Parts of A Research Paper: A Comprehensive Guide

A research paper is a scholarly document that presents original research and contributes to the existing body of knowledge of a specific research topic. A standard research paper typically comprises the introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, and references, each serving a unique role in illustrating the research findings. If you are seeking expert guidance on research paper development, our services offer personalized solutions including but not limited to, topic selection, problem identification, and comprehensive editing and proofreading.

This article is a guide to the key components of a research paper and outlines the steps involved in composing an exceptional academic document.

Parts of a Research Paper

Abstract

The abstract is a brief comprehensive summary of the content of the research paper, typically limited to 250 words. The key components of the abstract are the objectives of the study, research design and methods, key findings, and a conclusion. The abstract is usually a single paragraph or can be in a structured format.

Introduction

The introduction presents background information that describes how and why the research question developed. Quote existing literature, then highlight knowledge gaps through a literature review and illustrate how the study provides further knowledge on the area and the research questions. Conclude the introduction with a thesis statement that gives a summary of the main idea of the paper. The purpose of writing a thesis statement after the introduction is to make a boundary around the research topic to avoid drifting away from it and to make an orderly method for writing the paper.

Below is an example of a thesis statement:

Contrary to the hopes of high-school teachers, the latest research indicates that extending night classes tires students and slows them down in achieving the goal of attaining higher grades.

Methods

The methods section of a research paper gives an overview of the research design. The purpose of the methods section is to enable the reader to evaluate and understand how the research was conducted. The methodology section typically illustrates all aspects of the study design, process of data collection, precise details of the materials used to conduct research and the reason for selection, statistical analysis procedures and software used, and the techniques used to reduce bias in the data collected.

Results

The results section of your research paper summarizes the findings of your study. A common mistake made by students when writing this section is that they attempt to draw conclusions based on the findings; however, this should be done in the next section.

The results section presents the findings without interpreting them. Researchers include tables and figures in this section to present the results. It is usually written in the past tense.

Discussion

Begin with illustrating the results of the analysis that relate to the research objective and question stated in the introduction. Compare the findings with other relevant data in published literature. Acknowledge the limitations related to the data collected and faced when conducting the study. Discuss the implications of the results and provide insights for areas of future research on the topic.

Conclusion

The conclusion section usually starts with a summary of the main findings of the study. The researcher answers the research question stated in the introduction and puts the study into the context of existing works. They can also include possible applications of the results in the real world.

Strengths and limitations encountered during the research are also stated in the conclusion section. Examples of limitations can be missing data or small sample size, and an example of strengths can be extensive data.

References

Referencing is indicating where facts, theories, ideas, and other evidence illustrated in the research paper can be found. Listings in the reference section are formatted according to the citation style specified. Common formatting styles include the American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), Harvard, and Chicago, each with distinct guidelines for citing sources.

A Guide to Writing the Components of a Research Paper

To write an exceptional research paper, one should follow a systematic process to ensure a smooth flow of ideas to enhance reader comprehension. From the introduction down to the conclusion, each section should build upon the previous one, presenting the research problem and contributing to a comprehensive narrative. This section is a guide to the steps for structuring the research paper:

Step 1: Choose a research topic

While choosing your research topic, there are factors you should consider such as the required length of the paper, the availability of research resources, and the research paper's due date/ urgency.

Step 2: Compose your thesis statement

The thesis statement describes the theory that the researcher expresses and supports in the research paper. Composing the thesis statement carefully is crucial for an exceptional research paper. Below are some common errors made by students when writing the thesis statement:

• Expressing the statement in the form of a question. For example, should nineteen-year-olds be allowed to vote? A better alternative could be Allowing nineteen-year-olds to vote can improve democratic participation by promoting responsibility at a young age.
• Beginning with statements such as "I think" and "in my opinion."
• Expressing it as a brief statement rather than a full sentence.
• Use of vague, incoherent, or figurative language.

Step 3: Form a bibliography

A bibliography is a list of published materials, such as books and articles, containing potential sources of information relevant to your research topic. When forming a bibliography, consider the availability and relevance of the research material.

Step 4: Prepare an outline

An outline is a systematic guide that one creates to serve as a roadmap to writing the research paper. To prepare the outline, start by noting the topics to be discussed in your research paper, then divide them into smaller subtopics.

Step 5: Note-taking

After gathering information sources and creating an outline, the researcher takes notes of the most relevant information to their research topic. You can use note cards for this step. Every note card must include the title of the book or article used with the page number for easier referencing.

Step 6: Write the first draft

Outline how to structure the major topics and sub-topics of your paper then write a rough draft. Don't pay much attention to mistakes like spelling and grammar because you will revise this draft. Instead, you should concentrate on ensuring a smooth flow of ideas from the introduction down to the conclusion.

Step 7: Editing and proofreading

After finishing the rough draft, you can now edit the document, fixing spelling, grammatical, or structural mistakes. Also, check on sentence structuring and paragraph transitions.

Step 8: Compose the final draft

The final draft of your research paper is written according to the preferred formatting style. The final draft should be free of errors and have a logical flow.

Examples of research papers

Different formatting styles are used to write a research paper. Common formatting styles include APA, MLA, Harvard, and Chicago, among others. All the styles have a set of rules that one should follow when writing. Below are examples of different research papers written in each formatting style.

Example 1 written in APA style

Example 2 written in MLA style

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Summary

A research paper is a document that presents the researcher's analysis and interpretation of a specific research topic. The aim of writing a research paper is to contribute to the field of research and to show the student's comprehension of the existing information in the field. It consists of the abstract, introduction, thesis statement, methodology, results, and conclusion.

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