The document outlines the process for writing a research paper, including planning, identifying a topic, formulating research questions, and determining the paper's type. It discusses the typical sections of a research paper like the introduction, literature review, and conclusion. The document provides tips for writing clearly and concisely as well as editing. It also discusses finding appropriate journals to publish in, the review process, and important ethical and legal considerations.

1. Writing Research Paper
Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood
Department of Library and Information Science
University of the Punjab
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2. Agenda
• Research paper
• Planning for writing a research paper
• Identifying a topic
• Formulating research questions/hypotheses
• Types of research paper
• Contents of a research paper
• Writing tips
• Publishing research paper
• Legal and ethical issues in research
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3. Other Writing vs.
Research Paper
• Fiction • Non-fiction
• Poem • Analysis
• Short story • Evaluation
• Novel • Comparison
• Play
• Must have
• Deals with: sources/
– Emotions
– Feelings references
• Sources????
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4. Planning for writing a
research paper
1. Writing research paper is a long and
boring process
2. It requires high level of commitment
3. Start work well before the due date
4. Break down the research process into
steps.
5. Assign a due date for each step.
6. Make weekly and daily priority lists.
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5. Identifying a topic
• Interesting to you
• Enhancement of previous research
• Areas of weakness in current research
• Current trends
• Not too broad or too narrow
• Workable
• Acceptable to the funding agency,
conference organizers or journal editor
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6. Formulating a research question
• Decide what question you want to
answer with your research.
• Formulate a question.
• For example:
– How does exercise improve someone’s mental health?
– What are the effects of violent video games on
elementary school children?
– Should elementary schools provide more programming
in the arts?
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7. Hypothesis
• Hypotheses are more specific
predictions about the nature and
direction of the relationship between
two variables.
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8. Types of research paper
• Empirical study
• Literature review
• Theoretical article
• Methodological article
• Case study
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9. Contents of a research paper
• Title • Results
• Author’s name and • Discussion
affiliation (Byline) • Conclusion
• Abstract • References
• Keywords • Acknowledgements
• Introduction • Biographical sketch
• Literature review • Appendices
• Method
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10. Title
• Clear and explanatory title
• An incomplete sentence
• Brief and concise
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11. Abstract
• Miniature of the text
• 150 to 200 words
• Paragraph or structured
• Descriptive or informative
• Complete concise sentences
• Contents of Abstracts:
– Purpose or scope of the paper
– Methods
– Results, conclusions and recommendations
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12. Introduction
• Identifies subject area of interest
• States the purpose and hypothesis of
the study
• Provides a statement of the rationale
for approach to the problem studied.
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13. Literature review
• Establishes context of the study by
providing a brief and balanced review of
pertinent published literature available
on subject.
• General to specific
• Name-date citations
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14. Method
• Study design
• Participants and their characteristics
• When and where study conducted
• Sampling method and size
• Variables measured
• Method of collecting data
• How data analyzed: Statistical procedures
used
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15. Results
• Objective presentation of key findings
without interpretation
• Orderly, logical sequence using text and
illustrations (figures/tables)
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16. Discussion
• Answers questions posed in introduction
• Interprets results in comparison to what is
already known on the subject.
• Explains new understanding of the subject
based on present results
• It tells the readers how present study
moved from what was known to what is new
• Outlines limitations of the study
• Discusses ideas for future research
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17. Conclusion
• Summary
• Recommendations
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18. References
• Complete citations for research cited
• References are listed in alphabetical order
by the first author’s last name
• Citations according to style manual, e.g.,
APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
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19. Acknowledgments
• Included as needed
• Significant help in thinking, designing,
implementing, materials supplied etc.
• Funding agency.
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20. Appendix
• Begins on a new page
• If you have only one then label it
“Appendix”
• If you have more than one, label with a
letter in the order mentioned in the text,
Appendix A, Appendix B
• Each appendix should have a title that
reflects the content
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21. Writing clearly and
concisely
• Length
• Organizing a paper with headings
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22. Headings
Five levels
CENTERED UPPERCASE HEADING
Centered Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
Centered, Italicized, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
Flush Left, Italicized, Uppercase and Lowercase Heading
Indented, italicized, lowercase paragraph heading,
ending with a period, with following text starting on the
same line.
