Writing the Research Paper

Zooey 9810003m

Angela 9810010m

Chapter I: Introduction

A. Area of Study: Provide a general

introduction to the topic; outline the

problem B. Definition of Terms: Define important

terms & concepts C. The purpose of the study D. Assumptions: Make hypotheses for

the proposed study

Chapter II: Literature Review

A. History: Provide a review of the

historical background B. Current Literature: Include a review of

current relevant with the analysis of

pros and cons C. Research Problem: Provide research

questions

Chapter III: Methodology

A. Research Questions and Hypotheses: Propose them based on literature review (major points)

B. Research Design: Quantitative research: Use a survey (three design

considerations; discuss how to design questionnaire)

Qualitative research: Use interviews (present a rationale for the design of choice)

＊ Grounded theory: Develop a theory after gathering and analyzing the data

C. Sample: Quantitative research: Describe sampling

techniques and rationale for method used for selecting the sample and sample size

Qualitative research: describe the criteria for the selection for the participants and setting

Research Questions and Hypotheses:

4 categories of research questions:

1. Descriptive questions: Provide information about what is or has been happening related to the research topic

2. Normative questions: Provide information compared with some standard or expected observation

3. Correlative questions: Identify relationship

4. Impact questions: Indentify effect

Research Questions and Hypotheses:

Two types of hypotheses:

1. Directional hypothesis: e.g.," If ss can get teachers’ positive comments.

(then) they will have a better writing performance because (pro 1).”

2. Null hypothesis: e.g.,” There is no difference between teachers’

positive comments and ss’ writing performance because (con 1).”

Research Design

Mixed-Methods Models Design: Apply the quantitative and qualitative methods simultaneously (parallel) or sequentially.

4 design options: 1. Pragmatic parallel mixed-methods 2. Pragmatic sequential mixed-methods 3. Transformative parallel mixed-methods 4. Transformative sequential mixed-methods

Survey Research

3 design considerations:

1. Descriptive approach: A survey describing the characteristics of a sample at one point in time (e.g., senior students’ research paper writing difficulties in the Department of Applied English at I-Shou University in 2009)

2. Cross-sectional approach: A survey examining several groups at one point in time (e.g., different grade level students’ writing difficulties in the AE Department at ISU in 2009)

3. Longitudinal approach: A survey examining one group at different points in time (e.g., 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year graduates’ perceptions of RP course in the AE Department at ISU in 2006-2008)

5 probability sampling:

1. Simple random sampling: Each member has a number (code) and each population has an equal chance to be selected

2. Systematic sampling: Select every nth name from the list, so need to estimate the needed sample size

3. Stratified sampling: Divide the populations into subgroups (e.g., genders) or levels (e.g., proficiency levels) and then draw randomly from each subgroup

4. Cluster sampling: Choose groups of individuals (e.g., city blocks or classrooms in a school, and study all of the samples there)

5. Multistage sampling: Combine sampling strategies (e.g., use cluster sampling to randomly select classrooms and use random sampling to select a sample with each classroom)

Data Collection Procedures

Quantitative research: Describe the procedures that the data will be collected by using a survey

Open Questions

Close Questions: Classificational questions, List questions, Ranking questions, Scale (rating) questions

Data Collection Procedures

Qualitative research: Describe the use of audiotapes, note-taking

Interviewer is the important tool.

Data Analysis Procedures

Quantitative research: Describe how you handled the data; provide statistical procedures (e.g., compute mean score or frequency)

Data Analysis Procedures

Qualitative research: Describe data analysis strategies; explain multiple sources of data

Form your grounded theory

Limitations of the Study

Explain anticipated limitations of the study

Ex: Sample size is too small.

Results

Just report what the data say (you may give the subheading based on each hypothesis)

Results

A. Findings from the quantitative results (% or mean)

Ex: 4.2 means that most participant agree that…

B. Findings from the qualitative results (3 excerpts)

C. Fit into your hypotheses or not (e.g., broadly/partially/do not fit)

Discussions and Conclusion

A. Interpret the meanings of data (discuss “why” your participants would think/say so)

B. Discuss whether the findings fit into the literature or not

C. Form any grounded theory?

Discussions and Conclusion

D. The results will be useful to “whom”?

E. Any limitation to reach the generalizability

F. Draw conclusions and suggestions (about improvement)

*based on your or minority’s opinions