Making a research paper is not an easy task. Students and even professionals have encountered difficulties in making a research paper. To simplify all these things, here are the common parts of a research paper and the explanation of each part for your reference and understanding.
Chapter 1 – THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
There is an introductory statement before the real introduction.
Introduction
Introduction is the first sub-heading or subsection of Chapter 1. The content and context of the Introduction should be written in present tense form except previous citations or studies in past tense form. Introduction presents the nature of the chosen topic or study. It states the legal basis of the study with proper citations. It also presents existing problems or issues that need appropriate solutions. It may states knowledge gaps that need clarification or further investigation. It also shows certain observations and experiences of the researcher that require more attention.
Theoretical Framework / Conceptual Framework
Theoretical Framework and/or Conceptual Framework serve as the backbone or foundation of the study. Theoretical Framework consists relevant theories which are related to the topic or study. These theories might be classical, new theories, conflicting theories that may support, favorable or may disprove or oppose the existing theory or views. Conceptual Framework consists of ideas, concepts, views, beliefs, perceptions and principles of the reseacher based on his acquired knowledge and skills; observed phenomenon or life experiences. Concept map is usually constructed by the researcher to show his ideas clearly. Concept map consists of ideas, lines, arrows and phrases to show connections and logical relationships of things. Theoretical Framework and Conceptual Framework should be written in paragraph form as well as in graphical presentation.
Statement of the Problem
Statement of the Problem serves as heart of the research paper. It has a main problem or purpose and some specific problems or purposes. The specific problems should be anchored from the main problem or purpose. The main problem or purpose of the study should be derived from the research title. The main problem or purpose should be written in declarative form. The specific problems should be written in interrogative form or in declarative form if stating its specific purposes
Hypotheses of the Study
Hypotheses of the Study might be the scientific guess or possible answers to the problems. Hypothesis may be alternative, null or conditional form. Alternative hypothesis is written in positive form. Null hypothesis is written in negative form by using “not” or “no” in the statement. Conditional hypothesis uses “if” and “then” words in the statement. Researchers prefer to use null hypothesis in their research paper.
Significance of the Study
Significance of the Study simply states the importance of the study. The study should have benefits, advantages, impact, implication and relevance to the people, future researchers, institutions, environment and other stakeholders to serve its purpose.
Scope and Delimitation (or Limitation) of the Study
Scope and Delimitation of the Study presents the coverage, range or parameter of the study. It includes the subject of the study, place and length of time used in conducting the investigation. Scope and Limitation of the Study applies when there are some restrictions or things beyond the control of the researcher. Scope and Delimitation of the Study applies if it delimits those restrictions or the researcher can control certain variables in his study.
Definition of Terms
Definiton of Terms is the last subheading or subsection of Chapter 1. Definition of Terms provides the meaning of a term or group of words mentioned or used in the study. It may be classified into conceptual definition or operational definition. Conceptual definition is based on the statement of experts that can be found in the dictionary, enclopedia or reviewed articles. Operational definition is based on the reseacher’s understanding and ideas and how these ideas are contextually used by the researcher in his study.
Chapter 2 – REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES
There should be an introductory statement before the related literature.
Related Literature
Related Literature refers to the vast collection of ideas, concepts and theories that are related and relevant to the current study. These information may be found in published books, magazines, newspapers and internet sources. Expert’s ideas are obtained and paraphrased it with proper citation of the researcher. Direct statements from the author or writer should be presented with quotation marks, center-paged and written in single space with proper citation at the end. There should be more local literature than foreign literature that best fit in the study. Minimum of ten sources of literature and ten sources of studies, either local or foreign, are considered.
Related Studies
Related Studies refer to the collection of researches or investigations done by experts or reputable organizations. These studies or investigations may include unpublished college thesis, master’s thesis or dissertations. Related studies may be local or foreign investigations. Peer reviewed scientific jounrnals are best suited for the current study. Look for the paper’s abstract, problems, method and findings in order to have complete understanding of the previous study. Acknoweledge the researchers appropriately through proper citation and paraphrase everything to avoid plagiarism.
