Writing Your Research

1. Writing Your Research Bill Reimer and Frances Shaver Concordia University

2. Three types of manuscripts • Hypothesis-testing Articles • Descriptive Articles • Client-Oriented Reports

3. Hypothesis-testing Articles • Introduction • Theoretical framework • Research design • Research results • Interpretations • Conclusions and Implications

4. Introduction Hypothesis-Testing • What is the problem? • What is the central research question? • Why is it important?

5. Theoretical Framework Hypothesis-Testing • How have others framed the problem? • How have others answered the question? • Strengths and weaknesses of how it has been treated • How will you improve on it? • What is your central proposition?

6. Research design Hypothesis-Testing • How does it flow from the previous discussion? • Define key theoretical concepts • Research design description and justification • Operationalizations • Hypotheses examined

7. Research results Hypothesis-Testing • Describe adjustments made to ideal design • Describe research context • Describe results • Describe qualifications

8. Interpretations Hypothesis-Testing • What are the implications of the results for the original research problem and question? • How do you now answer the question?

9. Conclusions and Implications Hypothesis-Testing • Summarize problem, question, and results • Identify qualifications • What new questions or issues are generated? • What research suggestions do you have?

10. Descriptive Articles • Introduction (the problem) • Theoretical framework • Major issues to be addressed • How did you do it? • Results and Interpretations • Summary and Conclusions

11. Similar to Hypothesis-testing – except: Descriptive • Less focus on central proposition(s) • Several issues often included • Modifications to framework(s) become prominent

12. Client-Oriented Reports • Introduction (the problem as formulated by client) • (Re)Conceptualizing the problem • Research approach • Results and Interpretations • Overall conclusions • Recommendations • Executive Summary

13. Introduction Client-Oriented • State the problem as the client sees it (often pragmatic) Reconceptualization • Justify modifications to the client’s formulation • Prepare rationale for the research approach

14. Research Approach Client-Oriented • Justify • Leave technical details to appendix • Describe what you did

15. Results and Interpretations Client-Oriented • Present it from the client’s perspective • Use charts and graphs over tables • Put qualifications in footnotes and appendices • Be clear (non-jargon) and short

16. Overall Conclusions Client-Oriented • From client’s original questions • Use bullets and points

17. Recommendations Client-Oriented • Brief setting of context • Point form series of recommendations • Brief justification of each with respect to original problem

18. Executive summary Client-Oriented • 1 to 2 pages • Problem • Approach taken • Results • Conclusions • Recommendations • Minimal qualifications

19. Style and Grammar • Paragraph and sentence structure • Transitions • Multiple drafts • Content/organizational editing • Copyediting • Fact checking • Proofreading • The reader over your shoulder