Writing up Research

Experiment research (1)controlled scientific experiment (2)correlational (3)survey questionnaires or case studies (4)computer models to explain or predict

Common characteristics A research question A hypothesis Design the study to reject or support the hypothesis Statistical tests

Typical sections of the experimental research repor Abstract Introduction Method Results Discussion or Conclusion

Introduction First Stage: setting Second Stage: already studied by other Third Stage: need for more investigation Fourth Stage: purpose of this study Fifth Stage: give a value for this study

Stage 1: The setting Begin with accepted statements of fact related to your general area (Universe) Within the general area, identify one subarea(Galaxy, which includes your topic) Indicate your topic (Star) Arrange ideas in logical sequence Linking ideas through old and new information order

Stage 2: Reviewing previous research Use a logical plan to order your citations Citations ordered Chronologically earliest …… latest Citations grouped by approach Citations ordered from distant to close One approach another approach

Stage 2: Reviewing previous research Use information prominent at the beginning in Stage 2 Use author prominent to report specific findings later in Stage 2 information prominent author prominent (related to your own) information Last name of author Date information Last name of author Date

Stage 3,4,5:Advancing to present research Indicate a gap in the research in S3 the previous literature described in Stage 2 is inadequate because an important aspect of the research area has been ignored by other authors There is an unresolved conflict among the authors of previous studies An examination of the previous literature suggests an extension of the topic Raises a new research question not previously considered by other workers in your field {However, few studies have reported on ……}

Stage 3,4,5:Advancing to present research Stage 4: the statement of purpose {The purpose/aim/objective of this thesis is to……} {The purpose of this study/investigation/research was to…. Research orientation Research question

Stage 3,4,5:Advancing to present research Stage 5: the Statement of Value Practical benefits {The results could be useful to….} {This research may provide an alternative to...} Theoretical importance {Results of this study may suggest a broader hypothesis for further research into …. {This study may be of importance in explaining….}

Method Overview of the Experiment Population/Sample Location Restrictions/limiting Conditions Sampling technique Procedures(step-by-step, chronologically) Materials Variables Statistical Treatment

Materials Laboratory equipment Field equipment Human or animal subjects Natural substances Fabricated materials Surveys, questionnaires and tests Computer models Mathematical models

Describing specially designed materials: three steps A: Overview: give a general idea of the material and the purpose for which it is intended B: Description of principal parts: in logical sequence From top to bottom, front to back, left to right From center to the outside From beginning to end C: Functional description: how the features described in Step B function together

Integrating Materials with Procedure Materials and method are described separately Materials and method are described in an integrated form {The nickel was then allowed to settle….. method materials

Results Three information elements Element 1:Location of results A statement that locates the figure where the results can be found Element 2:Most important findings Element 3:Comments Statements that comment on the results

Results Two patterns for ordering comments (1) R1+C1;R2+C2;R3+C3 (2) R1+R2+R3+C R=Results(Element 2) C=Comments(Element 3)

Comments(Element 3) Generalize from the results Explain possible reasons for the results Compare the results with results from other studies

Element 1:Location of results {Results of the t-tests are presented in Table 1 {Table 4 summarizes the test results on…}

Element 2:Most important findings Comparison {A had faster eye movements than B} {The highest A was found among…} Tendency {Prices showed a tendency to increase…} {…tended to decline ….} {…rose /fell/increased/decreased/dropped/remained constant/declined….} Correlation or association {A was correlated with/negatively correlated/associatied with B} {A was not highly/significantly/closely related to B}

Element 3:Comments {This is consistent with earlier finding suggesting….} {These results can/may be explained by…} {It appears/seems/is likely that….}

Discussion or Conclusion Original hypothesis Finding Whether or not finding support the hypothesis Whether finding agree with other researchers Explanation for findings Limitations Implications of the study Need for further research Practical applications

{One possible explanation is that…} {We acknowledge that…} {We can no longer assume that…} {Clearly, this…..} {It is possible that….} {This research attempted to ….} {These results are in substantial agreement with those of….}