2. What is meant by research paper ?
What is meant by research, and how do we identify good
research questions? These are questions that are not always
easy to answer . The American Heritage College Dictionary
defined research as "scholarly or scientific investigation or
inquiry" or as a verb "to study (something) thoroughly"
(2000). Thus, in its most basic and simplest form, research is
a way of finding out answers to questions.
As abstract word “ research “ consist of two part : the first on
is the prefix “ re “ which means do something again and the
second part is ‘’ search “ which means investigate .
Research is the study of an event , problem or phenomenon
using systematic methods , in order to understand it better
and to develop principles and theories about it.
( Longman Dictionary : 4th edition )
3. It can be also defined as a careful consideration of study regarding a
particular concern or a problem using scientific methods.
According to the American sociologist Earl Robert Babbie,
“Research is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict and
control the observed phenomenon. Research
involves a) inductive methods b) deductive methods.”
Inductive research methods are used to analyze the observed
phenomenon whereas, deductive methods are used to verify the
observed phenomenon. Inductive approaches are associated with
qualitative research and deductive methods are more commonly
associated with quantitative research.
One of the most important aspects of research is the statistics
associated with it, conclusion or result.
5. What might be included in some of these parts of a typical
research paper?
1. Title Page :
The title page includes these elements:
Name of author(s) , Title of paper , Contact
information
2. The abstract
The abstract presents a summary of the topic of the paper
and the major findings of the research. Abstracts are very
often printed through abstracting services and are generally
the primary step in finding out about a paper. They are
usually 100-150 words in length, although there is variation
depending on where the article is published.
6. 3.The introduction
The introduction sets the scene and provides the reader
with background material (statement of topic area and
general issues) as well as an outline of the purpose of the
research. This is generally followed by a literature review.
Some possibilities for literature reviews include the
following:
A ) Historical overview .
B ) Major players in this research area, including
questions, past findings, and controversies.
C ) General goal of the paper.
D ) Research questions / hypotheses.
7. 4.The methods section
In the methods section, the reader can expect to be
informed about all aspects of the study. One reason for this
is the later possibility of replication (see section 1.3.3.).
Another reason is that in order for readers to come to an
informed opinion about the research, they need to know as
much detail as possible about what was done.
A ) participants :
This section includes information about the participants2 in
a study. For example, how many participants were there?
What are their characteristics (e.g., male/female, native
language, age, proficiency level, length of residence, amount
and type of instruction, handedness)? The characteristics
that researchers describe will depend, in part, on the
experiment itself
8. B) The materials :
used to conduct the study are usually presented in detail.
C ) Procedures :
The next questions that a reader can expect to be informed
of include logistical issues related to what was actually done.
How exactly was the task carried out? How was the
treatment administered? How and when was testing done?
D ) Analysis :
In some research reports, the mode of analysis may be a
separate section or maybe included in the results section.
9. 5. Results
In this section of a research article, the results are presented with
verbal descriptions of data that are also often displayed in charts,
figures, or tables. Results sections usually provide objective
descriptions presented without interpretation.
6. The discussion and conclusion
They are often two separate sections and are primarily interpretive
and explanatory in nature. The main idea of the study maybe
restated and the findings summarized. Then, the findings are
interpreted in light of the research questions and an explanation
is attempted .
7. Notes
In some journals, any parenthetical material in an article is placed
in footnotes at the bottom of the relevant page. In other journals,
this material may appear as endnotes
10. 8. References
In most journals in the second language research field,
everything cited in the paper appears in the reference list,
and all sources listed in the reference list are cited in the
paper. There is no single style used by all journals in the
field; different journals have different styles for references
9. The appendixes
The appendixes to a research article may include examples
of the actual materials used in the study, along with any
other information that, although necessary for the
interpretation of the study, might interrupt the flow of the
paper if included in the body of the article.
11. Why do we need to write a research paper ?
We begin by reminding the reader that we are all involved in
research every day. For example, consider what is probably part
of many of our lives—being stuck in a traffic jam. As we find
ourselves not moving on a freeway, we ask why this has
happened and come up with a hypothesis (e.g., because there is
an accident ahead, or because it is 5:00 P.M. on a Friday
afternoon). We then seek verification of our hypothesis by
waiting patiently (or impatiently) until the traffic starts moving
again. If we see an accident or the flashing lights of an
emergency vehicle, we can confirm or at least strengthen our
hypothesis. In the absence of an accident, we might conclude
that it must be typical rush hour traffic.
12. A research paper may be the most practical of the college
assignment . Certainly an assignment that appears frequently –
freshman composition course an exercise in communication and
in both English and the other academic fields as an integral part
of your education .
Obviously , then ,one reason for writing research paper is
because you have to again and again . Deeper than that ,
however , are the reasons research paper assigned so often .
As a college student, you will find that your writing assignments
will extend past personal thoughts and ideas to explore more
complex topics. Writing will make you confident in your ability to
find information and present it effectively in all kinds of ways
and for all sorts of projects . ( Writing Research paper : Edward
P. Baily / Philip A. Powel )
13. But the most important advantages of writing research paper is :
Research Teaches Investigative Skills. A research project requires you to
investigate a subject, gain a grasp of its essentials, and disclose your
findings. Your success will depend on your negotiating the various
sources of information, from reference books in the library to computer
databases and from special archival collections to the most recent
articles in printed periodicals. The Internet, with its vast quantity of
information, will challenge you to find reliable sources. If you conduct
research by observation, interviews, surveys, and laboratory
experiments, you will discover additional methods of investigation.
