Title: The title should be specific and indicate the problem the research project addresses using keywords

that will be
helpful in literature reviews in the future

Abstract: The abstract is used by readers to quickly review the overall content of the paper. Journals typically place strict
word limits on abstracts, such as 200 words, making them a challenge to write. The abstract should provide a complete
synopsis of the research paper and should introduce the topic and the specific research question, provide a statement
regarding methodology and should provide a general statement about the results and the findings. Because it is really a
summary of the entire research paper, it is often written last.

Introduction: The introduction begins by introducing the broad overall topic and providing basic background information.
It then narrows down to the specific research question relating to this topic. It provides the purpose and focus for the rest
of the paper and sets up the justification for the research.

Literature Review: The purpose of the literature review is to describe past important research and it relate it specifically
to the research problem. It should be a synthesis of the previous literature and the new idea being researched. The review
should examine the major theories related to the topic to date and their contributors. It should include all relevant findings
from credible sources, such as academic books and peer-reviewed journal articles. How To Write A Good Research Paper
Fast and Pass (Secret 5)

Methods: The methods section will describe the research design and methodology used to complete to the study. The
general rule of thumb is that readers should be provided with enough detail to replicate the study.

Results: In this section, the results of the analysis are presented. How the results are presented will depend upon whether
the research study was quantitative or qualitative in nature. This section should focus only on results that are directly
related to the research or the problem. Graphs and tables should only be used when there is too much data to efficiently
include it within the text. This section should present the results, but not discuss their significance.

Discussion/Conclusion: This section should be a discussion of the results and the implications on the field, as well as other
fields. The hypothesis should be answered and validated by the interpretation of the results. This section should also
discuss how the results relate to previous research mentioned in the literature review, any cautions about the findings,
and potential for future research.
References/Bibliography: The research paper is not complete without the list of references. This section should be an
alphabetized list of all the academic sources of information utilized in the paper. The format of the references will match
the format and style used in the paper. Common formats include APA, MLA, Harvard and so forth.

Outline of chapters and sections

TITLE PAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I - Introduction
Introductory paragraphs
Statement of the problem
Purpose
Significance of the study
Research questions and/or hypotheses

CHAPTER II - Background
Literature review
Definition of terms

CHAPTER III - Methodology

Restate purpose and research questions or null hypotheses
Population and sampling
Instrumentation (include copy in appendix)
Procedure and time frame
Analysis plan (state critical alpha level and type of statistical tests)
Validity and reliability
Assumptions
Scope and limitations

CHAPTER IV - Results

CHAPTER V - Conclusions and recommendations

Summary (of what you did and found)
Discussion (explanation of findings - why do you think you found what you did?)
Recommendations (based on your findings)

REFERENCES

APPENDIX

Chapter I - Introduction

Introductory paragraphs

Chapter I begins with a few short introductory paragraphs (a couple of pages at most). The primary goal of the introductory
paragraphs is to catch the attention of the readers and to get them "turned on" about the subject. It sets the stage for the
paper and puts your topic in perspective. The introduction often contains dramatic and general statements about the
need for the study. It uses dramatic illustrations or quotes to set the tone. When writing the introduction, put yourself in
your reader's position - would you continue reading?

Statement of the Problem

The statement of the problem is the focal point of your research. It is just one sentence (with several paragraphs of
elaboration).

You are looking for something wrong.

....or something that needs close attention
....or existing methods that no longer seem to be working.

Example of a problem statement:

"The frequency of job layoffs is creating fear, anxiety, and a loss of productivity in middle management workers."

While the problem statement itself is just one sentence, it is always accompanied by several paragraphs that elaborate
on the problem. Present persuasive arguments why the problem is important enough to study. Include the opinions of
others (politicians, futurists, other professionals). Explain how the problem relates to business, social or political trends
by presenting data that demonstrates the scope and depth of the problem. Try to give dramatic and concrete
illustrations of the problem. After writing this section, make sure you can easily identify the single sentence that is the
problem statement.

