quality research paper writing

How To Write A Research Paper

Step-By-Step Tutorial With Examples + FREE Template

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) | Expert Reviewer: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | March 2024

For many students, crafting a strong research paper from scratch can feel like a daunting task – and rightly so! In this post, we’ll unpack what a research paper is, what it needs to do , and how to write one – in three easy steps. 🙂 

Overview: Writing A Research Paper

What (exactly) is a research paper.

• How to write a research paper
• Stage 1 : Topic & literature search
• Stage 2 : Structure & outline
• Stage 3 : Iterative writing
• Key takeaways

Let’s start by asking the most important question, “ What is a research paper? ”.

Simply put, a research paper is a scholarly written work where the writer (that’s you!) answers a specific question (this is called a research question ) through evidence-based arguments . Evidence-based is the keyword here. In other words, a research paper is different from an essay or other writing assignments that draw from the writer’s personal opinions or experiences. With a research paper, it’s all about building your arguments based on evidence (we’ll talk more about that evidence a little later).

Now, it’s worth noting that there are many different types of research papers , including analytical papers (the type I just described), argumentative papers, and interpretative papers. Here, we’ll focus on analytical papers , as these are some of the most common – but if you’re keen to learn about other types of research papers, be sure to check out the rest of the blog .

With that basic foundation laid, let’s get down to business and look at how to write a research paper .

Overview: The 3-Stage Process

While there are, of course, many potential approaches you can take to write a research paper, there are typically three stages to the writing process. So, in this tutorial, we’ll present a straightforward three-step process that we use when working with students at Grad Coach.

These three steps are:

• Finding a research topic and reviewing the existing literature
• Developing a provisional structure and outline for your paper, and
• Writing up your initial draft and then refining it iteratively

Let’s dig into each of these.

Need a helping hand?

Step 1: Find a topic and review the literature

As we mentioned earlier, in a research paper, you, as the researcher, will try to answer a question . More specifically, that’s called a research question , and it sets the direction of your entire paper. What’s important to understand though is that you’ll need to answer that research question with the help of high-quality sources – for example, journal articles, government reports, case studies, and so on. We’ll circle back to this in a minute.

The first stage of the research process is deciding on what your research question will be and then reviewing the existing literature (in other words, past studies and papers) to see what they say about that specific research question. In some cases, your professor may provide you with a predetermined research question (or set of questions). However, in many cases, you’ll need to find your own research question within a certain topic area.

Finding a strong research question hinges on identifying a meaningful research gap – in other words, an area that’s lacking in existing research. There’s a lot to unpack here, so if you wanna learn more, check out the plain-language explainer video below.

Once you’ve figured out which question (or questions) you’ll attempt to answer in your research paper, you’ll need to do a deep dive into the existing literature – this is called a “ literature search ”. Again, there are many ways to go about this, but your most likely starting point will be Google Scholar .

If you’re new to Google Scholar, think of it as Google for the academic world. You can start by simply entering a few different keywords that are relevant to your research question and it will then present a host of articles for you to review. What you want to pay close attention to here is the number of citations for each paper – the more citations a paper has, the more credible it is (generally speaking – there are some exceptions, of course).

Ideally, what you’re looking for are well-cited papers that are highly relevant to your topic. That said, keep in mind that citations are a cumulative metric , so older papers will often have more citations than newer papers – just because they’ve been around for longer. So, don’t fixate on this metric in isolation – relevance and recency are also very important.

Beyond Google Scholar, you’ll also definitely want to check out academic databases and aggregators such as Science Direct, PubMed, JStor and so on. These will often overlap with the results that you find in Google Scholar, but they can also reveal some hidden gems – so, be sure to check them out.

Once you’ve worked your way through all the literature, you’ll want to catalogue all this information in some sort of spreadsheet so that you can easily recall who said what, when and within what context. If you’d like, we’ve got a free literature spreadsheet that helps you do exactly that.

Step 2: Develop a structure and outline

With your research question pinned down and your literature digested and catalogued, it’s time to move on to planning your actual research paper .

It might sound obvious, but it’s really important to have some sort of rough outline in place before you start writing your paper. So often, we see students eagerly rushing into the writing phase, only to land up with a disjointed research paper that rambles on in multiple

Now, the secret here is to not get caught up in the fine details . Realistically, all you need at this stage is a bullet-point list that describes (in broad strokes) what you’ll discuss and in what order. It’s also useful to remember that you’re not glued to this outline – in all likelihood, you’ll chop and change some sections once you start writing, and that’s perfectly okay. What’s important is that you have some sort of roadmap in place from the start.

At this stage you might be wondering, “ But how should I structure my research paper? ”. Well, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution here, but in general, a research paper will consist of a few relatively standardised components:

• Introduction
• Literature review
• Methodology

Let’s take a look at each of these.

First up is the introduction section . As the name suggests, the purpose of the introduction is to set the scene for your research paper. There are usually (at least) four ingredients that go into this section – these are the background to the topic, the research problem and resultant research question , and the justification or rationale. If you’re interested, the video below unpacks the introduction section in more detail. 

The next section of your research paper will typically be your literature review . Remember all that literature you worked through earlier? Well, this is where you’ll present your interpretation of all that content . You’ll do this by writing about recent trends, developments, and arguments within the literature – but more specifically, those that are relevant to your research question . The literature review can oftentimes seem a little daunting, even to seasoned researchers, so be sure to check out our extensive collection of literature review content here .

With the introduction and lit review out of the way, the next section of your paper is the research methodology . In a nutshell, the methodology section should describe to your reader what you did (beyond just reviewing the existing literature) to answer your research question. For example, what data did you collect, how did you collect that data, how did you analyse that data and so on? For each choice, you’ll also need to justify why you chose to do it that way, and what the strengths and weaknesses of your approach were.

Now, it’s worth mentioning that for some research papers, this aspect of the project may be a lot simpler . For example, you may only need to draw on secondary sources (in other words, existing data sets). In some cases, you may just be asked to draw your conclusions from the literature search itself (in other words, there may be no data analysis at all). But, if you are required to collect and analyse data, you’ll need to pay a lot of attention to the methodology section. The video below provides an example of what the methodology section might look like.

By this stage of your paper, you will have explained what your research question is, what the existing literature has to say about that question, and how you analysed additional data to try to answer your question. So, the natural next step is to present your analysis of that data . This section is usually called the “results” or “analysis” section and this is where you’ll showcase your findings.

Depending on your school’s requirements, you may need to present and interpret the data in one section – or you might split the presentation and the interpretation into two sections. In the latter case, your “results” section will just describe the data, and the “discussion” is where you’ll interpret that data and explicitly link your analysis back to your research question. If you’re not sure which approach to take, check in with your professor or take a look at past papers to see what the norms are for your programme.

Alright – once you’ve presented and discussed your results, it’s time to wrap it up . This usually takes the form of the “ conclusion ” section. In the conclusion, you’ll need to highlight the key takeaways from your study and close the loop by explicitly answering your research question. Again, the exact requirements here will vary depending on your programme (and you may not even need a conclusion section at all) – so be sure to check with your professor if you’re unsure.

Step 3: Write and refine

Finally, it’s time to get writing. All too often though, students hit a brick wall right about here… So, how do you avoid this happening to you?

Well, there’s a lot to be said when it comes to writing a research paper (or any sort of academic piece), but we’ll share three practical tips to help you get started.

First and foremost , it’s essential to approach your writing as an iterative process. In other words, you need to start with a really messy first draft and then polish it over multiple rounds of editing. Don’t waste your time trying to write a perfect research paper in one go. Instead, take the pressure off yourself by adopting an iterative approach.

Secondly , it’s important to always lean towards critical writing , rather than descriptive writing. What does this mean? Well, at the simplest level, descriptive writing focuses on the “ what ”, while critical writing digs into the “ so what ” – in other words, the implications . If you’re not familiar with these two types of writing, don’t worry! You can find a plain-language explanation here.

Last but not least, you’ll need to get your referencing right. Specifically, you’ll need to provide credible, correctly formatted citations for the statements you make. We see students making referencing mistakes all the time and it costs them dearly. The good news is that you can easily avoid this by using a simple reference manager . If you don’t have one, check out our video about Mendeley, an easy (and free) reference management tool that you can start using today.

Recap: Key Takeaways

We’ve covered a lot of ground here. To recap, the three steps to writing a high-quality research paper are:

• To choose a research question and review the literature
• To plan your paper structure and draft an outline
• To take an iterative approach to writing, focusing on critical writing and strong referencing

Remember, this is just a b ig-picture overview of the research paper development process and there’s a lot more nuance to unpack. So, be sure to grab a copy of our free research paper template to learn more about how to write a research paper.

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• How to write a research paper

Last updated

11 January 2024

Reviewed by

With proper planning, knowledge, and framework, completing a research paper can be a fulfilling and exciting experience. 

Though it might initially sound slightly intimidating, this guide will help you embrace the challenge. 

By documenting your findings, you can inspire others and make a difference in your field. Here's how you can make your research paper unique and comprehensive.

• What is a research paper?

Research papers allow you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of a particular topic. These papers are usually lengthier and more detailed than typical essays, requiring deeper insight into the chosen topic.

To write a research paper, you must first choose a topic that interests you and is relevant to the field of study. Once you’ve selected your topic, gathering as many relevant resources as possible, including books, scholarly articles, credible websites, and other academic materials, is essential. You must then read and analyze these sources, summarizing their key points and identifying gaps in the current research.

You can formulate your ideas and opinions once you thoroughly understand the existing research. To get there might involve conducting original research, gathering data, or analyzing existing data sets. It could also involve presenting an original argument or interpretation of the existing research.

Writing a successful research paper involves presenting your findings clearly and engagingly, which might involve using charts, graphs, or other visual aids to present your data and using concise language to explain your findings. You must also ensure your paper adheres to relevant academic formatting guidelines, including proper citations and references.

Overall, writing a research paper requires a significant amount of time, effort, and attention to detail. However, it is also an enriching experience that allows you to delve deeply into a subject that interests you and contribute to the existing body of knowledge in your chosen field.

• How long should a research paper be?

Research papers are deep dives into a topic. Therefore, they tend to be longer pieces of work than essays or opinion pieces. 

However, a suitable length depends on the complexity of the topic and your level of expertise. For instance, are you a first-year college student or an experienced professional? 

Also, remember that the best research papers provide valuable information for the benefit of others. Therefore, the quality of information matters most, not necessarily the length. Being concise is valuable.

Following these best practice steps will help keep your process simple and productive:

1. Gaining a deep understanding of any expectations

Before diving into your intended topic or beginning the research phase, take some time to orient yourself. Suppose there’s a specific topic assigned to you. In that case, it’s essential to deeply understand the question and organize your planning and approach in response. Pay attention to the key requirements and ensure you align your writing accordingly. 

This preparation step entails

Deeply understanding the task or assignment

Being clear about the expected format and length

Familiarizing yourself with the citation and referencing requirements 

Understanding any defined limits for your research contribution

Where applicable, speaking to your professor or research supervisor for further clarification

2. Choose your research topic

Select a research topic that aligns with both your interests and available resources. Ideally, focus on a field where you possess significant experience and analytical skills. In crafting your research paper, it's crucial to go beyond summarizing existing data and contribute fresh insights to the chosen area.

Consider narrowing your focus to a specific aspect of the topic. For example, if exploring the link between technology and mental health, delve into how social media use during the pandemic impacts the well-being of college students. Conducting interviews and surveys with students could provide firsthand data and unique perspectives, adding substantial value to the existing knowledge.

When finalizing your topic, adhere to legal and ethical norms in the relevant area (this ensures the integrity of your research, protects participants' rights, upholds intellectual property standards, and ensures transparency and accountability). Following these principles not only maintains the credibility of your work but also builds trust within your academic or professional community.

For instance, in writing about medical research, consider legal and ethical norms , including patient confidentiality laws and informed consent requirements. Similarly, if analyzing user data on social media platforms, be mindful of data privacy regulations, ensuring compliance with laws governing personal information collection and use. Aligning with legal and ethical standards not only avoids potential issues but also underscores the responsible conduct of your research.

