The general structure of the Introduction

The Introduction to your research paper/project ought to do a number of things:

· Provide preliminary background information (to place your study in context).

· Clarify your focus of study.

· Specify your overall research aim and individual objectives.

· Point out the value of your research.

 

A Critical Literature Review

This study makes use of a number of literature sources, including books, journals, periodical surveys, reports, conference proceedings and Government publications.

pertinent to (relating to, relevant to) my research interests.

· identify the key concepts, theories and arguments that are necessary for the project.

· to make an overall assessment of the critical quality of a book or article.

 

Conceptual frameworks are normally modifications and developments of models and theories found in the literature.

· Analysing research material

· Interpreting research material and drawing conclusions

· Summarising and précising the literature

· Evaluating key concepts and theories

· Collecting and analysing research material

· Analysing, sorting and classifying the material

· Interpreting research material

· Drawing safe conclusions

 

The aims were:

· to study . . .

· to investigate . . .

· to determine . . .

· to examine . . .

· to document . . .

 

The goals were to determine

· the effects of a . . .

· the mechanisms of . . .

· the profile . . .

· to focus the research project on a particular example or examples.

 

Diploma-level studies

· to write a critical literature review

· to use appropriate research methods

· to collect and analyze research data efficiently and effectively

· to interpret findings as a basis for making recommendations for action that are practicable and sound

· to analyse the issues and present arguments as to how the problem should be studied.

· to tackle issues/problems

· what critical issues need to be tested by empirical research

· to define the objectives of a research project

· to define working concepts and structure them in ways that give a useful theoretical shape to the project/paper/ research project

· to design and apply appropriate research methods and analyse the research material systematically;

· to draw safe conclusions.

 

There are two types of recommendations that you can make: recommendations specific to the evidence presented in your study; and suggestions for future research.

 

Questions on the structure of your research project:

 

Introduction

· Why did you do it?

· Who is likely to be interested in it?

· What exactly is the hypothesis or problem?

· What is the possible use of the research?

Literature review

· What have others said, written or researched about your topic?

· What theories illuminate your topic?

· How does the literature relate to your research questions?

Research methodology

· How did you approach the empirical work?

· What samples, tests, observations and measurements were used?

 

Data analysis

· What data have been found?

· What is your interpretation of them?

· Do they prove or refute a hypothesis?

Conclusions

· How can you summarise the work?

· Are there any actions or recommendations to take? Was it all successful?

 

Bibliography

· What books, journals, papers and other sources have been referred to throughout the work?

 

Appendices

· Are there any extra details that the specialist reader could refer to if necessary?

 

Typical questions to expect include:

 

Is the research problem related to your work?

 

What aspects of the research caused you the greatest difficulty?

 

Were you satisfied with the method and sample?

 

Could you say a little more about …………………….………. ?

 

What are the main terms or concepts you have used in your research?

 

What did you personally gain from the work?

 

How could this research be developed further?

 

Which conclusion do you see as the most significant?

 

As a result of your literature review and empirical research (if you did both), what did you find out in relation to your individual research objectives?

 

What conclusions have you come to?

 

In one sentence, what is your work about?

 

What led you to do this research?

 

Why is this work worth reading?

 

Can you explain your research objectives to us?

 

You say so-and-so has such-and-such a view. Are you sure about that?

 

Who would you say are the main players in your field?

 

I don’t agree with your interpretation of so-and-so’s model . . .

 

Your references are pretty old. Why haven’t you used more up-to-date sources?

 

You cannot claim that your case study is representative, can you?

 

Why should we rely on your research?

 

Can you explain to us how you analysed your empirical data?

 

Do you think you achieved your research objectives?

 

I’m not sure that your conclusions follow from your empirical work . . .

 

What would you say are the practical implications of your research?

 

What are practical recommendations arising from your findings?

 

Can you elaborate on your recommendations, particularly on how you see them being implemented?

 

What’s good about your work?

 

If you had to do this research work again, what would you do differently?