RESEARCH ARTICLES STRUCTURE
Abstract - f) This section is a brief synopsis of the study, and packs a lot of information
into as little as 150 words or even less. It contains information about the problem that
was investigated, how it was investigated, and the major findings of the study, and hints
at the theoretical and practical implications of the findings. Thus, it is a useful summary
of the research that provides the gist of the whole investigation. Reading this section
first can be very helpful, because it tells you where the report is going, and gives you a
useful framework for organizing information contained in the article.
Introduction - b) Here, the researchers set the stage for the study. They present the
problem under investigation, and state why it was important to study. By providing a
brief review of past research and theory (the 'Literature Review') relevant to the central
issue of investigation, the researchers place the study in an historical and current
context and suggest how their study advances knowledge of the problem within this
context. Beginning with broad theoretical and practical considerations, the researchers
delineate the rationale that led them to the specific set of hypotheses tested in the
study. They also describe how they decided on their research strategy (e.g., why they
chose an experiment, a correlational study or a survey).
Methods - d) In this section, the researchers translate their hypotheses into a set of
specific, testable questions. The researchers state, as appropriate, when, where and
how the study was done, any materials or apparatus used, and any subjects or
participants involved. Data collection materials, such as questionnaires are also
described. Finally, the researchers describe chronologically the procedures of the study.
This section is presented in great detail so that other researchers can recreate the study
to confirm (or question) its results.
Results - c) In this section, the author(s) interpret the results, outline the implications of
the study and provide possible descriptions of future research that should be conducted.
Discussion - a) This section frequently opens with a summary of what the study found,
and an evaluation of whether the findings supported the original hypotheses or
answered the original research questions. Here, the researchers evaluate the
theoretical and practical implications of their results. This can be particularly interesting
when the results did not work out exactly as the researchers anticipated. Often,
researchers will also report any aspects of their study that limit their interpretation of its
results, and suggest further research that could overcome these limitations to provide a
better understanding of the problem under investigation.
Conclusion(s) - e) This section reminds the reader why the article was written in the first
place. At the beginning of the article, the writer will have promised to fill a knowledge
'gap', and in this section should use the argument made for the need for the article in
the introduction to present the case that this is in fact what they have done. 'So what?'
and 'Now what?' questions should also be answered. The writer must not assume that
