by Lady Marianne
This is how to write a research paper while keeping your sanity.
The very first thing to do is to recognize that at this point you have acquired the skill set that is needed to write a research paper. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with this seemingly degree-or-die project. But don’t fret! We round up a simple and practical mind map to help you in your research writing adventure.
A good research is closed loop
The following is a simplified guide to help you sort it out.
1. Problem Statement: WHAT EXACTLY IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO KNOW?
Your problem statement is your main research question/hypothesis. This is what you’re trying to find out. This will establish the rest of the research activities that you will do, the objectives of the study, scope, and limitation, and essentially the nature of the experiment (i.e. qualitative/quantitative).
Some guide questions for you in forming your problem statement:
- What do you already know?
- Introduce the problem, relate it to what you’ve already studied, and state how is it going to be relevant to your field.
- What available information do you have/can get?
- Unless you are starting a new field, chances are you can find reference materials that is related to your study. Look for literatures that would help you articulate underlying concepts and strengthen your research position. It could be textbooks, research publications, expert’s journal etc. While Wikipedia is frowned upon as a reference, searching online is still the fastest and most practical way. Just make sure you cross-check all the references and cite all your sources properly before putting it down in your final research paper.
- What else do you need to answer this problem?
- Start with a general objective and then break it down to specific objectives.
- Example:
- The general objective of this study is to determine the effect of X and Y variables to Z property.
- Specifically, the study aims to:
- Fabricate samples with varying X an Y using method A
- Characterize the fabricated samples using test B
- Analyze the data using Statistical Analysis techniques (Chat if you want to learn more about this)
INSIDER TIP: See how the specific objectives kind of mention the methodology? Linking the objectives to your METHODOLOGY makes the research cohesive. Kind of like telling a story.
2. Methodology: HOW WILL I ANSWER MY RESEARCH PROBLEM
This is where you lay out THE PLAN. Most research studies follow a Design of Experiment (DOE) which is an organized way to perform your data collection. Trust us – a good DOE will save you resources and time and will ease out your data analysis afterward. Take note, the goal is to conduct your study, elegantly, not grandiosely. Be realistic – cost, time, and money must be considered in your research plan.
3 key points you need to include are;
- Sample preparation techniques
- Experimental set-up
- Design of Experiment (we can help sort this out for you!)
- Characterization techniques
INSIDER TIP: Traditional DOE (2K Full Factorial, Fractional Factorial, etc) are still commonly used. However, there are new techniques now that will allow you to customize your design based on, say, your cost limitations or time constraints. Our team in HUJANPERA can advise you on how to design your experiment without hurting your bank accounts.
3. Results and Discussion: WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
We’re almost there! You now have the data in your hands. The next step is to interpret the data to reveal the answer. Statistical Data Analysis is the most widely accepted technique to do data analysis. It offers data interpretation in an elegantly controlled and organized fashion. Using the right Statistical technique is crucial in supporting your final conclusion. It could also reveal some problems in the study that you could soon revisit. The key is to expose a concluding statement, without any bias or prejudice. You don’t want to waste all those hours in the lab by misinterpreting your data. Lucky for you, we at HUJANPERA can take it off your hands and help you with your Statistical Analysis needs (plus the report comes with technically written data interpretation and high-resolution graphs to fit in easily in your paper).
The secret sauce
Now I did say almost, one more step. And this is where we tie them all together. When presenting your results, make sure to be guided by your objectives. Answer them one by one in logical order and with smooth transitions. It’s an effective way for you to demonstrate mastery of your study, which essentially is what this research paper writing is all about.