ENG104 TECHNICAL WRITING: RESEARCH PAPER MIDTERM-CLASS ’18-‘19

Research papers
 Widely known products of technical writing
 Aka term paper-written by high school and college undergraduates
 Serve to solve a problem
 Ultimate purpose: to improve life.
 Long expository paper, concerning a specific topic, and written to inform a specific group of readers
about the findings gathered from the investigation undertaken regarding the same topic.
 Doing a research paper involves a lot of skills required of students. These include but are not limited to
using the library, documenting the report, and writing the draft.

What is the purpose of Research?

1. Exploratory Research: As the name suggests, exploratory research is conducted to explore the research
questions and may or may not offer a final conclusion to the research conducted. It is conducted to handle new
problem areas which haven’t been explored before. Exploratory research lays the foundation for more conclusive
research and data collection. For example, a research conducted to know the level of customer satisfaction among
the patrons of a restaurant.

2. Descriptive Research: Descriptive research focuses on throwing more light on current issues through a
process of data collection. Descriptive studies are used to describe the behavior of a sample population. In
descriptive research, only one variable (anything that has quantity or quality that varies) is required to conduct a
study. The three main purposes of descriptive research are describing, explaining and validating the findings. For
example, a research conducted to know if top-level management leaders in the 21st century possess the moral
right to receive a huge sum of money from the company profit?

3. Explanatory Research: Explanatory research or causal research, is conducted to understand the impact of
certain changes in existing standard procedures. Conducting experiments is the most popular form of casual
research. For example, research conducted to understand the effect of rebranding on customer loyalty.

To understand the characteristic of research design using research purpose here is a comparative analysis:

Exploratory Research Descriptive Research Explanatory Research

Research approach
Unstructured Structured Highly structured
used

Research conducted Asking research Asking research By using research

through questions questions hypotheses.

Early stages of decision Later stages of decision Later stages of decision

When is it conducted?
making making making

Types of Research Methods and Research Example

Research methods are broadly classified as Qualitative Research and Quantitative Research.

Both research methods have distinctive properties and data collection methods. In this segment of the blog, we
will learn more about both these research methods.

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Qualitative Research Methods

Qualitative research is a research method that collects data using conversational methods, where participants
involved in the research are asked open-ended questions. The responses collected are essentially non-numerical.
This method not only helps a researcher understand “what” participant think but also, “why” they think in a
particular way.
Here are the widely used qualitative research methods:

 One-to-one Interview: This interview technique is systematically planned and as the name suggests is
conducted with one participant at a given point in time. One-to-one interviews need a researcher to prepare
questions in advance and to make sure the researcher asks only the most important questions to the participant.
This type of interview lasts anywhere between 20 minutes to half an hour. During this time the researcher
collects as many meaningful data as possible from the participants to draw inferences.
 Focus Groups: Focus groups are small groups comprising of around 6-10 participants who are usually experts
in the subject matter. A moderator is assigned to a focus group who facilitates the discussion amongst the group
members. A moderator’s experience in conducting focus group plays an important role. An experienced
moderator can probe the participants by asking the correct research questions that will help him/her collect a
sizable amount of information related to the research.
 Ethnographic Research: Ethnographic research is an in-depth form of research where people are observed in
their natural environment with any alterations. This method can prove to be a bit demanding in terms of a
researcher getting adapted to the natural environment of the target audience which could even be the Amazon
rainforest! Geographic locations can be a constraint in this type of research method. Instead of conducting
interviews a researcher needs to experience the settings in person to collect information.
 Text Analysis: Text analysis is a little different from other qualitative research methods as it used to analyze
the social life by decoding words, texts etc. through any available form of documentation. The researcher
studies and understands the context in which the documents are furnished with the information and then tries
to draw meaningful inferences from it. In modern times, researchers follow activities on a social media platform
and try and understand the pattern of thoughts.
 Case Study Research: Case study research, as the name suggests is used to study an organization or an entity.
This research method has evolved over the years and is one of the most valuable qualitative research methods
known to researchers. This type of research is used in fields like education sector, philosophical and
psychological studies. This method involves a deep diving into the ongoing research and collects data.
Quantitative Research Methods

Quantitative research methods are the methods that deal with numbers and anything that can be dealt with a
measurable form, in a systematic way of investigating the phenomenon. It is used to answer questions in terms of
justifying relationships with measurable variables to either explain, predict or control a phenomenon.