3. Gather preliminary research

Once you’ve landed on your topic, it’s time to explore it further. You’ll want to discover more about available resources and existing research relevant to your assignment at this stage. 

This exploratory phase is vital as you may discover issues with your original idea or realize you have insufficient resources to explore the topic effectively. This key bit of groundwork allows you to redirect your research topic in a different, more feasible, or more relevant direction if necessary. 

Spending ample time at this stage ensures you gather everything you need, learn as much as you can about the topic, and discover gaps where the topic has yet to be sufficiently covered, offering an opportunity to research it further. 

4. Define your research question

To produce a well-structured and focused paper, it is imperative to formulate a clear and precise research question that will guide your work. Your research question must be informed by the existing literature and tailored to the scope and objectives of your project. By refining your focus, you can produce a thoughtful and engaging paper that effectively communicates your ideas to your readers.

5. Write a thesis statement

A thesis statement is a one-to-two-sentence summary of your research paper's main argument or direction. It serves as an overall guide to summarize the overall intent of the research paper for you and anyone wanting to know more about the research.

A strong thesis statement is:

Concise and clear: Explain your case in simple sentences (avoid covering multiple ideas). It might help to think of this section as an elevator pitch.

Specific: Ensure that there is no ambiguity in your statement and that your summary covers the points argued in the paper.

Debatable: A thesis statement puts forward a specific argument––it is not merely a statement but a debatable point that can be analyzed and discussed.

Here are three thesis statement examples from different disciplines:

Psychology thesis example: "We're studying adults aged 25-40 to see if taking short breaks for mindfulness can help with stress. Our goal is to find practical ways to manage anxiety better."

Environmental science thesis example: "This research paper looks into how having more city parks might make the air cleaner and keep people healthier. I want to find out if more green spaces means breathing fewer carcinogens in big cities."

UX research thesis example: "This study focuses on improving mobile banking for older adults using ethnographic research, eye-tracking analysis, and interactive prototyping. We investigate the usefulness of eye-tracking analysis with older individuals, aiming to spark debate and offer fresh perspectives on UX design and digital inclusivity for the aging population."

6. Conduct in-depth research

A research paper doesn’t just include research that you’ve uncovered from other papers and studies but your fresh insights, too. You will seek to become an expert on your topic––understanding the nuances in the current leading theories. You will analyze existing research and add your thinking and discoveries.  It's crucial to conduct well-designed research that is rigorous, robust, and based on reliable sources. Suppose a research paper lacks evidence or is biased. In that case, it won't benefit the academic community or the general public. Therefore, examining the topic thoroughly and furthering its understanding through high-quality research is essential. That usually means conducting new research. Depending on the area under investigation, you may conduct surveys, interviews, diary studies , or observational research to uncover new insights or bolster current claims.

7. Determine supporting evidence

Not every piece of research you’ve discovered will be relevant to your research paper. It’s important to categorize the most meaningful evidence to include alongside your discoveries. It's important to include evidence that doesn't support your claims to avoid exclusion bias and ensure a fair research paper.

8. Write a research paper outline

Before diving in and writing the whole paper, start with an outline. It will help you to see if more research is needed, and it will provide a framework by which to write a more compelling paper. Your supervisor may even request an outline to approve before beginning to write the first draft of the full paper. An outline will include your topic, thesis statement, key headings, short summaries of the research, and your arguments.

9. Write your first draft

Once you feel confident about your outline and sources, it’s time to write your first draft. While penning a long piece of content can be intimidating, if you’ve laid the groundwork, you will have a structure to help you move steadily through each section. To keep up motivation and inspiration, it’s often best to keep the pace quick. Stopping for long periods can interrupt your flow and make jumping back in harder than writing when things are fresh in your mind.

10. Cite your sources correctly

It's always a good practice to give credit where it's due, and the same goes for citing any works that have influenced your paper. Building your arguments on credible references adds value and authenticity to your research. In the formatting guidelines section, you’ll find an overview of different citation styles (MLA, CMOS, or APA), which will help you meet any publishing or academic requirements and strengthen your paper's credibility. It is essential to follow the guidelines provided by your school or the publication you are submitting to ensure the accuracy and relevance of your citations.

11. Ensure your work is original

It is crucial to ensure the originality of your paper, as plagiarism can lead to serious consequences. To avoid plagiarism, you should use proper paraphrasing and quoting techniques. Paraphrasing is rewriting a text in your own words while maintaining the original meaning. Quoting involves directly citing the source. Giving credit to the original author or source is essential whenever you borrow their ideas or words. You can also use plagiarism detection tools such as Scribbr or Grammarly to check the originality of your paper. These tools compare your draft writing to a vast database of online sources. If you find any accidental plagiarism, you should correct it immediately by rephrasing or citing the source.

12. Revise, edit, and proofread

One of the essential qualities of excellent writers is their ability to understand the importance of editing and proofreading. Even though it's tempting to call it a day once you've finished your writing, editing your work can significantly improve its quality. It's natural to overlook the weaker areas when you've just finished writing a paper. Therefore, it's best to take a break of a day or two, or even up to a week, to refresh your mind. This way, you can return to your work with a new perspective. After some breathing room, you can spot any inconsistencies, spelling and grammar errors, typos, or missing citations and correct them. 

• The best research paper format 

The format of your research paper should align with the requirements set forth by your college, school, or target publication. 

There is no one “best” format, per se. Depending on the stated requirements, you may need to include the following elements:

Title page: The title page of a research paper typically includes the title, author's name, and institutional affiliation and may include additional information such as a course name or instructor's name. 

Table of contents: Include a table of contents to make it easy for readers to find specific sections of your paper.

Abstract: The abstract is a summary of the purpose of the paper.

Methods : In this section, describe the research methods used. This may include collecting data , conducting interviews, or doing field research .

Results: Summarize the conclusions you drew from your research in this section.

Discussion: In this section, discuss the implications of your research . Be sure to mention any significant limitations to your approach and suggest areas for further research.

Tables, charts, and illustrations: Use tables, charts, and illustrations to help convey your research findings and make them easier to understand.

Works cited or reference page: Include a works cited or reference page to give credit to the sources that you used to conduct your research.

Bibliography: Provide a list of all the sources you consulted while conducting your research.

Dedication and acknowledgments : Optionally, you may include a dedication and acknowledgments section to thank individuals who helped you with your research.

• General style and formatting guidelines

Formatting your research paper means you can submit it to your college, journal, or other publications in compliance with their criteria.

Research papers tend to follow the American Psychological Association (APA), Modern Language Association (MLA), or Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) guidelines.

Here’s how each style guide is typically used:

Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS):

CMOS is a versatile style guide used for various types of writing. It's known for its flexibility and use in the humanities. CMOS provides guidelines for citations, formatting, and overall writing style. It allows for both footnotes and in-text citations, giving writers options based on their preferences or publication requirements.

American Psychological Association (APA):

APA is common in the social sciences. It’s hailed for its clarity and emphasis on precision. It has specific rules for citing sources, creating references, and formatting papers. APA style uses in-text citations with an accompanying reference list. It's designed to convey information efficiently and is widely used in academic and scientific writing.

Modern Language Association (MLA):

MLA is widely used in the humanities, especially literature and language studies. It emphasizes the author-page format for in-text citations and provides guidelines for creating a "Works Cited" page. MLA is known for its focus on the author's name and the literary works cited. It’s frequently used in disciplines that prioritize literary analysis and critical thinking.

To confirm you're using the latest style guide, check the official website or publisher's site for updates, consult academic resources, and verify the guide's publication date. Online platforms and educational resources may also provide summaries and alerts about any revisions or additions to the style guide.

Citing sources

When working on your research paper, it's important to cite the sources you used properly. Your citation style will guide you through this process. Generally, there are three parts to citing sources in your research paper: 

First, provide a brief citation in the body of your essay. This is also known as a parenthetical or in-text citation. 

Second, include a full citation in the Reference list at the end of your paper. Different types of citations include in-text citations, footnotes, and reference lists. 

In-text citations include the author's surname and the date of the citation. 

Footnotes appear at the bottom of each page of your research paper. They may also be summarized within a reference list at the end of the paper. 

A reference list includes all of the research used within the paper at the end of the document. It should include the author, date, paper title, and publisher listed in the order that aligns with your citation style.

10 research paper writing tips:

Following some best practices is essential to writing a research paper that contributes to your field of study and creates a positive impact.

These tactics will help you structure your argument effectively and ensure your work benefits others:

Clear and precise language:  Ensure your language is unambiguous. Use academic language appropriately, but keep it simple. Also, provide clear takeaways for your audience.

Effective idea separation:  Organize the vast amount of information and sources in your paper with paragraphs and titles. Create easily digestible sections for your readers to navigate through.

Compelling intro:  Craft an engaging introduction that captures your reader's interest. Hook your audience and motivate them to continue reading.

Thorough revision and editing:  Take the time to review and edit your paper comprehensively. Use tools like Grammarly to detect and correct small, overlooked errors.

Thesis precision:  Develop a clear and concise thesis statement that guides your paper. Ensure that your thesis aligns with your research's overall purpose and contribution.

Logical flow of ideas:  Maintain a logical progression throughout the paper. Use transitions effectively to connect different sections and maintain coherence.

Critical evaluation of sources:  Evaluate and critically assess the relevance and reliability of your sources. Ensure that your research is based on credible and up-to-date information.

Thematic consistency:  Maintain a consistent theme throughout the paper. Ensure that all sections contribute cohesively to the overall argument.

Relevant supporting evidence:  Provide concise and relevant evidence to support your arguments. Avoid unnecessary details that may distract from the main points.

Embrace counterarguments:  Acknowledge and address opposing views to strengthen your position. Show that you have considered alternative arguments in your field.

7 research tips 

If you want your paper to not only be well-written but also contribute to the progress of human knowledge, consider these tips to take your paper to the next level:

Selecting the appropriate topic: The topic you select should align with your area of expertise, comply with the requirements of your project, and have sufficient resources for a comprehensive investigation.

Use academic databases: Academic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and JSTOR offer a wealth of research papers that can help you discover everything you need to know about your chosen topic.

Critically evaluate sources: It is important not to accept research findings at face value. Instead, it is crucial to critically analyze the information to avoid jumping to conclusions or overlooking important details. A well-written research paper requires a critical analysis with thorough reasoning to support claims.

Diversify your sources: Expand your research horizons by exploring a variety of sources beyond the standard databases. Utilize books, conference proceedings, and interviews to gather diverse perspectives and enrich your understanding of the topic.

Take detailed notes: Detailed note-taking is crucial during research and can help you form the outline and body of your paper.

Stay up on trends: Keep abreast of the latest developments in your field by regularly checking for recent publications. Subscribe to newsletters, follow relevant journals, and attend conferences to stay informed about emerging trends and advancements. 

Engage in peer review: Seek feedback from peers or mentors to ensure the rigor and validity of your research . Peer review helps identify potential weaknesses in your methodology and strengthens the overall credibility of your findings.

• The real-world impact of research papers

Writing a research paper is more than an academic or business exercise. The experience provides an opportunity to explore a subject in-depth, broaden one's understanding, and arrive at meaningful conclusions. With careful planning, dedication, and hard work, writing a research paper can be a fulfilling and enriching experience contributing to advancing knowledge.

How do I publish my research paper? 

Many academics wish to publish their research papers. While challenging, your paper might get traction if it covers new and well-written information. To publish your research paper, find a target publication, thoroughly read their guidelines, format your paper accordingly, and send it to them per their instructions. You may need to include a cover letter, too. After submission, your paper may be peer-reviewed by experts to assess its legitimacy, quality, originality, and methodology. Following review, you will be informed by the publication whether they have accepted or rejected your paper. 

What is a good opening sentence for a research paper? 

Beginning your research paper with a compelling introduction can ensure readers are interested in going further. A relevant quote, a compelling statistic, or a bold argument can start the paper and hook your reader. Remember, though, that the most important aspect of a research paper is the quality of the information––not necessarily your ability to storytell, so ensure anything you write aligns with your goals.

Research paper vs. a research proposal—what’s the difference?

While some may confuse research papers and proposals, they are different documents. 

