Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic.
The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.
One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.
Download our research proposal template
Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.
Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:
The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.
Your introduction should:
To guide your introduction , include information about:
As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.
In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:
Following the literature review, restate your main objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.
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To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasise again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.
For example, your results might have implications for:
Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .
Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.
Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.
Download our research schedule template
Research phase | Objectives | Deadline |
---|---|---|
1. Background research and literature review | 20th January | |
2. Research design planning | and data analysis methods | 13th February |
3. Data collection and preparation | with selected participants and code interviews | 24th March |
4. Data analysis | of interview transcripts | 22nd April |
5. Writing | 17th June | |
6. Revision | final work | 28th July |
If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.
Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:
To determine your budget, think about:
Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement.
Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.
I will compare …
A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.
Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.
A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.
A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.
A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.
All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.
Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.
Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.
If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.
McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, June 13). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved 18 September 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/the-research-process/research-proposal-explained/
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Home » Research Paper – Structure, Examples and Writing Guide
Table of Contents
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.
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.
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.
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.
You can write Research Paper by the following guide:
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 :
Appendix : The survey used in this study is provided below.
Social Media and Mental Health Survey
Thank you for your participation!
Research papers have several applications in various fields, including:
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:
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:
Research papers have several characteristics that distinguish them from other forms of academic or professional writing. Here are some common characteristics of research papers:
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:
Research papers also have some limitations that should be considered when interpreting their findings or implications. Here are some common limitations of research papers:
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One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.
In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.
Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.
A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.
Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.
Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.
Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.
Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.
Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.
Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!
As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."
If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."
Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.
You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!
Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.
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Research essays are extremely common assignments in high school, college, and graduate school, and are not unheard of in middle school. If you are a student, chances are you will sooner or later be faced with the task of researching a topic and writing a paper about it. Knowing how to efficiently and successfully do simple research, synthesize information, and clearly present it in essay form will save you many hours and a lot of frustration.
The best way to write a research essay is to find sources, like specialty books, academic journals, and online encyclopedias, about your topic. Take notes as you research, and make sure you note which page and book you got your notes from. Create an outline for the paper that details your argument, various sections, and primary points for each section. Then, write an introduction, build the body of the essay, and state your conclusion. Cite your sources along the way, and follow the assigned format, like APA or MLA, if applicable. To learn more from our co-author with an English Ph.D. about how to choose a thesis statement for your research paper, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No
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Select your area of interest to view a collection of potential research topics and ideas.
PS – You can also check out our free topic ideation webinar for more ideas
If you’re struggling to get started, this step-by-step video tutorial will help you find the perfect research topic.
What (exactly) is a research topic.
A research topic is the subject of a research project or study – for example, a dissertation or thesis. A research topic typically takes the form of a problem to be solved, or a question to be answered.
A good research topic should be specific enough to allow for focused research and analysis. For example, if you are interested in studying the effects of climate change on agriculture, your research topic could focus on how rising temperatures have impacted crop yields in certain regions over time.
To learn more about the basics of developing a research topic, consider our free research topic ideation webinar.
A strong research topic comprises three important qualities : originality, value and feasibility.
To learn more about what makes for a high-quality research topic, check out this post .
A research topic and a research problem are two distinct concepts that are often confused. A research topic is a broader label that indicates the focus of the study , while a research problem is an issue or gap in knowledge within the broader field that needs to be addressed.
To illustrate this distinction, consider a student who has chosen “teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom” as their research topic. This research topic could encompass any number of issues related to teenage pregnancy such as causes, prevention strategies, health outcomes for mothers and babies, etc.
Within this broad category (the research topic) lies potential areas of inquiry that can be explored further – these become the research problems . For example:
Simply put, a key difference between a research topic and a research problem is scope ; the research topic provides an umbrella under which multiple questions can be asked, while the research problem focuses on one specific question or set of questions within that larger context.
There are many steps involved in the process of finding and choosing a high-quality research topic for a dissertation or thesis. We cover these steps in detail in this video (also accessible below).
Finding quality sources is an essential step in the topic ideation process. To do this, you should start by researching scholarly journals, books, and other academic publications related to your topic. These sources can provide reliable information on a wide range of topics. Additionally, they may contain data or statistics that can help support your argument or conclusions.
Identifying Relevant Sources
When searching for relevant sources, it’s important to look beyond just published material; try using online databases such as Google Scholar or JSTOR to find articles from reputable journals that have been peer-reviewed by experts in the field.
You can also use search engines like Google or Bing to locate websites with useful information about your topic. However, be sure to evaluate any website before citing it as a source—look for evidence of authorship (such as an “About Us” page) and make sure the content is up-to-date and accurate before relying on it.
Evaluating Sources
Once you’ve identified potential sources for your research project, take some time to evaluate them thoroughly before deciding which ones will best serve your purpose. Consider factors such as author credibility (are they an expert in their field?), publication date (is the source current?), objectivity (does the author present both sides of an issue?) and relevance (how closely does this source relate to my specific topic?).
By researching the current literature on your topic, you can identify potential sources that will help to provide quality information. Once you’ve identified these sources, it’s time to look for a gap in the research and determine what new knowledge could be gained from further study.
Finding a strong gap in the literature is an essential step when looking for potential research topics. We explain what research gaps are and how to find them in this post.
When evaluating potential research topics, it is important to consider the factors that make for a strong topic (we discussed these earlier). Specifically:
So, when you have a list of potential topics or ideas, assess each of them in terms of these three criteria. A good topic should take a unique angle, provide value (either to academia or practitioners), and be practical enough for you to pull off, given your limited resources.
Finally, you should also assess whether this project could lead to potential career opportunities such as internships or job offers down the line. Make sure that you are researching something that is relevant enough so that it can benefit your professional development in some way. Additionally, consider how each research topic aligns with your career goals and interests; researching something that you are passionate about can help keep motivation high throughout the process.
When evaluating the feasibility and practicality of a research topic, it is important to consider several factors.
First, you should assess whether or not the research topic is within your area of competence. Of course, when you start out, you are not expected to be the world’s leading expert, but do should at least have some foundational knowledge.
Time commitment
When considering a research topic, you should think about how much time will be required for completion. Depending on your field of study, some topics may require more time than others due to their complexity or scope.
Additionally, if you plan on collaborating with other researchers or institutions in order to complete your project, additional considerations must be taken into account such as coordinating schedules and ensuring that all parties involved have adequate resources available.
Resources needed
It’s also critically important to consider what type of resources are necessary in order to conduct the research successfully. This includes physical materials such as lab equipment and chemicals but can also include intangible items like access to certain databases or software programs which may be necessary depending on the nature of your work. Additionally, if there are costs associated with obtaining these materials then this must also be factored into your evaluation process.
Potential risks
It’s important to consider the inherent potential risks for each potential research topic. These can include ethical risks (challenges getting ethical approval), data risks (not being able to access the data you’ll need), technical risks relating to the equipment you’ll use and funding risks (not securing the necessary financial back to undertake the research).
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Learning objectives.
The prewriting you have completed so far has helped you begin to plan the content of your research paper—your topic, research questions, and preliminary thesis. It is equally important to plan out the process of researching and writing the paper. Although some types of writing assignments can be completed relatively quickly, developing a good research paper is a complex process that takes time. Breaking it into manageable steps is crucial. Review the steps outlined at the beginning of this chapter.
Steps to Writing a Research Paper
You have already completed step 1. In this section, you will complete step 2. The remaining steps fall under two broad categories—the research phase of the project (steps 3 and 4) and the writing phase (steps 5 and 6). Both phases present challenges. Understanding the tasks involved and allowing enough time to complete each task will help you complete your research paper on time with a minimal amount of stress.
Each step of a research project requires time and attention. Careful planning helps ensure that you will keep your project running smoothly and produce your best work. Set up a project schedule that shows when you will complete each step. Think about how you will complete each step and what project resources you will use. Resources may include anything from library databases and word-processing software to interview subjects and writing tutors.
To develop your schedule, use a calendar and work backward from the date your final draft is due. Generally, it is wise to divide half of the available time on the research phase of the project and half on the writing phase. For example, if you have a month to work, plan for two weeks for each phase. If you have a full semester, plan to begin research early and to start writing by the middle of the term. You might think that no one really works that far ahead, but try it. You will probably be pleased with the quality of your work and with the reduction in your stress level.
As you plan, break down major steps into smaller tasks if necessary. For example, step 3, conducting research, involves locating potential sources, evaluating their usefulness and reliability, reading, and taking notes. Defining these smaller tasks makes the project more manageable by giving you concrete goals to achieve.
Jorge had six weeks to complete his research project. Working backward from a due date of May 2, he mapped out a schedule for completing his research by early April so that he would have ample time to write. Jorge chose to write his schedule in his weekly planner to help keep himself on track.
Review Jorge’s schedule. Key target dates are shaded. Note that Jorge planned times to use available resources by visiting the library and writing center and by meeting with his instructor.
Plan your schedule realistically, and consider other commitments that may sometimes take precedence. A business trip or family visit may mean that you are unable to work on the research project for a few days. Make the most of the time you have available. Plan for unexpected interruptions, but keep in mind that a short time away from the project may help you come back to it with renewed enthusiasm. Another strategy many writers find helpful is to finish each day’s work at a point when the next task is an easy one. That makes it easier to start again.
When you create a project schedule at work, you set target dates for completing certain tasks and identify the resources you plan to use on the project. It is important to build in some flexibility. Materials may not be received on time because of a shipping delay. An employee on your team may be called away to work on a higher-priority project. Essential equipment may malfunction. You should always plan for the unexpected.
Although setting up a schedule is easy, sticking to one is challenging. Even if you are the rare person who never procrastinates, unforeseen events may interfere with your ability to complete tasks on time. A self-imposed deadline may slip your mind despite your best intentions. Organizational tools—calendars, checklists, note cards, software, and so forth—can help you stay on track.
Throughout your project, organize both your time and your resources systematically. Review your schedule frequently and check your progress. It helps to post your schedule in a place where you will see it every day. Both personal and workplace e-mail systems usually include a calendar feature where you can record tasks, arrange to receive daily reminders, and check off completed tasks. Electronic devices such as smartphones have similar features.
Organize project documents in a binder or electronic folder, and label project documents and folders clearly. Use note cards or an electronic document to record bibliographical information for each source you plan to use in your paper. Tracking this information throughout the research process can save you hours of time when you create your references page.
Revisit the schedule you created in Note 11.42 “Exercise 1” . Transfer it into a format that will help you stay on track from day to day. You may wish to input it into your smartphone, write it in a weekly planner, post it by your desk, or have your e-mail account send you daily reminders. Consider setting up a buddy system with a classmate that will help you both stay on track.
Some people enjoy using the most up-to-date technology to help them stay organized. Other people prefer simple methods, such as crossing off items on a checklist. The key to staying organized is finding a system you like enough to use daily. The particulars of the method are not important as long as you are consistent.
Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? You have identified a book that would be a great resource for your project, but it is currently checked out of the library. You planned to interview a subject matter expert on your topic, but she calls to reschedule your meeting. You have begun writing your draft, but now you realize that you will need to modify your thesis and conduct additional research. Or you have finally completed your draft when your computer crashes, and days of hard work disappear in an instant.
These troubling situations are all too common. No matter how carefully you plan your schedule, you may encounter a glitch or setback. Managing your project effectively means anticipating potential problems, taking steps to minimize them where possible, and allowing time in your schedule to handle any setbacks.
Many times a situation becomes a problem due only to lack of planning. For example, if a book is checked out of your local library, it might be available through interlibrary loan, which usually takes a few days for the library staff to process. Alternatively, you might locate another, equally useful source. If you have allowed enough time for research, a brief delay will not become a major setback.
You can manage other potential problems by staying organized and maintaining a take-charge attitude. Take a minute each day to save a backup copy of your work on a portable hard drive. Maintain detailed note cards and source cards as you conduct research—doing so will make citing sources in your draft infinitely easier. If you run into difficulties with your research or your writing, ask your instructor for help, or make an appointment with a writing tutor.
Identify five potential problems you might encounter in the process of researching and writing your paper. Write them on a separate sheet of paper. For each problem, write at least one strategy for solving the problem or minimizing its effect on your project.
In the workplace, documents prepared at the beginning of a project often include a detailed plan for risk management. When you manage a project, it makes sense to anticipate and prepare for potential setbacks. For example, to roll out a new product line, a software development company must strive to complete tasks on a schedule in order to meet the new product release date. The project manager may need to adjust the project plan if one or more tasks fall behind schedule.
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1 Department of Pharmacology, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
2 Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, USA
An interactive workshop on ‘The Critical Steps for Successful Research: The Research Proposal and Scientific Writing’ was conducted in conjunction with the 64 th Annual Conference of the Indian Pharmaceutical Congress-2012 at Chennai, India. In essence, research is performed to enlighten our understanding of a contemporary issue relevant to the needs of society. To accomplish this, a researcher begins search for a novel topic based on purpose, creativity, critical thinking, and logic. This leads to the fundamental pieces of the research endeavor: Question, objective, hypothesis, experimental tools to test the hypothesis, methodology, and data analysis. When correctly performed, research should produce new knowledge. The four cornerstones of good research are the well-formulated protocol or proposal that is well executed, analyzed, discussed and concluded. This recent workshop educated researchers in the critical steps involved in the development of a scientific idea to its successful execution and eventual publication.
Creativity and critical thinking are of particular importance in scientific research. Basically, research is original investigation undertaken to gain knowledge and understand concepts in major subject areas of specialization, and includes the generation of ideas and information leading to new or substantially improved scientific insights with relevance to the needs of society. Hence, the primary objective of research is to produce new knowledge. Research is both theoretical and empirical. It is theoretical because the starting point of scientific research is the conceptualization of a research topic and development of a research question and hypothesis. Research is empirical (practical) because all of the planned studies involve a series of observations, measurements, and analyses of data that are all based on proper experimental design.[ 1 – 9 ]
The subject of this report is to inform readers of the proceedings from a recent workshop organized by the 64 th Annual conference of the ‘ Indian Pharmaceutical Congress ’ at SRM University, Chennai, India, from 05 to 06 December 2012. The objectives of the workshop titled ‘The Critical Steps for Successful Research: The Research Proposal and Scientific Writing,’ were to assist participants in developing a strong fundamental understanding of how best to develop a research or study protocol, and communicate those research findings in a conference setting or scientific journal. Completing any research project requires meticulous planning, experimental design and execution, and compilation and publication of findings in the form of a research paper. All of these are often unfamiliar to naïve researchers; thus, the purpose of this workshop was to teach participants to master the critical steps involved in the development of an idea to its execution and eventual publication of the results (See the last section for a list of learning objectives).
The two-day workshop was formatted to include key lectures and interactive breakout sessions that focused on protocol development in six subject areas of the pharmaceutical sciences. This was followed by sessions on scientific writing. DAY 1 taught the basic concepts of scientific research, including: (1) how to formulate a topic for research and to describe the what, why , and how of the protocol, (2) biomedical literature search and review, (3) study designs, statistical concepts, and result analyses, and (4) publication ethics. DAY 2 educated the attendees on the basic elements and logistics of writing a scientific paper and thesis, and preparation of poster as well as oral presentations.
The final phase of the workshop was the ‘Panel Discussion,’ including ‘Feedback/Comments’ by participants. There were thirteen distinguished speakers from India and abroad. Approximately 120 post-graduate and pre-doctoral students, young faculty members, and scientists representing industries attended the workshop from different parts of the country. All participants received a printed copy of the workshop manual and supporting materials on statistical analyses of data.
A research project generally comprises four key components: (1) writing a protocol, (2) performing experiments, (3) tabulating and analyzing data, and (4) writing a thesis or manuscript for publication.
A protocol, whether experimental or clinical, serves as a navigator that evolves from a basic outline of the study plan to become a qualified research or grant proposal. It provides the structural support for the research. Dr. G. Jagadeesh (US FDA), the first speaker of the session, spoke on ‘ Fundamentals in research process and cornerstones of a research project .’ He discussed at length the developmental and structural processes in preparing a research protocol. A systematic and step-by-step approach is necessary in planning a study. Without a well-designed protocol, there would be a little chance for successful completion of a research project or an experiment.
The first and the foremost difficult task in research is to identify a topic for investigation. The research topic is the keystone of the entire scientific enterprise. It begins the project, drives the entire study, and is crucial for moving the project forward. It dictates the remaining elements of the study [ Table 1 ] and thus, it should not be too narrow or too broad or unfocused. Because of these potential pitfalls, it is essential that a good or novel scientific idea be based on a sound concept. Creativity, critical thinking, and logic are required to generate new concepts and ideas in solving a research problem. Creativity involves critical thinking and is associated with generating many ideas. Critical thinking is analytical, judgmental, and involves evaluating choices before making a decision.[ 4 ] Thus, critical thinking is convergent type thinking that narrows and refines those divergent ideas and finally settles to one idea for an in-depth study. The idea on which a research project is built should be novel, appropriate to achieve within the existing conditions, and useful to the society at large. Therefore, creativity and critical thinking assist biomedical scientists in research that results in funding support, novel discovery, and publication.[ 1 , 4 ]
Elements of a study protocol
The next most crucial aspect of a study protocol is identifying a research question. It should be a thought-provoking question. The question sets the framework. It emerges from the title, findings/results, and problems observed in previous studies. Thus, mastering the literature, attendance at conferences, and discussion in journal clubs/seminars are sources for developing research questions. Consider the following example in developing related research questions from the research topic.
Hepatoprotective activity of Terminalia arjuna and Apium graveolens on paracetamol-induced liver damage in albino rats.
How is paracetamol metabolized in the body? Does it involve P450 enzymes? How does paracetamol cause liver injury? What are the mechanisms by which drugs can alleviate liver damage? What biochemical parameters are indicative of liver injury? What major endogenous inflammatory molecules are involved in paracetamol-induced liver damage?
A research question is broken down into more precise objectives. The objectives lead to more precise methods and definition of key terms. The objectives should be SMART-Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-framed,[ 10 ] and should cover the entire breadth of the project. The objectives are sometimes organized into hierarchies: Primary, secondary, and exploratory; or simply general and specific. Study the following example:
To evaluate the safety and tolerability of single oral doses of compound X in normal volunteers.
To assess the pharmacokinetic profile of compound X following single oral doses.
To evaluate the incidence of peripheral edema reported as an adverse event.
The objectives and research questions are then formulated into a workable or testable hypothesis. The latter forces us to think carefully about what comparisons will be needed to answer the research question, and establishes the format for applying statistical tests to interpret the results. The hypothesis should link a process to an existing or postulated biologic pathway. A hypothesis is written in a form that can yield measurable results. Studies that utilize statistics to compare groups of data should have a hypothesis. Consider the following example:
All biological research, including discovery science, is hypothesis-driven. However, not all studies need be conducted with a hypothesis. For example, descriptive studies (e.g., describing characteristics of a plant, or a chemical compound) do not need a hypothesis.[ 1 ]
Another important section to be included in the protocol is ‘significance of the study.’ Its purpose is to justify the need for the research that is being proposed (e.g., development of a vaccine for a disease). In summary, the proposed study should demonstrate that it represents an advancement in understanding and that the eventual results will be meaningful, contribute to the field, and possibly even impact society.
A literature search may be defined as the process of examining published sources of information on a research or review topic, thesis, grant application, chemical, drug, disease, or clinical trial, etc. The quantity of information available in print or electronically (e.g., the internet) is immense and growing with time. A researcher should be familiar with the right kinds of databases and search engines to extract the needed information.[ 3 , 6 ]
Dr. P. Balakumar (Institute of Pharmacy, Rajendra Institute of Technology and Sciences, Sirsa, Haryana; currently, Faculty of Pharmacy, AIMST University, Malaysia) spoke on ‘ Biomedical literature: Searching, reviewing and referencing .’ He schematically explained the basis of scientific literature, designing a literature review, and searching literature. After an introduction to the genesis and diverse sources of scientific literature searches, the use of PubMed, one of the premier databases used for biomedical literature searches world-wide, was illustrated with examples and screenshots. Several companion databases and search engines are also used for finding information related to health sciences, and they include Embase, Web of Science, SciFinder, The Cochrane Library, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Scopus, and Google Scholar.[ 3 ] Literature searches using alternative interfaces for PubMed such as GoPubMed, Quertle, PubFocus, Pubget, and BibliMed were discussed. The participants were additionally informed of databases on chemistry, drugs and drug targets, clinical trials, toxicology, and laboratory animals (reviewed in ref[ 3 ]).
Referencing and bibliography are essential in scientific writing and publication.[ 7 ] Referencing systems are broadly classified into two major types, such as Parenthetical and Notation systems. Parenthetical referencing is also known as Harvard style of referencing, while Vancouver referencing style and ‘Footnote’ or ‘Endnote’ are placed under Notation referencing systems. The participants were educated on each referencing system with examples.
Dr. Raj Rajasekaran (University of California at San Diego, CA, USA) enlightened the audience on ‘ bibliography management ’ using reference management software programs such as Reference Manager ® , Endnote ® , and Zotero ® for creating and formatting bibliographies while writing a manuscript for publication. The discussion focused on the use of bibliography management software in avoiding common mistakes such as incomplete references. Important steps in bibliography management, such as creating reference libraries/databases, searching for references using PubMed/Google scholar, selecting and transferring selected references into a library, inserting citations into a research article and formatting bibliographies, were presented. A demonstration of Zotero®, a freely available reference management program, included the salient features of the software, adding references from PubMed using PubMed ID, inserting citations and formatting using different styles.
