writing+research+papers

=Elements of a Research Paper=

**Set the Stage; state the Problem** (introduction)
> generally describe the topic and how it fits into your field of study > Describe the environment and its conditions > Get permission before using personal information > Describe what you intend to show/argue and why > What is its significance? > Illustrate the problem with an interesting example > (Remember you are writing for an audience and want to capture their interest) > If possible, use one authoritative source or combine definitions and footnote your sources > Later in the development of your paper, be conscious of using new terms and their definitions > review the topic, scene, and problem with your teacher or supervisor to verify if you are on the right path
 * **Topic:**
 * **Set the scene**
 * **Introduce and describe the problem**
 * **Begin to define terms, concepts, vocabulary**
 * **Since tasks begun well, likely have good finishes** (Sophocles)

Review the Literature
What research is relevant? How is it organized? c.f.: Writing Center/University of Wisconsin's Review of literature

Develop your Hypotheses
Your hypothesis is your proposed explanation that you will test to determine whether it is true or false It will contain measurable variables (those that change or can be manipulated) with results that can be compared with each other. Avoid over-generalizing, and reference the research findings of others to support why you think this will work C.F. National Health Museum's Writing Hypotheses: a student lesson

Methods
Give enough information so that others can follow your procedure, and can replicate it (and hopefully come up with the same findings and conclusions as you did!) > These should be consistent throughout the test > These are what change, or that you manipulate, throughout the test > These might be considered "flaws"
 * Describe your procedure as completely as possible so that someone can duplicate it completely
 * Define your sample and its characteristics
 * List the variables used
 * Try to anticipate criticism that affects either your internal or external validity

Findings
This is descriptive and numeric data

Discussion
Develop your argument based upon your findings. While the data may read for itself, you will need to interpret
 * how it validates your hypothesis
 * what falls outside of validity
 * how it impacts the literature you cited
 * where further research is needed

Conclusion
Restate and summarize your findings and discussion either in order to simply complexity or to provide a summary for those who skip to it!

**Recommendations:**
A research paper is not an essay, an editorial, or a story. All assertions of fact must be documented. Be careful of any generalizations that you make. Strive to be value-free in your inquiry. Review our [|Guide on the Scientific Method] ...it's worth stressing that the evaluation of your paper will never be determined by whether or not your hypotheses are verified. It is important to remember that a hypothesis supported by the data does not mean that it is true as there conceivably is an infinite number of other theories that lead to the same prediction. Similarly, failure of support does not necessarily mean that your hypothesis is wrong: it may be hold true in some populations, you may have incorrectly measured your theory's concepts, your sampling may be flawed, etc. Philosopher Karl Popper, in fact, argues that science is not a method for verifying hypotheses. Instead, all that science can logically lead to is the falsification of hypotheses. In sum, negative results can be every bit as important as positive ones. [[[|http://www.studygs.net/wrtstr8.htm#Kearl], Michael,|1]]