Introduction to

Research

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 Reports

generally include these

sections in this order:
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Methodology
Results
Discussion
Conclusion

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 Know the purpose of doing research

Identify the elements of a research

paper
Plan how to write an Academic Paper
(30%)

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 Provides

an orientation to the
reader about

WHAT
WHY it

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you are researching

is worthy of research

What?

My research question is.

e.g. To what extent could nonplastic campaign be

implemented in UTP?

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You can outline your purpose

with:
The development of has led to
the hope that.
A central issue in is.
The increasing interest in has
heightened the need for.

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Why?
Researchers who have looked at
this subject are.

They argue that

Debate centres on the issue of.

Thehas been extensively

studied in
recent years.

Many recent studies have focused

on

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 Remember!

Be aware of the moves

you are making with every sentence
you write.
Are you stating a point?
Are you counter-arguing?
Are you confirming a fact?
Are you proposing a solution?
Are you suggesting an alternative?

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 The

source material or readings you

consulted
to
understand
and
investigate your research problem.
This may be from journals, books,
newspapers,
magazines,
online
journals, databases, CD ROMs.
(note: however, for AW purpose, it is
suggested to work on at least 5
research papers).
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To critically review existing information that is

relevant to the current research.

To summarise / paraphrase relevant research.

(N.B. a Literature Review is not a summary
but a critical synthesis of the relevant
research papers.)

To evaluate other works and the relationships

between past research. How does this relate
to current research? This is vitally important.

 Use

your Concept Matrix as a plan

and :
Be selective about the parts of other

papers to be discussed, particularly the

Methodology, Results and Discussion
sections.
Discuss how these studies relate to each
other e.g. Is the Methodology similar or
different? Are there similarities or
differences in the Results?
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Existing theories about the topic

Key concepts / main factors / variables
and the relationships between these
Inconsistencies or shortcomings in
previous research e.g. evidence may be
limited or contradictory

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1. Remember the purpose

Address your research question throughout.

2. Read with Purpose

Be selective about what you read. Summarize and

paraphrase this information.

Select the main ideas, data, conclusions, that have
been given and look for similarities and differences
between the research papers.

3. Write with Purpose

Your objective is to evaluate and show the

relationships between the work previously

undertaken e.g. Is Researcher X's methodology
more convincing than Researcher Y's? Did
Researcher X build on the work of Researcher Y?

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1.

Trying to read everything!

The idea of the literature review is not to provide a

summary of all the published work that relates to

the research, but to survey the most relevant and
significant work.

2. Reading but not writing!

Writing

aids
understanding
and
finding
relationships between readings. Do not wait until
reading is completed.
The writer should prepare several drafts, changing
ideas and information whilst learning more about
the context of the research problem. Thus, the first
draft should not be considered the final version.
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3. Not keeping bibliographic

information!
Always keep bibliographic information in

your notes.
Always include in-text citations when
you have paraphrased or quoted another
researcher.

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The method section describes :

Steps that were followed in
conducting the study and the
materials used in each step.
thematerials and procedures.
the elements included and the order
in which they are presented

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Overview of the Experiment

Population/Sample
Location
Restrictions/Limiting Conditions
Sampling Technique
Procedures
Materials
Variables
Statistical Treatment
(Weissberg & S. Buker, 1990, p. 92).

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This section should include some

text, mainly to describe the tables
and graphs containing the data.
Short tables can be included directly
in the text, but extensive tables and
graphs are put on separate pages
following the one on which they are
first mentioned in the text.

 The

main purpose of the discussion

is to show that the results lead
clearly to the conclusion being
drawn. This may include any
limitations that might cause
problems with any claims being
made as well as any possible
explanations for these results.

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Discussion is the most important part of

your report, because here, you show that
you understand the experiment beyond the
simple level of completing it.
You should :
Explain.
Analyze.
Interpret.

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Discussion focuses on a question of

understanding "What is the significance or
meaning of the results?" To answer this
question, use both aspects of discussion:

Analysis
Interpretation

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a reference to the main purpose of the study

a generalized review of the most important
findings - summary of results
possible explanations for the findings in
general
comparison with expected results and other
studies
limitations of the overall study that restrict
the extent to which the findings can be
generalized

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The conclusion section provides an effective

ending to your report. The content should
relate directly to the aims of the project as
stated in the introduction, and sum up the
essential features of your work.

Conclusion can be very short in most

undergraduate laboratories. Simply state
what you know now for sure, as a result of
the lab/project/research.

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First section of the report.

Comes after the title and before the introduction.
Provides an overview of the study based on
information from the other sections of the report.
Reader can read to obtainenough information about
the study to decide if they want toread the complete
report.
Because it contains elements from the whole report,
it is usually written last.

Reread your report with the purpose of

the
abstracting in mind. Look specifically for
these main parts:
Background information
Research problem
Purpose
Methods
Results
Conclusions and recommendations.
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 Identify

a topic within your area of

study that interests you.
Look for articles that both support
and criticize selected issues related
to your topic.

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 Identify

at least five (5) of the most

important and relevant articles from
the selection of articles.
Synthesize all five (5) articles to
produce your own original argument.

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 Ensure

that the article is kept within

a 1500 2000 word limit, excluding
references.
Use the APA reference format for
your in-text citations and full
references.

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 Craft

your article to produce an

original piece.
Use suitable forms of language so that
your article is coherent and engaging.
As this assignment is not based on
your own fieldwork, its main content
will be your synthesis of the articles
and your original ideas that emerge
from your own synthesis.
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 Submit

17/4)

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the article by Week 14 (13/4

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