The workshop systematically instructed the participants in writing ‘ experimental protocols ’ in six disciplines of Pharmaceutical Sciences.: (1) Pharmaceutical Chemistry (presented by Dr. P. V. Bharatam, NIPER, Mohali, Punjab); (2) Pharmacology (presented by Dr. G. Jagadeesh and Dr. P. Balakumar); (3) Pharmaceutics (presented by Dr. Jayant Khandare, Piramal Life Sciences, Mumbai); (4) Pharmacy Practice (presented by Dr. Shobha Hiremath, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru); (5) Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry (presented by Dr. Salma Khanam, Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bengaluru); and (6) Pharmaceutical Analysis (presented by Dr. Saranjit Singh, NIPER, Mohali, Punjab). The purpose of the research plan is to describe the what (Specific Aims/Objectives), why (Background and Significance), and how (Design and Methods) of the proposal.
The research plan should answer the following questions: (a) what do you intend to do; (b) what has already been done in general, and what have other researchers done in the field; (c) why is this worth doing; (d) how is it innovative; (e) what will this new work add to existing knowledge; and (f) how will the research be accomplished?
In general, the format used by the faculty in all subjects is shown in Table 2 .
Elements of a research protocol
Biostatistics is a key component of biomedical research. Highly reputed journals like The Lancet, BMJ, Journal of the American Medical Association, and many other biomedical journals include biostatisticians on their editorial board or reviewers list. This indicates that a great importance is given for learning and correctly employing appropriate statistical methods in biomedical research. The post-lunch session on day 1 of the workshop was largely committed to discussion on ‘ Basic biostatistics .’ Dr. R. Raveendran (JIPMER, Puducherry) and Dr. Avijit Hazra (PGIMER, Kolkata) reviewed, in parallel sessions, descriptive statistics, probability concepts, sample size calculation, choosing a statistical test, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and ‘ P ’ values, parametric and non-parametric statistical tests, including analysis of variance (ANOVA), t tests, Chi-square test, type I and type II errors, correlation and regression, and summary statistics. This was followed by a practice and demonstration session. Statistics CD, compiled by Dr. Raveendran, was distributed to the participants before the session began and was demonstrated live. Both speakers worked on a variety of problems that involved both clinical and experimental data. They discussed through examples the experimental designs encountered in a variety of studies and statistical analyses performed for different types of data. For the benefit of readers, we have summarized statistical tests applied frequently for different experimental designs and post-hoc tests [ Figure 1 ].
Conceptual framework for statistical analyses of data. Of the two kinds of variables, qualitative (categorical) and quantitative (numerical), qualitative variables (nominal or ordinal) are not normally distributed. Numerical data that come from normal distributions are analyzed using parametric tests, if not; the data are analyzed using non-parametric tests. The most popularly used Student's t -test compares the means of two populations, data for this test could be paired or unpaired. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) is used to compare the means of three or more independent populations that are normally distributed. Applying t test repeatedly in pair (multiple comparison), to compare the means of more than two populations, will increase the probability of type I error (false positive). In this case, for proper interpretation, we need to adjust the P values. Repeated measures ANOVA is used to compare the population means if more than two observations coming from same subject over time. The null hypothesis is rejected with a ‘ P ’ value of less than 0.05, and the difference in population means is considered to be statistically significant. Subsequently, appropriate post-hoc tests are used for pairwise comparisons of population means. Two-way or three-way ANOVA are considered if two (diet, dose) or three (diet, dose, strain) independent factors, respectively, are analyzed in an experiment (not described in the Figure). Categorical nominal unmatched variables (counts or frequencies) are analyzed by Chi-square test (not shown in the Figure)
The legitimate pursuit of scientific creativity is unfortunately being marred by a simultaneous increase in scientific misconduct. A disproportionate share of allegations involves scientists of many countries, and even from respected laboratories. Misconduct destroys faith in science and scientists and creates a hierarchy of fraudsters. Investigating misconduct also steals valuable time and resources. In spite of these facts, most researchers are not aware of publication ethics.
Day 1 of the workshop ended with a presentation on ‘ research and publication ethics ’ by Dr. M. K. Unnikrishnan (College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal). He spoke on the essentials of publication ethics that included plagiarism (attempting to take credit of the work of others), self-plagiarism (multiple publications by an author on the same content of work with slightly different wordings), falsification (manipulation of research data and processes and omitting critical data or results), gift authorship (guest authorship), ghostwriting (someone other than the named author (s) makes a major contribution), salami publishing (publishing many papers, with minor differences, from the same study), and sabotage (distracting the research works of others to halt their research completion). Additionally, Dr. Unnikrishnan pointed out the ‘ Ingelfinger rule ’ of stipulating that a scientist must not submit the same original research in two different journals. He also advised the audience that authorship is not just credit for the work but also responsibility for scientific contents of a paper. Although some Indian Universities are instituting preventive measures (e.g., use of plagiarism detecting software, Shodhganga digital archiving of doctoral theses), Dr. Unnikrishnan argued for a great need to sensitize young researchers on the nature and implications of scientific misconduct. Finally, he discussed methods on how editors and peer reviewers should ethically conduct themselves while managing a manuscript for publication.
Research outcomes are measured through quality publications. Scientists must not only ‘do’ science but must ‘write’ science. The story of the project must be told in a clear, simple language weaving in previous work done in the field, answering the research question, and addressing the hypothesis set forth at the beginning of the study. Scientific publication is an organic process of planning, researching, drafting, revising, and updating the current knowledge for future perspectives. Writing a research paper is no easier than the research itself. The lectures of Day 2 of the workshop dealt with the basic elements and logistics of writing a scientific paper.
Dr. Amitabh Prakash (Adis, Auckland, New Zealand) spoke on ‘ Learning how to write a good scientific paper .’ His presentation described the essential components of an original research paper and thesis (e.g., introduction, methods, results, and discussion [IMRaD]) and provided guidance on the correct order, in which data should appear within these sections. The characteristics of a good abstract and title and the creation of appropriate key words were discussed. Dr. Prakash suggested that the ‘title of a paper’ might perhaps have a chance to make a good impression, and the title might be either indicative (title that gives the purpose of the study) or declarative (title that gives the study conclusion). He also suggested that an abstract is a succinct summary of a research paper, and it should be specific, clear, and concise, and should have IMRaD structure in brief, followed by key words. Selection of appropriate papers to be cited in the reference list was also discussed. Various unethical authorships were enumerated, and ‘The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship’ was explained ( http://www.icmje.org/ethical_1author.html ; also see Table 1 in reference #9). The session highlighted the need for transparency in medical publication and provided a clear description of items that needed to be included in the ‘Disclosures’ section (e.g., sources of funding for the study and potential conflicts of interest of all authors, etc.) and ‘Acknowledgements’ section (e.g., writing assistance and input from all individuals who did not meet the authorship criteria). The final part of the presentation was devoted to thesis writing, and Dr. Prakash provided the audience with a list of common mistakes that are frequently encountered when writing a manuscript.
The backbone of a study is description of results through Text, Tables, and Figures. Dr. S. B. Deshpande (Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India) spoke on ‘ Effective Presentation of Results .’ The Results section deals with the observations made by the authors and thus, is not hypothetical. This section is subdivided into three segments, that is, descriptive form of the Text, providing numerical data in Tables, and visualizing the observations in Graphs or Figures. All these are arranged in a sequential order to address the question hypothesized in the Introduction. The description in Text provides clear content of the findings highlighting the observations. It should not be the repetition of facts in tables or graphs. Tables are used to summarize or emphasize descriptive content in the text or to present the numerical data that are unrelated. Illustrations should be used when the evidence bearing on the conclusions of a paper cannot be adequately presented in a written description or in a Table. Tables or Figures should relate to each other logically in sequence and should be clear by themselves. Furthermore, the discussion is based entirely on these observations. Additionally, how the results are applied to further research in the field to advance our understanding of research questions was discussed.
Dr. Peush Sahni (All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi) spoke on effectively ‘ structuring the Discussion ’ for a research paper. The Discussion section deals with a systematic interpretation of study results within the available knowledge. He said the section should begin with the most important point relating to the subject studied, focusing on key issues, providing link sentences between paragraphs, and ensuring the flow of text. Points were made to avoid history, not repeat all the results, and provide limitations of the study. The strengths and novel findings of the study should be provided in the discussion, and it should open avenues for future research and new questions. The Discussion section should end with a conclusion stating the summary of key findings. Dr. Sahni gave an example from a published paper for writing a Discussion. In another presentation titled ‘ Writing an effective title and the abstract ,’ Dr. Sahni described the important components of a good title, such as, it should be simple, concise, informative, interesting and eye-catching, accurate and specific about the paper's content, and should state the subject in full indicating study design and animal species. Dr. Sahni explained structured (IMRaD) and unstructured abstracts and discussed a few selected examples with the audience.
The next lecture of Dr. Amitabh Prakash on ‘ Language and style in scientific writing: Importance of terseness, shortness and clarity in writing ’ focused on the actual sentence construction, language, grammar and punctuation in scientific manuscripts. His presentation emphasized the importance of brevity and clarity in the writing of manuscripts describing biomedical research. Starting with a guide to the appropriate construction of sentences and paragraphs, attendees were given a brief overview of the correct use of punctuation with interactive examples. Dr. Prakash discussed common errors in grammar and proactively sought audience participation in correcting some examples. Additional discussion was centered on discouraging the use of redundant and expendable words, jargon, and the use of adjectives with incomparable words. The session ended with a discussion of words and phrases that are commonly misused (e.g., data vs . datum, affect vs . effect, among vs . between, dose vs . dosage, and efficacy/efficacious vs . effective/effectiveness) in biomedical research manuscripts.
The appropriateness in selecting the journal for submission and acceptance of the manuscript should be determined by the experience of an author. The corresponding author must have a rationale in choosing the appropriate journal, and this depends upon the scope of the study and the quality of work performed. Dr. Amitabh Prakash spoke on ‘ Working with journals: Selecting a journal, cover letter, peer review process and impact factor ’ by instructing the audience in assessing the true value of a journal, understanding principles involved in the peer review processes, providing tips on making an initial approach to the editorial office, and drafting an appropriate cover letter to accompany the submission. His presentation defined the metrics that are most commonly used to measure journal quality (e.g., impact factor™, Eigenfactor™ score, Article Influence™ score, SCOPUS 2-year citation data, SCImago Journal Rank, h-Index, etc.) and guided attendees on the relative advantages and disadvantages of using each metric. Factors to consider when assessing journal quality were discussed, and the audience was educated on the ‘green’ and ‘gold’ open access publication models. Various peer review models (e.g., double-blind, single-blind, non-blind) were described together with the role of the journal editor in assessing manuscripts and selecting suitable reviewers. A typical checklist sent to referees was shared with the attendees, and clear guidance was provided on the best way to address referee feedback. The session concluded with a discussion of the potential drawbacks of the current peer review system.
