Effective communication strategies.
Most papers written in the social sciences, life sciences, nursing, and education usually follow the same basic structure and use APA style.
Although these areas of study may be different, the methods of writing, presenting evidence, and explaining the research process are very similar.
Most quantitative (and some qualitative) papers include the same organization and order:
1. Introduction
2. Review of Literature
3. Methodology
4. Findings (also called Results)
5. Discussion
6. Conclusion
7. References (according to APA style)
8. Appendices (if needed)
Introduction (1 – 1 ½ pages, APA format)
(1) Your introduction should state the problem you are going to address. It will likely pose the research question as well. This is sometimes referred to as identifying a gap in the disciplinary knowledge.
(2) Briefly discuss what the discipline (your audience) already knows about the subject. In other words, summarize what you have learned about your topic. Background information such as summaries of current practices within the field, histories, and/or theories that help your reader “get up to speed” on the problem should go here.
(3) [When your paper is completed at the end of the semester, you must add this part]
Briefly explain how you will fill this gap in the knowledge. State the principle results of the study and the principle conclusions. What did you do to get to this conclusion? The rest of the paper will discuss your findings and add to the information.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What this section should accomplish when you are done.
Does your clearly identify the problem or state the research question and its answer?
Does it tell your reader why you will be discussing it?
Do you establish why your audience should listen to you?
Review of Literature (2 – 3 full pages, APA format)
This is an expanded discussion of what the discipline (your audience) already knows. That is another way of saying: what you found from past literature in the field. With your annotated bibliographies completed properly, this section should not be difficult.
This may include more developed discussions of definitions, histories, and/or theories. It may also make connections between similar research and display any contradictions that you found.
It establishes for your reader that you understand the topic and that your contribution is valuable. The object of this portion of the paper is to explain the research thoroughly enough to allow your audience to understand the material without having to do any additional reading.
Methodology (1 ½ pages, APA format)
For midterm, describe your sample, how you are going to collect data from them. You must include elaborative and clear details (½ – 1 page).
[When your paper is completed at the end of the semester, you must add this part] The methodology section should explain what you did in your research so that anyone who reads it can replicate your exact process. Preciseness and detail are essential. You must describe your methods for choosing subjects, collecting data or measurements, and conducting analysis as specifically as possible.
Consider all of the following in detail and address any of these that are appropriate for your study:
What type of study did you choose and why?
Who or what did you study and why?
Did the study adhere to NSC and Institutional Review Board requirements? How did you do it?
How did you identify your participant pool?
How did you identify your sample?
What tools did you use to collect data? Why? How did you design them?
Should your additional data be included in an appendix?
Did you describe your process for collecting data in as close to chronological order as
possible?
Did you describe the statistical or data analysis procedures that you used?
Were there any problems or limitations with your research methodology?
Did you mention a margin of error?
