Writing Research Paper 2017

Writing a research paper
Dr Ramodungoane Tabane
R Tabane 1
FREE student notes uploaded by students to www.gimmenotes.co.za (NOT FOR SALE)
Remember
• Undergrads
– 2 pages
– references
• Post Graduate (Masters and PhD)
– 8 pages
– + Abstract and
– References
• GUIDELINES ARE THERE FOR A REASON. Please stick to them
• ALWAYS KEEP the assessment criteria in mind
– 20% Originality
– 50% Scientific/ Intellectual merit
– 15% Potential application
– 15% Overall quality of the submission
100%
R Tabane 2
• Select a broad Topic
• Literature used to justify research problem
R Tabane 3
Introduction vs Research Background
Abstract
• A summary of what your paper is about.
• Usually between 200
MUST state
• What is the problem
• Describe what the researcher did
• Describe why the researcher did what he/ she did
• Describe what happened (n.b Methodology)
• Describe what the results mean
• Describe the recommendations
R Tabane 4
Introduction
Seeks to give an entry in general about what you are going to TELL/
REPORT/ WRITE about.
You are attempting to inform the reader about the rationale behind the
work, justifying why your work is an essential component of research in
the field.
No strict word limit, unlike with the abstract, but it should be as concise
as possible.
R Tabane 5
TIPS to write a good introduction
• Keep it Short
A long and rambling introduction will soon put people off and lose your
audience.
• Define the Problem

– The entire introduction should logically end at the research question
and thesis statement or hypothesis.
– By the end of the introduction, the reader should know exactly what
you are trying to achieve with the paper.
• Keep it coherence and organised

– The story must be clear where it is going
R Tabane 6
Background
• Seeks to set a scene, tells where you are coming from

and hints on the why/ importance of your work
• Creates context and highlights how it fits with previous
researches/ know facts.
– What is the status quo on or about your topic
– Definitions that might be important to your topic
• Allows historical narratives relevant to your study
• Can give the reasons why the researcher want to
undertake this study (what bothers you/ encouraged you)
• It can form part of your introduction
• No strict word limit, however it should be about 1 to 1½
pages
R Tabane 7
TIPS to write a good background
• Begin the section with clear descriptions of the where

you are coming from (Background)
• Tell us about the history of the problem.
– Be specific
– Be coherent
– Refer to relevant literature/ acts/ policies, etc. where
need be and be precise
• REMEMBER:
You are explaining or highlighting here factors that led to
the problem, comprise the problem and historical
significance relative to the problem
R Tabane 8
Motivation of the study
• Motivation vs Rationale of the study

(Always keep your research question in mind)
• Key QUESTION
– WHY…
• is this study undertaken/ conducted?
– WHO…
• is the target for the study?
R Tabane 9
Rationale of the study
• Rationale is defined as the reasoning behind a decision

or something.
• The fundamental reasons, or rational basis, for
something
• What is the rationale for the proposed research?

• What are you trying accomplish and how will this
research accomplish your aims?
R Tabane 10
Purpose of the study
Write purpose statement

– Three basic elements
• Central issue/ phenomenon you are going to study
• Participants/ target group/ subjects
• Research site
– Research methodology can be included
R Tabane 11
Purpose of the study
• What does this research seek to

investigate/ find out/ explore/research
• This study seeks to explore….It will
reflect on whether……
• The purpose of this research is
to….
R Tabane 12
Purpose/ Aim of the study
• Note: Difference between Research PURPOSE and AIM

of the research. Is there one?
• Purpose – Reason for conducting it

– My purpose was to tap telephones.
• Aim – Intent to achieve….