Posters have become an increasingly popular mode of presentation at conferences, as it can accommodate more papers per meeting, has no time constraint, provides a better presenter-audience interaction, and allows one to select and attend papers of interest. In Figure 2 , we provide instructions, design, and layout in preparing a scientific poster. In the final presentation, Dr. Sahni provided the audience with step-by-step instructions on how to write and format posters for layout, content, font size, color, and graphics. Attendees were given specific guidance on the format of text on slides, the use of color, font type and size, and the use of illustrations and multimedia effects. Moreover, the importance of practical tips while delivering oral or poster presentation was provided to the audience, such as speak slowly and clearly, be informative, maintain eye contact, and listen to the questions from judges/audience carefully before coming up with an answer.
Guidelines and design to scientific poster presentation. The objective of scientific posters is to present laboratory work in scientific meetings. A poster is an excellent means of communicating scientific work, because it is a graphic representation of data. Posters should have focus points, and the intended message should be clearly conveyed through simple sections: Text, Tables, and Graphs. Posters should be clear, succinct, striking, and eye-catching. Colors should be used only where necessary. Use one font (Arial or Times New Roman) throughout. Fancy fonts should be avoided. All headings should have font size of 44, and be in bold capital letters. Size of Title may be a bit larger; subheading: Font size of 36, bold and caps. References and Acknowledgments, if any, should have font size of 24. Text should have font size between 24 and 30, in order to be legible from a distance of 3 to 6 feet. Do not use lengthy notes
After all the presentations were made, Dr. Jagadeesh began a panel discussion that included all speakers. The discussion was aimed at what we do currently and could do in the future with respect to ‘developing a research question and then writing an effective thesis proposal/protocol followed by publication.’ Dr. Jagadeesh asked the following questions to the panelists, while receiving questions/suggestions from the participants and panelists.
The panelists and audience expressed a variety of views, but were unable to arrive at a decisive conclusion.
At the end of this fast-moving two-day workshop, the participants had opportunities in learning the following topics:
Overall, the workshop was deemed very helpful to participants. The participants rated the quality of workshop from “ satisfied ” to “ very satisfied .” A significant number of participants were of the opinion that the time allotted for each presentation was short and thus, be extended from the present two days to four days with adequate time to ask questions. In addition, a ‘hands-on’ session should be introduced for writing a proposal and manuscript. A large number of attendees expressed their desire to attend a similar workshop, if conducted, in the near future.
Whether for a paper or a thesis, define your question, review the work of others – and leave yourself open to discovery.
by Brooke Harrington + BIO
is professor of sociology at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. Her research has won international awards both for scholarly quality and impact on public life. She has published dozens of articles and three books, most recently the bestseller Capital without Borders (2016), now translated into five languages.
Edited by Sam Haselby
‘When curiosity turns to serious matters, it’s called research.’ – From Aphorisms (1880-1905) by Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
Planning research projects is a time-honoured intellectual exercise: one that requires both creativity and sharp analytical skills. The purpose of this Guide is to make the process systematic and easy to understand. While there is a great deal of freedom and discovery involved – from the topics you choose, to the data and methods you apply – there are also some norms and constraints that obtain, no matter what your academic level or field of study. For those in high school through to doctoral students, and from art history to archaeology, research planning involves broadly similar steps, including: formulating a question, developing an argument or predictions based on previous research, then selecting the information needed to answer your question.
Some of this might sound self-evident but, as you’ll find, research requires a different way of approaching and using information than most of us are accustomed to in everyday life. That is why I include orienting yourself to knowledge-creation as an initial step in the process. This is a crucial and underappreciated phase in education, akin to making the transition from salaried employment to entrepreneurship: suddenly, you’re on your own, and that requires a new way of thinking about your work.
What follows is a distillation of what I’ve learned about this process over 27 years as a professional social scientist. It reflects the skills that my own professors imparted in the sociology doctoral programme at Harvard, as well as what I learned later on as a research supervisor for Ivy League PhD and MA students, and then as the author of award-winning scholarly books and articles. It can be adapted to the demands of both short projects (such as course term papers) and long ones, such as a thesis.
At its simplest, research planning involves the four distinct steps outlined below: orienting yourself to knowledge-creation; defining your research question; reviewing previous research on your question; and then choosing relevant data to formulate your own answers. Because the focus of this Guide is on planning a research project, as opposed to conducting a research project, this section won’t delve into the details of data-collection or analysis; those steps happen after you plan the project. In addition, the topic is vast: year-long doctoral courses are devoted to data and analysis. Instead, the fourth part of this section will outline some basic strategies you could use in planning a data-selection and analysis process appropriate to your research question.
Step 1: Orient yourself
Planning and conducting research requires you to make a transition, from thinking like a consumer of information to thinking like a producer of information. That sounds simple, but it’s actually a complex task. As a practical matter, this means putting aside the mindset of a student, which treats knowledge as something created by other people. As students, we are often passive receivers of knowledge: asked to do a specified set of readings, then graded on how well we reproduce what we’ve read.
Researchers, however, must take on an active role as knowledge producers . Doing research requires more of you than reading and absorbing what other people have written: you have to engage in a dialogue with it. That includes arguing with previous knowledge and perhaps trying to show that ideas we have accepted as given are actually wrong or incomplete. For example, rather than simply taking in the claims of an author you read, you’ll need to draw out the implications of those claims: if what the author is saying is true, what else does that suggest must be true? What predictions could you make based on the author’s claims?
In other words, rather than treating a reading as a source of truth – even if it comes from a revered source, such as Plato or Marie Curie – this orientation step asks you to treat the claims you read as provisional and subject to interrogation. That is one of the great pieces of wisdom that science and philosophy can teach us: that the biggest advances in human understanding have been made not by being correct about trivial things, but by being wrong in an interesting way . For example, Albert Einstein was wrong about quantum mechanics, but his arguments about it with his fellow physicist Niels Bohr have led to some of the biggest breakthroughs in science, even a century later.
Step 2: Define your research question
Students often give this step cursory attention, but experienced researchers know that formulating a good question is sometimes the most difficult part of the research planning process. That is because the precise language of the question frames the rest of the project. It’s therefore important to pose the question carefully, in a way that’s both possible to answer and likely to yield interesting results. Of course, you must choose a question that interests you, but that’s only the beginning of what’s likely to be an iterative process: most researchers come back to this step repeatedly, modifying their questions in light of previous research, resource limitations and other considerations.
Researchers face limits in terms of time and money. They, like everyone else, have to pose research questions that they can plausibly answer given the constraints they face. For example, it would be inadvisable to frame a project around the question ‘What are the roots of the Arab-Israeli conflict?’ if you have only a week to develop an answer and no background on that topic. That’s not to limit your imagination: you can come up with any question you’d like. But it typically does require some creativity to frame a question that you can answer well – that is, by investigating thoroughly and providing new insights – within the limits you face.
In addition to being interesting to you, and feasible within your resource constraints, the third and most important characteristic of a ‘good’ research topic is whether it allows you to create new knowledge. It might turn out that your question has already been asked and answered to your satisfaction: if so, you’ll find out in the next step of this process. On the other hand, you might come up with a research question that hasn’t been addressed previously. Before you get too excited about breaking uncharted ground, consider this: a lot of potentially researchable questions haven’t been studied for good reason ; they might have answers that are trivial or of very limited interest. This could include questions such as ‘Why does the area of a circle equal π r²?’ or ‘Did winter conditions affect Napoleon’s plans to invade Russia?’ Of course, you might be able to make the argument that a seemingly trivial question is actually vitally important, but you must be prepared to back that up with convincing evidence. The exercise in the ‘Learn More’ section below will help you think through some of these issues.
Finally, scholarly research questions must in some way lead to new and distinctive insights. For example, lots of people have studied gender roles in sports teams; what can you ask that hasn’t been asked before? Reinventing the wheel is the number-one no-no in this endeavour. That’s why the next step is so important: reviewing previous research on your topic. Depending on what you find in that step, you might need to revise your research question; iterating between your question and the existing literature is a normal process. But don’t worry: it doesn’t go on forever. In fact, the iterations taper off – and your research question stabilises – as you develop a firm grasp of the current state of knowledge on your topic.
Step 3: Review previous research
In academic research, from articles to books, it’s common to find a section called a ‘literature review’. The purpose of that section is to describe the state of the art in knowledge on the research question that a project has posed. It demonstrates that researchers have thoroughly and systematically reviewed the relevant findings of previous studies on their topic, and that they have something novel to contribute.
Your own research project should include something like this, even if it’s a high-school term paper. In the research planning process, you’ll want to list at least half a dozen bullet points stating the major findings on your topic by other people. In relation to those findings, you should be able to specify where your project could provide new and necessary insights. There are two basic rhetorical positions one can take in framing the novelty-plus-importance argument required of academic research:
Your overall goal in this step of the process is to show that your research will be part of a larger conversation: that is, how your project flows from what’s already known, and how it advances, extends or challenges that existing body of knowledge. That will be the contribution of your project, and it constitutes the motivation for your research.
Two things are worth mentioning about your search for sources of relevant previous research. First, you needn’t look only at studies on your precise topic. For example, if you want to study gender-identity formation in schools, you shouldn’t restrict yourself to studies of schools; the empirical setting (schools) is secondary to the larger social process that interests you (how people form gender identity). That process occurs in many different settings, so cast a wide net. Second, be sure to use legitimate sources – meaning publications that have been through some sort of vetting process, whether that involves peer review (as with academic journal articles you might find via Google Scholar) or editorial review (as you’d find in well-known mass media publications, such as The Economist or The Washington Post ). What you’ll want to avoid is using unvetted sources such as personal blogs or Wikipedia. Why? Because anybody can write anything in those forums, and there is no way to know – unless you’re already an expert – if the claims you find there are accurate. Often, they’re not.
Step 4: Choose your data and methods
Whatever your research question is, eventually you’ll need to consider which data source and analytical strategy are most likely to provide the answers you’re seeking. One starting point is to consider whether your question would be best addressed by qualitative data (such as interviews, observations or historical records), quantitative data (such as surveys or census records) or some combination of both. Your ideas about data sources will, in turn, suggest options for analytical methods.
You might need to collect your own data, or you might find everything you need readily available in an existing dataset someone else has created. A great place to start is with a research librarian: university libraries always have them and, at public universities, those librarians can work with the public, including people who aren’t affiliated with the university. If you don’t happen to have a public university and its library close at hand, an ordinary public library can still be a good place to start: the librarians are often well versed in accessing data sources that might be relevant to your study, such as the census, or historical archives, or the Survey of Consumer Finances.
Because your task at this point is to plan research, rather than conduct it, the purpose of this step is not to commit you irrevocably to a course of action. Instead, your goal here is to think through a feasible approach to answering your research question. You’ll need to find out, for example, whether the data you want exist; if not, do you have a realistic chance of gathering the data yourself, or would it be better to modify your research question? In terms of analysis, would your strategy require you to apply statistical methods? If so, do you have those skills? If not, do you have time to learn them, or money to hire a research assistant to run the analysis for you?
