Unit 7: Communication for Academic Purposes

Topic 3: Parts of a Research Paper

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
1. discuss the different parts of a research paper following the CSU
Institutional Format;
2. identify a researchable situation;
3. write the different parts of a research.

Presentation of Content

Writing a research paper (or a research proposal) can be compared to being a lawyer
in a court case. If you were the lawyer, you would state your case (define your topic),
search for evidence (find your sources), present evidence (reveal findings), and make
closing arguments (discuss conclusions). Although you may believe that your client
is guilty or innocent, the jury would not be interested in your opinions, but in the
evidence you present and in the clear and logical manner in which you make your
case. In the same way, you must objectively address your research topic as if you are
the lawyer making a case for a jury.
I would like you to focus your attention on the sample research paper I will show you.
You notice that its parts are unlabeled. Based on your readings, you have to identify
the parts of the research paper and after which a thorough discussion of those parts
will follow.
A researcher must familiarize himself/herself on the different parts of a research to
facilitate easier writing of its parts. They are as follows:

Title
The title of a research paper is much more important than you may think. Many
more people read research titles than actually read the paper. The title has to do two
things:
• accurately describe what the paper is about
• make the reader want to read the paper

People often ask, "Why the titles of research are documents so LONG? Two reasons:
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1. Researchers want people to read their papers! A vague title will not catch the
reader's' interest and make them want to read more.
2. Scholars search databases (even Google is a database!) using key words. The
more relevant words in the title make it more likely that others will find the
document in a search.

Abstract
Abstracts should be about 250 words long. Even though it comes first in your paper,
it should be written last. It is a concise summary of your study. It is not an
introduction to your paper.
The following are written in the abstract: the purpose of the study, the research
design and the significant findings of the study.

INTRODUCTION
The introduction should include a statement of the research problem. This section
expands on the research question you hope to answer in your study. It should also
present a tentative answer to that question—what you hope or expect to find. It
should also include your rationale. The rationale deals with how you have arrived at
the conclusion that this research should be undertaken. What was your line of
reasoning? Why is it important to do this research, as a statement of logic rather than
a statement of belief? This section points out the practical relevance of the problem,
states what the given state of affairs is currently and what is unsatisfactory about it.
Statement of the Problem
A statement of the purpose of the investigation and the specific problems you are
trying to answer.
It should include a statement of relevance to felt needs, its potential contribution to
new knowledge , policy implications and other possible uses of the results.
Significance of the Study
This part presents the contributions of the study in relation to: solving a problem,
bridging knowledge gap, improving social, health, and economic conditions, etc.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
This should include the specific scope of the problem, the nature of any subject
treated, and their number. The scope is expected to indicate a reasonable area of
study which is large enough to permit careful treatment.
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These are the parameters that you put on your study to limit the scope. If you study
is about trombone students, for example, you can't study all of them. So, you place
limits on your study: only trombone players who are in the 6th grade in two middle
schools in Ohio. These are not the same as 'limitations.' Limitations are factors
beyond the control of the research. Delimitations are restrictions purposely placed
on the study by the researcher. Delimitations may include:
✓ what you are not doing (and why)
✓ literature you will not review (and why)
✓ a population you are not studying (and why)
✓ the procedures and methods you are not using (and why)
After you have set your delimitations, then don't think outside the box!

METHODOLOGY

This section in the research manuscript should also specify the research design, the
respondents of the study, the research instrument, and the data gathering
procedure, the data analysis and the statistical treatment.

Research Design

This section describes in sufficient detail the most appropriate design that is
applicable to the study. It also describes the method of gathering the data, methods
for observations and interpretations, modifications and statistical methods used.

The following must be kept in mind in writing this section:

✓ Must be written in the past tense.
✓ Must not be written as though it were directions in a laboratory
manual.

Methods of data collection

1. tests
2. experiments
3. surveys
4. questionnaires
5. observation
6. interviews
7. document review

Respondents of the Study

This part explains HOW and WHERE, HOW MANY are the respondents taken.
Research Instruments
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This describes the research/ data gathering instruments used, e.g. questionnaire, test,
interview, checklist or rating scale.

Data Gathering Procedure

This part describes the procedure/process of obtaining the needed data.

Statistical Treatment and Data Analysis

This part describes how the gathered data were analyzed. It also describes the
statistical tool/s and formula/e used to answer the research questions of the study.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents the results, analysis and interpretation of data. All specific
questions in chapter 1 under statement of the problem are answered.

REFERENCES
The reference list must include full reference documentation for all articles and texts
mentioned in the study. All references should be listed alphabetically and formatted
according to the APA reference style.
Sample of references written in APA Style
Gee, J.P. (2014). An introduction to discourse analysis: Theory and Method:
Routledge.

Ivkovic, D., & Lotherington,H. (2009). Multilingualism in cyberspace:

Conceptualising the virtual linguistic landscape. International Journal of
Multilingualism, 6(1),17-36).

List of Higher Education Institutions. (n.d.) Retrieved August 20, 2017 from
ched.gov.ph/list-higher-education-institutions.
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Summary
In summary, research is a process of seeking for new knowledge of theories, of testing
the accuracy of existing theory and applying established facts or knowledge in
generating new products or ideas in solving problems. It is also known to help
develop people’s lives. What we are enjoying today which make our work easier and
faster, improve health condition and globalize communication are all products of
research.
Research has the following Characteristics: empirical, logical, cyclical, analytical,
critical methodical and replicable. Moreover, research has the following vital parts
following the IMRAD form: Introduction, Methodology which includes the research
design, respondents of the study, locale, and research instrument, data gathering
procedure and statistical Analysis of Data. Lastly, we have the Results and
Discussions.

References:
Hakim, C. (2000) Research Design: Successful Research Designs For Social And
Economic Research, 2nd edition, London: Routledge

Langkos, S. (2014). Research Methodology: Data Collection Method and

Research Tools. University of Derby.

Patton, M.Q. (2002) Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, 3rd edition,
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Research Team (2014). Research Writing Guide. Northern Forum, Golden Press,
Tuguegarao City.
Roberts, B. (2002) Biographical Research, Buckingham: Open University Press