A research proposal comes before a research paper. It is a detailed document that outlines an intended area of exploration. It includes the research topic, methodology, timeline, sources, and potential conclusions. Research proposals are often required when seeking approval to conduct research. 

A research paper is a summary of research findings. A research paper follows a structured format to present those findings and construct an argument or conclusion.

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• CAREER FEATURE
• 28 February 2018
• Correction 16 March 2018

How to write a first-class paper

• Virginia Gewin 0

Virginia Gewin is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Manuscripts may have a rigidly defined structure, but there’s still room to tell a compelling story — one that clearly communicates the science and is a pleasure to read. Scientist-authors and editors debate the importance and meaning of creativity and offer tips on how to write a top paper.

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Nature 555 , 129-130 (2018)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-02404-4

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Correction 16 March 2018 : This article should have made clear that Altmetric is part of Digital Science, a company owned by Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, which is also the majority shareholder in Nature’s publisher, Springer Nature. Nature Research Editing Services is also owned by Springer Nature.

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Writing a Quality Research Paper

Organize the information.

• Computer Databases, Internet, Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Journals, Books, etc. 
• After printing, highlight the relevant information.
• Paraphrase important information in the margins.
• Cite Bibliography from each resource
• After reviewing the data, develop basic contentions and sub-points. 
• Group research into the contention that each bit of data falls under. 
• Develop your own thoughts and analysis, expanding on what your research says.
• Construct a thesis statement: a sentence that is an umbrella statement including each contention.
• Make an outline and fit contentions and sub-points together in Roman Numeral fashion.
• Introduction with a developed thesis. 
• Cite quotations according to the chosen documentation style (MLA, APA, Turabian).
• Do not plagiarize by failing to credit the author with his or her thoughts. 
• Your own analysis and your perception of the relevance to the thesis after each bit of data. 
• Original conclusion with a recapitulation of major points.

Add Finishing Touches

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A Step-To-Step Guide to Write a Quality Research Article

• Conference paper
• First Online: 01 June 2023
• Cite this conference paper

• Amit Kumar Tyagi   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2657-8700 14 ,
• Rohit Bansal 15 ,
• Anshu 16 &
• Sathian Dananjayan   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6103-7267 17  

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems ((LNNS,volume 717))

Included in the following conference series:

• International Conference on Intelligent Systems Design and Applications

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Today publishing articles is a trend around the world almost in each university. Millions of research articles are published in thousands of journals annually throughout many streams/sectors such as medical, engineering, science, etc. But few researchers follow the proper and fundamental criteria to write a quality research article. Many published articles over the web become just irrelevant information with duplicate information, which is a waste of available resources. This is because many authors/researchers do not know/do not follow the correct approach for writing a valid/influential paper. So, keeping such issues for new researchers or exiting researchers in many sectors, we feel motivated to write an article and present some systematic work/approach that can help researchers produce a quality research article. Also, the authors can publish their work in international conferences like CVPR, ICML, NeurIPS, etc., or international journals with high factors or a white paper. Publishing good articles improve the profile of researchers around the world, and further future researchers can refer their work in their work as references to proceed with the respective research to a certain level. Hence, this article will provide sufficient information for researchers to write a simple, effective/impressive and qualitative research article on their area of interest.

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Nair, M.M., Tyagi, A.K., Sreenath, N.: The future with industry 4.0 at the core of society 5.0: open issues, future opportunities and challenges. In: 2021 International Conference on Computer Communication and Informatics (ICCCI), pp. 1–7 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCCI50826.2021.9402498

Tyagi, A.K., Fernandez, T.F., Mishra, S., Kumari, S.: Intelligent Automation Systems at the Core of Industry 4.0. In: Abraham, A., Piuri, V., Gandhi, N., Siarry, P., Kaklauskas, A., Madureira, A. (eds.) ISDA 2020. AISC, vol. 1351, pp. 1–18. Springer, Cham (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-71187-0_1

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Goyal, D., Tyagi, A.: A Look at Top 35 Problems in the Computer Science Field for the Next Decade. CRC Press, Boca Raton (2020) https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003052098-40

Tyagi, A.K., Meenu, G., Aswathy, S.U., Chetanya, V.: Healthcare Solutions for Smart Era: An Useful Explanation from User’s Perspective. In the Book “Recent Trends in Blockchain for Information Systems Security and Privacy”. CRC Press, Boca Raton (2021)

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Varsha, R., Nair, S.M., Tyagi, A.K., Aswathy, S.U., RadhaKrishnan, R.: The future with advanced analytics: a sequential analysis of the disruptive technology’s scope. In: Abraham, A., Hanne, T., Castillo, O., Gandhi, N., Nogueira Rios, T., Hong, T.-P. (eds.) HIS 2020. AISC, vol. 1375, pp. 565–579. Springer, Cham (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73050-5_56

Tyagi, A.K., Nair, M.M., Niladhuri, S., Abraham, A.: Security, privacy research issues in various computing platforms: a survey and the road ahead. J. Inf. Assur. Secur. 15 (1), 1–16 (2020)

Madhav, A.V.S., Tyagi, A.K.: The world with future technologies (Post-COVID-19): open issues, challenges, and the road ahead. In: Tyagi, A.K., Abraham, A., Kaklauskas, A. (eds.) Intelligent Interactive Multimedia Systems for e-Healthcare Applications, pp. 411–452. Springer, Singapore (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-6542-4_22

Mishra, S., Tyagi, A.K.: The role of machine learning techniques in the Internet of Things-based cloud applications. In: Pal, S., De, D., Buyya, R. (eds.) Artificial Intelligence-Based Internet of Things Systems. Internet of Things (Technology, Communications and Computing). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87059-1_4

Pramod, A., Naicker, H.S., Tyagi, A.K.: Machine Learning and Deep Learning: Open Issues and Future Research Directions for Next Ten Years. Computational Analysis and Understanding of Deep Learning for Medical Care: Principles, Methods, and Applications. Wiley Scrivener (2020)

Kumari, S., Tyagi, A.K., Aswathy, S.U.: The Future of Edge Computing with Blockchain Technology: Possibility of Threats, Opportunities and Challenges. In the Book Recent Trends in Blockchain for Information Systems Security and Privacy. CRC Press, Boca Raton (2021)

Dananjayan, S., Tang, Y., Zhuang, J., Hou, C., Luo, S.: Assessment of state-of-the-art deep learning based citrus disease detection techniques using annotated optical leaf images. Comput. Electron. Agric. 193 (7), 106658 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2021.106658

Nair, M.M., Tyagi, A.K.: Privacy: History, Statistics, Policy, Laws, Preservation and Threat analysis. J. Inf. Assur. Secur. 16 (1), 24–34 (2021)

Tyagi, A.K., Sreenath, N.: A comparative study on privacy preserving techniques for location based services. Br. J. Math. Comput. Sci. 10 (4), 1–25 (2015). ISSN: 2231–0851

Rekha, G., Tyagi, A.K., Krishna Reddy, V.: A wide scale classification of class imbalance problem and its solutions: a systematic literature review. J. Comput. Sci. 15 (7), 886–929 (2019). ISSN Print: 1549–3636

Kanuru, L., Tyagi, A.K., A, S.U., Fernandez, T.F., Sreenath, N., Mishra, S.: Prediction of pesticides and fertilisers using machine learning and Internet of Things. In: 2021 International Conference on Computer Communication and Informatics (ICCCI), pp. 1–6 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1109/ICCCI50826.2021.9402536

Ambildhuke, G.M., Rekha, G., Tyagi, A.K.: Performance analysis of undersampling approaches for solving customer churn prediction. In: Goyal, D., Gupta, A.K., Piuri, V., Ganzha, M., Paprzycki, M. (eds.) Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Information Management and Machine Intelligence. LNNS, vol. 166, pp. 341–347. Springer, Singapore (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-9689-6_37

Sathian, D.: ABC algorithm-based trustworthy energy-efficient MIMO routing protocol. Int. J. Commun. Syst. 32 , e4166 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1002/dac.4166

Varsha, R., et al.: Deep learning based blockchain solution for preserving privacy in future vehicles. Int. J. Hybrid Intell. Syst. 16 (4), 223–236 (2020)

Tyagi, A.K., Aswathy, S U.: Autonomous Intelligent Vehicles (AIV): research statements, open issues, challenges and road for future. Int. J. Intell. Netw. 2 , 83–102 (2021). ISSN 2666–6030. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijin.2021.07.002

Tyagi, A.K., Sreenath, N.: Cyber physical systems: analyses, challenges and possible solutions. Internet Things Cyber-Phys. Syst. 1 , 22–33 (2021). ISSN 2667–3452, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iotcps.2021.12.002

Tyagi, A.K., Aghila, G.: A wide scale survey on botnet. Int. J. Comput. Appl. 34 (9), 9–22 (2011). (ISSN: 0975–8887)

Tyagi, A.K., Fernandez, T.F., Aswathy, S.U.: Blockchain and aadhaar based electronic voting system. In: 2020 4th International Conference on Electronics, Communication and Aerospace Technology (ICECA), Coimbatore, pp. 498–504 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1109/ICECA49313.2020.9297655

Kumari, S., Muthulakshmi, P.: Transformative effects of big data on advanced data analytics: open issues and critical challenges. J. Comput. Sci. 18 (6), 463–479 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3844/jcssp.2022.463.479

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Sathian Dananjayan

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As the author belongs to the computer science stream, so he has tried to cover up this article for all streams, but the maximum example used in situations, languages, datasets etc., are with respect to computer science-related disciplines only. This work can be used as a reference for writing good quality papers for international conferences journals.

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Tyagi, A.K., Bansal, R., Anshu, Dananjayan, S. (2023). A Step-To-Step Guide to Write a Quality Research Article. In: Abraham, A., Pllana, S., Casalino, G., Ma, K., Bajaj, A. (eds) Intelligent Systems Design and Applications. ISDA 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 717. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-35510-3_36

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Writing a Research Paper

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The Research Paper

There will come a time in most students' careers when they are assigned a research paper. Such an assignment often creates a great deal of unneeded anxiety in the student, which may result in procrastination and a feeling of confusion and inadequacy. This anxiety frequently stems from the fact that many students are unfamiliar and inexperienced with this genre of writing. Never fear—inexperience and unfamiliarity are situations you can change through practice! Writing a research paper is an essential aspect of academics and should not be avoided on account of one's anxiety. In fact, the process of writing a research paper can be one of the more rewarding experiences one may encounter in academics. What is more, many students will continue to do research throughout their careers, which is one of the reasons this topic is so important.

Becoming an experienced researcher and writer in any field or discipline takes a great deal of practice. There are few individuals for whom this process comes naturally. Remember, even the most seasoned academic veterans have had to learn how to write a research paper at some point in their career. Therefore, with diligence, organization, practice, a willingness to learn (and to make mistakes!), and, perhaps most important of all, patience, students will find that they can achieve great things through their research and writing.

The pages in this section cover the following topic areas related to the process of writing a research paper:

• Genre - This section will provide an overview for understanding the difference between an analytical and argumentative research paper.
• Choosing a Topic - This section will guide the student through the process of choosing topics, whether the topic be one that is assigned or one that the student chooses themselves.
• Identifying an Audience - This section will help the student understand the often times confusing topic of audience by offering some basic guidelines for the process.
• Where Do I Begin - This section concludes the handout by offering several links to resources at Purdue, and also provides an overview of the final stages of writing a research paper.

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Writing an Effective Research Paper: Structure & Content

Essential Guidelines for Structuring a Research Paper

Lecturer: kevin j. heintz, m.a. english.

This lecture was presented at ChungAng University in Seoul, South Korea in November 2018. Wordvice/Essay Review Managing Editor Kevin J. Heintz explains how to organize and compose a research manuscript that will get your study published in top journals.

Even researchers whose first language is English must learn some specific rules and follow some standard conventions when writing research papers. This takes a completely different skillset than essay writing or sending emails to your professors and friends, and therefore it is a good idea for every researcher to keep learning how to improve research writing.