Please be aware that qualitative methods in particular are not the casual undertaking they might appear to be. Many people make the mistake of thinking that only quantitative data and methods are scientific and systematic, while qualitative methods are just a fancy way of saying: ‘I talked to some people, read some old newspapers, and drew my own conclusions.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. In the final section of this guide, you’ll find some links to resources that will provide more insight on standards and procedures governing qualitative research, but suffice it to say: there are rules about what constitutes legitimate evidence and valid analytical procedure for qualitative data, just as there are for quantitative data.
Circle back and consider revising your initial plans
As you work through these four steps in planning your project, it’s perfectly normal to circle back and revise. Research planning is rarely a linear process. It’s also common for new and unexpected avenues to suggest themselves. As the sociologist Thorstein Veblen wrote in 1908 : ‘The outcome of any serious research can only be to make two questions grow where only one grew before.’ That’s as true of research planning as it is of a completed project. Try to enjoy the horizons that open up for you in this process, rather than becoming overwhelmed; the four steps, along with the two exercises that follow, will help you focus your plan and make it manageable.
Good research questions tend to beget more questions. This can be frustrating for those who want to get down to business right away. Try to make room for the unexpected: this is usually how knowledge advances. Many of the most significant discoveries in human history have been made by people who were looking for something else entirely. There are ways to structure your research planning process without over-constraining yourself; the two exercises below are a start, and you can find further methods in the Links and Books section.
The following exercise provides a structured process for advancing your research project planning. After completing it, you’ll be able to do the following:
In other words, the following provides a systematic means to establish the building blocks of your research project.
Exercise 1: Definition of research question and sources
This exercise prompts you to select and clarify your general interest area, develop a research question, and investigate sources of information. The annotated bibliography will also help you refine your research question so that you can begin the second assignment, a description of the phenomenon you wish to study.
Jot down a few bullet points in response to these two questions, with the understanding that you’ll probably go back and modify your answers as you begin reading other studies relevant to your topic:
b) Research question(s)
Use the following guidelines to frame a research question – or questions – that will drive your analysis. As with Part 1 above, you’ll probably find it necessary to change or refine your research question(s) as you complete future assignments.
c) Annotated bibliography
Most or all of your background information should come from two sources: scholarly books and journals, or reputable mass media sources. You might be able to access journal articles electronically through your library, using search engines such as JSTOR and Google Scholar. This can save you a great deal of time compared with going to the library in person to search periodicals. General news sources, such as those accessible through LexisNexis, are acceptable, but should be cited sparingly, since they don’t carry the same level of credibility as scholarly sources. As discussed above, unvetted sources such as blogs and Wikipedia should be avoided, because the quality of the information they provide is unreliable and often misleading.
To create an annotated bibliography, provide the following information for at least 10 sources relevant to your specific topic, using the format suggested below.
Name of author(s):
Publication date:
Title of book, chapter, or article:
If a chapter or article, title of journal or book where they appear:
Brief description of this work, including main findings and methods ( c 75 words):
Summary of how this work contributes to your project ( c 75 words):
Brief description of the implications of this work ( c 25 words):
Identify any gap or controversy in knowledge this work points up, and how your project could address those problems ( c 50 words):
Exercise 2: Towards an analysis
Develop a short statement ( c 250 words) about the kind of data that would be useful to address your research question, and how you’d analyse it. Some questions to consider in writing this statement include:
One of the best texts ever written about planning and executing research comes from a source that might be unexpected: a 60-year-old work on urban planning by a self-trained scholar. The classic book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) by Jane Jacobs (available complete and free of charge via this link ) is worth reading in its entirety just for the pleasure of it. But the final 20 pages – a concluding chapter titled ‘The Kind of Problem a City Is’ – are really about the process of thinking through and investigating a problem. Highly recommended as a window into the craft of research.
Jacobs’s text references an essay on advancing human knowledge by the mathematician Warren Weaver. At the time, Weaver was director of the Rockefeller Foundation, in charge of funding basic research in the natural and medical sciences. Although the essay is titled ‘A Quarter Century in the Natural Sciences’ (1960) and appears at first blush to be merely a summation of one man’s career, it turns out to be something much bigger and more interesting: a meditation on the history of human beings seeking answers to big questions about the world. Weaver goes back to the 17th century to trace the origins of systematic research thinking, with enthusiasm and vivid anecdotes that make the process come alive. The essay is worth reading in its entirety, and is available free of charge via this link .
For those seeking a more in-depth, professional-level discussion of the logic of research design, the political scientist Harvey Starr provides insight in a compact format in the article ‘Cumulation from Proper Specification: Theory, Logic, Research Design, and “Nice” Laws’ (2005). Starr reviews the ‘research triad’, consisting of the interlinked considerations of formulating a question, selecting relevant theories and applying appropriate methods. The full text of the article, published in the scholarly journal Conflict Management and Peace Science , is available, free of charge, via this link .
Finally, the book Getting What You Came For (1992) by Robert Peters is not only an outstanding guide for anyone contemplating graduate school – from the application process onward – but it also includes several excellent chapters on planning and executing research, applicable across a wide variety of subject areas. It was an invaluable resource for me 25 years ago, and it remains in print with good reason; I recommend it to all my students, particularly Chapter 16 (‘The Thesis Topic: Finding It’), Chapter 17 (‘The Thesis Proposal’) and Chapter 18 (‘The Thesis: Writing It’).
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The official blog of Cell Signaling Technology (CST), where we discuss what to expect from your time at the bench, share tips, tricks, and information.
After months of running experiments, pouring over data late into the evening, and surviving on whatever snacks drift within arm’s reach, you’re about to present your research for the first time. You’ve memorized every detail, but the thought of facing a live audience still makes your palms sweaty and your knees shake.
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Plenty of researchers would rather be knee-deep in experimental troubleshooting than face the unpredictability of a Q&A. In the lab, you know how to gear up when handling formaldehyde or BL-2 samples—if only there was PPE for the pointed questions from that one professor in the front row!
All jokes aside, whether you’re preparing your first presentation for a departmental seminar or giving a research talk at a conference, the prospect can be a daunting one. But with the right preparation, you can turn your hard-earned findings into a compelling narrative. Many CST scientists regularly present at conferences, so we sat down with a couple to get practical advice on everything from preparing slides to managing anxiety.
Step One: Understand Your Audience and Tailor Your Narrative
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Before you start, take a step back and think about who will be listening to your presentation. “Consider your audience before you make any slides—or even write your presentation title,” advises Richard Cho, PhD, Associate Director of Neuroscience at CST. “After you’ve spent so much time on a topic, it’s easy to forget that what’s second nature to you might be completely new to your audience and could require a quick introduction.”
This may involve adapting field-specific jargon or adding slides to explain unfamiliar concepts. For example, the presentation you’d prepare for a smaller, departmental seminar or a focused conference in your sub-field may look very different than what you would put together for a large international event.
Understanding your audience’s familiarity with your topic, along with their background, interests, and level of technical knowledge, will help you tailor your message so that it’s relevant and easily digestible.
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Slides serve as visual aids to support and enhance your verbal presentation. A well-crafted slide distills your content into key points and provides your audience with attention-grabbing visuals. “Use as few words as possible in your slides,” recommends Virginia (Ginny) Bain, PhD, Group Leader of Immunofluorescence at CST. “Images and graphs are easier for an audience to digest than text-heavy slides. Then, when you do include words, they will be more impactful.”
When designing slides, consider the size of the presentation space and ensure images are large enough to be seen by all audience members. A common stumbling block is trying to cram too much data onto a single slide.
“I’ve found nothing turns off an audience faster than feeling like they need to break out a magnifying glass to understand what they're looking at,” says Ginny. “Likewise, if you can, practice with the projector you’ll use during your talk to make sure it displays colors accurately—especially reds. Sometimes, you must add contrast to your images to ensure features aren’t lost.”
Finally, choose fonts and colors that make sense and carry the same elements throughout all slides. “Many organizations have slide templates that presenters can use,” adds Richard. “It’s worth asking if such a resource exists before you get too far along in assembling your presentation.”
The benefits of a well-crafted presentation are two-fold; first, it can act as a cue card to jog your memory as you are speaking, and second, the audience can glance at your slide if they fail to immediately catch your meaning. However, avoid the trap of simply reading full sentences or paragraphs directly from your slides. This is a surefire way to lose your audience, as they could simply read the information themselves.
In addition to producing slides that guide listeners through your talk, there are several techniques for keeping an audience captivated.
People think in stories, so one key to giving a great research talk is to tell a compelling story with your data.
“Before I start making slides, I like to come up with an overarching narrative in my head,” explains Ginny. “Of course, it always sounds amazing when I’m thinking about it, and then I write it down and realize where the holes are. However, this exercise helps me think through the whole story to identify areas that need improvement.”
It can be helpful to reflect on what excited you most about your research when you first started. What problem could your research ultimately help to solve? Why is it important? Weaving your research findings into the bigger picture can help capture your audience’s attention and make your presentation more memorable.
“One pitfall I’ve seen early researchers fall for is a desire to share their findings in sequential order. Instead, it may make more sense to organize findings in a way that illustrates a story for your audience,” explains Ginny. “As I’m crafting my narrative, I organize my data in order in a PowerPoint or on a whiteboard to help identify the bigger picture before I decide what I want to show and when.”
Storytelling provides context for your research, making complex concepts more accessible and understandable to a diverse audience.
As you weave your research into a story, consider how it might challenge the audience's expectations and whether you can use the element of surprise as a hook.
“In any good story, you’re going to have surprises,” explains Richard. “Surprises can be unexpected findings, counterintuitive results, or intriguing anecdotes that challenge conventional wisdom.” If there’s a way to do so, including surprises in your presentation can add intrigue and excitement to your talk and can spark lively discussion and debate.
“One tactic I’ve seen used successfully is to pose a question near the start of your presentation and imply to the audience that the answer might surprise them—but don’t give them the answer right away,” says Richard. “Then, later in the presentation, circle back to that question.”
Step Four: Practice, Practice, Practice
To enhance your presentation skills, it's essential to embrace practice as a critical component of preparation. Before you start, consider the format of the event and your time allotment and tailor the length of your presentation accordingly. For example, at large conferences, a moderator will often be responsible for keeping speakers on schedule, and questions are usually held until the end. In other settings, you may have more time to spend on storytelling and engaging with the audience. In those cases, it may make sense to build in extra time for questions. As you prepare, timing your practice sessions can help you pace your delivery to account for different formats.
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“Practicing your presentation is so important,” stresses Ginny. “I start intensive practice a week before my talk, which for me means giving the presentation a few times each day. Finding time to do this can be challenging, so I also rehearse while doing other things such as commuting or cooking dinner. Practicing like this has the added benefit of helping me learn how to recover when I get distracted or slip up.”
The number of practice sessions you’ll want to conduct can vary depending on a number of factors, including the length of your talk and the amount of time you have to prepare. Practicing at least three times is generally a good goal, with at least one of those practice sessions in front of a live audience. This allows you to familiarize yourself with your content, refine your delivery, and identify areas for improvement.