– So that I can over hear the conversations.
R Tabane 13
Purpose/ Aim of the study
• What does this research seek to

investigate/ find out/ explore/research
• The purpose of this research is

to….
• This study seeks to explore….It will
reflect on whether……
• The study aims to bring forth the

experiences of .......and how to address
them (the experiences)
R Tabane 14
How to write a purpose statement
• “The purpose of this qualitative study will be to

(explore? discover? understand? describe? the
(central phenomenon) for (participants) at (research
site)” (Creswell, 2002: 149)
Example: The purpose of this qualitative study will

be to explore the experiences of high school
principals in terms of school management in rural
settings.
The aim is of bringing to the fore the contextual
factors affecting rural principals’ school
management practices.
R Tabane 15
ACTIVITY: Is the following statement
strong or weak research statement
R Tabane 16
ACTIVITY: The purpose of the research
• The purpose of my research is to prove that
there is a link between class size and students
achievement (3 min)
• Weak – The researcher is predisposed to a
particular outcome for the research (PROVE)
• Strong–Quantitative research, wants to prove
• The purpose of my research is to eliminate
drug abuse among high school children (3 min)
• Weak – The researcher confuses INQUIRY
with ACTIVISM (Eliminate)
• Strong – The researcher refuses to make a
distinction between abstract inquiry and
committed research; Action oriented research
is a respectable form of inquiry
R Tabane 17
Research Problem
• Problem statement??
• Research Problem???
• Research Questions????
• Research hypothesis?????
What is the gist here:
What is it that you are trying to

ANSWER or PROVE
R Tabane 18
2. Research Problem
What is the....
PROBLEM/ PUZZULE/QUESTION
....that I want to investigate/ find out/

explore/research?
R Tabane 19
Research question (s)
• Flow from purpose statement and are general
and broad
• Three basic elements
• Central issue/ phenomenon you are going
to study
• Participants/ target group/ subjects
• Research site
• Research methodology should be kept in mind
Example: What are the high school
principals’ school management experiences
in rural settings?
R Tabane 20
3. Research Question (S)
Higher level questions

1. How
2. Why do
3. What
Lower level questions

1. Do…..
2. Is there…..
The problem with lower level questions is that

they tend to have a YES or NO response
•Subquestions
R Tabane 21
4. Rationale/ Significance of your study
• Why do you propose to do this research?
• Who will benefit from findings of your

study
R Tabane 22
Significance of the study
• What is the CAPITAL of this study?

• What VALUE will this study bring to knowledge?/ to participants?
• What ADDITIONS will this study bring?
• What is the VALUE that this study is contributing to practice?/ to policy?
• What is innovative about this study?
• What importance is this study bringing to another person’s life/ livelihood?
– “ The study will develop a community centre model for caring for
children in child-headed homes”
– “The study will develop a patient referral model between the traditional
health practioners and the allopathic practitioners”
R Tabane 23
Limitations vs Assumptions
Limitations
• Opportunity to highlight ANY weaknesses in your study
• Weakness can be due to Methodology; Research itself,
etc.
Assumptions
• They are preconceived ideas or conclusions in relation to
you study before you undertake and/ or complete it
• NB. Point out any assumptions that you make about
conditions during the research.
R Tabane 24
References
• Ensure that all the cited work is indicated.

• References vs Bibliography
• NB Plagiarims
– Turnit in software – an originality checking tool
• Always remember Ethics of research
R Tabane 25
Remember
• The purpose of this presentation is to give a guide on research proposal

writing, with the aim of assisting the participants in gaining proficiency in
research proposal writing.
• This presentation will not make you proficient in research proposal writing.
It is your activities after you have listen to this presentation that may result
in your proficiency in research proposal writing.
R Tabane 26
Ke ya leboga.
Thank you.
R Tabane 27

Writing Research Paper 2017

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Writing Research Paper 2017

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Writing a research paper

• Literature used to justify research problem

• Define the Problem

• Keep it coherence and organised

• Seeks to set a scene, tells where you are coming from

• Begin the section with clear descriptions of the where

• Motivation vs Rationale of the study

• Rationale is defined as the reasoning behind a decision

• What is the rationale for the proposed research?

Write purpose statement

• What does this research seek to

• Note: Difference between Research PURPOSE and AIM

• Purpose – Reason for conducting it

• Aim – Intent to achieve….

• What does this research seek to

• The purpose of this research is

• The study aims to bring forth the

• “The purpose of this qualitative study will be to

Example: The purpose of this qualitative study will

What is the gist here:

What is it that you are trying to

....that I want to investigate/ find out/

Higher level questions

Lower level questions

The problem with lower level questions is that

• Why do you propose to do this research?

• Who will benefit from findings of your

• What is the CAPITAL of this study?

• Ensure that all the cited work is indicated.

• The purpose of this presentation is to give a guide on research proposal

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