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Introduction to Research writing2

The document outlines the structure and essential components of research theses and dissertations, including preliminary pages, main body chapters, and supplementary pages. It emphasizes the importance of a clear and concise research title, a well-crafted abstract, and a systematic literature review. Additionally, it provides guidelines for writing the introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and references, highlighting the need for objectivity and precision throughout the research process.

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12 views18 pages

Introduction to Research writing2

The document outlines the structure and essential components of research theses and dissertations, including preliminary pages, main body chapters, and supplementary pages. It emphasizes the importance of a clear and concise research title, a well-crafted abstract, and a systematic literature review. Additionally, it provides guidelines for writing the introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and references, highlighting the need for objectivity and precision throughout the research process.

Uploaded by

Saad
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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WRITING RESEARCH

Dr. Waleed S. Rasheed

Duhok Polytechnic University


Theses and dissertations
1- Preliminary pages.
1. Title page
2. Acknowledgements
3. Table of contents
4. List of tables
5. List of figures
2. Main body.
1. Chapter one: Introduction sometimes included
in one chapter
2. Chapter two: Review of literature

3. Chapter three: Materials and methods

4. Chapter four: Results


sometimes included
in one chapter
5. Chapter five: Discussion

6. Chapter six: Conclusions and


recommendations
3. Supplementary pages
1. Bibliography (references)
2. Appendices: Protocol, Questionnaire, Coding
manual and Other relevant data
Research title

The following points should be noted:


 The title should indicate the nature of the study.

 Although desirable to be simple and short, it


should not be general i.e the writer must balance
clarity and shortness
 usually the ultimate goal is theory generation and
verification
CON.

(usually not > 15 words).


The length can often be reduced by omitting unnecessary terms

such as:

"A Study of ……………………………." or

"An Investigation to Examine the Effect of …………...“ and so forth.

The title should not contain abbreviations or acronyms.

 If you can; start with a keyword better than "the“ ☼ In so far as


possible
the dependent and independent variables should be named in the title.

It is also desirable


to indicate the study population In other words;

The title should communicate clearly and concisely the


central phenomenon under study. i.e.

The title should adequately capture

The variables and population under study


 Compose the title early and re examine it later.


Research abstract

 It should be the most highly polished part


 And as near perfect as possible.

 It should contain the essence of the whole work


and should stand alone.
 It should consist of four basic parts:-

 Why …………. the study was done?


 What …………. was done ?
 What …………. was found ?
 What …………. was concluded ?
Research abstract
 Abstracts are typically 100 – 200 words in length. (not
more than 250 words).
 As regard summaries more freedom is allowed in their
length, but they should, however, follow the same
principles.
 Compose abstracts in paragraphs State your conclusions
in the last one. If you have no plain conclusion you
might write:
 "the effect of A upon B is discussed".
 Most journals prefer a structured format.
 Write summary in the past tense
Introduction
 The purpose of the introduction is to explain the
reader with the research problem and explain why it
is important.
 It should tell why you have undertaken the study.
 Review the relevant literature citing those references
that are essential to justify your proposed study.
 Try to be systematic and not selective
 Write the introduction in the present tense
Introduction
 Aim of the study:
 The general aim states what is expected to be
achieved by the study
 It is possible and advisable

 To break down a general aim into smaller

 Specific objectives
Introduction
 The best way to reach these specific
objectives
 Is by

 changing them into research questions .

 These questions should be measurable and


researchable.
 Measurement in the context of research work
is a critical issue.
Literature review
Organize and summarize the references so that they
reveal the correct state of knowledge
on the selected topics and in the context of a new study to lay a systematic
foundation for the research.

☼ The review should point out both


consistencies and contradictions
in the literature as well as offer possible explanations for the inconsistencies,
for example
different conceptualizations or methods.

☼ Reports that result in comparable findings can often be


grouped and briefly summarized.
objectivity
is greatly needed.
☼ Local data and studies deserve special note and should be well
emphasized.
Material and methods
☼ This chapter should answer the following questions:
What ……..……… was the study design ?
How………………. the study was carried out ?
How…………….…. the data were analyzed ?
☼ Avoid trade names if practicable
(either not understood, or imparts a sense of advertisement)

☼ Write what you did in operational order.

☼ Be concise but do not forget essential details.

☼ Be precise e.g. If a tube was heated, say to what temperature ?

☼ Give sufficient details of both descriptive and analytic statistics.

☼ Usually written in the past tense.


Result
☼ Overall description of the important findings

It should be clear and concise.

☼ Start with some text giving a logical story with the help of tables and
illustrations.
Remember that:

☻ Text should tell the story.


☻ Tables will summarize the evidence.
☻ Illustrations will show the highlights,
" Tables data should not be repeated as illustrations"
Discussion
☼ It is the part of the paper in which you have the greatest freedom.

☼ Do not make it too long, yet it must contain logical argument.

☼ Think critically ;avoid inconclusive thinking and promote lateral thinking.


The following example
illustrates concluding a conclusion from correct data

Two authors concluded that:


20 cigarette in a day will increase risk of cancer
Another author, later, proved that
they are identical using the same graphs used by the first two authors.

☼ Always ask yourself : Can my hypothesis be disproved ?


Can my results have another explanation?

☼ Start by summarizing the major findings.


-Discuss shortcomings of the methods.
-Compare your results with previous work.
-Discuss the clinical and scientific implications of your findings.
-Suggest further work.
Cont.
- Produce a brief conclusion.
- Avoid repetition of data (in the results).
- Avoid preferential citing of previous work to suit your conclusions.

☼Conclusions need meticulous wording;


Do not repeat wording; “paraphrase it”.
If the reader has not understood, another version may help him.

☼Never use "we" for yourself nor use "I"


References
 Each study has, as its foundation, the work of predecessors in the field.

 Restrict the list to those references with direct bearing on the work
described.

 There are different citation styles e.g Harvard, Chicago, APA ……… etc.

 For each style there is a “reference standard” of citation

 .The specific requirements or preferences of your reviewing publisher,


institution, or organization should be applied.

 “Vancouver system” is the preferred style in medical literature.

 Inaccurate quotations and citations are misleading for the reader and
mean that untruths come "accepted facts" .
Thank you

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