As you practice, get feedback on your presentation and delivery. “Opinions from your lab mates or colleagues are invaluable,” highlights Ginny. “In my experience, they often have great insights. I usually start this process early so I’m not trying to force last-minute changes that could throw me off.”
“It’s also important to get feedback from different audiences,” adds Richard. In addition to experts in your field, consider inviting peers from outside your lab, or possibly from a different research speciality, to learn to articulate messages in different ways.
When your presentation is refined, “print out thumbnails of your slides or make a PDF for your phone,” advises Ginny. “Having your slides handy for reference makes it easier to carve out moments to practice while you’re doing other things.”
Throughout the process, remember that mastery is a journey, not a destination. Trite as it may sound, mistake-making is central to the improvement of any skill. Even well-established speakers get nervous and make mistakes.
“When you feel anxiety creeping in, ‘square breathing’ is a powerful tool for self-regulation and has helped me,” remarks Ginny. “Focus on breathing in for a count of four, holding your breath for a count of four, exhaling for a count of four, and holding again for another count of four.”
Be flexible and recognize you might not get to every point you want to cover. “It's very common to get excited and gloss over something you planned to talk about in detail,” says Ginny. “Try not to let this distract you when it happens!”
Finally, Richard suggests remembering “that we’re our own worst critics. But the truth is, the people who are watching are there to help and want to learn your story. Excitement is contagious. More often than not, if you bring your enthusiasm to your talk, your audience will be excited and supportive as well.”
So, as you step out onto the stage, trust in your preparation, try to relax, and enjoy the rewarding experience of sharing your research with the world.
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In this capstone course, students will have the opportunity to design and implement an original research project on work and organizations. Students will receive in-class training and guidance on: 1) developing and refining a research question, 2) identifying and implementing appropriate research methods, 3) locating or collecting relevant data, 4) identifying the significance of their work to various audiences, and 5) effectively writing a research paper.
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Literature Review
Explore the 7 best research graphic organizer templates to simplify your research process and enhance your organization skills.
Sep 15, 2024
Consider you're knee-deep in a literature search , juggling countless articles, notes, and ideas. It's frustrating and time-consuming trying to sort a pile of tangled cables. Sound familiar? But here's the thing: this process can be a breeze with the right tools. Enter the research graphic organizer template—a game-changer for organizing your research efficiently. In this guide, you'll discover how to streamline your work and write quickly.
Now, let's talk about Otio's AI research and writing partner. It’s designed to simplify your research and writing process, making it faster and more efficient.
What is a research graphic organizer, purpose of research graphic organizer, how to make a graphic organizer in research, what are research graphic organizers used for, what are the 5 examples of graphic organizers, supercharge your researching ability with otio — try otio for free today.
A research graphic organizer is like a secret weapon in your learning toolkit. It’s a way to make information more accessible and understandable by organizing it visually. Consider taking a complex idea and breaking it into bite-sized pieces you can see and connect. It’s like creating a map of your thoughts, showing how concepts, terms, and facts relate. This approach simplifies things for you and helps you remember them better.
These organizers aren’t just for kids in school. Sure, they’re fantastic for students of all ages, from the brilliant ones who want to explore more independently to those who need extra help breaking down the material. By presenting information in a way that’s easy to digest, graphic organizers cater to everyone’s learning style. They’re inclusive, making education accessible and adaptable for every kind of learner.
Adults in learning environments have different needs. They come with a wealth of experience and background knowledge. Graphic organizers help them connect what they already know and what they’re trying to learn. By mapping out concepts visually , adults can organize their thoughts more effectively. They identify areas that need more attention and develop a comprehensive understanding of new subjects.
Research graphic organizers are invaluable tools for structuring information. They use lines, circles, and boxes to form visual layouts that help organize information hierarchically, show cause and effect, and compare and contrast data. These tools can streamline complex ideas, making content more accessible to understand.
Graphic organizers alleviate mental strain by providing a visual framework. This allows students to focus on understanding the most essential details of a text, enhancing comprehension and retention.
Before reading, graphic organizers act as brainstorming tools . They help students connect what they already know with new information, setting the stage for better understanding.
These tools help students organize important information while reading. By highlighting connections between concepts, they facilitate learning and make it easier to grasp complex ideas.
After reading, graphic organizers serve as assessment tools. They help students recall key information, summarize main ideas, and reinforce learning.
Are you struggling with content overload? Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner . With Otio, you can collect and extract critical insights and create drafts in one workspace. Try Otio for free today!
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Launch a graphic organizer creation tool such as Canva on your computer or mobile device. Search for "Graphic Organizer" to get started.
Browse through the available graphic organizer templates. Choose one that aligns with your lesson or main idea. Use filters to narrow down options by theme or style, then select your preferred template, whether it’s a chart, diagram, or map.
Customize the text on your template. For example, label sections for cause and effect or problem and solution. Assign boxes for the main idea and supporting details. Add a title as well. Expand the template to a virtual whiteboard if you’re preparing an interactive class activity.
Get creative with personalization. Adjust colors, font styles, and the placement of each element. Add playful design details like stickers and illustrations related to the main topic.
Once your graphic organizer is complete, download or share it with your students or colleagues. Export it as a PDF or image file. If it’s a class activity, share a link to your online whiteboard so participants can complete it.
Research today can feel like drowning in a sea of content. Otio offers a lifeline , bringing fragmented tools into one AI-powered workspace. It’s a game-changer for researchers, helping them collect diverse data sources, extract critical insights, and create draft outputs faster.
Consider AI-generated notes on anything from YouTube videos to PDFs and the ability to chat with your entire knowledge base. Otio transforms how you tackle research papers and essays. Give it a try for free and see the difference.
EdrawMax is the ultimate tool for creating graphic organizers . This cloud-based software lets you drag and drop shapes and symbols to design diagrams, charts, and organizers. Need something for a research paper? Start from scratch or use a template if available. EdrawMax makes the process ideal, authorizing you to release your creativity and streamline your workflow.
Plagiarism is a big no-no; Twinkle’s research notes graphic organizer can help students avoid it. This resource helps keep track of information sources, ensuring proper attribution. With various note-taking graphic organizers available, students can stay organized and on track with their research projects or essays. This is a valuable tool for any classroom.
When it comes to graphic organizers, Teach Starter has you covered. Various templates are available for download, and you can print them out and use them in your classroom. Some are free, while others require a subscription. Either way, these templates make it easy to help students organize their thoughts and stay focused on the task at hand.
HMH offers free graphic organizer templates that can be used for various purposes. Whether students write projects, solve problems, or brainstorm ideas, these templates can help them structure their thoughts and communicate more effectively. They’re a valuable resource for any teacher looking to support their students.
Teachers Pay Teachers offers graphic organizer templates to help students explore potential careers. These simple designs guide students in researching salary, education requirements, employment outlook, skills, tasks, and more. It’s a great way to get students thinking about their future and possibilities.
The EBSCO essay graphic organizer is a helpful tool for planning analytical or persuasive essays. It guides students through crafting a solid introduction, body paragraphs with supporting evidence, and a conclusion that ties it all together. With this organizer, students can feel confident in their writing and ready to tackle any essay assignment.
Start by putting your primary research question or topic in the middle of your organizer. This anchors your focus and keeps every step aligned with the central idea you're exploring.
Identify key subtopics or categories related to your research. Think of these as the parts of your paper or the themes you must dive into. This step helps in structuring your exploration.
For each subtopic, gather relevant data. This could be quotes, facts, or summaries from your sources. Note where each piece comes from—like the source, author, or page. Use different formats to fit your needs, such as columns for main points or Venn diagrams for comparisons.
As you arrange your data, start connecting the dots. A graphic organizer lets you see the relationships between ideas and spot gaps in your research. It’s like putting together a puzzle.
With your organizer filled out, you have a rough outline for your paper or project. It acts as a visual map, helping you structure your ideas logically.
Some organizers have a spot for citations. This makes it easier to cite your sources correctly later on and ensures you’re keeping things honest. Are you feeling the pressure from information overload? Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner . Designed for researchers like you, Otio helps you easily manage information chaos. Try Otio for free today!
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The T-Chart is a straightforward graphic organizer that helps you compare two things. It’s a classic, helping you quickly see similarities and differences. Whether you’re weighing the pros and cons or contrasting two ideas, the T-Chart keeps things simple.
The KWL Chart gets your brain in gear by tapping into what you already know. First, jot down your existing knowledge. Next, list what you’re itching to find out. Finally, you’ll fill in what you’ve learned after researching. This organizer keeps you curious and engaged, pushing you to reflect on and expand your understanding.
The Venn Diagram is all about seeing how things fit together. With overlapping circles, you can quickly spot commonalities and differences. It’s convenient when trying to categorize information or explore relationships between concepts. This visual tool encourages critical thinking and helps break down complex problems.
A Spider Map lets your ideas spread out from a central topic. As you brainstorm, you can connect related concepts and see how they fit together. This organizer is great for expanding your thinking and structuring your writing. It’s like a creative web that helps you see the bigger picture.
When faced with a challenging problem, a problem-solving graphic organizer provides a clear framework to work through it. You’ll start by identifying the issue, brainstorming potential solutions, evaluating your options, and reflecting on the results. This tool promotes critical thinking, decision-making, and resilience, helping you confidently tackle challenges.
Content overload is a real issue. The digital age offers endless information, leaving researchers and students needing help with fragmented, complex tools. Many find themselves piecing together bookmarking, note-taking, and read-it-later apps to keep up. That's where Otio steps in, offering a cohesive, AI-native workspace . It’s like a research graphic organizer template, helping you gather data from diverse sources—everything from bookmarks to YouTube videos. Otio doesn’t stop there; it extracts critical insights, giving you AI-generated notes that save time and effort.
Consider having detailed notes for your bookmarks, YouTube videos, PDFs, and articles—without lifting a finger. Otio makes this a reality . It automatically generates notes highlighting essential points, saving you from sifting through endless text. Think of it as a research graphic organizer template that takes the guesswork out of your research. This feature alone can transform how you approach your work, helping you move from a reading list to the first draft in record time.
Engagement is key when you’re neck-deep in research, and Otio delivers with its interactive chat feature. You can converse with individual links or entire knowledge bases, just like chatting with ChatGPT. It's a dynamic way to extract information, turning your research graphic organizer template into an active dialogue. This feature boosts productivity and makes the research process more enjoyable.
Writing research papers or essays can be daunting, but Otio offers a lifeline . Its AI-assisted writing helps you craft drafts using the sources you’ve collected. This feature acts as a research graphic organizer template, guiding you from idea to execution with ease. By streamlining the writing process, Otio lets you focus on what truly matters—your insights and arguments.
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Can ChatGPT Summarize Research Paper + Best ChatGPT Alternatives
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Academic reader: an interactive question answering system on academic literatures.
We present Academic Reader, a system which can read academic literatures and answer the relevant questions for researchers. Academic Reader leverages machine reading comprehension technique, which has been successfully applied in many fields but has not ...
