Putting it Together: Components of a Research Paper
Before writing the paper, remember:
*In reaching a selected audience, their reports must speak to issues and concerns relevant to that particular community.
*Be sure to watch for the headings. A discussion of how to do headings (A Head, B Head, C Head, D Head, can be found on Berg, pages 300 – 301)
Glossary of the components found in a research paper (or, "the quick and dirty definitions"):
Title: appears on title page
Abstract: a brief description of the entire report
Introduction: basic research questions, key terms, and research focus.
Literature review: a detailed examination of the extant research literature relevant to the report’s topic.
Methodology: a comprehensive description of how the researchers gathered data and analyzed these data.
Findings or results: the presentation of information uncovered during the research process.
Discussion and/or implications: an examination of these findings and consideration of how they may impinge on relevant groups, communities, or agencies.
References, notes, and/or appendices: a section that contains the evidence that supports the research report.
(Berg, 2004, p. 300 – 302)
Useful Resources:
“The Research Room” gives descriptions of each section.
Tips and procedures for each section:
The title page should have an A head in the middle of the page. The title should be centered, and below the title the author’s name and university affiliation information is also added. Be concise with the title.
Abstracts should include a statement identifying the key focus or issue considered in the study, the nature of the data analyzed in the study, and the major finding or result examined in the report. The abstract also contains the report title at the top of the page. Berg (2004) also recommends including a section on the potential use or implication of the reported finding.
The introduction orients the reader to the study and the report and works as a “map for the report” (Berg, 2004, p. 304). It should acquaint the reader with the basic research question or problem.
The literature review is used to give a comprehensive review of previous works on the topic of study contained within the research paper. Tip: The more thorough the literature review, the more solid the research report’s foundation becomes. (Berg, 2004, p. 305)
The methodology section is used to explain to readers how the research was accomplished. It also describes how the data was defined and collected, organized and analyzed. This is considered by some as one of the most difficult aspects of writing a paper. To aid researchers, consider the following information:
*Methodology should include references to the subject the paper is written about. How were the subjects selected? How did they participate? Tip: Be sure to protect participant identities.
*Methodology should contain a section on the data, the nature of the data, and how it was collected. This is the meat of the methodology section and it must be well presented. This is how readers will most likely judge the paper, and it will allow others to replicate the study.
The Methodology section should also include:
*The setting: Descriptions of he setting can be important in reporting a study. This is the “natural” aspect that is often cited as strength in qualitative research studies, so be descriptive.
*Analysis techniques: Offer a discussion and justification of the analytic strategy used to gather data.
Findings or results: This section offers a general presentation of research findings. In order to differentiate between the two, note that findings refer to what the data say, while results offer interpretations of the meaning of the data.
Discussions/Conclusions allows a researcher to offer their insights and outline areas for further research.
References, Notes, and Appendices: Notes or source references. In qualitative studies, footnotes or endnotes are often used.
Now that the paper is done, it’s time to present it. How can the paper be of any use if no one else learns of the research? It defeats the very purpose of the project.
Professional Meetings and Publications: Berg (2004) says that the idea of publish or perish is still very much alive in academics today. However, the current publishing bias still shows strong preference for qualitative research for publication. Some tips for publication of qualitative papers, then, are in order:
Tip: It is not recommended to submit a single publication to multiple publishers. It is important to remain professional, so this means making a careful selection of matching the writing with the publication manual.
Be prepared for a long process of revisions. Always do the best job possible on the original submission, as to capture the publisher’s attention. However, there will probably be edits needed before the paper receives publication.
Of the four recommended qualitative online journal resources listed in Berg (2004), two remain active:
The Qualitative Report
Sociological Research Online
(Information utilized for these notes is derived from: Berg, B.L. (2004) Qualitative research methods. 5th edition. California State University: Pearson.)
Other online journals or resources with qualitative research:
“Sage Publication”
Other Useful Resources for writing or researching qualitative research:
“International Institute for Qualitative Methodology”
“The Qualitative Report”: An online journal dedicated to online research since 1990.
“Qualitative Research in Education Home Page”
“Writing research papers for publication. 2. Qualitative research” (article and abstract)
“Database searches for qualitative research” by David Evans. (abstract and article)
E-Books (usually partially online with complete versions available for purchase):
An Introduction to Qualitative Research, by Uwe Flick.
Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook, by Jay Gubrium.
Writing Up Qualitative Research, by Harry F. Wolcott.