Research Develops Inquiry-Based Techniques. With the guidance of
your instructor, you are making inquiry to advance your own knowledge
as well as increase the data available for future research by others.
14. Research Builds Career Skills. Many career fields rely on
investigation and inquiry for fact-finding purposes. Researchers
work across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including the
physical and life sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics.
Engineering sciences in the aerospace, computer science, and
automotive production fields must rely on past research while
forging new manufacturing trends. Social scientists in the fields
of economics, sociology, psychology, and political science foster
advancements in society through investigative studies. Research
professionals are on the cutting edge of scientific and
technological developments, and their work leads to new
medicines, consumer products, industrial processes, and
numerous other developments.
15. Research Teaches Critical Thinking. As you wade through the
evidence on your subject, you will learn to discriminate between
useful information and unfounded or ill-conceived comments.
Some sources, such as the Internet, will provide timely, reliable
material but may also entice you with worthless and
undocumented opinions. Research Teaches Logic. Like a judge in
the courtroom, you must make perceptive judgments about the
issues surrounding a specific topic. Your decisions, in effect, will be
based on the wisdom gained from research
of the subject. Your paper and your readers will rely on your logical
response to your reading, observation, interviews, and testing.
16. Research Teaches the Basic Ingredients of Argument. In most
cases, a research paper requires you to make a claim and
support it with reasons and evidence. For example, if you argue
that “urban sprawl has invited wild animals into our backyards,”
you will learn to anticipate challenges to your theory and to
defend your assertion with evidence.
( Writing Research Papers : James D. Lester , James D. Lester, Jr. /
Fifth Edition )
17. Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism.
The most important convention of academic writing is the principle of
giving proper credit to the work of others. Plagiarism is defined as the
act of claiming the words or ideas of another person as your own.
Plagiarism is a serious violation of the ethical standards of academic
writing, and most colleges and universities have strict penalties,
including academic probation or expulsion, for students who are
guilty of plagiarism. Most schools publish an official code of student
conduct (sometimes called an academic integrity policy), and you
should be familiar with this document as it applies to your research
and writing. Some students will knowingly copy whole passages from
outside sources into their work without documentation. Others will
buy research papers from online sources or friends. These intentional
acts of academic dishonesty are the most blatant forms of plagiarism.
Unintentional plagiarism, however, is still a violation of academic
integrity.
18. Unacknowledged use of another person’s sentences, phrases,
or terminology is plagiarism, so provide a citation and use
quotation marks to show exactly where you are drawing on
others’ work. Similarly, unacknowledged use of another
person’s ideas, research, or approach is also plagiarism, so write
careful paraphrases.
( Writing Research Papers : James D. Lester , James D. Lester, Jr.
/ Fifth Edition )
19. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the act of claiming the words or ideas of
another person as your own. Plagiarism is a serious violation of the
ethical standards of academic writing, and most colleges and
universities have strict penalties, including academic probation or
expulsion, for students who are guilty of plagiarism. Most schools
publish an official code of student conduct (sometimes called an
academic integrity policy), and you should be familiar with these
guidelines and how they apply to your research and writing.
Students who knowingly copy whole passages from outside sources
into their work without documentation are committing the most
blatant form of plagiarism. Unintentional plagiarism, however, is still
a violation of academic integrity. Unacknowledged use of another
person’s sentences, phrases, or terminology is plagiarism, so provide
a citation and use quotation marks to show exactly where you are
drawing on others’ work. Similarly, unacknowledged use of another
person’s ideas, research, or approach is also plagiarism, so write
careful paraphrases. Unintentional plagiarism is often a result of
carelessness.
20. For example:
• The writer fails to enclose quoted material within quotation marks, yet he
or she provides an in-text citation with name and page number.
• The writer’s paraphrase never quite becomes paraphrase—too
much of the original is left intact—but he or she provides a full citation to
name and page.
To repeat, plagiarism is offering the words or ideas of another person as
one’s own. Major violations, which can bring failure in the course or
expulsion from .
school, are:
• The use of other’s work
• The purchase of a “canned” research paper
• Copying whole passages into a paper without documentation
• Copying a key, well-worded phrase into a paper without
documentation
• Putting specific ideas of others into your own words without
documentation
• Inadequate or missing citation
• Missing quotation marks
21. Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism
The following guidelines will help you avoid unintentional plagiarism.
1. Citation. Let readers know when you borrow from a source by
introducing a quotation or paraphrase with the name of its author.
2. Quotation marks. Enclose within quotation marks all quoted
words, phrases, and sentences.
3. Paraphrase. Provide a citation to indicate the source of a
paraphrase just as you do for quotations.
4. Parenthetical citations and notes. Use one of the academic
documentation styles (MLA, APA, CMS, or CSE) to provide specific in-
text citations for each source according to the conventions of the
discipline in which you are writing.
5. Works cited or references pages. Provide a complete
bibliography entry at the end of your paper for every source you use,
conforming to the standards of the documentation style you are
using.