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23. Writing style
• Continuity in presentation of ideas
– Punctuation marks
– Transitional words
• Smoothness of expression
– Simple language
– Different from literary writing
• Economy of expression
– Avoid wordiness and redundancy
• Precision and clarity
– Avoid jargon and slang
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24. Grammar
• Prefer active voice
• Select tense carefully
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25. Style
• Capitalization
• Spacing
• Italics
• Spelling (American or British)
• Abbreviations
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26. Numbers
• In general write as words all numbers
from one to nine and use numerals
for all numbers 10 and over.
• Never begin a sentence with a
numeral.
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27. Seriation
• Within paragraph or sentence: use lowercase letter in
parentheses
Participants considered (a) some alternative courses of
action, (b) the factors influencing the decision, and (c) the
probability of success.
• Separate paragraphs: number each paragraph with an arabic
numeral, followed by a period
1. Begin with paragraph indent. Type second and
succeeding lines flush left.
2. The second item begins a new paragraph.
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28. Tables
Table 2
Reading Level for First Through Third Graders Children
Number of Viewing
Grade Reading Level
Hours
First Grade 5 - 10 hours 2.8
Second Grade 16 - 20 hours 2.6
Third Grade 11 - 15 hours 4.2
Note. Reading level refers to average reading level for students in
that year and month of school.
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29. Figures
Figure 2. Pie chart of total sales
Other 3%
IT Services 14%
Imaging and
Printing Systems
41%
Computing
Systems 42%
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30. Tips in writing results
• Do not reiterate each value or finding from the
table – only mention salient points
• Do not present the same data in table and figure:
this is redundant
• Do not report raw data values when they can be
summarized as means, percent, etc.
• Statistical test and value should be mentioned
• Always mention appropriate units with data
• Only present percentages to one decimal point
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31. Editing
• Consistent font (style, size, color)
• Consistent line spacing
• Break up text with bullets
• Include figures, drawings, photos
• Use subheads
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32. Do Your Numbers Add Up?
• Have you accounted for all of your study
participants?
– Do number of patients in treatment and control
groups match total number of participants?
• Do your percentages add up to 100?
• Do your percentages and raw numbers
agree?
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33. Final manuscript
• Use 8 ½” x 11” white paper
• Print on only one side of each piece of paper
• Double line spacing
• Use one inch margins at the top, bottom, and
sides
• Indent each paragraph ½ inch (5 spaces) from the
left margin
• Number each page in the top right corner
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34. How to find journals for
publishing research
paper
• Ulrich's International Periodical Directory
• Directory of Open Access Journals
(DOAJ)
• Journal Citation Reports
• IngentaConnect
• HEC recognized journals
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35. How to select right journal
• Look at your reference list
• Ask your colleagues for advice
• Think about who will want to read your paper
• Read papers from short-listed journals
• Put your shortlist of journals in rank order,
from first choice to last choice
• Discuss your choice with your co-authors
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36. Criteria for journal selection
• Referring system
• Citation scores
• Circulation
• Journal type
• Time lag
• Reputation of editors
• Professional vs. commercial ownership
• Quality of production
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37. Manuscript submission to journals
• Guidelines for authors
• Process of submission
• Acknowledgement by editor
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38. Review
process
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39. Process of review
• First scanning by editor
• Selection of reviewers
• Double blind review
• Time for review
• Decision of reviewers
• Communication of decision to author
• Acceptance, Rejection or Revision
• Submission and review of revised version
• Final decision
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40. Handling reviewers’ comments
• Make adjustments and attach
explanation
• Don’t feel obligated to make all
recommended changes
• Don’t take comments personally
• Be polite in all correspondence
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41. Publishing process
• Paying for publication
• Copyright agreement by author
• Decision of issue to include paper
• Copy editing
• Proof reading
• Printing
• Notification of publishing to author
• Delivery of printed issue and off-prints
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42. Ethical issues in research
• Accurate reporting of research results
• Data retention and sharing
• Duplication and piecemeal publication
• Plagiarism
• Protecting confidentiality
• Conflict of interest
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43. Legal issues in research
• Publication credit
– Co-authorship
– Order of authorship
• Publishing contract
• Copyright
• Defamation
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44. Thanks for your patience
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