Writing the Research Paper

1. Writing the Research Paper Zooey 9810003m Angela 9810010m

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. 5 probability sampling: • 1. Simple random sampling: Each member has a number (code) and each population has an equal chance to be selected • 2. Systematic sampling: Select every nth name from the list, so need to estimate the needed sample size • 3. Stratified sampling: Divide the populations into subgroups (e.g., genders) or levels (e.g., proficiency levels) and then draw randomly from each subgroup

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

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

14. Data Collection Procedures • Qualitative research: Describe the use of audiotapes, note-taking • Interviewer is the important tool.

15. Data Analysis Procedures • Quantitative research: Describe how you handled the data; provide statistical procedures (e.g., compute mean score or frequency)

16. Data Analysis Procedures • Qualitative research: Describe data analysis strategies; explain multiple sources of data • Form your grounded theory

17. Limitations of the Study • Explain anticipated limitations of the study • Ex: Sample size is too small.

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

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

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

21. Discussions and Conclusion • D. The results will be useful to “whom”? • E. Any limitation to reach the generalizability • F. Draw conclusions and suggestions (about improvement) *based on your or minority’s opinions