Introduction to academic research writing

Welcome to the exciting world of research writing! If you’ve never done this before, don’t worry. We know very well that one of the hardest tasks in one’s education journey especially in tertiary education is the task of conducting a research project. Generally, a research project is a step by step journey that starts by writing a research topic and submitting it to your supervisor for approval.

Upon approval by the supervisor, the next step is writing a research proposal which consists of details of what your research project will entail. The next step is submitting your finished research proposal to your supervisor who then either sends it back with comments to address or endorses you for field data collection. After collecting data, analyzing it and discussing findings and other additional reviews that we shall see below, you compile all that information into your research proposal as additional chapters and that collective paper is what we call an academic research report.

Remember that during compiling the results from the field into the proposal, you have to change the future tense in the research proposal to past tense since the proposal was detailing what will be done while the report has details of what has been done. And just as simple as that, congraturations! You now know the structural basics of how a research journey looks like. If you have been among those who have been wondering how this structural journey flows, you’ve come to the correct place. In this section, we shall take you step by step in what makes an academic research paper if you’ve been wondering what it is composed of.

We’ll give you a thorough explanation of the components of an academic research paper in this post. But before we dive into details, let us first understand what a research paper is. A research paper is a piece of writing that a student produces to the supervisor as a partial fulfillment of the award (Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or Doctorate degree) that clearly and succinctly presents the findings of a study or investigation concerning a specific study. A well-written research paper adheres to a set format that makes the material easier for the reader to comprehend. Now that we have understood the basics, let us dive into the major components of an academic research paper that makes it successful and useful

1. Title

Your title is the first thing that your supervisor will see. It should be clear and tell the reader what your research is about. Think of it like a book title – it should be interesting and give a hint of the story inside. The title consists of two types of variables; the dependent and independent variables. Think of a variable as characteristics or attributes that can be measured, manipulated, or controlled. A change in the independent variable affects the dependent variable but not vice versa. Below is one of the examples of academic research titles showing the independent and dependent variables:

From the example above, we understand that Social media can affect the change in adolescents’ behaviour but on the contrary, adolescents’ behaviour does not change social media.

2. Abstract

The abstract is like a movie trailer for your research. It’s a short summary (usually about 150-250 words) that gives an overview of what you studied, how you did it, what you found out, and why it matters. Keep it brief but informative.

Remember that for an abstract for a research proposal simply consists of an overview of what you wish to study, how you are going to do it (objectives, methods and sample selection)

Example of an academic research proposal abstract vs report abstract:

Title: The Effect of School Gardening Programs on Children’s Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Habits

Proposal Abstract: This research proposal aims to investigate how school gardening programs influence children’s knowledge about nutrition and their dietary habits. The study will focus on elementary schools in the urban areas of kampala. By implementing a gardening program where children grow their own vegetables, we hope to see an improvement in their understanding of nutrition and a positive change in their eating habits. The study will take on a cross-sectional research design and a non-probability research method which will be snowball sampling. A sample size of 500 students will be interviewed. The study will use a combination of surveys and interviews with students, teachers, and parents to gather data. We believe that hands-on learning through gardening can play a crucial role in promoting healthier eating habits among children.

Report abstract: This report investigates the impact of school gardening programs on children’s nutrition knowledge and dietary habits in urban elementary schools in Kampala. Over six months, 80.05% of students participated in gardening activities where they grew various vegetables. Data were collected through pre- and post-program surveys, interviews with students, teachers, and parents, and observations of students’ eating habits in the school cafeteria. The results show a significant increase in children’s understanding of nutrition concepts and a notable improvement in their willingness to consume vegetables. Teachers reported higher student engagement in lessons related to health and nutrition. Parents observed positive changes in their children’s food choices at home. The study concludes that school gardening programs can be an effective strategy to enhance nutrition education and promote healthier eating habits among children.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

This is the first chapter in an academic research proposal paper. Many research beginners tend to make mistakes in various sub-chapters in this chapter since each requires its respective principles / format of writing. In this chapter, you explain what your research is about, why it’s important, and what you hope to find out. You also include some background information to help readers understand the topic. Think of it like introducing a new friend to your family – you share a little about their background and why they are interesting or like the opening scene of a movie. Let us dive into the sub-components of this chapter:

1. Background of the Study

The background of the study consists of answers to, “what is this topic about?”, “why is it relevant?”, “what is already know about this topic?”, “which gaps have been left unattended to and why are you choosing to fill those gaps?” It helps readers understand the broader area of your research and why it is important.