Purpose

The purpose is a single statement or paragraph that explains what the study intends to accomplish. A few typical
statements are:

The goal of this study is to...

... overcome the difficulty with ...
... discover what ...
... understand the causes or effects of ...
... refine our current understanding of ...
... provide a new interpretation of ...
... understand what makes ___ successful or unsuccessful

Significance of the Study

This section creates a perspective for looking at the problem. It points out how your study relates to the larger issues
and uses a persuasive rationale to justify the reason for your study. It makes the purpose worth pursuing. The
significance of the study answers the questions:

Why is your study important?

To whom is it important?
What benefit(s) will occur if your study is done?

Research Questions and/or Hypotheses and/or Null Hypotheses

Chapter I lists the research questions (although it is equally acceptable to present the hypotheses or null hypotheses).
No elaboration is included in this section. An example would be:

The research questions for this study will be:

 1. What are the attitudes of...
2. Is there a significant difference between...
3. Is there a significant relationship between...

Chapter II - Background

Chapter II is a review of the literature. It is important because it shows what previous researchers have discovered. It is
usually quite long and primarily depends upon how much research has previously been done in the area you are planning
to investigate. If you are planning to explore a relatively new area, the literature review should cite similar areas of study
or studies that lead up to the current research. Never say that your area is so new that no research exists. It is one of the
key elements that proposal readers look at when deciding whether or not to approve a proposal.

Chapter II should also contain a definition of terms section when appropriate. Include it if your paper uses special terms
that are unique to your field of inquiry or that might not be understood by the general reader. "Operational definitions"
(definitions that you have formulated for the study) should also be included. An example of an operational definition is:
"For the purpose of this research, improvement is operationally defined as posttest score minus pretest score".

Chapter III - Methodology

The methodology section describes your basic research plan. It usually begins with a few short introductory paragraphs
that restate purpose and research questions. The phraseology should be identical to that used in Chapter I. Keep the
wording of your research questions consistent throughout the document.

Population and sampling

The basic research paradigm is:

1) Define the population
2) Draw a representative sample from the population
3) Do the research on the sample
4) Infer your results from the sample back to the population

As you can see, it all begins with a precise definition of the population. The whole idea of inferential research (using a
sample to represent the entire population) depends upon an accurate description of the population. When you've
finished your research and you make statements based on the results, who will they apply to? Usually, just one sentence
is necessary to define the population. Examples are: "The population for this study is defined as all adult customers who
make a purchase in our stores during the sampling time frame", or "...all home owners in the city of Minneapolis", or
"...all potential consumers of our product".

While the population can usually be defined by a single statement, the sampling procedure needs to be described in
extensive detail. There are numerous sampling methods from which to choose. Describe in minute detail, how you will
select the sample. Use specific names, places, times, etc. Don't omit any details. This is extremely important because the
reader of the paper must decide if your sample will sufficiently represent the population.

Instrumentation

If you are using a survey that was designed by someone else, state the source of the survey. Describe the theoretical
constructs that the survey is attempting to measure. Include a copy of the actual survey in the appendix and state that a
copy of the survey is in the appendix.
Procedure and time frame

State exactly when the research will begin and when it will end. Describe any special procedures that will be followed
(e.g., instructions that will be read to participants, presentation of an informed consent form, etc.).

Analysis plan

The analysis plan should be described in detail. Each research question will usually require its own analysis. Thus, the
research questions should be addressed one at a time followed by a description of the type of statistical tests that will be
performed to answer that research question. Be specific. State what variables will be included in the analyses and identify
the dependent and independent variables if such a relationship exists. Decision making criteria (e.g., the critical alpha
level) should also be stated, as well as the computer software that will be used.

Validity and reliability

If the survey you're using was designed by someone else, then describe the previous validity and reliability assessments.
When using an existing instrument, you'll want to perform the same reliability measurement as the author of the
instrument. If you've developed your own survey, then you must describe the steps you took to assess its validity and a
description of how you will measure its reliability.