Justification and Synthesis of the Study
Justification and Synthesis of the Study refers to the process of justifiying and synthesizing of information gathered based on researcher’s own understanding and views from related literature and related studies. It discusses or explains the conflicting theories, agreements, disagreements or claims of experts, theorists or investigators on certain topic.
Chapter 3 – METHOD OF STUDY
There is an introductory statement before the research design.
Research Design
Research Design refers to the blueprint plan of the study. It may be experimental, descriptive, correlational, historical, qualitative, quantitative or combination of both. The researcher should discuss what type of research or investigation that he conducted recently.
Participants of the Study
Participants of the Study refers to the people or respondents who directly and indirectly involved, engaged and participating actively in the given task or in answering the survey questionnaire online or in person. The researcher should determine the target population in order to get the sample size using probability sampling techniques. The sample represents the entire population of the study. Probability sampling includes simple random sampling, strafied sampling, systematic sampling, cluster sampling or using randomizer applications.
Research Locale
Research Locale refers to the description of the participants or respondents and the venue of the study or the research setting. The researcher should describe the demographic profile of the respondents and the place where the study had been conducted.
Research Instrument
Research Instrument refers to the tool or device used by the researcher in gathering information or data from the participants or respondents. The researchers should construct own survey questionnaire which will be validated by experts on the said topic or study for authenticity, reliability and credibility. The devised questionnaire should undergo pilot testing before conducting it to the respondents. If the researcher will use ready-made and standardized test or questionnaire, he should ask permission first to the owner of the questionnaire before the researcher uses it on his current study.
Data Gathering Procedure
Data Gatherring Procedure refers to steps or ways on how to collect or gather information or data from the participants or respondents. The researcher should present and discuss in detail the entire process of collecting data or information from the start up to the end. Qualitative research uses interviews, observations, peer group discussion and get involved with the participants to understand subjectively certain phenomenon. Qualitative research uses thematic codes to analyze and interpret certain phenomenon. Quantitative research uses objective-type of survey questionnaire and presents the data in numerical form which can be treated statistically to arrive into a valid result.
Data Analysis
Data Analysis presents ways on how these information or data had been analyzed and intepreted statistically. Qualitative research uses thematic coding while quantitative research utilizes statistical tests to have a decision, whether to accept or reject the research hypothesis. Thus, interpretation comes in after determining the test computed value in comparison with the standardized test tabular or p value at certain percentage level of significance.
Chapter 4 – PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
There is an introductory statement before presenting the tables.
Data Presentation
Data or information may be presented through tables or graphs or combination of both. The table should have table number, title, data in textual form or numerical form, labels, and sources if necessary. The table title should be written above it. Graph should have x and y axis, numbers and labels. Graph title should be written below it. Researchers use graph to show percentages of the respondents. Most of them prefer bar graph to show the data clearly.
Results and Discussions
Results and Discussions refer to the research findings and discussion about the findings. These findings should answer the research problems. The results or findings are supported with theories and studies that had been mentioned or stated in the review of related literature and studies. State and discuss also the agreements and disagreements, conflicting theories or certain gaps in the study. The decision of the researcher to accept or reject the research hypothesis has been stated with certain numerical value. The interpretation of data is also clearly stated.
Chapter 5 – SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
There is an introductory statement before the summary.
Summary
Summary focuses on the overview of the findings but not the repetition what had been stated in Results and Discussion. The researcher should state his findings after the investigation.
Conclusions
The formulation of Conclusions or generalizations should be based on the findings. No more numerical data in the Conclusions. Instead, the Conclusions should be written in paragraph form.
Recommendations
Recommendations are purely suggestions of the researcher. The Recommendations should be based on the conclusions or generalizations made. There might introductory statement which will be followed by some suggestions that may improve the study or suggesting further investigations which focus on the weaker points or uncovered portion of the study. Suggestions may be written in bullet form.