This 1 paper presents a study of an accessible e-book reader application for visually impaired people. We interviewed 27 visually impaired people to understand their usage patterns of e-books and user requirements in terms of functions and interface of an ...
Even though screen readers are a core accessibility tool for blind and low vision individuals (BLVIs), most visualizations are incompatible with screen readers. To improve accessible visualization experiences, we partnered with 10 BLV screen reader users ...
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Open data is data made available to the public free of financial and technical access barriers. Like open access publications, open data can be published using a variety of platforms, repositories, and methods and there are a variety of ways that you can retain ownership, control reuse, and track citations of your data.
In order for data to be discoverable, useful, and available long term, good open data should follow certain principles.
Data should be presented in a standard, structured format
Descriptive metadata and documentation should accompany datasets to help others find and use it
Data should be linked, traceable, and available long term, providing transparency about the source of the information and reliability for citation and future use
Sharing data in addition to published results increases transparency and reproducibility in research. Amid concerns about the quality of research in a rapidly publishing scholarly record, having access to the data that scholars used to experiment and make their findings can help assure us of the underlying quality of the research project and allow us to reproduce and build on their results.
As an aspect of information equity, sharing data can benefit researchers who lack funding or resources to access expensive datasets or conduct their own research.
For researchers sharing data alongside or in addition to digital projects or written scholarly outputs offers an additional publishing opportunity and may provide greater research impacts through citations of the dataset or report. Open data publishing may also help authors to find and attract collaborators who are conducting research on similar topics, or to combine and increase useful datasets to the benefit of the community at large.
In many cases, yes, since open data has been shared for the benefit of other researchers, students, and educators. However, like all questions about reusing other people’s research outputs, this is always determined on a case by case basis.
Some things to consider:
Data is not copyrightable, since it is considered factual. Therefore, data are not subject to the same copyright protections that control the use of other kinds of intellectual property. Even if the open data you find is not subject to copyright, the creators may have requests, like citation or attribution, which we should comply with to the best of our ability.
Although data is not copyrightable, certain databases, reports, and other presentations of data may be copyrightable, so the format in which you are viewing or using the data is important in understanding what kinds of restrictions you will be subject to if you would like to reuse it.
Although data is not copyrightable, it can still be owned. If you encounter data that has been accessed through a paid database, or is otherwise access-restricted, you should assume that this data will need to be licensed or that you will need to seek permission from the owner. The owner may be the original researcher, a lab or institution, such as a university, or a commercial entity, like a company or a data licensing firm.
What is sociology, what issues does sociological research explore, what qualitative research methods are used for sociology topics, how to choose sociology research topic ideas, ideas for interesting sociology research paper topics.
Sociology is the study of human societies, social behaviors, and the complex relationships that shape our world. Through its focus on social structures, institutions, and interactions, sociology provides deep insights into the ways in which individuals and groups influence and are influenced by society. Qualitative research methods , such as interviews , ethnography , and case studies , are central to sociological inquiry, allowing researchers to explore the nuances of social life and the underlying factors that drive social change. Whether you're interested in social movements, cultural identity, or the impact of mass media, choosing a strong research topic in sociology is key to contributing meaningful insights to the field. This article offers inspiration and guidance for selecting compelling sociology research topics, as well as practical advice on designing and executing your research project.
Sociology is the scientific study of society, focusing on the patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and cultural diversity that shape human behavior. It seeks to understand how individuals and groups interact within the larger social structures of communities, institutions, and societies. Sociologists examine a wide range of social phenomena, from the dynamics of small groups to the functioning of entire societies, exploring how social order is maintained, how power and inequality are distributed, and how social change occurs over time.
One of the key aspects of sociology is its emphasis on the social context in which human behavior occurs. Sociologists are interested in how societal norms, values, and institutions influence individual actions and how, in turn, these actions can shape society. This perspective allows sociology to address a wide array of issues, from the micro-level of individual interactions to the macro-level of global social processes.
Sociology is inherently interdisciplinary, drawing on insights from history, economics, psychology, anthropology, and political science to build a comprehensive understanding of social life. The field employs both qualitative and quantitative research methods to explore social phenomena. While quantitative methods provide statistical insights into social patterns, qualitative methods offer a deeper understanding of the meanings and motivations behind these patterns. Through qualitative research, sociologists can uncover the lived experiences of individuals, explore the complexities of social identities, and examine the intricate dynamics of social institutions.
In essence, sociology provides the means to critically analyze the social world, offering explanations for social phenomena and contributing to our understanding of the forces that shape human behavior. By studying sociology, we gain a better understanding of the complexities of social life and the ways in which we can address social issues to create more just and equitable societies.
Sociological research papers explore a wide range of issues that are central to understanding human society. By examining social structures, behaviors, and relationships, sociologists seek to uncover the underlying mechanisms that drive social processes and contribute to social change. Here are some of the key issues that sociological research addresses:
One of the most prominent areas of sociological research is social inequality. Sociologists investigate how resources, power, and opportunities are distributed unevenly across different social groups based on factors such as class, race, gender, and ethnicity. This research explores the causes and consequences of inequality, including its impact on individuals' life chances, access to education, physical health, employment, and overall social cohesion. For example, sociologists might study how income inequality affects social mobility or how racial and gender discrimination manifests in different social institutions.
Sociological research also focuses on the role and function of social institutions, such as family, education, religion, and the state. These institutions play a critical role in shaping individuals' lives and maintaining social order. Sociologists examine how these institutions operate, how they contribute to social stability or change, and how they interact with one another. For instance, research might explore how educational institutions reproduce social inequalities or how religious institutions influence political behavior.
Culture is another central concern of sociological research. Sociologists study how cultural norms, values, and beliefs are created, maintained, and transformed over time. This research often involves exploring how cultural practices influence social behavior and how cultural change occurs. For example, sociologists might investigate how globalization affects local cultural identities or how media representations shape public perceptions of social issues. Understanding culture is key to understanding how societies function and how individuals navigate their social worlds.
Social change is a fundamental aspect of sociological inquiry. Sociologists are interested in how societies evolve over time and how social movements contribute to these changes. Research in this area might focus on the origins and development of social movements, the strategies they use to effect change, and their impact on society. For example, sociologists might study the civil rights movement, feminist movements, or environmental activism, analyzing how these movements challenge existing social structures and contribute to the creation of new social norms and policies.
Another important area of sociological research is the study of identity and socialization. Sociologists explore how individuals develop their sense of self and identity through interactions with others and within the context of larger social structures. This research examines the processes of socialization that occur in families, schools, and identity groups like college students and political activists, and how these processes shape individuals' beliefs, behaviors, and social roles. For example, sociologists might study how gender identity is constructed and reinforced through socialization or how cultural identity is maintained and expressed in multicultural societies.
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Qualitative research methods are central to sociology, offering deep insights into the social processes, meanings, and experiences that shape human behavior. These methods are particularly effective for exploring complex social phenomena in detail and understanding the perspectives of individuals within their social contexts. Here are some of the key qualitative research methods employed in sociology.
Ethnography is a method that involves immersive fieldwork , where sociologists observe and participate in the daily lives of the people they study. This approach allows researchers to gain a deep understanding of a particular culture, community, or social group by becoming part of the social setting. Ethnographers often spend extended periods of time within the community they are studying, engaging in activities and observing interactions to document social practices, rituals, and everyday behaviors. This method is particularly valuable for exploring how social norms are maintained, how power dynamics operate in everyday life, and how people construct and negotiate their identities.
Interviews are another fundamental qualitative method in sociology, providing a way to gather detailed information about individuals' experiences, perspectives, and interpretations of social phenomena. Interviews can be structured , semi-structured , or unstructured , depending on the research objectives . Structured interviews follow a predetermined set of questions, while unstructured interviews are more open-ended, allowing respondents to guide the conversation. Semi-structured interviews strike a balance between these two, offering both flexibility and focus. Interviews are especially useful for exploring sensitive or complex issues, such as how people understand their social roles, how they cope with social challenges, or how they perceive social change.
Focus groups involve guided discussions with small groups of participants on specific topics. This method allows sociologists to explore how people collectively discuss and negotiate meanings, norms, and values. Focus groups are effective for understanding group dynamics and the influence of social interactions on individual opinions. For example, a focus group might be used to explore public attitudes toward social policies, how cultural beliefs shape health behaviors, or how different groups experience social inequalities. By facilitating discussion among participants, researchers can gain insights into how social norms are reinforced or challenged within a group context.
Content analysis is a qualitative method used to analyze textual, visual, or audio data, with the goal of understanding how information is communicated and how social meanings are constructed. This method is often used to study media representations, social media content, or historical documents. Sociologists might analyze news articles, advertisements, or television shows to examine how they reflect and shape societal values, stereotypes, and ideologies. Content analysis can reveal underlying patterns in how different groups are portrayed, how social issues are framed, and how cultural narratives evolve over time.
While qualitative methods are essential for exploring the depth and complexity of social life, quantitative methods play a crucial role in sociology as well. Quantitative research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data to identify patterns, correlations, and causal relationships within social phenomena. Common quantitative methods include surveys , experiments, and statistical analysis. Surveys are widely used to gather data on social attitudes, behaviors, and demographics, allowing researchers to generalize findings across larger populations. Experiments, though less common in sociology, are used to test hypotheses under controlled conditions. Statistical analysis helps sociologists process large datasets to uncover trends and relationships between variables.
Choosing good or manageable sociology research topics is a crucial step in conducting meaningful and impactful studies. A well-chosen topic should not only align with your interests but also address significant social issues, contribute new insights to the field, and be feasible in terms of research scope and available resources. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a research topic in sociology.
The first step in choosing a research topic is to identify your area of interest within sociology. Sociology is a broad field that covers various aspects of social life, including culture, institutions, interactions, and inequalities. Reflect on the topics or issues that resonate with you the most. Are you particularly interested in exploring social inequalities, cultural dynamics, social movements, or the effects of technology on society? By focusing on an area that you are passionate about, you are more likely to stay motivated and engaged throughout the research process.
Once you have identified your area of interest, narrow it down to a specific research question or problem. For example, if you are interested in social inequalities, you might focus on how educational attainment varies by socio-economic status or how gender roles are negotiated in different cultural contexts. A specific, well-defined research question will guide your study and help you maintain a clear focus.
When choosing a research topic, it is important to consider its significance within the broader field of sociology. A good research topic should address a social issue that is relevant and timely. Consider whether your topic has the potential to contribute new insights to ongoing debates or to address gaps in the existing literature . For instance, you might choose to study how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health in different demographic groups, a topic that is both current and socially significant.
Additionally, think about the practical implications of your research. Sociological research can influence public policy, inform social programs, and contribute to social change. Choose a topic that has the potential to make a real-world impact, whether by shedding light on an underexplored issue, challenging existing assumptions, or offering solutions to social problems.