Validity refers to the accuracy or truthfulness of a measurement. Are we measuring what we think we are? There are no
statistical tests to measure validity. All assessments of validity are subjective opinions based on the judgment of the
researcher. Nevertheless, there are at least three types of validity that should be addressed and you should state what
steps you took to assess validity.

Face validity refers to the likelihood that a question will be misunderstood or misinterpreted. Pretesting a survey is a
good way to increase the likelihood of face validity. One method of establishing face validity is described here. How to
make sure your survey is valid.

Content validity refers to whether an instrument provides adequate coverage of a topic. Expert opinions, literature
searches, and pretest open-ended questions help to establish content validity.

Construct validity refers to the theoretical foundations underlying a particular scale or measurement. It looks at the
underlying theories or constructs that explain a phenomena. In other words, if you are using several survey items to
measure a more global construct (e.g., a subscale of a survey), then you should describe why you believe the items
comprise a construct. If a construct has been identified by previous researchers, then describe the criteria they used to
validate the construct. A technique known as confirmatory factor analysis is often used to explore how individual survey
items contribute to an overall construct measurement.

Reliability is synonymous with repeatability or stability. A measurement that yields consistent results over time is said to
be reliable. When a measurement is prone to random error, it lacks reliability.

There are three basic methods to test reliability : test-retest, equivalent form, and internal consistency. Most research
uses some form of internal consistency. When there is a scale of items all attempting to measure the same construct,
then we would expect a large degree of coherence in the way people answer those items. Various statistical tests can
measure the degree of coherence. Another way to test reliability is to ask the same question with slightly different
wording in different parts of the survey. The correlation between the items is a measure of their reliability.

Assumptions

All research studies make assumptions. The most obvious is that the sample represents the population. Another common
assumptions are that an instrument has validity and is measuring the desired constructs. Still another is that respondents
will answer a survey truthfully. The important point is for the researcher to state specifically what assumptions are being
made.

Scope and limitations

All research studies also have limitations and a finite scope. Limitations are often imposed by time and budget constraints.
Precisely list the limitations of the study. Describe the extent to which you believe the limitations degrade the quality of
the research.

Chapter IV - Results

Description of the sample

Nearly all research collects various demographic information. It is important to report the descriptive statistics of the
sample because it lets the reader decide if the sample is truly representative of the population.

Analyses

The analyses section is cut and dry. It precisely follows the analysis plan laid out in Chapter III. Each research question
addressed individually. For each research question:

1) Restate the research question using the exact wording as in Chapter I

2) If the research question is testable, state the null hypothesis
3) State the type of statistical test(s) performed
4) Report the statistics and conclusions, followed by any appropriate table(s)

Numbers and tables are not self-evident. If you use tables or graphs, refer to them in the text and explain what they say.
An example is: "Table 4 shows a strong negative relationship between delivery time and customer satisfaction tables and
figures have a number and a descriptive heading. For example:

Table 4
The relationship between delivery time and customer satisfaction.

Avoid the use of trivial tables or graphs. If a graph or table does not add new information (i.e., information not explained
in the text), then don't include it.

Simply present the results. Do not attempt to explain the results in this chapter.

Chapter V - Conclusions and recommendations

Begin the final chapter with a few paragraphs summarizing what you did and found (i.e., the conclusions from Chapter IV).

Discussion

Discuss the findings. Do your findings support existing theories? Explain why you think you found what you did. Present
plausible reasons why the results might have turned out the way they did.

Recommendations

Present recommendations based on your findings. Avoid the temptation to present recommendations based on your own
beliefs or biases that are not specifically supported by your data. Recommendations fall into two categories. The first is
recommendations to the study sponsor. What actions do you recommend they take based upon the data. The second is
recommendations to other researchers. There are almost always ways that a study could be improved or refined. What
would you change if you were to do your study over again? These are the recommendations to other researchers.

References

List references in APA format alphabetically by author's last name

Appendix

Include a copy of any actual instruments. If used, include a copy of the informed consent form.