The Research Process

The AbstractAn abstract summarizes the major aspects of the research paper. An abstract should be done after the research is completed and it should be able to stand on its own, and not refer to any part of the paper such as a table/figure. An abstract must include:• The purpose of the study (hypothesis, objective, overall question)•A brief description of the experiment/research•Results, including specific data•Important conclusions

IntroductionThe purpose of an introduction is to inform the reader of the reasons behind the research and to help the reader understand and appreciate your objectives. It is used to communicate the hypothesis/thesis statement to the reader. The introduction usually begins with supporting statements and ends with a description of your hypothesis. In the introduction, current understandings and background information about the topic is summarized. An introduction briefly explains the methodological approach used to examine the research problem. It also highlights possible results that can be revealed by conducting this research and it also outlines the structure of the paper.A good introduction should answer three questions the reader has:1.What is this?2.Why should I read it?3.What do you want me to think about/consider doing/react to?

Literature Review A literature review is a summary and synopsis of the research being done. It helps the reader to establish the reasons why the particular research program is being pursued. A literature review involves the process of gathering information from other sources and documenting it. In the literature review the researcher summarizes and discusses published information he/she gathered for the research without adding new contributions. It can also evaluate the sources and advise the reader on the most relevant one. The purpose of a literature review is to resolve conflicts amongst contradicting studies conducted previously. It is also used to identify the researcher’s own research within the context of existing literature. There are different types of reviews. They are:•Argumentative Review – examines literature selectively in order to support or refute an argument. It’s purpose is to create a review that contains contrary viewpoints.•Integrative Review – this includes all studies that addresses related or identical research problems.

Literature Review• Historical Review – examines research over a period of time. It’s

purpose is to identify possible directions for future research by placing the research in a historical context.• Methodological Review – this provides a framework of understanding

at different levels and it helps highlight ethical issues that the researcher should consider throughout his own research.• Systematic Review • Theoretical Review – this helps establish what theories exists and

the relationships between them. It also establishes the extent that existing theories have been investigated.

When writing a literature review it is important that the researcher selects the sources’ most important points to include in the review so as not to over-saturate the review or stray from the point. However, it is necessary that the researcher has evidence to prove that his interpretation of the sources are valid. It is also important that the researcher checks the credibility of his sources before he includes their points in the review.

MethodologyThe methodology describes the rationale for the application of specific techniques or procedures that were used to gather and analyse information that helps to understand the research problem. It is important to do this for several reasons, some of which are because readers need to know how the researcher acquired his data, because the methods used affects the findings and its interpretation by the researcher and, the reader wants to be certain that the data was collected in a way that is acceptable in the field of study. A methodology should include the problems that were anticipated and the steps the researcher took to prevent these problems from occurring. It should also include why the researcher chose to use a particular type of technique to acquire and analyse his data. All sources that influenced the researcher’s decision of a technique and its application should also be cited.

Theoretical FrameworkThis is a structure that can support the theory being researched. The theory is introduced and described here in order to explain why the research problem exists. The theoretical framework contains concepts that were used in the research and their definitions. The purpose of this framework is to allow the reader to critically evaluate the theoretical assumptions mentioned. It connects the researcher’s work to existing knowledge thus validating the researcher’s work. The researcher should focus on specific variables and define specific viewpoints that he will consider when analysing and interpreting the data to be gathered.

Results and Findings

This is where the researcher reports the findings of his study based on the methodologies used to acquire information. A researcher does not discuss and interpret his results in this section, however, he can compare and contrast the results. The researcher just needs to state the findings of the research in a logical sequence without bias or interpretation. It is also important that both positive and negative results be included here in order to avoid bias.

Conclusion

Here is where the researcher explains to the reader why his research should matter to them after having read the paper. Key points of the research are mentioned here and the researcher can even recommend new areas for future research. The researcher can briefly discuss the impacts of his findings in the conclusion. The conclusion should summarize the entire paper with an intention to persuade the reader to agree with the researcher.

BibliographyThis is a list of all the sources a researcher used to acquire his information i.e. his references. A bibliography should include:•Title of article/work•Name of author•Name of book/site•The link to the website•The page number of the sources (if applicable)•The publishing company•The date the work was published

Appendix

This allows you to include detailed information that would have been distracting in the main body of the paper. An appendix includes information that supports your analysis. A paper can have more than one appendix, with each distinct item having its own appendix. Each appendix should be lettered, for example, Appendix A and Appendix B. Reference to the appendix should be made within the report. Information that can be included in the appendix are blank questionnaires, tables, maps, drawings, data sheets, etc.

References• ‘Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper - The Abstract’. www.Libguides.usc.edu/content.php

• ‘Writing Research Papers’. www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslab/tools/report/reportform.html

• ‘The Writing Center – Literature Review’. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/literature-reviews/

• ‘What is a Literature Review’. https://explorable.com/what-is-a-literature-review

• ‘Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper – The Literature Review’. http://libguides.usc.edu/writringguide/literaturereview

• ‘What is a Bibliography’. http://research.lhup.edu/content.php?pid=49966&sid=556370

• ‘Report Writing – Using Appendices’, UniLearning. http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/report/1i.html