Feasibility is another critical factor to consider when choosing a research topic. Your topic should be manageable within the constraints of your time, resources, and access to data. Consider the scope of your research—are you planning to conduct a case study, survey a large population, or engage in ethnographic fieldwork? Ensure that you have the necessary resources, such as access to participants, relevant data, and the appropriate research tools.
It’s also important to consider the ethical implications of your research. Sociological research often involves working with human subjects, so you need to ensure that your study design respects participants’ rights and adheres to ethical standards. This includes obtaining informed consent , ensuring confidentiality , and minimizing any potential harm to participants.
If you are conducting qualitative research , such as interviews or focus groups , think about how you will gain access to your target population and whether you can realistically collect the data you need. For quantitative research , consider the availability of existing datasets or the feasibility of collecting new data.
Finally, consider how your research topic aligns with relevant sociological theories. Theoretical frameworks provide a lens through which you can analyze your research findings and situate your study within the broader sociological discourse. For example, if you are studying social inequalities, you might draw on conflict theory to explore how power and resources are distributed in society, or use symbolic interactionism to examine how individuals navigate social roles and identities.
Choosing a topic that engages with established theories can enhance the academic rigor of your research and provide a strong foundation for your analysis. Additionally, consider how your research might contribute to the development or refinement of these theories. By aligning your topic with relevant theoretical perspectives, you can ensure that your research is not only empirically robust but also theoretically informed.
Sociology offers a rich array of topics that explore the complexities of social life, from the dynamics of social movements to the influence of mass media. Below are several research topics for a compelling sociology paper, organized by key areas within sociology, each offering a unique perspective on contemporary social issues.
Social movements are a vital area of sociological research, as they are powerful forces for social change. Studying social movements allows sociologists to explore how collective action is organized, how movements mobilize resources, and how they challenge existing power structures. Potential research topics in this area include:
Cultural identity is a key concept in sociology, encompassing the ways in which individuals and groups define themselves and are perceived by others. Research in this area often focuses on the intersection of culture, ethnicity, and identity. Some possible research topics include:
Socioeconomic status (SES) is a fundamental concept in sociology, influencing nearly every aspect of an individual's life, including education, health, and social mobility. Research topics in this area can include:
The influence of mass media and technology on society is a rapidly evolving area of sociological research. This area explores how media and technology shape social behavior, cultural norms, and public opinion. Research topics might include:
Gender inequality remains a persistent issue in societies around the world. Sociological research on gender examines how social structures, cultural norms, and individual behaviors contribute to the maintenance of gender disparities. Research topics in this area could include:
Mental health has many useful medical sociology research topics, as it intersects with various social, cultural, and economic factors. Sociologists study how mental health is understood, treated, and experienced across different social groups. Good sociology research topics in this area might include:
Sociological research often focuses on how social attitudes are formed, maintained, and changed over time. This area of study can include topics related to public opinion, social norms, and the factors that influence belief systems. Possible research topics include:
Community development is a field of sociology that focuses on the processes and strategies used to improve the quality of life in communities. Research in this area can examine how communities organize to address social, economic, and environmental challenges. Potential research topics include:
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What is a research project.
A research project is an academic, scientific, or professional undertaking to answer a research question . Research projects can take many forms, such as qualitative or quantitative , descriptive , longitudinal , experimental , or correlational . What kind of research approach you choose will depend on your topic.
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .
However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:
Research questions anchor your whole project, so it’s important to spend some time refining them.
In general, they should be:
All research questions should be:
A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.
Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.
Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .
Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.
I will compare …
Your research objectives indicate how you’ll try to address your research problem and should be specific:
Research objectives describe what you intend your research project to accomplish.
They summarize the approach and purpose of the project and help to focus your research.
Your objectives should appear in the introduction of your research paper , at the end of your problem statement .
The main guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style are to:
To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .
The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:
To format a paper in APA Style , follow these guidelines:
No, it’s not appropriate to present new arguments or evidence in the conclusion . While you might be tempted to save a striking argument for last, research papers follow a more formal structure than this.
All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the results and discussion sections if you are following a scientific structure). The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.
The conclusion of a research paper has several key elements you should make sure to include:
Don’t feel that you have to write the introduction first. The introduction is often one of the last parts of the research paper you’ll write, along with the conclusion.
This is because it can be easier to introduce your paper once you’ve already written the body ; you may not have the clearest idea of your arguments until you’ve written them, and things can change during the writing process .
The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper . A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement .
A research paper designed to present the results of empirical research tends to present a research question that it seeks to answer. It may also include a hypothesis —a prediction that will be confirmed or disproved by your research.
The introduction of a research paper includes several key elements:
and your problem statement
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Research proposal examples. Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We've included a few for you below. Example research proposal #1: "A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management".
Table of contents. Step 1: Introduce your topic. Step 2: Describe the background. Step 3: Establish your research problem. Step 4: Specify your objective (s) Step 5: Map out your paper. Research paper introduction examples. Frequently asked questions about the research paper introduction.
Research proposals, like all other kinds of academic writing, are written in a formal, objective tone. Keep in mind that being concise is a key component of academic writing; formal does not mean flowery. Adhere to the structure outlined above. Your reader knows how a research proposal is supposed to read and expects it to fit this template.
The goal of this book has been to help demystify research and inquiry through a series of genres that are part of the research process. Each of these writing projects—the annotated bibliography, proposal, literature review, and research essay—builds on each other. Research is an ongoing and evolving process, and each of these projects help ...
A research project for students is an extended essay that presents a question or statement for analysis and evaluation. During a research project, you will present your own ideas and research on a subject alongside analysing existing knowledge. ... The next section covers the research project steps necessary to producing a research paper ...
Step 4: Create a research design. The research design is a practical framework for answering your research questions. It involves making decisions about the type of data you need, the methods you'll use to collect and analyze it, and the location and timescale of your research. There are often many possible paths you can take to answering ...
Here is an explanation of each step: 1. Title and Abstract. Choose a concise and descriptive title that reflects the essence of your research. Write an abstract summarizing your research question, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. It should provide a brief overview of your proposal. 2.
Research proposal aims. Relevance. Show your reader why your project is interesting, original, and important. Context. Demonstrate your comfort and familiarity with your field. Show that you understand the current state of research on your topic. Approach. Make a case for your methodology. Demonstrate that you have carefully thought about the ...
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 ...
113 Great Research Paper Topics. One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily ...
Key Takeaways. Developing a research proposal involves the following preliminary steps: identifying potential ideas, choosing ideas to explore further, choosing and narrowing a topic, formulating a research question, and developing a working thesis. A good topic for a research paper interests the writer and fulfills the requirements of the ...
Download Article. 1. Break up your essay into sub-topics. You will probably need to address several distinct aspects of your research topic in your essay. This is an important tactic for producing a well-organized research essay because it avoids 'stream of consciousness' writing, which typically lacks order.
A strong research topic comprises three important qualities: originality, value and feasibility.. Originality - a good topic explores an original area or takes a novel angle on an existing area of study.; Value - a strong research topic provides value and makes a contribution, either academically or practically.; Feasibility - a good research topic needs to be practical and manageable ...
An independent research project: Analyzes a scientific question. Uses a rigorous methodology to answer the question. Draws on existing literature/scientific research. Involves writing a research paper or similar academic output (e.g., poster, academic presentation) (Usually) requires mentorship from a research expert in the field
The remaining steps fall under two broad categories—the research phase of the project (steps 3 and 4) and the writing phase (steps 5 and 6). Both phases present challenges. Understanding the tasks involved and allowing enough time to complete each task will help you complete your research paper on time with a minimal amount of stress.
Completing any research project requires meticulous planning, experimental design and execution, and compilation and publication of findings in the form of a research paper. All of these are often unfamiliar to naïve researchers; thus, the purpose of this workshop was to teach participants to master the critical steps involved in the ...
10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes.Revised on October 19, 2023. The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper, thesis or dissertation.It's important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.
When you write your research paper you might want to copy words, pictures, diagrams, or ideas from one of your sources. It is OK to copy such information as long as you reference it with a citation. If the information is a phrase, sentence, or paragraph, then you should also put it in quotation marks. A citation and quotation marks tell the ...
Planning research projects is a time-honoured intellectual exercise: one that requires both creativity and sharp analytical skills. The purpose of this Guide is to make the process systematic and easy to understand. ... Highly recommended as a window into the craft of research. Jacobs's text references an essay on advancing human knowledge by ...
Storytelling provides context for your research, making complex concepts more accessible and understandable to a diverse audience. Surprises. As you weave your research into a story, consider how it might challenge the audience's expectations and whether you can use the element of surprise as a hook.
Additional Info (up to 650 words) Supplemental Essays (approx. 100-500 words) University of California Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) (350 words) Narrative or Montage Personal Statement (650 words) Some schools: Interviews. Some schools: Research submission. Some schools: Letters of rec from a research supervisor.
In this capstone course, students will have the opportunity to design and implement an original research project on work and organizations. Students will receive in-class training and guidance on: 1) developing and refining a research question, 2) identifying and implementing appropriate research methods, 3) locating or collecting relevant data, 4) identifying the significance of their work to ...
With various note-taking graphic organizers available, students can stay organized and on track with their research projects or essays. This is a valuable tool for any classroom. 4. Teach Starter: Print and Go. When it comes to graphic organizers, Teach Starter has you covered. Various templates are available for download, and you can print ...
To explore this question, we present the Semantic Reader Project, a broad collaborative effort across multiple non-profit, industry, and academic institutions to create interactive, intelligent reading interfaces for research papers.This project consists of three pillars: research, product, and open-science resources. On the research front, we are combining artificial intelligence (AI) and ...
Choose a research paper topic. Conduct preliminary research. Develop a thesis statement. Create a research paper outline. Write a first draft of the research paper. Write the introduction. Write a compelling body of text. Write the conclusion. The second draft.
Sharing data in addition to published results increases transparency and reproducibility in research. Amid concerns about the quality of research in a rapidly publishing scholarly record, having access to the data that scholars used to experiment and make their findings can help assure us of the underlying quality of the research project and ...
A specific, well-defined research question will guide your study and help you maintain a clear focus. Consider the significance of the topic. When choosing a research topic, it is important to consider its significance within the broader field of sociology. A good research topic should address a social issue that is relevant and timely.
Related Research Guides. Counselor Education. Education. Recommended Titles. Ambitious Science Teaching. Electronic Resource 2018. Building Literacy with Multilingual Learners, Third Edition. Electronic Resource 2024. Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12. Electronic Resource 2020.
PURPOSE: Hospitalized chest pain patients frequently experience sleep disturbances, linked to worse outcomes. While non-pharmacological interventions are standard, alternatives are needed. This quality improvement project investigated the effectiveness of melatonin, a readily available hormone with potential benefits for both sleep and cardiovascular health, in improving sleep quality for this ...
A research project is an academic, scientific, or professional undertaking to answer a research question. Research projects can take many forms, such as qualitative or quantitative, descriptive, longitudinal, experimental, or correlational. What kind of research approach you choose will depend on your topic.