyze information applied to
understanding the research problem, thereby, allowing
the reader to critically evaluate a study’s overall validity
and reliability. The methodology section of a research
paper answers two main questions: How was the data
collected or generated? And how was it analyzed?
.

Procedures used
a. Is the research design described in detail?
b. Is it adequate?
c. Are the samples described?
d. Are relevant variables recognized?
e. Are appropriate controls provided?
f. Are data-gathering instruments appropriate?
g. Are validity and reliability established?
h. Is the statistical treatment appropriate?
 .

RESULTS/FINDINGS
a) Is appropriate use made of tables and figures?
b) Is the textual discussion clear and concise?
c) Is the analysis of data relationships logical and
perceptive?
d) Are all statistical analyses appropriate for the
situation and accurately performed?
e) Is the statistical analysis accurately interpreted
.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
a) Is the problem restated?
b) Are the procedures and findings concisely
presented?
c) Are all results discussed?
d) Are the findings and conclusions justified by the
data presented and analyzed?
e) Are appropriate previous studies integrated into the
discussion section?
f) Is the conclusion introduced something new?
.
.

Ethics
Last but not least, ere the ethical standards met?
a) Voluntary Participation
b) Informed Consent
c) Risk of Harm
d) Confidentiality
e) Anonymity
For more information, refer to the APA’s Ethical Principles of
Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2010).
Reference Style
Is referencing style according to the journal
standard?