Research paper

Research Project Guidelines

Field Research Project Format

Components of the Research Project

Cover Page Abstract

Introduction Literature Review Methods Findings Discussion Conclusion References

Components of the Research Project and Their

Suggested Minimum Lengths

Cover Page Abstract (5 - 7 lines) Introduction (at least half a page) Literature Review (at least one and a half pages) Methods (at least half a page) Findings (up to you to decide and organize the format for this) Discussion (at least two pages) Conclusion (at least half a page)

References (be sure to make in-text citations throughout your paper and to properly include all references in this section at the end)

*Note: Once again, these are only suggested lengths for each section. If you feel you have to write more to get your point across as accurately as possible in order to get the best possible grade, then I encourage you to do so. Also be sure to start each new section on a new page with a clearly marked title (Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, etc.) in bold, underlined, and larger font.

Cover Page

Include basic information about your research project (your name, the name of the class, the date and the title of your research project)

Include a title that is at the same time accurate and compelling to your reader

Abstract

An abstract is a summary of all of the components that will follow in your a research project.

Much like the summaries that you read on the inside flap on a book let you decide whether or not to buy it, an abstract allows your reader to decide whether or not your research will be useful to his or her particular area of interest.

Introduction

Presentation of your topic Presentation of the population and sample you will study (identify the geographic location) Why is your topic important to society? Present at least two hypotheses that you will set out to examine through your research. At the end of your introduction, you can literally write out one or two sentences for each of the following. These are two specific points about the topic that you will focus on and that will guide your research.

– Hypothesis 1: ______

– Hypothesis 2: ______

Literature Review

Select a minimum of three sociologists from

Chapter 1 who wrote about your topic.

For each author, explain his or her theory

and why it will help you explain your own research. So this section can be at least three paragraphs long.

Methods

Present an overview of the methods you used to conduct research on the sample of your population. These include but are not limited to:

Surveys Face to face interviews Observation of events and the description of them in anecdotes What calculations did you make to conduct a statistical analysis of your survey (average, median, percentages, mode)? Additional research from the school library and the Internet (Note: Be sure to properly give credit to all sources and to list them in the bibliography.) What sources did you consult to gain information for this research project:

• Academic journals?
• Database in school library?
• Websites for articles?
• Websites for maps, time lines, and population charts?

Findings

Present the findings that will help explain your hypotheses. For each finding, write a two or three sentences explaining it.

Findings can include:

Charts Maps Tables Photos Quotations from people you interview

Discussion

Use your literature review and your findings to discuss your topic.

Whereas the Findings section was a quick presentation of facts, this section will attempt to explain the causes and consequences of these facts.

Based on your literature review and findings sections, are the two hypotheses that you proposed in the beginning of this research project valid?

Conclusion

Brief summary of your results Challenges that affected your research Commentary about how this research can

help us reflect on the problems facing our own society today

Solutions Suggestions for potential follow up

research on a related topic

References

List the sources used in this project in alphabetical order.

An example of the suggested format is as follows:

Hochschild, Arlie. The Second Shift:

Working Parents and the Revolution at

Home. New York: Viking Press,1989.

*Note: Do not only paste a link if you are using an online article. You need to include full information to before the link