Research is about more than just the scientific principles and discoveries you are making—it is about sharing these discoveries with fellow researchers and with the public. And to do this, researchers must publish their work in journals. Strong writing is key to making your research more accessible and powerful, and therefore this presentation is not about the rigors of research, but the demands of research writing. The methods and information in this lecture can be applied to almost any kind of research paper, although of course the exact structure and content will be somewhat determined by where you are submitting your research.

Lecture Content

• Overview of Research Paper Writing
• The Structure of a Research Paper
• Composing Your Paper Sections
• Tips for Improving Quality of Writing

*Quizzes are given throughout the lecture to test your comprehension and understanding.

Research Paper Structure Overview

“what should a research paper do”.

• Share the knowledge you have gained about a specific area of study with other researchers
• Show how your study fits into current science.
• Inform the public about important scientific activity.
• Explain clearly and succinctly the context of your study, including relevant literature (Introduction), the methods used for research and analysis (Methods), the findings of your study (Results), and the implications for these results and further research that might be needed (Discussion and Conclusion).

“What are the most important factors to consider when writing a research paper?”

The research you conduct should of course be novel, timely, rigorous, and hopefully interesting. But you must also transmit your scientific research into  writing —a well-written paper will greatly improve your chances of getting accepted into journals. Here is an overview of the factors that help create quality writing in a research paper:

• All of the parts of your paper should fit together in an order that makes sense.
• Include all necessary information in each section needed to understand the other sections.
• Do not repeat information unless it is necessary.
• Ensure that your sentences are grammatically and logically coherent.

Organization

• Most scientific papers follow the  IMRD  structure—be sure to put the right parts in the right section (e.g., don’t include the literature review in the Methods section).
• As you do research you will notice that there are a great many pieces of information and data you COULD include in your paper. However, you need to conform to length guidelines and keep your paper focused. Therefore, you should be sure that you are choosing a proper number of items to focus on for each section.
• For example, if your study has 10 results but your paper can only be 4,000 words, you might want to narrow down these results to only those that support your hypothesis, perhaps the 3-5 most important results.
• The same applies to the Introduction, where you must choose what background, context, and relevant literature to include. Be sure to only include information that gives readers a focused and relevant understanding of your area of study.
• Clarity is related to coherence, organization, and relevance. It means ensuring that each paragraph and sentence in your paper is natural and easy to read and understand: proper grammar, phrasing, and style are key to writing a paper that is readable and comprehensible to both experts and possibly non-experts, depending on your target audience.
• Perhaps the most important rule is to  conform to the formatting guidelines and other style conventions of the journal to which you are submitting.  Check the “GUIDE FOR AUTHORS” section of the journal or conference, or if the paper is for a class, ensure that you are using the proper formatting requirements. Here is one handy site:  OWL—Online Writing Lab at Purdue University

Research Paper Structure

The general structure of scientific research papers is IMR&D (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion). The information moves from broad to specific to broad again as seen in this diagram, the Introduction and Discussion taking up the most room in your paper and the Methods and Results usually being the shortest ad most focused sections. However, the order in which you write your paper will not be the same as the final order of the information. Let’s first look briefly at what each section does and then discuss how to organize and compose your work.

Introduction Section

What does it do.

*Discusses the problem to be solved (purpose statement)

*Describes where your research fits into the current science (background and context)

*Uses primary literature with citations and summarizes the current understanding of the problem (“literature review”)

When do you write it?

*Write it last—after the conclusion and before the title and abstract

Methods Section

*Tells how you did the study—what materials and methods of research and analysis were used.

*First section you write—after preparing your figures and tables

Results Section

What does it do.

*Explains the important findings of your study that help to answer your research question or hypothesis and address your purpose statement.

*After the Methods and before the Discussion/Conclusion

Discussion/Conclusion Section

*Explains what your findings mean and what the implications and importance are both to your specific area of research and in a broader context (i.e., to the wider field or to society ).

*Includes limitations to your study and discusses possible future research that is needed to answer your research question more clearly and address closely related questions.

*After the Results Section and before the Introduction

Composing Your Research Paper Sections

This portion of the lecture focuses on developing techniques for composing your paper. You should always go back through your paper after one section is finished and correct or change another part, but by composing in this order you will be sure to include all of the important information. Not that the Methods and Results sections are written first. The reason for this is because you will not be changing or adding to these sections after you have evaluated your research—they represent the core data of your study.

Step 1: Prepare the figures and tables

Most likely, your research paper will use some figures, tables, or other graphics—they are also core data because they are usually numbers representing your findings and methods used. We won’t go into the details of how to prepare these here, but in the  Results section , we will go over how to write captions for the figures based on the data and research questions. For a detailed explanation of preparing and formatting figures, check out these sites (every journal will have their own formatting guidelines):

• Springer Online Research Resources
• ACSESS Digital Library (ASA, CSSA, and SSSA publications for reference)

Step 2: Write the Method s section

This section responds to the question  “How was the problem studied and analyzed?”

The Methods section should:

• Describe how an experiment was done
• Give a rationale for why specific experimental procedures were chosen
• Describe what was done to answer the research question and how it was done.
• Explain how the results were analyzed

Organization of Methods

Write the Methods section in this order to ensure proper organization and make it easier for readers to understand how your study was carried out:

• Description of materials used, including site and sample
• Explanation of how materials were prepared
• Explanation of how measurements were made and calculations performed
• Explanation of statistical methods to analyze data

Tips for the Methods Section

• Organize description of preparations, measurements, and protocol chronologically
• List the Methods in the same order as they will appear in the Results section
• Material should be organized by topic from most to least important
• Headings can be used to separated different results; paragraphs are often used instead

Step 3: Write the Results

This section responds to the question  “What did you find?”  Only the direct results of  your  research should be presented here, not any results from other studies. This is essentially an analysis of the data explained in sentence form so that it is easier to read and put into context.

The Results section should include:

• Findings presented in the same order as in the Methods section
• Data presented in tables, charts, graphs, and other figures (placed among research text or on a separate page)
• Reports on data collection, recruitment, and/or participants
• Data that corresponds to the central research question(s)
• Secondary findings (secondary outcomes, subgroup analyses, etc.)

Organization of Results

Write the Results in the same order as you wrote your Methods. One trusted method of writing the results is addressing specific research questions presented in the figures. Within each research question, present the type of data that addresses that research question.

Sample research question asked in a survey:

“What do hospital patients over age 55 think about postoperative care?”

Present this answer as a statement based on the data:

“Hospital patients over the age of 55 were 30% more likely to report negative experiences after postoperative care (M=83; see Fig. 1).”

Elaborate on this finding with secondary information included in the same paragraph:

“The most common negative issues reported were inattention by nurses, lack of proper medicine and a prolonged waiting period for personal issues ((P>12), (W>13), and (D>10); see Fig. 3).”

Caption your figures with the same method, using the data and research question to create phrases that give context to the data:

“Figure 1: Attitudes towards postoperative care in patients over the age of 55.”

Grammar Guidelines for Results

• When referencing figures, use the present tense; when discussing events of the experiment/study, use past tense
• Passive or active voice are generally acceptable—but consistency is most important. (Read articles from target journal).
• Cite the figure or table every time you reference it, just as you would another text.

Dos and Don’ts for Results

• Limit your results to only those that address your research questions; return to the Results section later after you have completed the Introduction and remove less relevant information.
• Indicate the statistical tests used with all relevant parameters. E.g., mean and standard deviation (SD): 44% (±3); median and interpercentile range: 7 years (4.5 to 9.5 years).
• Use mean and standard deviation to report normally distributed data.
• Use median and interpercentile range to report skewed data.
• For numbers, use two significant digits unless more precision is necessary (2.08, not 2.07856444).
• Never use percentages for very small samples. E.g., “one out of two” should not be replaced by 50%.

Step 4: Write the Discussion/Conclusion

This section responds to the question  “What do the results mean?”  This section is easy to write, but difficult to write well. It requires more than a simply analysis—you have to interpret and “sell” your data to the journal and researchers, explaining just how important your findings are. In fact, many manuscripts are rejected because the Discussion section is weak.

The Discussion and Conclusion are often considered to be part of the same section, but the Conclusion is sometimes considered a separate section. At any rate, the Conclusion will be a very short and clear justification of your work or suggestion for future studies.

In the Discussion Section you should:

• Critique your study—be honest about the effectiveness of your design; suggest modifications and improvement.
• Answer this question: “Did your study contribute to knowledge in the field or not?”
• Discuss the impact of this research on related research within the domain

Pre-writing Questions to Answer for the Discussion:

• How do these results relate to the original question or objectives outlined in the Introduction section?
• Do the data support your hypothesis?
• Are your results consistent with what other investigators have reported?
• Discuss weaknesses and discrepancies. If your results were unexpected, try to explain why
• Is there another way to interpret your results?
• What further research would be necessary to answer the questions raised by your results?

Organization of the Discussion Section

The Discussion section is more open than the Results and Methods section, but you should always focus first on what is MOST important and then move to what is less important to your research problem. Divide the analysis of results by paragraph and do not combine unrelated datasets in one paragraph

• The first paragraph/part should summarize the process, the results, and the overall purpose of this study.
• The second paragraph/part should answer questions about the limitations and potential flaws or shortcomings of this study (e.g., the “failure to reveal clear relationships between samples or groups”). Assesses which of the results are most useful in answering the research question.
• The third paragraph should focus on the successes of the study and highlight which method or approach yielded the best results or those most closely hypothesized. You can also compare the results of different methods and assess which was more fruitful and why.
• In subsequent paragraphs, discuss the implications of this research and compare it to the results of other studies. This is the other section (in addition to the Introduction) where you can cite related studies to show how your study compares.

The Conclusion paragraph offers you a chance to briefly show how your work advances the field from the present state of knowledge. It adds a sort of exclamation point at the end of your paper and makes it more memorable as well.

Add a justification for your work here as well as indicate extensions and wider implications, as well as suggest future studies/experiments and point out any work that is currently ongoing. Do not simply repeat the Introduction or abstract here—extend the claims or questions raised in these sections.

Dos and Don’ts for Discussion/Conclusion

• Don’t be TOO broad about the impact of this research—set some limitations.
• Don’t include new terms or ideas in this section—they should be presented in the Introduction.
• Use specific expressions: instead of “higher temperature” write “41ºC”; instead of “at a lower rate” write “0.7% less”; instead of “highly significant” write “p<0.001.”

Step 5: Write the Introduction

The  Introduction section might be the most important section of the body of your paper—it comes first and introduces what you will be doing, telling readers why your work is important.

A good introduction should:

• Establish the context of the work
• State the purpose of the work in the form of a hypothesis, question, or problem investigated
• Give aims and rationale for your approach

Pre-writing questions to answer for the Introduction

• What is the problem to be solved? (background and problem)
• What do we know about this problem? (literature)
• Are there any existing solutions? (literature)
• What are the limitations or gaps in knowledge of existing solutions?
• What do you hope to achieve with this study? (hypothesis/statement of purpose)

Organization of the Introduction

• Background information
• Motivations
• Key primary literature
• Hypothesis/research problem investigated
• Approaches and rationale

Improving Quality of Writing

In order to write an effective research paper, authors need to know what areas of their writing to improve, and this includes avoiding grammar and style errors. Among the top writing errors we see at  Wordvice  are the following:

• Article and Determiner Misuses
• Nominalization and Wordiness
• Usage of Past and Present Tense

Receiving Language Editing Before Submission

After you are finished writing your Results section and have polished the rest of your research paper, be sure to submit your manuscript to an English proofreading service and paper editing service  before delivering it to journal editors for publication. And learn more about the  editing process  to determine which kind of revision your paper needs.

Wordvice Resources

• How to Write a Research Paper Introduction
• Writing the Results Section of a Research Paper
• Which Verb Tenses to Use in a Research Paper
• How to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper
• How to Write a Research Paper Title
• Useful Phrases for Academic Writing
• Common Transition Terms in Academic Papers
• Active and Passive Voice in Research Papers
• 100+ Verbs That Will Make Your Research Writing Amazing
• Tips for Paraphrasing in Research Papers

Related Resources

• Springer Online Research Resources  (Springer)
• ACSESS Digital L ibrary (ASA, CSSA, and SSSA publications for reference)  (ACSESS Digital Library)

Lecture Research Paper Reference

Yoon S-R, Kim SH, Lee H-W, Ha J-H (2017) A novel method to rapidly distinguish the geographical origin of traditional fermented-salted vegetables by mass fingerprinting. PLoS ONE 12(11): e0188217.

