'The Research Paper
Why write a research paper?
Scientists are frequently asking questions, designing experiments, and testing hypotheses. In order to share their work, they compile all of the relevant data from their log books and report it in a paper. These papers are often shared with the world by being published for others to read.
What are the parts of a research paper?
Introduction
This should include the purpose/question, hypothesis, and explanation of what made you decide to research what you chose, and what you hoped to gain from the research. This should be in paragraph form.
Background Information
Background information is gathered during the research process. You use this information to help form your hypothesis and design your test. If you are curious about which material is best to absorb oil from an oil spill in the ocean, you could research and record information on the following:
Materials and Methods
List all materials for project. IN DETAIL, describe the methods you used to collect data, make observations (what did you do? How often? What measurement tools did you use and why? The paper should be in so much detail that ANYONE that picks up your paper and reads it could replicate your project). This is a great location for photos of equipment, especially if you design any of it.
ResultsAll data is here:
Discussion
This is the REAL MEAT of your paper. This is your opportunity to compare your results with any theoretical values, published data, commonly held beliefs and/or your expected results. In your discussion you may do/answer the following:
Conclusion
Credits
Give credit where credit is due - here you may list individuals, businesses, or research institutions that have assisted you. Please note that credits may NOT be displayed on the project board
References
Your list should include ANY documentation that is not your own. Please cite your work using MLA format. Some great places for help on the MLA style: http://www.easybib.com/, the Perdue OWL MLA Style Guide
* this information is taken directly from the RMS science fair website created by Ashley Shaver
Scientists are frequently asking questions, designing experiments, and testing hypotheses. In order to share their work, they compile all of the relevant data from their log books and report it in a paper. These papers are often shared with the world by being published for others to read.
What are the parts of a research paper?
- Title Page
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Background information
- Materials and Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions
- Credits
- References
Introduction
This should include the purpose/question, hypothesis, and explanation of what made you decide to research what you chose, and what you hoped to gain from the research. This should be in paragraph form.
Background Information
Background information is gathered during the research process. You use this information to help form your hypothesis and design your test. If you are curious about which material is best to absorb oil from an oil spill in the ocean, you could research and record information on the following:
- absorbency rates of different materials
- the relationship between water and oil
- affect of oil on ocean life
- current and past practices used to clean up oil spills
- the chemical make up of oil and ocean water
- cost of different materials used to clean up oil spills
Materials and Methods
List all materials for project. IN DETAIL, describe the methods you used to collect data, make observations (what did you do? How often? What measurement tools did you use and why? The paper should be in so much detail that ANYONE that picks up your paper and reads it could replicate your project). This is a great location for photos of equipment, especially if you design any of it.
ResultsAll data is here:
- data tables
- graphs created from data
- raw data
- observations
Discussion
This is the REAL MEAT of your paper. This is your opportunity to compare your results with any theoretical values, published data, commonly held beliefs and/or your expected results. In your discussion you may do/answer the following:
- Compare what happened in your experiment to what you expected
- Discuss possible errors
- How did the data vary between observations/trials?
- How were your results affected by uncontrolled events?
- What would you do differently if you repeated this project?
- What other experiments should be conducted?
Conclusion
- Provide a brief summary of your results.
- State the relationship (if any) that you found between your two variables (independent and dependent).
- Support those statements with empirical data (meaning an average of your trials instead of data from a specific trial). BE SPECIFIC - not general.
- Don't mention anything new here that has not already been discussed in your paper.
- This is also the place to mention how your findings can be applied in the real world.
Credits
Give credit where credit is due - here you may list individuals, businesses, or research institutions that have assisted you. Please note that credits may NOT be displayed on the project board
References
Your list should include ANY documentation that is not your own. Please cite your work using MLA format. Some great places for help on the MLA style: http://www.easybib.com/, the Perdue OWL MLA Style Guide
* this information is taken directly from the RMS science fair website created by Ashley Shaver
Sample Research Paper
The Abstract can be done later. This paper is NOT printable, but you can pull it up and look at it from the Science Buddies' website. http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_final_report.shtml#sample