The success of getting your works published: Ideas to be organized logically, writing to be concise, concrete, consistent with minimal grammatical errors. This requires proper Documentation of your research work as Research papers are evaluated based on quality of research as well as with the quality of its documentation. Scientific research writing is entirely different from all other research documents may it be thesis/dissertations, posters, research proposals for funding/post doctoral, general research papers, so on. Scientific content is complex and presenting it in a paper becomes challenging as scientific writing should be precise and concrete with pure facts supported by evidence, graphic representations in clear and concise language. When ideas are linked together and connected, the writing flows well. So documentation cannot be taken for granted.
Documenting requirements for Scientific Research Writing: There are basically 11 components for a research paper, that include (i) Title (ii) Abstract (iii) Introduction (iv) Literature Review (v) Research question (vi)Methodology (vii) Results (viii) Discussions (ix) Conclusions (x) Recommendations, (xi) References
Many people read the title than the abstract and many more readers read the abstract than the full paper. The title should present the honest reflection of the scope of the study clearly stating the topic and to be crafted in such a way that it should attract the reader. It should distinguish ones work and be concise focused in using neutral non-judgmental words.
Abstracts are basically the passport for a research paper and a major indexing tool for publishers and database administrators. The abstract should provide answers to 5 key questions- what the study all about, previous knowledge about the topic, how the study been conducted, what was discovered and what does the discovery mean coping with word limits 250-300 words. It should be clear, concise, concrete and be less technical than main paper.
Literature Survey is the starting point of one’s research after deciding on the title/ topic. Most libraries offer access to database- Science Direct, Science and Technology Advanced Materials, Directory of Open Access Journals, Proquest so on.
Introduction section should address the problem being studied and its importance, the wider context of the problem and connect with key information/data from Literature Survey. Further develop the authors idea about the solution with statement of intent mentioning the methodology selected. Introducing the objective of the study to be in present tense and describing the methods/results of earlier studies will be in past tense. In no way, the contents/sentences used in abstract are placed in the introduction section.
Literature Review section informs about the prior work done on the topic by other scholars in past tense. In text citations can be used in 3 formats. Can directly quote the authors original words using quotation marks or indirectly authors idea can be paraphrased in your own words or the entire paragraph can be indented with full citation.
Methodology adopted for the research study should clearly detail on the methodology chosen and why with a rationale for choosing it, tools that were used and developed, type and size of sample, data collection methods, analysis method, details of software used. The methodology should be well stated in past tense and should not discuss about results and their interpretations. Designing a Research questions where Sub questions can also be included establishing the content, problem to be addressed with specific objectives of the research
For writing the results, start on by revisiting the research question. Draw up a plan to analyse and discuss the results of different segments of the research question. Subheadings are to be included to clearly state the categorization. The result to be presented in past tense without any interpretation. Make generous use of tables, graphs, pictures and follow guidelines given by the target journal.
Writing discussion is the longest and most important section where there is a provision to include personal opinion and interpretation which are supported by findings and predictions for future research. Here the research question is examined with the results obtained with explanation of how the findings fit in the existing body of knowledge about the subject. This section establishes the meaning, importance and relevance of research results. Any shortcomings or limitations of research should also be mentioned here.
Writing the conclusion is the last part of the paper that will stay in the reader’s memory for long. The focus here should be to highlight the significance of the results obtained and overall impact of the research. It is advisable to talk about the limitations of research with scope for future research. The author can add specific recommendations if any in present tense. It should be taken care that neither the contents given in the abstract nor introduction should not be included as conclusion.
For writing References, follow guidelines of target journal. Select the style for citing references- APA, MLA, Harvard, IEEE, Chicago so on. Always list in alphabetical order and if there are more than one reference by an author, each must be cited separately and every reference must be used in the narrative
Start Writing Scientific research papers!!!
Documenting requirements for Scientific Research Writing: There are basically 11 components for a research paper, that include (i) Title (ii) Abstract (iii) Introduction (iv) Literature Review (v) Research question (vi)Methodology (vii) Results (viii) Discussions (ix) Conclusions (x) Recommendations, (xi) References
Many people read the title than the abstract and many more readers read the abstract than the full paper. The title should present the honest reflection of the scope of the study clearly stating the topic and to be crafted in such a way that it should attract the reader. It should distinguish ones work and be concise focused in using neutral non-judgmental words.
Abstracts are basically the passport for a research paper and a major indexing tool for publishers and database administrators. The abstract should provide answers to 5 key questions- what the study all about, previous knowledge about the topic, how the study been conducted, what was discovered and what does the discovery mean coping with word limits 250-300 words. It should be clear, concise, concrete and be less technical than main paper.
Literature Survey is the starting point of one’s research after deciding on the title/ topic. Most libraries offer access to database- Science Direct, Science and Technology Advanced Materials, Directory of Open Access Journals, Proquest so on.
Introduction section should address the problem being studied and its importance, the wider context of the problem and connect with key information/data from Literature Survey. Further develop the authors idea about the solution with statement of intent mentioning the methodology selected. Introducing the objective of the study to be in present tense and describing the methods/results of earlier studies will be in past tense. In no way, the contents/sentences used in abstract are placed in the introduction section.
Literature Review section informs about the prior work done on the topic by other scholars in past tense. In text citations can be used in 3 formats. Can directly quote the authors original words using quotation marks or indirectly authors idea can be paraphrased in your own words or the entire paragraph can be indented with full citation.
Methodology adopted for the research study should clearly detail on the methodology chosen and why with a rationale for choosing it, tools that were used and developed, type and size of sample, data collection methods, analysis method, details of software used. The methodology should be well stated in past tense and should not discuss about results and their interpretations. Designing a Research questions where Sub questions can also be included establishing the content, problem to be addressed with specific objectives of the research
For writing the results, start on by revisiting the research question. Draw up a plan to analyse and discuss the results of different segments of the research question. Subheadings are to be included to clearly state the categorization. The result to be presented in past tense without any interpretation. Make generous use of tables, graphs, pictures and follow guidelines given by the target journal.
Writing discussion is the longest and most important section where there is a provision to include personal opinion and interpretation which are supported by findings and predictions for future research. Here the research question is examined with the results obtained with explanation of how the findings fit in the existing body of knowledge about the subject. This section establishes the meaning, importance and relevance of research results. Any shortcomings or limitations of research should also be mentioned here.
Writing the conclusion is the last part of the paper that will stay in the reader’s memory for long. The focus here should be to highlight the significance of the results obtained and overall impact of the research. It is advisable to talk about the limitations of research with scope for future research. The author can add specific recommendations if any in present tense. It should be taken care that neither the contents given in the abstract nor introduction should not be included as conclusion.
For writing References, follow guidelines of target journal. Select the style for citing references- APA, MLA, Harvard, IEEE, Chicago so on. Always list in alphabetical order and if there are more than one reference by an author, each must be cited separately and every reference must be used in the narrative
Start Writing Scientific research papers!!!