Get science-backed answers as you write with Paperpal's Research feature

How to Write a High-Quality Conference Paper

Presenting and submitting conference papers at seminars and academic conferences is a crucial part of academic life, especially for early-career researchers. These events offer attending scholars and researchers a great opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and perspectives on their work. Therefore, when organizers issue a call for submission of conference papers, researchers must try to participate by submitting their papers. When published, these conference proceedings go on to serve as essential academic and research resources for students and early-career researchers.   

Table of Contents

• Why are conference papers important?  
• Difference between conference papers and journal papers  

Research methodology

Findings/ results.

• Writing a high-quality conference paper  

Why are conference papers important?

Conferences offer an excellent opportunity for researchers to share their work with wider audiences through conference papers, receive feedback, and network with other researchers. They also serve as a stepping stone to publishing in peer-reviewed journals, as they allow researchers to refine their ideas and receive insights from peers and mentors before submitting a manuscript for publication. Additionally, presenting research at conferences can not only help establish one’s credibility and reputation as a thought leader in a particular field. Still, it can also lead to new collaborations, exciting research opportunities, and even job offers or promotions.  

Difference between conference papers and journal papers

Compared to journal papers, conference papers are usually short and aim to present initial findings and analysis of ongoing research. Journal papers, on the other hand, tend to be longer and more detailed and are screened through a peer-review process. Depending on the type of presentation that you are going to give at the conference or depending on your specific role, conference papers can be customized as respondent (speaker and respondent roll out presentations), panel (a few speakers speak for a designated period with a discussant), poster (visual presentation), roundtable (few speakers speak with time limits) and workshops (scope for a detailed presentation).   

Tips on writing a conference paper

Writing an impactful conference paper requires a careful blend of good research and clarity in writing. To be accepted on submission, researchers must ensure that they follow the specific guidelines laid out by organizers. A typical conference paper usually begins with a title page, followed by the abstract, an examination of the research problem, the methodology followed and the principal conclusions. It must include the following elements:  

This page should provide the title of the conference paper, your name and credentials, the institution you are working with, and the date of submission. It must also succinctly convey the crux of your research study.  

An essential component of the conference paper, this section must provide a brief synopsis that includes the aims and objectives of your study, methodology, research findings and principal conclusions. Ensure that the length of the abstract is in accordance with the guidelines provided by the conference committee.  

This section is important for conference organizers to assess your paper, and therefore, it must be presented clearly, concisely, and accurately.  

The main findings should be clearly stated, drawing on evidence-based conclusions. Tables and figures are recommended as they help convey complex data more effectively.   

Ensure that you accurately list references to the work you have cited. Most conference organizers have specific formats for citations and references, so do check before submitting your conference paper.  

Writing a high-quality conference paper

• Focus on the audience profile: When writing a conference paper, it is essential to keep the audience in mind. This will help you write your paper in a more engaging and impactful way. Experts suggest keeping in mind both the broader research questions that are sought to be addressed in the conference and the fundamental issues in the primary or related field of study – this will go a long way in helping you link your research to these aspects and consequently, enable you to connect more effectively with audiences.  
• Keep your writing structured and organized. It is essential to organize conference papers logically and convincingly. Focus on the key aspects of your study, and provide solid examples and illustrations to strengthen your argument and make it more attractive to those present.  
• Reading aloud : Experts suggest reading your conference paper aloud several times. This technique helps you identify possible errors in language and grammar and brings clarity to your ideas and presentation.  
• Conference guidelines: It is important to ensure that you follow the guidelines, structure, format, and length requested by conference organizers. This helps ensure that your conference paper is accepted upon submission without too many changes and alterations. 

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Related Reads:

• What are Journal Guidelines on Using Generative AI Tools
• How Long Should a Chapter Be?
• How to Use Paperpal to Generate Emails & Cover Letters?
• How to Write a Scientific Paper in 10 Steps 

How Paperpal’s Research Feature Helps You Develop and Strengthen Arguments in a Pinch

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How to Write Up Your Quality Improvement Initiatives for Publication

The Journal of Graduate Medical Education often receives submissions from trainees and educators highlighting work they do in quality improvement (QI). This is remarkably encouraging given the emphasis that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Next Accreditation System has placed on integrating QI into the clinical learning environment. 1 A major challenge for editors reviewing these manuscripts is the inconsistency with which authors report QI initiatives. After reviewing a large number of these submissions, we have noted common problems that arise and have prepared the following guide to help prospective authors prepare QI reports for publication.

Consistent with the Journal 's common format for Original Research or Educational Innovation articles (ie, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion), our suggestions will highlight what authors should explicitly emphasize within each of these manuscript sections as it pertains to their QI initiative. We realize that a number of other frameworks and guidelines exist, the most common being the SQUIRE guidelines, which were updated in the fall of 2015. 2 Our suggestions are synergistic with the updated SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines, yet they also provide a high-level view of the philosophies that underpin these guidelines to help authors not only at the time of writing, but also when planning and implementing their QI initiatives.

What Is the Quality Problem, Why Is It Important, and What Is Your Aim?

The Introduction section must be brief. This is not the time to provide an in-depth review of the literature on your quality problem of interest—which could be an important but separate paper. Instead, it is most important to articulate why this quality problem is relevant beyond your local institution . Is it a common safety problem ubiquitous to multiple care settings, such as the need to improve patient handoffs? Or perhaps there are legislative changes or financial incentives that promote interest in your issue, such as the linking of financial reimbursement to readmission rates. Whatever the reason, it is critical to make clear what the external impact of your QI initiative would be for other groups and the readers of the journal. If the QI problem can be framed only as a need specific to your own setting, then the results may be best published in a local newsletter rather than a national or international journal.

After succinctly outlining the importance and relevance of the QI problem, the Introduction must describe the gap between current practice and preferred practice . What prior QI strategies have or have not worked to address this quality problem? If there is no gap in our understanding on how to improve practice, then further study of the area would be of limited value. Authors must demonstrate understanding of the pertinent literature in order to briefly discuss prior strategies that have been attempted; this usually includes the strategy as well as the required resources and resulting outcomes. Replication of a successful intervention in a new setting can help to fill key gaps in understanding: here the evidence gap is whether a prior strategy can be replicated in a different setting, one that is dissimilar in important features to the initial study.

Finally, the Introduction must also make clear what you hoped to achieve by carrying out your QI initiative. In 1 or 2 sentences, the final paragraph should clearly state the primary aim of your QI project. There are numerous references providing guidance on how to write good “aim” statements, by making sure that they are “SMART” (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, anytime bound). 3 A clear and concise statement of the primary aim, and any relevant sub-aims, will ground the readers in the main purpose of your QI project.

Describing the Proposed Intervention, Including a Theory for Change, and the Road Toward Improvement

For QI reports the Methods section is probably the most important section as it ensures that readers understand how they can translate your reported innovation into their own settings. To facilitate this, authors must attend to several important issues. These include the context in which the QI work was carried out (ie, setting and participants) and a detailed description of the implementation strategy . The strategy must also include a theory for why a specific intervention (or set of interventions) was chosen.

Let's start with the proposed intervention. In QI, too often authors simply reach for the first available solution off the shelf without first considering why that particular solution could address the problem at hand. Frequently, authors appear to believe that checklists and order sets will solve everything. The truth is that if authors do not articulate a theory or rationale for why their proposed intervention should fix the quality problem of interest, they run the risk of designing a suboptimal intervention or choosing the wrong approach altogether. For example, attempts to reduce physician prescribing of unnecessary antibiotics to children with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs; eg, continuing medical education, postcard reminders summarizing treatment guidelines, etc) consistently fail because they primarily address provider awareness rather than the dominant driver, which is parental demand for antibiotics. Theorizing that the ideal intervention should address parental expectations, one would instead choose an approach such as implementing the use of delayed antibiotic prescriptions, which in a recent Cochrane review has been shown to significantly reduce antibiotic utilization for the treatment of URTIs in children. 4

Similar to the general call for more theory-based interventions in medical education, 5 there has been a recent call for more theory-based QI interventions. 6 Therefore, the preferred approach is to clearly articulate the link between the proposed solution and the problem it will solve. For example, a hospitalist team seeking to reduce unnecessary urinary catheter use might theorize that a key driver is that residents do not know whether a patient has a urinary catheter in situ . A sensible solution therefore might bypass the physician altogether. For example, instituting automatic stop orders 7 and nursing advanced directives 8 to remove urinary catheters are 2 interventions that have previously been shown to be effective.

It is also crucial that authors state not only what the intervention was and its underlying rationale, but also how it was iteratively tested, refined, and eventually implemented. A common framework used in QI is rapid cycle change methodology or PDSA (plan-do-study-act) cycles. 9 Unfortunately, many published QI reports, despite claiming to use PDSA cycles, demonstrate little evidence that they refined their intervention prior to implementation. 10 This is a problem because for QI initiatives the devil really is in the details. It is simply not good enough to say that “we implemented a checklist” or “we created a new care pathway.” Instead, authors need to report how changes were tested and refined; reflect on what worked, what did not, and why; and provide a description of the eventual intervention. Recognizing how challenging it can be to chronicle the evolution of the proposed intervention from start to finish in a concise manner, authors should consider the use of a figure or a table to summarize the key PDSA cycles, which will avoid excess word length while still providing a concise summary of what was actually done. Another option for providing more details is to include additional supplemental information for publication online. For QI projects it is imperative that at least 2 cycles, and usually more, are described in the Methods section.

The Local Context and Its Impact on the QI Initiative

In evaluative research, authors go to great lengths to describe how they have controlled for contextual factors to ensure that they have eliminated any bias that might unduly influence their outcomes of interest. QI is different in this regard: context is critical to understand and characterize, not control . Authors must include details about their context and how these might influence the implementation or outcomes of QI projects to sensitize readers to the contextual factors that require careful consideration when introducing the QI intervention to local institutions.

Batalden and Davidoff 11 described the importance of context in a brief commentary. They provided a framework for QI that links generalizable scientific evidence to a particular context in order to generate measured performance improvement. Importantly, they emphasized that the focus should be both on the context, as well as how the generalizable scientific evidence (or the proposed intervention) integrates within the particular local context. In QI, a detailed description of the context is just as important as a detailed description of the proposed intervention.

Consider the example of a QI project to reduce unnecessary lab ordering. The reader would want to know: Does the institution have computer-based or paper-based orders? If computer-based, is it easy to make changes to the order entry system to introduce clinical decision support? How engaged is the lab in clinical QI initiatives? What is the front line staff capacity and capability for QI? All of these contextual factors play heavily into the choice of the intervention, how the intervention gets implemented, and how it affects project outcomes.

This emphasis on context for QI reports parallels a similar need in reports of educational interventions. For example, educators implementing bedside procedure training must also account for and describe relevant contextual factors, such as whether a simulation lab is available, whether faculty have maintained competence in bedside procedures, whether a culture of direct observation and feedback exists, and whether there is a mechanism to track procedures and monitor for complications. Similar to medical education research, explicitly acknowledging the role of context is paramount in the reporting of any QI initiative.

What Is the Evaluation Plan?

Most QI initiatives rely on the Donabedian model of outcome, process, and balancing measures to evaluate the impact of their intervention. 12 While beyond the scope of this article to address the specifics of measurement in QI, we will offer several practical suggestions. First, most QI projects will focus on improving processes of care and may not be able to demonstrate downstream impact on clinical outcomes. This is acceptable, as long as the authors have selected process measures that are tightly coupled with the clinical outcome of interest. For example, an orthopedic surgery residency team aiming to improve venothromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis rates could justifiably track VTE prophylaxis administration as a clinical process because hospitalized patients who receive VTE prophylaxis have a very low likelihood of developing VTEs. 13

Another useful process measure to report is one that measures the fidelity of the intervention. In other words, include a process measure that tracks how consistently or reliably your intervention is applied. For example, if your main intervention to improve VTE prophylaxis is the creation and implementation of a standardized order set, a measure of implementation fidelity would be to track whether residents and faculty actually used the order set. This is particularly informative for unsuccessful QI projects—interventions with high fidelity suggest that other contributing factors require attention, whereas interventions with low fidelity suggest that the evaluation may have been premature and more work is needed to increase uptake of the intervention before large-scale implementation and evaluation are undertaken.

