Writing the Research Paper

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Writing the Research Paper

• Zooey 9810003m
• Angela 9810010m

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Chapter I Introduction

• A. Area of Study Provide a general
• introduction to the topic outline the
• problem
• B. Definition of Terms Define important
• terms concepts
• C. The purpose of the study
• D. Assumptions Make hypotheses for
• the proposed study

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Chapter II Literature Review

• A. History Provide a review of the
• historical background
• B. Current Literature Include a review of
• current relevant with the analysis of
• pros and cons
• C. Research Problem Provide research
• questions

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Chapter III Methodology

• A. Research Questions and Hypotheses
• Propose them based on literature
• review (major points)
• B. Research Design
• Quantitative research Use a survey (three design
  considerations discuss how to design
  questionnaire)
• Qualitative research Use interviews (present a
  rationale for the design of choice)
• Grounded theory Develop a theory after
  gathering
• and analyzing the data

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• C. Sample
• Quantitative research Describe sampling
  techniques and rationale for method used for
  selecting the sample and sample size
• Qualitative research describe the criteria for
  the selection for the participants and setting

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Research Questions and Hypotheses

• 4 categories of research questions
• 1. Descriptive questions Provide information
  about what is or has been happening related to
  the research topic
• 2. Normative questions Provide information
  compared with some standard or expected
  observation
• 3. Correlative questions Identify relationship
• 4. Impact questions Indentify effect

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Research Questions and Hypotheses

• Two types of hypotheses
• 1. Directional hypothesis
• e.g.," If ss can get teachers positive comments.
  (then) they will have a better writing
  performance because (pro 1).
• 2. Null hypothesis
• e.g., There is no difference between teachers
  positive comments and ss writing performance
  because (con 1).

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Research Design

• Mixed-Methods Models Design Apply the
  quantitative and qualitative methods
  simultaneously (parallel) or sequentially.
• 4 design options
• 1. Pragmatic parallel mixed-methods
• 2. Pragmatic sequential mixed-methods
• 3. Transformative parallel mixed-methods
• 4. Transformative sequential mixed-methods

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Survey Research

• 3 design considerations
• 1. Descriptive approach A survey describing the
  characteristics of a sample at one point in time
  (e.g., senior students research paper writing
  difficulties in the Department of Applied English
  at I-Shou University in 2009)

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• 2. Cross-sectional approach A survey examining
  several groups at one point in time (e.g.,
  different grade level students writing
  difficulties in the AE Department at ISU in 2009)
• 3. Longitudinal approach A survey examining one
  group at different points in time (e.g., 1-year,
  2-year, and 3-year graduates perceptions of RP
  course in the AE Department at ISU in 2006-2008)

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• 5 probability sampling
• 1. Simple random sampling Each member has a
  number (code) and each population has an equal
  chance to be selected
• 2. Systematic sampling Select every nth name
  from the list, so need to estimate the needed
  sample size
• 3. Stratified sampling Divide the populations
  into subgroups (e.g., genders) or levels (e.g.,
  proficiency levels) and then draw randomly from
  each subgroup

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• 4. Cluster sampling Choose groups of individuals
  (e.g., city blocks or classrooms in a school, and
  study all of the samples there)
• 5. Multistage sampling Combine sampling
  strategies (e.g., use cluster sampling to
  randomly select classrooms and use random
  sampling to select a sample with each classroom)

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Data Collection Procedures

• Quantitative research Describe the procedures
  that the data will be collected by using a survey
• Open Questions
• Close Questions Classificational questions, List
  questions, Ranking questions, Scale (rating)
  questions

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Data Collection Procedures

• Qualitative research Describe the use of
  audiotapes, note-taking
• Interviewer is the important tool.

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Data Analysis Procedures

• Quantitative research Describe how you handled
  the data provide statistical procedures (e.g.,
  compute mean score or frequency)

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Data Analysis Procedures

• Qualitative research Describe data analysis
  strategies explain multiple sources of data
• Form your grounded theory

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Limitations of the Study

• Explain anticipated limitations of the study
• Ex Sample size is too small.

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Results

• Just report what the data say (you may give the
  subheading based on each hypothesis)

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Results

• Findings from the quantitative results ( or
  mean)
• Ex 4.2 means that most participant agree
  that
• B. Findings from the qualitative results (3
  excerpts)
• C. Fit into your hypotheses or not
• (e.g., broadly/partially/do not fit)

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Discussions and Conclusion

• A. Interpret the meanings of data (discuss why
  your participants would think/say so)
• B. Discuss whether the findings fit into the
  literature or not
• C. Form any grounded theory?

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Discussions and Conclusion

• D. The results will be useful to whom?
• E. Any limitation to reach the generalizability
• F. Draw conclusions and suggestions (about
  improvement)
• based on your or minoritys opinions