There are three methods that are often used by researchers to conduct this type of research, they are:

 Survey Research- The ultimate goal of survey research is to learn about a large population by deploying
the survey. Gone are the days where a survey was carried out using a pen and a paper. Today, online surveys are
a popular mode of research as they are convenient and can be sent in an email or made available on the internet.
In this method, a researcher designs a survey with most relevant survey questions and deploys the survey. Once
the researcher receives the responses he/she summarizes them to tabulate meaningful findings and data.
 Descriptive Research- Descriptive research is a quantitative research method, which corresponds to identifying
the characteristics of an observed phenomenon and collecting more information. This research method is
designed to depict the participants in a very systematic and accurate manner. In simple words, descriptive
research is all about describing the phenomenon, observing and drawing conclusions from it.
 Correlational Research- Correlational research examines the relationship between two or more variables. Let
us take an example to understand correlational research. Let us take an example to understand correlational
research, Consider hypothetically, a researcher is studying a correlation between cancer and marries women.
Let us say married women have a negative correlation with cancer. In this example, there are two variables:
cancer, and married women. When we say negative correlation, it means women who are married are less likely
to develop cancer. However, it doesn’t mean that marriage directly avoids cancer.

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Attributes Qualitative Research Methods Quantitative Research Methods

This research method focuses on to

Analytical Quantitative research method focuses on
describe individual experiences and
objectives describing the characteristics of a population.
beliefs.

Types of
Open ended questions Closed ended questions
questions asked

Use semi-structured methods such as in- Use highly structured methods such as
Data collection
depth interviews, focus groups, and structured observation using questionnaires
Instrument
participant observation and surveys

Form of data
Descriptive data Numerical data
produced

Participant responses do not influence or

Degree of Participant responses affect how and
determine how and which questions
flexibility which questions researchers ask next
researchers ask next

Documenting the Paper

When the reading, survey, interview, and other means of data collection are over, the researcher begins drafting
his paper. As he drafts his work, he has before him the set of notes he has mustered during his note-taking period.
He uses in writing his draft notes which are valuable sources of documentation. For every note, there is a
corresponding parenthetical citation or footnote/endnote.
Two kinds of documentation systems are used in the field of research. The first is the Modern Language
Association (MLA) Documentation System, which is used by researchers in languages and humanities. The other
is the American Psychological Association (APA) Documentation System which is used by researchers in the
social sciences.
The MLA System had been in use for research purposes before the APA system was introduced. This system
makes use of bibliography and footnote or endnote entries. Both bibliography entries and footnote or endnotes
contain almost the same items, but differ in other aspects. Their differences are shown in the following table:
Point of Contrast Bibliography Entries Footnotes/Endnotes
1. Indention Hanging Normal/standard
2. Superscript Absent Present, (either a number,
letter or symbol)
3. Author’s name Last name/surname first First name/given name first
4. Marks of separation Periods Commas
5. Facts of publication Not parenthesized Parenthesized
6. Page numbers Absent at times Present all the time
7. Order Alphabetical chronological
8. Placement At the last page of the report Footnote; at the end of the
chapter/section (endnote)

 Author’s name Book title. Place of publication: Publisher’s name date/year of publication
** Author’s name, Book title. (place of publication: Publisher’s name, date/year of publication), page number/s