Last but not least, balancing measures, which are intended to measure unintended consequences, often are missing from QI reports. A medical journal would not accept a clinical trial that reports only on the potential benefits and not the harms of a novel therapy, and we need to hold reports of QI interventions to a similar standard. Therefore, balancing measures of unintended consequence should be reported to ensure that the QI intervention improves care and does not create new problems. For example, if a QI initiative focuses on improving resident adherence to guidelines for a clinical area, such as diabetes care, does adherence to other guidelines, such as preventive screening, decline? If a new electronic handover tool is developed to support handoff communication, are there errors in the new document due to cut/paste activities? Selecting and reporting on sound balancing measures ensures a healthy respect for the law of unintended consequences in QI.

Providing Data With Greater Clarity

When it comes to displaying the data, it is best to avoid simple before-after comparisons. This evaluative approach is suboptimal because secular trends make it difficult to attribute observed differences to the intervention. Traditional approaches to research and evaluation would typically address this limitation through the inclusion of a contemporaneous control group or setting, which is also suitable for QI studies.

An alternative approach would be to display your outcome or process measures over time through the use of statistical process control. This methodology often utilizes run charts or control chart s to display data over time ( figure ). Following run chart or control chart “rules,” one can interpret the data plotted sequentially over time to identify instances when variation is not due to random chance (so-called special cause variation). Such handling of data enhances the ability to determine whether changes that occurred were a result of the interventions introduced, and greatly strengthens the evaluative approach as compared to aggregated before-after data. The BMJ Quality & Safety journal has published an overview on the use and interpretation of run charts. 14

Example of Control Chart to Display Quality Data Over Time

Note: This is an example of a control chart (specifically a P-chart). A typical control chart has the quality measure of interest on the Y-axis. The X-axis is always a time scale (in this case, consecutive months). As the team carries out the quality improvement initiative, they collect data prospectively over time and plot the data on a control chart. Using statistical process control software, several lines are plotted. The dotted line is the center line (CL) and is equivalent to the mean. The dashed lines on either side of the mean are the upper and lower control limits (UCL and LCL; approximately 3 standard deviations, or sigmas, on either side of the mean). Using this information, the statistical process control software can identify segments of the chart where nonrandom variation is occurring (so-called special cause variation). On this graph, the 2 times where nonrandom variation are occurring are indicated by the triangle and circle markers, suggesting that modification to the order set, and not education, was likely responsible for the improvement seen in venothromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis ordering.

What Are the Implications of the Work? What Are the Next Steps?

For QI papers, the Discussion section will be similar to papers describing educational innovations or research. This section should concisely summarize the main findings of the QI project, relate the key findings to what is already known in the published literature, reflect on the broader implications of the findings, discuss how important limitations could have affected the findings, and briefly introduce next steps to further understand the field.

Perhaps most important are the reflections on lessons learned and future directions. In particular, reflections on the influence of the local context on project implementation and outcomes are highly relevant as readers will need to understand this if they want to replicate the intervention within their local context.

Well-conducted QI interventions that produced “negative” results (ie, did not achieve their intended outcomes) are still important and worthwhile for dissemination. Your reflections on why the intervention did not work can be helpful to others who might consider a similar initiative. In some cases, the problem may be the intervention itself, which signals the need to consider an alternative approach to addressing the QI problem of interest. More commonly, the implementation of the intervention lacked fidelity, or the integration of the intervention within the local context was suboptimal. In these instances, your QI report will still be helpful to others who can build on your work.

The Conclusion section of the report is also similar to Original Research and Educational Innovation articles. This short paragraph succinctly summarizes the most important findings from the study, without speculating beyond the results. Conclusions should be appropriately conservative in relation to the study findings. See the table for a summary of elements essential for QI reports.

Quality Improvement (QI) Reports: Recommended Elements and Common Pitfalls

By providing this overview of the approach to writing up QI initiatives, we hope to clarify, up front, those aspects of your initiative that require the most emphasis. The considerations presented here can serve as a high-level guide to authors, with the goal of disseminating QI reports that are more useful for other programs. QI studies that involve residents, faculty, or the general graduate medical education environment as key elements of the context or intervention are appropriate for submission to the Journal of Graduate Medical Education . We look forward to publishing reports that inform programs and educators about effective faculty and learner engagement in QI activities within the graduate medical education learning environment.

Best Research Paper Writing Services: The Top 7 You Need to Know About

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It is not uncommon for students to struggle with research paper writing. It is an advanced college task that requires dedication, skills, and time. That’s why many students are in need of expert assistance to fulfill academic requirements.

Fortunately, there are plenty of service providers ready to help. However, finding the legit and credible one is a hustle. That’s why our team created this guide for research paper writers and the best online platforms.

We’ve tested and checked them to find the best seven providers for students. Choosing a suitable research paper writer from the best research paper service is the secret to success. We’ve evaluated the offers, prices, and quality of work provided. We’ve prepared full reviews so you know exactly where to go when you need high-quality assistance with your assignments.

Other criteria include delivery, customer support, and other features students might benefit from. All of these seven platforms are credible, legit, and professional. They all have excellent teams of writers ready to deliver outstanding papers on demand. In this guide, you’ll find the top service to go to when you need assistance with college tasks.

Top 7 Best Research Paper Writing Services Providers

Here is an overall rating of these seven research paper writing services before we dwell into details. We’ve focused on the main benefit each of them offers in terms of the research paper help.

• PaperWriter 🥇 | The Best Research Paper Help Overall | 9.9
• EssayPro 🥈 | The Top One for the US Students | 9.8
• WritePaper 🥉 | One of a Kind Team of Authors | 9.7
• EssayService | The Cheapest Research Paper Writing Services | 9.6
• EssayHub | The Best for Rushed Orders | 9.6
• DoMyEssay | The Best Range of Writing Services | 9.4
• Studyfy | The Best Non-STEM Research Paper Writing Service | 9.1

PaperWriter.com – Excellent Research Paper Writing Help

PaperWriter.com is our top pick overall because the service covers all the criteria completely. It provides high-quality and quick assistance to college students with a variety of assignments. The team assists with essays, dissertations, presentations, homework, and, of course, research papers. Because of the excellent team of writers and customer support professionals, it is the best research paper writing service out there. Students can quickly place an order and get it going.

Besides writing, the service delivers editing and rewriting, which is a great option to ensure your paper is outstanding. The quality of the papers satisfies all the academic requirements. The research is based on relevant and newest data, and all the papers are authentic.

• Wide range of services;
• Timely delivery and work with short deadlines (from 6 hours);
• Convenient price calculator;
• Transparent pricing and many free features like plagiarism reports, formatting, and unlimited revisions;
• Refund policy in place;
• Serious data protection and confidentiality;
• Comfortable ordering process in three clicks.
• The service doesn’t work with deadlines that are in less than 6 hours;
• The first time it might take you some time to choose a writer because the team is so big.

EssayPro.com – One of The Best Research Paper Writing Services in USA

When it comes to US higher education, there is no better research paper helper. EssayPro.com is an outstanding provider that focuses on US students. The team consists of US and Canadian residents who have graduated from these countries’ top universities. They know everything about local requirements and expectations from their first-hand experience.

Another great sign of credibility is that the business has been operating for more than a decade. It has an impressive track record of completed projects and satisfied customers. The team does admission essays, dissertations, case studies, term papers, and research papers writing on demand.

Also, it offers homework help and custom writing. So students can get assistance with anything they are struggling with. The support representatives are available round the clock and happy to answer any questions.

• The service offers assistance with anything students might struggle with;
• All the writers are from the US and Canada, which makes them experts in the local educational system;
• Reasonable pricing and a lot of free features, including originality report, title page, and choice of the best writer;
• A convenient method of placing an order and choosing an author (author profile features completed tasks, credentials, and reviews).
• The platform doesn’t work with extremely short deadlines.

WritePaper.com – Outstanding Research Paper Writers

Although every platform on this list has a solid team, WritePaper.com comes first when it comes to the best research paper writers. All of them are experts with many years of experience in the field. Some have a Master’s degree, but a vast majority have Ph.D. It makes the team fit to complete an assignment of any complexity, whether it is an essay, case study, or dissertation.

Each writer has a profile with stats on works completed, success rate, and reviews. You can also see their level of education and subjects of expertise. It makes the choice of an author for your order relatively easy.

The services include all types of college assignments along with homework help and personal statement writing. Students can also read the blog with plenty of tips and tricks on academic writing. Here you can also find experts to complete niche projects and subjects.

• Proficient and expert team of authors;
• Confidentiality and advanced data protection; 24/7 customer support;
• Additional focus on payment safety;
• Reasonable prices and a full money-back guarantee;
• Free originality reports to all orders, outlines, and formatting.
• There are fewer payment options because the platform trusts only some gates.

EssayService.com – The Cheapest of the Best Research Paper Writing Services

Some might think it is expensive to buy research papers online; however, it is not the case with EssayService. The provider knows that budget is crucial for many students, so it offers many deals and discounts. For example, the first order comes with a 15% discount, which is fantastic. It is a platform of choice for those who want to save some money without compromising on quality.

Besides the budget-friendly policy, the platform delivers a wide range of papers. The writers’ team is qualified and experienced. Students can order not only research assignments but also dissertations, essays, term papers, and MBA essays.

Also, custom writing is available. The platform has excellent reviews and hundreds of thousands of happy clients.

• Various deals and discounts that make writing assistance affordable;
• A lot of free features like plagiarism reports, edits, and formatting;
• Huge range of services from essays to book reviews and more;
• Individual approach to every order and style imitation service;
• To start, you only need to deposit one-third of the price.
• Finding a suitable author for very niche topics can take time, so it is better to start ordering beforehand.

EssayHub.com – The Best Website to Write My Research Paper in 3 Hours

If you need immediate assignment writing services, EssayHub is ready to help. You can find professional research paper writers that can provide outstanding papers in only 3 hours. So it is the best platform for quickly approaching deadlines.

Also, any paper gets an unlimited number of reviews. If you are not completely satisfied immediately, you can ask a writer to make changes. We were impressed by the quality and delivery.

The delivery is speedy, and all the texts are original. Students can ask for help with any type of text they have issues with. It includes such things as discussion board posts and book reports. So it is a one-stop for all kinds of college tasks, and that’s why the platform has a great percentage of returning customers.

• Extremely quick delivery of orders even with rushed deadlines;
• Experienced writers that can nail all types of assignments;
• Reasonable pricing and easy ordering process;
• Helpful blog with tips on academic writing;
• Ability to communicate with the writer during the process;
• Authentic and original content according to your specific requirements.
• The team is comparatively small, which means the platform can process a smaller number of orders overall.

DoMyEssay.com – The Best Range of Writing Services

Although all of the platforms in the list have impressive services, this one comes first. DoMyEssay can complete anything a student can think of, from a research paper to presentations, annotated bibliographies, and reflective writing texts. It is possible because the platform has a great team of writers with various qualifications.

Students can get assistance with Statistics coursework or ask for a creative writing assignment. Another considerable advantage of this service is that it has even college professors on the team. It allows for fulfilling requirements of any complexity. And it ensures the best results and the highest grades.

Students can also rest assured that their personal data is protected with the best measures. All the papers are authentic, original, and delivered just in time.

• With the broadest range of services out there, students can get assistance with anything;
• Reasonable prices with several free features included;
• Plagiarism report included in every order;
• Style imitation ensures that the paper looks as if you write it;
• Research is based only on credible and scientifically-approved sources;
• All clients get unlimited revisions to ensure satisfaction with the result.
• Payment options are a bit limited to only credible ones;
• The first order processing can take a bit longer.

