RESEARCH PAPER

What is a Research Paper?

A research paper is not:

A mindless regurgitation of everything you have read about a subject A reiteration of an argument found in a book or article with few resources added A reproduction of what you read

A Research Paper is a report that an individual/group presents to others about the conclusions he or she has reached after investigating a subject and carefully assessing the information he or she has gathered

Definition

Thinking and Learning

Asking questions

Gathering as much information as possible on the subject in an effort to find answers to those questions
Carefully and systematically judging analyzing the information gathered and

RESEARCH

RESEARCH

An idea can not be developed without the concrete facts about the world
Depending upon the type of evidence gathered, research can be divided in two types

Types of Research

Primary Research

Secondary Research

Primary Research

Facts/Evidence are gathered by going directly to the source

Depending upon the evidence gathered by the researcher himself. Also called Dependent Variables

Primary Research

Example:

A chemist sets up an experiment in the lab to see exactly what happens when chemicals are mixed A businessman will carefully check the annual reports of a company or prowl around the factory and offices himself.

Secondary Research

Also called the Independent Variables: Existing data/work done by the experts in the field:

Research papers Reports Articles Theories Books Government Census

Secondary Research

Questions to think of when looking at the existing data/work of others:

What type of facts is the author using? Where did these facts come from?

Are you aware of the facts that the author didn't use?

Secondary Research

How does the author interpret the facts? What is that authors argument? Is it a reasonable argument?

Best way is to conduct an ideal research use a combination of Primary and Secondary data.

Classification of Evidence

Facts Inferences Judgments

Facts

Pieces of information that can objectively observed and measured

be

Facts: for example:

The size and chemical composition of rocks found on the moon The standardized test score of specific students at a specific school in a given year The number of images related to the sun in Shakespeares Richard II

Inferences

Statements about the unknown made on the basis of the known

It is a hypothesis that may or may not be valid

Inferences

It is based on a study of a sample not the whole population e.g. Busing increases the academic performance of minority students

It is based on the study of sample of minority students who were bused

Judgments

Expressions of the writers approval or disapproval of the occurrences, persons, or objects he/she is describing

Statements about the writers personal feelings about a subject

Judgments

It depends upon the mental sets and need of the researcher what judgments or inferences are made e.g.

Temperature outside is 0oC

On person may say its cold out there; Id better wear hat and gloves Another person may say Perfect skiing weather

Why do primary or secondary research?

To gather facts
To test To reassess own inferences about any subject

To carefully examine the judgments and inferences of others to determine whether these inferences or hypothesis about the world seem reasonable

Evaluating Evidence

Avoid biases, prejudices and idiosyncrasies of your own minds A systematic and objective way to assess and examine the facts should be used e.g.

Quantitative evidence: Mathematical models like statistical analyses Qualitative Evidence: Logic i.e. the reasonable arguments

Evaluating Evidence

If not done systematically you would only be rationalizing or justifying one of your opinions

Rationalization and justification are the antithesis of the whole purpose of research

Purpose of Research

Not the justification of the hypothesis, but the final truth!

A solution, an answer that the evidence points to

The individual who seeks only the evidence that supports his/her original assumption and disregards the rest is?

A Rationalizer

The individual who seeks truth whether it supports his original assumption or not is?

A Researcher