In simple terms, a background of the study should consist of;

Overview of the Topic: Briefly explain what your research topic is about.
Context and Relevance: Describe the setting or context in which your research takes place and why it is relevant now.
Existing Knowledge: Summarize what is already known about the topic, citing key studies or theories.
Gap in Knowledge: Point out any gaps or limitations in the existing research that your study aims to address.

2. Problem Statement

Just like how you have read it, this sub chapter describes the problem you are itending to address through research. The main reason why your supervisor is interested in this tsubchapter is because he wants to know whether you really understand the problem you are talking about and how much is its magnitude. The problem statement clearly defines the issue your research will address. It’s the core of your research, explaining what needs to be studied and why.

So, below are a few things you should include in your problem statement.
Current state of the problem: Clearly state the specific problem your research will tackle.
Ideal / expected state: describe how the system should actually be functioning if not the existence of the problem. In short, how do you expect this system to be ideally.
Reality state: explain how the occurrence of the problem has affected the system, leading to its malfunctioning and why there is an immediate need to solve it.
Importance: Explain why this problem is significant and worth investigating.
Scope: Define the scope of the problem, indicating who or what is affected.
Conclusion: According to you, how much do you think is the magnitude of this problem and why this study is worth solving the problem.

3. Research Objectives

Research objectives outline what you aim to achieve with your study. They provide a clear direction and focus for your research.

What to Include:

Main Objectives: State the primary goals of your research.
Specific Objectives: Break down the main objectives into smaller, specific ones that guide your data collection and analysis.

Example:

Main Objective: To evaluate the impact of school gardening programs on students’ nutrition knowledge.
Specific Objectives:
1. To measure changes in students’ nutrition knowledge before and after participation in gardening activities.
2. To assess the influence of gardening programs on students’ dietary habits.

4. Research Questions or Hypotheses

Research questions or hypotheses are the specific inquiries (for research questions) or predictions (for hypotheses) your study will test.

For research questions, If you are exploring, list the specific questions your study will answer. It is advisable to formulate them from the specific objectives to maintain the narrow focus. But for hypotheses, state the hypotheses you will test, including both the null and alternative hypotheses.

Example:

Research Question: How do school gardening programs affect students’ nutrition knowledge and dietary habits?
Hypothesis: Students who participate in school gardening programs will have significantly higher nutrition knowledge scores compared to those who do not participate.

5. Significance of the Study

The significance of the study explains why your research is important and what impact it could have in the study area as well as to future similar problems.

The following is what you may include:

Contribution to Knowledge: Describe how your study will add to the existing knowledge in your field.
Practical Implications: Explain the practical benefits of your research findings.
Theoretical Implications: Discuss how your study might challenge or support existing theories.
Policy Implications: If relevant, explain how your research could influence policy-making.

6. Justification of the Study

The justification explains why your research is necessary and why you are the right person to conduct it. In short, it is a brief description of what the study seeks to contribute to the existing knowledge and why it is worth it.

The following may be included:

Need for the Study: Explain why your research is needed.
Relevance to Field: Describe how your study is relevant to current issues or trends in your field.
Addressing Gaps: Identify the gaps in existing research that your study will address.
Timeliness: Explain why now is the right time to conduct your research.

7. Scope of the Study

The scope defines the boundaries of your research, detailing what will and will not be covered in your study. It includes;

Geographical Boundaries: Specify where the study will take place.
Population or Sample: Define who or what will be included in your study.
Time Frame: Indicate the time period during which the research will be conducted.
Subject Matter: Describe the specific aspects of the topic you will focus on.
Limitations and Exclusions: Clarify what will not be covered in your study.