A research paper summarizes the findings of an original study on a given topic or subject. While there are several things to consider when writing research papers, research paper structure is one of the key elements to give precedence. The structure is important because it enables you to organize and present your ideas in a logical manner.

Components of a Research Paper Structure

Research papers can be written in different formats including APA, MLA, Chicago and other styles. However, the structural components of the paper are more or less the same. A typical research paper structure should comprise the following.

• Title Page
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• References
• Tables and Figures

1. Title Page

The title page is the first section of the research paper that should clearly tell the readers about what the it is called and the person who wrote it. If you are writing the paper as part of your coursework then, the title page should also show your institutional affiliations. That information is usually placed towards the bottom section of the page. Sometimes, the Author Note may also contain the acknowledgement of any support or individuals who helped with the project.

2. Abstract

Although many students often leave out the abstract page, it is of greater importance in the research paper structure. It provides a short summary of the paper, telling readers about the aims and outcomes of the research. It should describe the purpose of the study, the methods that you have used and the conclusions made.

The abstract is supposed to tell your readers what the paper is about in very few words. The best time to write the abstract is after the completion of the paper. That is because the abstract should summarize the aims of the study, methodology and conclusion.

3. Introduction

The introduction is the first major section of a research paper. It should tell the readers what the paper is about and why it is worth their time. The introduction should describe the topic of the study, summarize or discuss in a few lines any relevant prior research. It should also identify any resolved issues that the current study seeks to explore and give an overview of the research that is to be described in detail in the section that will follow. 

The introduction serves three main goals including;

• Scope: The subject or topic that will be discussed in the paper.
• Context: The background of the topic.
• Importance: Why the research matters in the context of an industry, sector or the entire world.

While the introduction might seem as covering a lot of ground in a typical research paper structure, it should only take about a half a page or a few pages. However, the length may also vary based on the size of the paper. Nonetheless, the introduction should include a topic overview, rationale of the paper, describe the methodology used, thesis statement and an outline.

4. Methodology

The methodology section is a vital part of the research paper structure that tells the readers about what you did in detail. It should present a clear description of how you performed the research. A typical methodology section should describe the subjects or participants involved in the study, the design of the research, the materials used and the procedures of the study.

The methodology should present a detailed description of the study process used to support the findings. The section should also explain the techniques and create a roadmap of how you arrived at the conclusions. A great methodology section not only discusses the tactics used but, also presents the case for why you chose the methods used in the research.

Sharing the methodology gives your study legitimacy. Thus, an erroneous or wrong methodology creates unreliable results. The methods that you have discussed in the study need to be repeatable, meaning that anyone who applies them should also be able to arrive at similar conclusions. 

The following are steps for crafting the methodology section.

• Restate the thesis statement or research problem. That allows the readers to follow the study step by step.
• Explain the approach or type of research used in the study. You should describe the reasoning behind your chosen research method.
• Explain if there are any unusual or uncommon processes applied in the study.
• Describe how the data used in the research was collected. Readers should be able to see how you designed the study, how any variables were measured and the tools needed to carry out the research. You should also explain how the existing data was sourced and how the original one was gathered.
• Explain the methods used to analyse the collected data. However, you should not discuss any results or conclusions of the study.
• Evaluate and justify the methodological choices that you made. Describe the criteria that you applied in choosing your approach to the study. You should also point out any potential weaknesses in the methodology, with evidence to support the said choice.
• Outline any obstacles that you encountered in the study and how you overcame them.

Writing the methodology requires you to go beyond the shallow discussion of your methods and show how and why you used them. You should also be very keen to focus on the research questions. Your task should be to relate the methodology choices to the central theme of the study.

5. Results

The results section should tell the readers about what your study discovered. It is the part of the research paper outline, which describes the data that was generated and the results of any statistical tests that were conducted. It could also carry an analysis of the procedures used in the research. The results section summarizes and present the findings and put them in a context with your research question.

The data of the study should be presented in a logical sequence without interpretation or bias. You can present the findings in a written text, tables, graphs and other kinds of illustrations. You should also remember to include a contextual analysis of the data by linking it back the research question.

You should only share relevant data and findings that connect with the goal of the research. The reason for that is because too much data could easily overwhelm your readers. A good results section will showcase the findings of a study without trying to analyse or interpret the data. 

Like a research paper structure, the results section should also follow a specific order. The information should be presented in a logical order, with the following three main segments.

• Start with an introduction to link the results to the research question. This should bring the focus of the reader back to the purpose of the study after the reading the literature review and methods section.
• Present your findings in a structured way, for example, chronologically, to bring the attention of the readers to any important, interesting or significant findings. Be sure to integrate both text and visuals to enrich the content.
• Include a closing paragraph that summarizes the key findings of the research. That creates way for the discussion section that usually comes after the results section. 

6. Discussion

The discussion is the final major section in your research paper structure should clearly tell the readers about the significance of your results. It commonly presents a summary of the results that were obtained in the research and how those findings address the topic of study. The section should also address any limitations and directions for future research.

The following is a step by step guide on how to write the discussion section of a research paper.

• Summarize the key findings of the study.
• Present your interpretations of the results
• Give the implications of the study or tell the readers why the study matters
• State any limitations of the study
• Give recommendations or any avenues for further studies. 

7. References

The references page presents a list of any books or articles cited in the study. The list of references should appear in alphabetical order, based on the formatting style of the paper. Check the instructions of the paper to determine the required formatting style. However, many institutions use APA formatting style for most academic papers.

8. Tables and Figures

Graphs and data are optional in some cases, depending on the type of study being conducted. The formatting style of the paper should guide you on how to place the tables and figures.

In conclusion, a good research paper structure puts your study into perspective, telling readers where to look for particular information. It also helps you to organize your points in a logical manner.

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