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The APA System makes use of bibliography entries and parenthetical citations. The bibliography entries in this
system differ from those in the MLA system merely because the date follows the author’s name. as such, the
system is called author-date system. Its bibliography entry for a one-author book is presented thus:
Author’s name. (Date/year of publication). Book title. Place of publication: Publisher’s name.
Guidelines in doing the bibliography:
1. Indent the lines next to the first.
2. Spell out the surname and use initials for the given and middle names.
3. Enclose in parentheses the date/year of publication. (APA only)
4. Capitalize the first word and proper nouns and adjectives in the title and subtitle of a book or article.
5. Capitalize the content words (nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs) in the name of a periodical
(newspaper, magazine or journal).
6. Underscore, italicize, or boldface the title of a book or the name of a periodical.
7. Write the edition number after the book title.
8. Write n.p. if there is no place of publication.
9. Write n.d. if there is no date of publication
10. Write Anon. or long dash if the source has no known author.
11. Write the pseudonym (false name) of the author before his real name enclosed in brackets.
12. Write a colon after the place of publication.
13. Write a comma after the publisher’s name. (MLA only)
14. Write a period after the author’s name, the book title, and the last item in every entry.
15. If the book is an edited book, write the abbreviation ed. After the writer’s name.
16. Write et al. (and others) after the name of the main author of a book authored by six persons or more; the
co-authors’ name are dropped.
17. Enclose in double quotation marks the title of an article in a newspaper, magazine or journal. (MLA only)
18. Single-space within entries.
19. Double-space between entries.
20. Type BIBLIOGRAPHY at the center if the list includes direct and indirect reference materials; however,
type REFERENCES if the list includes only those reference materials directly used in the paper.
APA Format
Book, 2 authors:
Strunk, W., & White, E.B. (1979). The Elements of Style (3rd Edition.).
New York: Macmillan.
Electronic formats –
Internet Article Based on Printed Source
The citation is done as if it were a paper article and then followed by a retrieval statement that identifies
the date retrieved and source.
Sahelian, R. (1999, January). Echo! Better Nutrition, 61, 24.
Retrieved September 17, 2001, from Academic index.
Chapter or Section in an Internet Document
Thompson, G. (2003). Youth coach handbook. In Joe soccer.
Retrieved September 17, 2004, from http://www.joesoccer.com/menu.hmtl

PARTS OF A RESEARCH PAPER

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An ordinary research paper has the ff table of contents:

Prefatory Pages
Title page
Dedication Page
Letter of transmittal
Approval sheet
Acknowledgement page
Abstract
Table of contents
List of Figures

Report Proper
I. Introduction
Background of the Study
Statement of the problem
Objectives of the study
Significance of the study
Scope and limitations of the study
Conceptual/Theoretical framework of the study
Research paradigm
Assumptions
Operational definition of terms

II. Survey of related literature and studies

Local and foreign literature
Local and foreign studies

III. Methodology
Sampling
Instrumentation
Method and Procedures

IV. Presentation of Analysis and Data

V. Summary of Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations
Final Pages
Appendix
Index
Bibliography

CHAPTERS OF A RESEARCH PAPER

PREFATORY
• Title Page – consists of the research title, names of the researchers and name of the research adviser/teacher.
• Acknowledgement – a personal page where the researchers are given the privilege to extend gratitude to all
people who helped in accomplishing the research.
• Table of Contents – contains the accurate paging of each part of the research paper.
• List of Tables/Figures – contains the accurate paging of the tables/figures used in the study.

CHAPTER 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

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• Background of the Study – includes purpose and reason behind the conduct of the study. (What made you
conduct the study?) Also serves as the introduction.
• Statement of the Problem – the main problem that the research is trying to solve. It follows the formulation of
the title and should be faithful to it. It specifically points the important questions that the study needs to answer.
It also serves as the basis of the questionnaire.
• Significance of the Study – (Why conduct the study?) You have to identify who will benefit from the research
and how they will be benefitted. This should match with the recommendations.
• Assumptions of the Study – the expected outcome of the research.
• Scope and Limitations of the Study – determines the coverage of the study and all the things that it will not
cover in order to be specific.
• Definition of Terms – defines technical terms based on how they are used in the study, specifically in the title.
This aims to provide the readers or future researches with the basic terminologies that are important to understand
the paper.

CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

• This is where you will use your note cards and will serve as the foundation of your research.
• This is your own work and therefore should not directly lift words from other sources. This will require your
command of language and writing skills such as summarizing, paraphrasing and writing indirect speeches.
• Step 1 – Organize your note cards on how you would want them to appear in the chapter.
• Step 2 – Begin writing the chapter while including the surnames of authors who provided sources for your
study and the publication date of their work in parentheses.
• Step 3 – Edit. Rewrite.
CHAPTER 3
METHOD AND PROCEDURES

• Method of Research – the kind of research used by your study. This answers why the method used is
appropriate for the study.
• Subjects of the Study – describes your respondents: who they are, what their profile is, where they are from,
etc.
• Description of Research Instrument – describes your instrument which is the questionnaire.
• Data Gathering Procedure – narrates the process undergone by the study that eventually leads to the
findings.
• Statistical Treatment Applied - The statistical treatment that you will use which includes your sampling
method and formulas to come up

CHAPTER 4
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

• Results of the Study – presents all the data gathered using the questionnaire by tabulating all the gathered
information. Aside from the tables, an interpretation of each presented data should follow. These will serve as
the bases of your Summary of Findings.

CHAPTER 5
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• Summary of Findings – summarizes the interpretation of data given in Chapter 4. These should directly
answer your statement of the problem.
• Conclusions – Out of your findings, your conclusions are based. This provides the answers for every
statement of the problem. This is where you will prove your hypotheses and assumptions.
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• Recommendations – should be directly based on the significance of the study. This also includes the
recommended actions that should be done after the conduct of the study such as further assessment of the
subject, focus on other factors, etc.
FINAL
• Bibliography – where you will use your source cards. Presents the sources using APA or MLA format.
• Appendix (e.g., survey questionnaire, interview questions) – attachments

In the report proper, the researcher introduces the topic with a historical and general background of the
study. The statement of the problem in which the hypothesis(scientific guess) is stated, the purposes of the study,
the limitations of the study, the limitation of the study, the theories serving as bases for the study, the research
model showing the variables and their relationship, the assumptions made by the researcher, and the technical
terms and how they are used in the study.

The survey of related literature and studies is a discussion of reading materials available locally and abroad
regarding the study conducted and the studies related to the same research work.

The chapter on methodology is an analysis of the sampling (population and samples), instrumentation
(measuring instrument, e.g., test/survey questionnaires and statistical tools, e.g., chi-squares and Pearson
correlation coefficient), and research method and steps in conducting the research.

The data are presented and analyzed in the fourth chapter, while the findings are summarized and
conclusions are enumerated in the fifth chapter.

The prefatory pages and the final pages are explained in an earlier chapter.

Characteristics of Research

R Resolute A research work must be marked by courage and firm determination on the part
of the researcher to adequately complete his work.
E Essential It must be significant not only to the researcher, but also, and more importantly,
to the readers of his work.
S Statistically Sound It must present numerical data that are correct.
E Empirical It must be based on the researcher’s experiences, whether direct or vicarious.
A Accurate It must be devoid of errors in grammar, mechanics, facts, organization, and the
likes.
R Results-Oriented It must produce the desired effects which the researcher initially has in mind
prior to the conduct of research.
C Critical It must be a product of good judgment and critical thinking.
H Hypothesis-Based It must be based on a scientific guess (hypothesis) which is stated either
positively (alternative hypothesis) or negatively (null hypothesis).
W Well-done It must not be haphazardly or hastily done.
O Objective It must be devoid of biases, prejudices, and subjectiveness.
R Restricted It must be limited in scope.
K Knowledge-laden It must be loaded with the information that the readers need.
S Systematic it must be done and presented in an orderly manner.

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