1. Writing the Research Paper
Zooey m
Angela m

2. Chapter I: Introduction
A. Area of Study: Provide a general
introduction to the topic; outline the
problem
B. Definition of Terms: Define important
terms & concepts
C. The purpose of the study
D. Assumptions: Make hypotheses for
the proposed study

3. Chapter II: Literature Review
A. History: Provide a review of the
historical background
B. Current Literature: Include a review of
current relevant with the analysis of
pros and cons
C. Research Problem: Provide research
questions

4. Chapter III: Methodology
A. Research Questions and Hypotheses:
Propose them based on literature
review (major points)
B. Research Design:
Quantitative research: Use a survey (three design considerations; discuss how to design questionnaire)
Qualitative research: Use interviews (present a rationale for the design of choice)
＊Grounded theory: Develop a theory after gathering
and analyzing the data

5. C. Sample:
Quantitative research: Describe sampling techniques and rationale for method used for selecting the sample and sample size
Qualitative research: describe the criteria for the selection for the participants and setting

6. Research Questions and Hypotheses:
4 categories of research questions:
1. Descriptive questions: Provide information about what is or has been happening related to the research topic
2. Normative questions: Provide information compared with some standard or expected observation
3. Correlative questions: Identify relationship
4. Impact questions: Indentify effect

7. Research Questions and Hypotheses:
Two types of hypotheses:
1. Directional hypothesis:
e.g.," If ss can get teachers’ positive comments. (then) they will have a better writing performance because (pro 1).”
2. Null hypothesis:
e.g.,” There is no difference between teachers’ positive comments and ss’ writing performance because (con 1).”

8. Research Design
Mixed-Methods Models Design: Apply the quantitative and qualitative methods simultaneously (parallel) or sequentially.
4 design options:
1. Pragmatic parallel mixed-methods
2. Pragmatic sequential mixed-methods
3. Transformative parallel mixed-methods
4. Transformative sequential mixed-methods

9. Survey Research 3 design considerations:
1. Descriptive approach: A survey describing the characteristics of a sample at one point in time (e.g., senior students’ research paper writing difficulties in the Department of Applied English at I-Shou University in 2009)

10. 2. Cross-sectional approach: A survey examining several groups at one point in time (e.g., different grade level students’ writing difficulties in the AE Department at ISU in 2009)
3. Longitudinal approach: A survey examining one group at different points in time (e.g., 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year graduates’ perceptions of RP course in the AE Department at ISU in )

11. 5 probability sampling:
1. Simple random sampling: Each member has a number (code) and each population has an equal chance to be selected
2. Systematic sampling: Select every nth name from the list, so need to estimate the needed sample size
3. Stratified sampling: Divide the populations into subgroups (e.g., genders) or levels (e.g., proficiency levels) and then draw randomly from each subgroup

12. 4. Cluster sampling: Choose groups of individuals (e. g
4. Cluster sampling: Choose groups of individuals (e.g., city blocks or classrooms in a school, and study all of the samples there)
5. Multistage sampling: Combine sampling strategies (e.g., use cluster sampling to randomly select classrooms and use random sampling to select a sample with each classroom)

13. Data Collection Procedures
Quantitative research: Describe the procedures that the data will be collected by using a survey
Open Questions
Close Questions: Classificational questions, List questions, Ranking questions, Scale (rating) questions

14. Data Collection Procedures
Qualitative research: Describe the use of audiotapes, note-taking
Interviewer is the important tool.

15. Data Analysis Procedures
Quantitative research: Describe how you handled the data; provide statistical procedures (e.g., compute mean score or frequency)

16. Data Analysis Procedures
Qualitative research: Describe data analysis strategies; explain multiple sources of data
Form your grounded theory

17. Limitations of the Study
Explain anticipated limitations of the study
Ex: Sample size is too small.

18. Results
Just report what the data say (you may give the subheading based on each hypothesis)

19. Results Findings from the quantitative results (% or mean)
Ex: 4.2 means that most participant agree that…
B. Findings from the qualitative results (3 excerpts)
C. Fit into your hypotheses or not
(e.g., broadly/partially/do not fit)

20. Discussions and Conclusion
A. Interpret the meanings of data (discuss “why” your participants would think/say so)
B. Discuss whether the findings fit into the literature or not
C. Form any grounded theory?

21. Discussions and Conclusion
D. The results will be useful to “whom”?
E. Any limitation to reach the generalizability
F. Draw conclusions and suggestions (about improvement)
*based on your or minority’s opinions