StudyFy.com – The Best Non-STEM Research Paper Writing Service

This platform delivers help with various kinds of assignments, along with homework and coursework help. Also, the team offers rewriting and editing services to polish your work before submission. The team works best with non-STEM subjects, including Business, Art, Literature, Nursing, Geography, and many more.

Another fantastic feature of this platform is the resources tab. Students can find writing tools, samples, writing, and literature guides there. All of those resources help students to become better writers. Besides that, students can also read a blog with expert guidance on the matter. The best part is that those resources are free, and anyone can access them.

The pricing is reasonable, and the team delivers high-quality and unique papers. The support team representatives are very helpful and available 24/7. Overall, it is an amazing platform for non-STEM research papers.

• Qualified team to work with tasks of different academic levels;
• Original papers with plagiarism reports and unlimited revisions;
• All the necessary features are provided for free, including the outline, title page, and formatting;
• Full confidentiality and data security;
• A lot of valuable resources for students who want to become better writers;
• Great library of essay samples on various subjects;
• Works with rushed orders and deadlines.
• No special deals or discounts are available for students.

Here Is How We Chose Our Top Research Paper Writing Services

So how did we choose these seven platforms to feature in our guide? Here is how our process works.

First, we look for popular services with appropriate ratings. If many people have reviewed it four stars and higher, we want to get a closer look. It matters what sites they are evaluated at. And we also go through the testimonials to figure out the authenticity. At this stage, our team evaluates the legitimacy of a business. Only if it is clean, do we proceed with further inspections.

Secondly, we research the business and the services it offers. We evaluate the range of papers and the team. We look into the claims before we test them out. It is essential that the platform delivers various papers because it is a sign of a diverse and expert team.

Thirdly, we place an order and wait for the result. Based on that, we get to test customer support and service convenience. Another crucial criterion is how easy it is to start and place an order. It shows how user-friendly the site is. And that’s one of the significant factors in evaluating how much the business cares about clients.

And the fourth step is to analyze the received paper in terms of originality and quality. Of course, it is the main deciding factor in our investigation. After all, this is all it comes to – how reliable the platform is. Based on the papers we’ve received, all of these platforms have proven their expertise.

Other factors we consider include additional features, discounts, and prices. Although the average costs are approximately the same, if a platform offers special deals, it can make it significantly more budget-friendly.

Confidentiality and data security are also crucial. We choose only services that imply their websites’ newest and most robust data protection features. Cyber security is something everyone must care about, especially when it comes to paid services. It is how our team inspected these seven services to make sure they are the best when it comes to research papers.

1. How Fast Can They Write My Research Paper?

The delivery time depends hugely on the complexity of the task. The harder it is, the longer it will take an expert to research and write an excellent paper. Delivering essays is pretty fast, but a research paper requires deeper insight and might take more effort.

However, some of the services in this guide work with rushed deadlines. Usually, the minimum is 3 hours. But it is always better to place an order beforehand. First of all, the rushed deadlines might come at an additional fee. Secondly, there is little room for revisions and edits if the deadline is very tight.

2. Are Research Paper Writing Services Cheap?

The average price for academic writing is about $11 per page. But the estimation for each order depends on several major factors. These are the type of assignment, complexity, volume, and deadline.

For example, the higher the academic level of the paper, the more a student will need to pay. At the same time, all the services in our list provide a handful of free features. Those mean free plagiarism reports, unlimited revisions, formatting, outlining, and a title page. Taking all of that into consideration, the price is low.

Also, you get to work with the best in the industry and communicate with authors directly. Also, some of the platforms offer regular discounts and deals for students. It makes research paper writing even more affordable.

3. Who Will Write My Research Paper?

Students choose who will complete the order. All the services listed offer this for free. After you’ve stated your requirements, you can view writers’ profiles and decide who is the most suitable for the job.

You can view the number of completed tasks and the satisfaction rate to decide on that. Also, the profiles feature each professional’s qualifications and areas of expertise. They focus on 2-3 areas they are educated and experienced at. Some are experts in the Humanities, others in STEM.

Another good way to evaluate a writer’s expertise is to read through testimonials of students that worked with them already.

4. How Safe Is It to Use Research Paper Services?

Using any of these seven platforms is completely safe. We’ve gathered only legitimate businesses that have been on the market for years. They are well-established and secure. All of them care deeply about the confidentiality of customers.

They also use various data safety measures to ensure your cooperation remains confidential. Besides that, the platforms have clear terms and conditions along with refund policies. It means that there are no risks. Students can order their papers knowing that their data is secure and they get high-quality results.

5. How Does the Payment Work?

When you place an order, you receive the estimation for your paper. After that, you choose the writer and place a deposit. After getting the paper and confirming satisfaction, the deposit goes to the service.

Some services take only a fraction of the price as a deposit, making it even more convenient for students. Satisfaction means that you’ve read the paper and have no edits or reviews needed. The services accept credit and debit cards. Those are secure and safe payment services that protect all your sensitive information.

6. Why Do Students Use Research Paper Help?

Students might need assistance for various reasons. One of the most common ones is the lack of time. Students have to manage many responsibilities, and finding the right balance is often challenging. Maybe you are overloaded with tasks or have unexpected duties to fulfill. It becomes impossible to do everything on your own.

Professionals can write a paper from scratch, or they can edit and rewrite your work so that it is outstanding. Another primary reason why students opt for such services is that they need guidance.

Academic writing is complex and requires advanced skills. If you are not confident in your research or writing, getting an objective and expert perspective on that is a good idea.

7. How to Order a Research Paper?

To order the paper, you need to go to the website of the provider you’ve chosen from the list. All of them have a convenient ordering system. Students get to fill in the form. First, you need to specify all the fundamental requirements like academic level, type of paper, and deadline. Secondly, you need to put in all other additional requirements.

Usually, students can either type them in or upload a task document. These requirements include professor instructions, textbook information, style specifics, etc. The more specific you’ll be, the better the result you’ll get.

After that, you proceed to choose an author and place a deposit. You can chat with the author while they are working on your text. Students can check on the progress or share more details in person.

8. Will I Get the Original Papers?

Yes, all the papers provided by these services are original and plagiarism-free. We’ve investigated it based on our orders. Originality is one of the crucial demands in the academic world. That’s why professional platforms take pride in the authenticity of their assistance.

Every order is handled individually. There are no premade texts. A writer will start working on an order from scratch (unless you want rewriting or editing).

It begins with proper research of peer-reviewed and scientifically-approved sources. Then comes the outline, draft, and final version.

All the orders come with a plagiarism report so that customers can be confident that they get an original assignment. Also, the style imitation feature allows getting texts that are written in your unique way.

9. What Happens If I Do Not Like the Paper?

If you are dissatisfied, you can ask for as many reviews and edits as needed. In our experience, all the papers were of excellent quality. But miscommunications and errors can happen. If you feel something should be edited, ask the writer to do it without additional charges.

Also, the platforms in our list offer partial and complete refund policies. It is proof of a business being confident in the quality of services.

Final Thoughts Top Research Paper Writing Services Websites

Getting professional assistance with college papers is an excellent way to keep up with all the duties. It is also a powerful learning opportunity. Students can communicate with experts, get an objective perspective on their work, and learn from the best. But it is vital to know who to trust your time and money with. Our team wants to help students get the best services and avoid any risks. That’s why we’ve investigated these services to make sure they are the best in research paper writing.

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The Best 5 Research Paper Writing Services: What Has Changed in 2021?

For over 10 years, research paper services have turned from something rare into assistance students might need when they feel overwhelmed and stressed out.

Thanks to millions of students who regularly make use of such services, the research writing field is worth almost $100 million. It is three times more than in 2010.

There were some obstacles in the research paper writing niche development, but it was able to overcome them and keeps making its impact on the students’ life.

According to research, in five years the worthiness of this market will be over $200 million. And only five companies will control most of it.

In this article, we’d like to present you these five research paper writing services for students:

How to Choose a Research Paper Writing Service

When using academic writing assistance, customers pay per page for the research. It is the most popular pricing policy among writing services and is based on deadlines, difficulty level, subject, writer’s expertise, etc.

In our list, companies that offer the best balance between the price and the quality get more points.

Besides price, quality is the major feature students pay attention to. It is recommended to redo the paper and not submit it as it is.

Even in this case, quality is important and can’t be underestimated.

Thus, we have investigated the quality issue as well and evaluated the companies according to the level of their papers’ quality.

The quality mostly depends on the writers. If the service aims to provide good research papers, the writers have to be talented, experienced, and professional — both in their main area of expertise and writing exactly.

In our investigation, we evaluate the approaches research writing services choose to gather a team of good writers and whether their method is successful.

4. Customer Support

If the writers are the core of the research paper writing service, customer support is its soul.

There are always arguments between customers and service providers and it has an amazingly huge impact on whether the customer will come back or not.

We have checked how good writing services are at solving possible issues and how they handle unsatisfied clients.

Top 5 Reliable Research Paper Writing Assistants: 2021 Edition

1. PaperHelp: #1 Writing Platform In General

PaperHelp is the most popular academic writing service among students and it is not just because it is one of the oldest companies (over 12 years) and has great experience, but also thanks to the quality of the service they provide.

Here, you can order a paper fast and easily. There is a plain form that allows customers to specify the requirements and check how much it will cost them.

The company has a strict writers’ hiring policy (only Ph.D. holders), thus the student can rest assured their paper will be free of grammar mistakes and other flaws.

This academic writing company offers reasonable prices that might change due to different requirements customers claim.

On average, one page will cost about $12, and if you need just a final check to be confident your essay is fine, it will cost you less than $6.

The full refund option is one more guarantee that the service you get here will satisfy you and, if not, you won’t be charged a penny. The customer loses nothing.

Moreover, there is a possibility to make changes while the writer works on your paper. Unique instants messaging system allows clients to contact the writer wherever is needed.

Why Did This Service Get Into This List?

• User-friendly interface
• Perfect communication
• Affordable prices
• Excellent online reputation

2. EssayBox: An Excellent Choice For College Students

This research writing service is the best option for students of last year. They offer only native speakers to complete your assignments and guarantee the highest possible quality.

Their writers’ team is huge. – there are about 2000 professional academic writers, so someone is always available and is ready to start writing your paper right away.

The major strength of this service is its accessibility. There are many writers available who can complete any kind of assignment, and customer support is working on a round-o-clock basis.

Thus, all the issues customers might have will be solved immediately.

EssayBox’s prices are as competitive as other writing services’ prices. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be competitors and wouldn’t get into our list.

So, the average price EssayBox asks for one page of a regular college essay is about $12. At this price, you’ll get a well-thought original essay free of grammar mistakes.

Yet, to get a plagiarism report, you’ll need to pay more. It isn’t included in the price by default.

• 100% original papers
• 24/7 customer support
• The highest level of writers’ expertise
• Unlimited revisions

3. Paper Due Now: The Most Flexible Pricing Policy

Customers can trust this research writing company , as there are no complaints about missing the deadlines and not keeping the promises.

They’ve gathered a great team of writers and customer support specialists who attentively guide clients throughout the process.

No fear of losing control, no uncertainty. Everything is clear and plain. All the questions customers might get will be answered in no time.

Definitely, quality matters the most. It is a service that offers students exactly what they need. You can choose the writer’s education and expertise, and get a higher or lower price accordingly.

Yet, both ways, the quality of the essay will be high.

Having considered all the mentioned above, you’ll be surprised at Paper-Due-Now prices. They are one of the lowest on the market and could be calculated via an easy-to-use online tool.

Also, the company has a full refund option.

Why Did The Service Get Into This List?

• Professional writers’ team
• Superb communication
• Detailed and comprehensive order form

4. 99Papers: Fast as Lightning

This service is in high demand since it has delivered its first order. Here, customers meet the most polite customer support representatives and feel protected.

99Papers writers’ team is able to complete any assignments they get. Their expertise is not limited to essays or research papers.

Experienced and diligent experts cope with college essays of any level of difficulties like dissertations, thesis essays and application essays.

As for the prices, any student can afford its services. An average cost per one page is less than $10. It is the base package. Then prices go high depending on the deadline, project’s difficulty, other requirements.

