For many of you, this may be the first time you're delving into research and learning about the research process, so we hope to help set your foundation before you begin. As one of the main outcomes of the Research Mentorship, the independent research project is crucial to your journey. Skim through this page to get a sense of what that final project looks like, and you can always ask your mentor, your writing coaches, or your CR Liaison for help along the way!
A research paper presents a systematic inquiry that explains, describes, controls, and predicts a phenomenon. Research papers require students and academics to locate information about a topic, take a stand on the subject, and provide evidence for that position in an organized manner. Your Research paper will be between 15-20 double-spaced pages long, and this document will outline its different components.
The following sections make up a standard research paper, but can be altered depending on your field, subject, and type of research. Please check in with your mentor about the best structure to follow for your research area.
The abstract is a brief summary at the beginning of your paper that provides a preview of what is to come. In it, you should include your thesis/aim, methodology, results, and any relevant discussion/limitation. The abstract is usually written once you have completed your research paper.
The introduction should provide context for your study. Why is your question interesting? Why does it matter? A standard way of structuring the introduction is by moving from the general to the specific: you start with a broad approach of your field as a whole, and then zoom into the subject area that is relevant to your study. Use the introduction to describe what are the aim and hypothesis of your study? Every assertion you make (here and elsewhere in the paper) should be referenced.
The literature review offers context, background, and justification for your research. You should discuss what previous studies have said about your question/topic, and what is the knowledge gap that you need to fill. If you plan on doing a literature review, then this section will make up the bulk of your paper.
This section provides an explanation of the experimental method or overall process of generating your results, including the material involved. The approach to this section will vary based on your field and type of study. Broadly speaking, this section should address what was done, and how it was done.
Areas that should be touched upon in this section: