A Research Paper Writing PDF

‫بسم اهلل الرمحن الرحيم‬ A Research Paper Prepared and presented by ❖ Definition: A paper writing is about the main idea, opinion, or theory of a researcher or writer, who then attempts to prove it. Cambridge Academic Dictionary ❖ Esse...

‫بسم اهلل الرمحن الرحيم‬ A Research Paper Prepared and presented by ❖ Definition: A paper writing is about the main idea, opinion, or theory of a researcher or writer, who then attempts to prove it. Cambridge Academic Dictionary ❖ Essential Meaning: 1. A long piece of writing on a particular subject that is done to earn a degree at a university. 2. Formal : a statement that someone wants to discuss or prove. Merriam-Webster Dictionaries Dr. Omar Aldossary 2 ❖ What is a writing? An argument. An exposition of an original piece of research. Probably the largest (most self-indulgent) piece of work you’ll ever do. Something that could be published: At least one paper in a scholarly journal. ❖ Ok, When do I start? ❖ Ok, by what I will start? Dr. Omar Aldossary 3  ❖ The Bad News : o Writing is hard, painful work, ▪ You’ve already done the fun part (the research) o It’s unlike any other document, ▪ Writing is not a marketable skill. ❖ Form and style of research paper writing : Title Approval Sheet Abstract Key words Introduction and Literature review Materials and Methodology Results Discussion Conclusion and Recommendation Acknowledgment, Dedication, and Conflict of interest. Bibliography/References Dr. Omar Aldossary 4  ❖ An abstract : ▪ An abstract summarizes, usually in one paragraph of 300 words or less, the major aspects of the entire paper in a prescribed sequence that includes: 1) The overall purpose of the study and the research problem(s) you investigated; 2) The basic design of the study (subjects, materials, and methods); 3) Major findings or trends found as a result of your analysis; and, 4) A brief summary of your interpretations and conclusions. Dr. Omar Aldossary 5  ❖ An abstract : The abstract allows you to elaborate upon each major aspect of the paper and helps readers decide whether they want to read the rest of the paper. Therefore, enough key information [e.g., summary results, observations, trends, etc.] must be included to make the abstract useful to someone who may want to reference your work. Dr. Omar Aldossary 6  ❖ An abstract : ❑ How do you know when you have enough information in your abstract? o A simple rule-of-thumb is to imagine that you are another researcher doing a similar study. o Then ask yourself: if your abstract was the only part of the paper you could access, would you be happy with the amount of information presented there? o Does it tell the whole story about your study? ▪ If the answer is “no” then the abstract likely needs to be revised. Dr. Omar Aldossary 7 ❖ An abstract : Dr. Omar Aldossary 8  ❖ Introduction : ❑ Background of the study : Establish the area of research in which your work belongs, and to provide a context for the research problem. Provides information to the research topic. In an introduction, the writer should create: 1) Reader interest in the topic, 2) Lay the broad foundation for the problem that leads to the study. Dr. Omar Aldossary 9  ❖ Introduction : The introduction serves the purpose of leading the reader from a general subject area to a particular field of research. It establishes the context of the research being conducted by: Summarizing current understanding and background information about the topic, Highlighting the potential outcomes your study can reveal, And Describing the remaining structure of the paper. Dr. Omar Aldossary 10  ❖ Introduction : ❑ A well-written introduction is important because, quite simply, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions about: ▪ The logic of your argument, ▪ Your writing style, ▪ The overall quality of your research, and, ▪ Ultimately, the validity of your findings and conclusions. A vague, disorganized, or error-filled introduction will create a negative impression, Dr. Omar Aldossary 11  ❖ Introduction : ❑ Limitation of the study : It is not possible to include All aspects of a particular problem. State What Is Not Included! A too wide area of investigation is impractical and will lead to problems. Specify The Boundaries of your research. ❑ Aim and Objectives : States what your research hopes to accomplish. Dr. Omar Aldossary 12  ❖ literature review : By reviewing related literature at this stage, it will make you: i. Aware of other similar work which has been done. ii. Expose methodologies that have been adopted and which you may use or adapt. iii. Provide sources of information that you do not have yet. By reviewing related literature at this stage, it will inform you: iv. If a chosen area has already been researched extensively. v. Approaches that you do not know of before. Dr. Omar Aldossary 13  ❖ Methodology : The methods section of a research paper provides the information by which a study’s validity is judged. The method section answers two main questions : 1) How was the data collected or generated? 2) How was it analyzed? The writing should be direct and precise and written in the past tense. Dr. Omar Aldossary 14  ❖ Methodology : Describe data that you will use in the research, the methodology to be adopted, and justify your choice of methodology. Inform readers : a. Kinds of data going to be collected. b. Research procedure (interviews? observations? questionnaires? experimental? Clinical examination?). If outside organizations involved, explain how you are going to get hold of the data. If you change or not used existing methodology, explain why you need to use an adapted methodology. Dr. Omar Aldossary 15  ❖ Methodology : 2. Materials and Methodology 2.1. Study design 2.2. Study area 2.3. Sample size and patients selection 2.3.1. Inclusion criteria 2.3.2. Exclusion criteria 2.3.3. Sample collection 2.4. Materials provides 2.5. Methods (procedure) 2.6. Interpretation of results (management of data) 2.7. Statistical analysis 2.8. Ethical Considerations Dr. Omar Aldossary 16  ❖ Results : ✓ The results section of the research paper is where you report the findings of your study based upon the information gathered as a result of the methodology [or methodologies] you applied. ✓ The results section should simply state the findings, without bias or interpretation, and arranged in a logical sequence. ✓ The results section should always be written in the past tense. Dr. Omar Aldossary 17 ❖ Results : ❑Presentation of data (Results): There are two methods of presenting the data:- I. Tabulation, II. Graphic representation (Charts and diagrams). ✓ Tables are simple device used for the presentation of statistical data. ✓ Graphics are most convincing and appealing ways of depicting statistical results. Dr. Omar Aldossary 18 ❖ Results : ❑Presentation of data (Results): I. Tabulation: Dr. Omar Aldossary 19 ❖ Results : ❑Presentation of data (Results): II. Graphic representation (Charts and diagrams). A. Discrete data: (1. Bar charts, 2. Pie charts, 3. Pictogram). B. Continuous data: (1.Histogram, 2.Line charts, 3.Frequency curve). Dr. Omar Aldossary 20 ❖ Discussion : ✓ The purpose of the discussion is to interpret and describe the significance of your findings in light of what was already known about the research problem being investigated, and to explain any new understanding or fresh insights about the problem after you've taken the findings into consideration. ✓ The discussion will always connect to the introduction by way of the research questions or hypotheses you posed and the literature you reviewed, but it does not simply repeat or rearrange the introduction; ✓ The discussion should always explain how your study has moved the reader's understanding of the research problem forward from where you left them at the end of the introduction. Dr. Omar Aldossary 21 ❖ Conclusion : The conclusion is intended to help the reader understand why your research should matter to them after they have finished reading the paper. A conclusion is not merely a summary of your points or a re- statement of your research problem but a synthesis of key points. For most essays, one well-developed paragraph is sufficient for a conclusion, although in some cases, a two- or-three paragraph conclusion may be required. Dr. Omar Aldossary 22 ❖ Conclusion : ▪ New Insight, Not New Information ! Don't surprise the reader with new information in your Conclusion that was never referenced anywhere else in the paper. If you have new information to present, add it to the Discussion or other appropriate section of the paper. Note that, although no actual new information is introduced, the conclusion is where you offer your most "original" contributions in the paper; it's where you describe the value of your research, demonstrate your understanding of the material that you’ve presented, and locate your findings within the larger context of the topic. Dr. Omar Aldossary 23 ❖ Conclusion : ✓ Conclusion : 1. Based on specific findings. 2. Answer all the research questions. 3. Any generalization which is not supported by sufficient data is not acceptable. 4. Written in the present tense. ✓ Recommendation : 1. Based on specific findings. 2. Two implications of research findings are: a. Implications for action and policies that may be formulated. b. Implications for further research. ❑ Recommendations : what practical actions or scientific studies should follow? Dr. Omar Aldossary 24 ❖ Summary : 1. The findings are listed consecutively and numbered for easy reference in the discussion of the conclusions and recommendations which are both based on specific findings. 2. The summary of the first three chapters is written in the past tense, while summary of findings is written in the present tense. 3. The summary does not contain any new information. Dr. Omar Aldossary 25 ❖ Bibliography/References : Related documents to be consulted/studies. Follow technicalities in writing bibliography/references (Can be done in EndNote program easily). Be on a separate chapter at the end of the thesis. To be presented in alphabetic order (by author). To be presented in classified manner, manuscripts, books, journals, commission reports, newspapers, etc; Conclusion. (Reference List) Harvard Referencing Basics. If there are multiple works by the same author these are ordered by date, if the works are in the same year they are ordered alphabetically by the title and are allocated a letter (a,b,c etc) after the date. Dr. Omar Aldossary 26 ❖ Tips and Tricks : ✓ Read and read. ✓ Take notes. ✓ Talk to supervisors, experts, fellows. ✓ Write topics and topics. ✓ Get confused, get afraid. ✓ Generate a number of research questions. ✓ Systematize research questions. ✓ Cut down bad thinks in line with your coherent thinking. Dr. Omar Aldossary 27