Customers always can make use of generous discounts the company offers. You can check what you can count on using an easy-to-use online calculator.

• Ethics as the top priority
• Wide range of papers offered
• Meeting the deadlines
• Flexible pricing policy

5. IvoryResearch: Most United Kingdom students’ choice

IvoryResearch is extremely popular among British students – and this says a lot since Great Britain is a country where the most famous and reputable universities are situated.

Thus, the expectations students have are very high, and the service meets them. The main feature that lets the service stand out is rapid responses to customers’ requests.

IvoryResearch is a gentleman among top research paper writing services and never late. All the assignments are delivered in advance.

However, customers have to sacrifice a full refund for that. The client will get money back if the writer didn’t start writing the essay. Otherwise, he can count to receive only a half price.

The price is a little bit higher than the average on the market. Students have to pay about 30 British Pounds if they are fine with the two-week deadline (or 90 British Pounds for 3 pages).

Also, at extra cost, customers can get editing and proofreading service. Though, the level of the papers service submits most likely will satisfy you without double-checking.

• Outstanding quality
• Absolute reliability
• Strict deadline policy
• Meeting the highest expectations

How To Choose a Perfect Paper Writing Service?

Though research paper writing services from our list are reliable and legitimate, a potential customer has to be aware of characteristics he has to pay attention to while ordering professional academic writing help.

Know The Risks

Using research writing service, always remember there are many frauds in this niche. Check twice if the company is real and provide its services legally .

Also, do not submit the papers you will get as your own, they have to be reworked. It is mentioned in all trustworthy paper writing services’ policies.

Make Sure The Paper Is Unique

Companies often add plagiarism checks in the price. Yet, do not rely on the service so much. Make sure the essay is original using some random online tools

It doesn’t take much time but will definitely save you in case you get a stolen paper.

Pay Attention to Details

Sometimes, frauds use the tactics of copying. They create very similar reputable paper writing services websites and pretend to be them.

Check if the website name is original and the service has pages on reliable review platforms.

Conduct Your Own Research

Many services claim their writers are English native speakers only. Again, do not believe everything you read or hear.

Check the information yourself to be completely sure.

Professional Research Writing Help: Is It Worth It?

There is no single opinion about the worthiness of paper writing services. Certainly, those who never struggle with academic writing can’t understand those who feel overwhelmed and even depressed.

There are two camps that vote for different things.

However, paper writing services are there for many students and it is fantastic.

Good academic writing service can save you from sleepless nights , help you to manage other problems that you are experiencing in your life, and just keep you afloat. It is the kind of support anyone deserves to get.

Thus, if you are in need to get professional writing help, do not hesitate to do it. Just be careful and always make an informed decision with no haste.

This way, the outcome will impress you!

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Passionate members of the College Basics community that include students, essay writers, consultants and beyond. Please note, while community content has passed our editorial guidelines, we do not endorse any product or service contained in these articles which may also include links for which College Basics is compensated.

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May 13, 2024

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AI-assisted writing is quietly booming in academic journals—here's why that's OK

by Julian Koplin, The Conversation

If you search Google Scholar for the phrase " as an AI language model ," you'll find plenty of AI research literature and also some rather suspicious results. For example, one paper on agricultural technology says,

"As an AI language model, I don't have direct access to current research articles or studies. However, I can provide you with an overview of some recent trends and advancements …"

Obvious gaffes like this aren't the only signs that researchers are increasingly turning to generative AI tools when writing up their research. A recent study examined the frequency of certain words in academic writing (such as "commendable," "meticulously" and "intricate"), and found they became far more common after the launch of ChatGPT—so much so that 1% of all journal articles published in 2023 may have contained AI-generated text.

(Why do AI models overuse these words? There is speculation it's because they are more common in English as spoken in Nigeria, where key elements of model training often occur.)

The aforementioned study also looks at preliminary data from 2024, which indicates that AI writing assistance is only becoming more common. Is this a crisis for modern scholarship, or a boon for academic productivity?

Who should take credit for AI writing?

Many people are worried by the use of AI in academic papers. Indeed, the practice has been described as " contaminating " scholarly literature.

Some argue that using AI output amounts to plagiarism. If your ideas are copy-pasted from ChatGPT, it is questionable whether you really deserve credit for them.

But there are important differences between "plagiarizing" text authored by humans and text authored by AI. Those who plagiarize humans' work receive credit for ideas that ought to have gone to the original author.

By contrast, it is debatable whether AI systems like ChatGPT can have ideas, let alone deserve credit for them. An AI tool is more like your phone's autocomplete function than a human researcher.

The question of bias

Another worry is that AI outputs might be biased in ways that could seep into the scholarly record. Infamously, older language models tended to portray people who are female, black and/or gay in distinctly unflattering ways, compared with people who are male, white and/or straight.

This kind of bias is less pronounced in the current version of ChatGPT.

However, other studies have found a different kind of bias in ChatGPT and other large language models : a tendency to reflect a left-liberal political ideology.

Any such bias could subtly distort scholarly writing produced using these tools.

The hallucination problem

The most serious worry relates to a well-known limitation of generative AI systems: that they often make serious mistakes.

For example, when I asked ChatGPT-4 to generate an ASCII image of a mushroom, it provided me with the following output.

It then confidently told me I could use this image of a "mushroom" for my own purposes.

These kinds of overconfident mistakes have been referred to as "AI hallucinations" and " AI bullshit ." While it is easy to spot that the above ASCII image looks nothing like a mushroom (and quite a bit like a snail), it may be much harder to identify any mistakes ChatGPT makes when surveying scientific literature or describing the state of a philosophical debate.

Unlike (most) humans, AI systems are fundamentally unconcerned with the truth of what they say. If used carelessly, their hallucinations could corrupt the scholarly record.

Should AI-produced text be banned?

One response to the rise of text generators has been to ban them outright. For example, Science—one of the world's most influential academic journals—disallows any use of AI-generated text .

I see two problems with this approach.

The first problem is a practical one: current tools for detecting AI-generated text are highly unreliable. This includes the detector created by ChatGPT's own developers, which was taken offline after it was found to have only a 26% accuracy rate (and a 9% false positive rate ). Humans also make mistakes when assessing whether something was written by AI.

It is also possible to circumvent AI text detectors. Online communities are actively exploring how to prompt ChatGPT in ways that allow the user to evade detection. Human users can also superficially rewrite AI outputs, effectively scrubbing away the traces of AI (like its overuse of the words "commendable," "meticulously" and "intricate").

The second problem is that banning generative AI outright prevents us from realizing these technologies' benefits. Used well, generative AI can boost academic productivity by streamlining the writing process. In this way, it could help further human knowledge. Ideally, we should try to reap these benefits while avoiding the problems.

The problem is poor quality control, not AI

The most serious problem with AI is the risk of introducing unnoticed errors, leading to sloppy scholarship. Instead of banning AI, we should try to ensure that mistaken, implausible or biased claims cannot make it onto the academic record.

After all, humans can also produce writing with serious errors, and mechanisms such as peer review often fail to prevent its publication.

We need to get better at ensuring academic papers are free from serious mistakes, regardless of whether these mistakes are caused by careless use of AI or sloppy human scholarship. Not only is this more achievable than policing AI usage, it will improve the standards of academic research as a whole.

This would be (as ChatGPT might say) a commendable and meticulously intricate solution.

Provided by The Conversation

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How To Write Better Sentences For A Research Paper?

• Smodin Editorial Team
• Updated: May 17, 2024

When you’re faced with writing a research paper, coming up with clear, impactful sentences can be a headache. This is especially true when you aim to convey complex ideas effectively.

If you struggle with sentence structure or cannot express your thoughts clearly, this guide will help you.

From basic grammar to using AI tools, we’ll look at how to craft sentences that resonate with readers and bolster your arguments.

Understand the Basics of Sentence Structure

Understanding the basics of sentence structure is important in academic writing. Every sentence in your research paper is a building block, contributing to the clarity and persuasiveness of your argument. A good sentence begins with a clear focus: every word should help convey your main idea directly and effectively.

First, recognize the importance of a strong subject and verb combination. The subject of your sentence performs the action, which is described by the verb. Ensuring these elements are clear and concise prevents ambiguity and keeps the reader on their toes. For example: “The experiment demonstrates…” is more direct than saying: “It is demonstrated by the experiment that…”

Think about the structure of your sentences. A well-crafted sentence follows a logical pattern: subject, verb, object. Following this structure can make your writing easier while enhancing the article’s readability.

Finally, remember that every sentence you write should support the main point of your paragraph. Think of each sentence as a mini-argument that adds to your thesis, logically linking your ideas. Mastering these basics is the first step in ensuring that every sentence you write contributes substance.

Techniques for Enhancing Sentences

No, we weren’t about to leave you hanging. Here are some practical techniques that you can use to make each sentence add value to your research paper.

Achieving clarity is extremely important, especially in scientific writing and within your thesis statement. The argument must be clear to the reader immediately. One common issue is the overuse of complex sentences that muddy your points. Counter this by focusing on using active voice rather than passive voice. Passive voice can simply obscure “who” is performing the action.

Here’s an example: “The researcher conducted the experiment” (active) is clearer than: “The experiment was conducted by the researcher” (passive).

Also, when explaining processes or results that occurred in your study, past tense should be used consistently to maintain clarity. Ensure every verb in your sentence drives home a clear idea, supporting the main argument. So, when it comes to clarity, be sure to choose the right verb tense.

Sentence structure is an important part of keeping your academic articles engaging. The general rule is to mix different types of sentences to keep the reader’s interest and highlight key points.

Start by varying the length of your sentences: pair a shorter, impactful sentence with a longer, more descriptive one. This can prevent your writing from becoming boring. After a punchy statement, for example, extend the next sentence with additional details.

It’s also important to experiment with different starts to sentences . Using an adverb, an adjective, or a phrase to lead your thoughts can be helpful. Discussing your topics with various verbs also adds rhythm and dynamics to your text. Do this carefully, though: getting too creative with your diction can make a sentence more complex than it needs to be.

Trust us, it’s worth the effort to rephrase sentences to avoid repetitive structures and ensure your ideas are expressed as clearly and vividly as possible. This is key to crafting a compelling narrative for your article.

Transitions

Powerful transitions are the glue that holds your essay together, guiding the reader smoothly from one idea to the next. The first sentence of each paragraph should serve as a bridge from the previous paragraph. The most important point of a new section should be introduced clearly and succinctly.

This helps the reader follow your argument without struggling through abrupt changes and disconnected points. For example, if one paragraph discusses a specific aspect of your research, the next could link that aspect to another, deepening the reader’s understanding of the topic.

Within a paragraph, each sentence should logically flow to the next , using transition words and phrases to signal the connection between ideas. Using transitions effectively clarifies the relationship between paragraphs and sentences. It also reinforces the overall structure of your paper, ensuring each point contributes meaningfully to your thesis.

Write Better Sentences With Smodin

Using Smodin in your academic writing can transform how you structure sentences in your research papers. Smodin is equipped with tools to refine your writing and ensure it’s crisp, engaging, and informative. With it, you can expect meticulous attention to detail. This allows you to present more details clearly in your discussions.

The subject of your paper is handled with precision, backed by artificial intelligence (AI) that enriches your argument with well-structured ideas and only the relevant evidence.

Smodin’s AI tools help maintain a sharp focus on the topic at hand and select the best words to articulate your ideas. This can be particularly useful when you must express many research findings within a small word limit. Plus, Smodin’s ability to generate references accurately and integrate them seamlessly enhances credibility and saves you tons of time.

We should also mention that Smodin’s suite of AI writing tools goes way beyond just restructuring sentences. You can also do plagiarism checks and receive comprehensive research assistance, supporting your writing at every step.

Final Thoughts

To become a “good writer,” you must master sentence structure and clarity. It won’t be easy at first, but you can do it!

Present your subject in a way that resonates with your reader, ensuring that each sentence builds on the last to form a coherent argument. Eventually, with practice and attention to detail, you’ll improve.

Remember, you can speed this up by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. Smodin lets you start for free, so what are you waiting for?