Research methods

1. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
GUIDELINES FOR STRUCTURING THE ACADEMIC PAPER IN
THE IMRaD FORMAT
MERIJA JIRGENSONS, PhD
DISTANCE STUDY LEARNING CENTRE
RIGA TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY
RIGA, 13 JUNE 2019
R

2. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
WHY IMRAD?
Preferred format for International organizations
American Institute of Standards (ANSI)
Pasteur Institute—Louis Pasteur credited for being first
Publishers prefer it
Helps Students organize academic papers
It is self-organizing
It is used for original studies
Useful in Erasmus Master’s program,
focus on students’ original research results
Statistical surveys (questionnaires)
Digital products and services
original research results such as gained from statistical surveys (questionnaires) or else producing original digital products and services

3. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
WHAT DOES IMRaD STAND FOR?
 Preferred paper format for structuring original research results computer science and social science
 I – Introduction
 M – Method and Materials
 R – Results
 A (a) – and … (IMRaD)
 D – Discussion
 C – Conclusion (recommended)

4. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
WHAT GOES INTO THE INTRODUCTION?
Hypothesis
 Your research problem and proposed solution
 Asking research question
An introduction three to four paragraphs in short paper (8 pp)
Review relevant literature, about three in short paper
Identify gaps
Filling the gaps will constitute your solution to the research problem that you set up in the hypothesis

5. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
METHODS AND MATERIALS
 All materials (tools, instruments, questionnaires) and procedures used in a
research project to support your hypothesis;
 Interviews, subjects, consent forms, statistical methods
 Software, computer programs, data collected, models built
 Figures and graphs
 MUST Be logical and reproducible by other researchers

6. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
RESULTS
 Summarize the research results. Do they support your hypothesis?
 What was achieved? Does the evidence (data and other feed-back) support the results? What remains to be done?
 Limitations?
 Any modifications of hypothesis?
 Report negative results as a limitation of your study
 you may need to re-check your experiment or modify your hypothesis
 How does it affect the overall outcome of study? What information does the new finding indicate?
You may insert tables, figures and charts—but need to explain meaning in text.
Be brief, precise, and clear—as always

7. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
DISCUSSION
 Briefly summarize the research results
 Analyze what they mean. What does the data tell you?
 What were the limitations of the study? What were the flaws?
 What are the implications drawn from the data? What remains to be done?
 Future work:
 Limitations of the study suggest future work;
 It is important that you identify Future Work, even if you do not do it; if the research because important, it helps to identify
you with an significant new trend

8. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
CONCLUSION (RECOMMENDED)
 In the IMRaD structure, the Conclusion is not required, but many people prefer it. It depends on you and your
adviser. It also depends upon the requirements of the publication where you wish to publish or the conference
you wish to attend. If you use the Conclusion in the IMRaD format, you may find the following points helpful:
 Summarize the high points of your study.
 Did you stake out a new field?
 Discover a new method?
 Develop a new theoretical model? What are its implications? Benefits?
 What are the theoretical or practical or both benefits of your study?
 Make the last word so they remember you. Make a Brief memorable statement about the importance of
YOUR research emphasizing the contribution of your results

9. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
OTHER PARTS OF THE ACADEMIC PAPER
 Title—Clear and precise, must reflect content of paper
 Author (s)
 Key Words (if required)—not more than four
 Abstract—most read part of paper
 Acknowledgements—sources of funding and people who gave serious help
 References—in-text citations and bibliography lists at end of paper
 Appendix (Appendices)—if needed

10. Erasmus+ Project “MA in Educational Technology: A New Online
Blended Learning Program for New Member States” (Agreement No
2017-KA203-03)
GOOD LUCK!