research paper
Scholarly written work
A research paper is a formal piece of academic writing that investigates a topic through analysis of sources, data, or original findings.
Unlike a simple essay, a research paper requires systematic inquiry and citation of evidence: Her research paper examined voting patterns in swing states.
The term appears throughout education, from high school assignments to scholarly publications.
Condensed version of text
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- literature reviewAnalysis of prior scholarship
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- resultsWhat follows from effort
discussion · conclusion · appendix · thesis statement · argument · sections · headings · tables
Academic argument requiring defense
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
- monographSingle-topic scholarly work
- empirical studyInvestigation based on observation
- case studyResearched particular instance
Mention of a source
- bibliographyList of cited works
- sourcesPoints of origin
- literature reviewAnalysis of prior scholarship
- primary sourceUnmediated evidence from events
secondary source · annotated bibliography · in-text citation · quotation · paraphrase · attribution · plagiarism · citation style
Testable proposed explanation
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
- experimentSystematic investigation procedure
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
- observationAttentive watching or remark
laboratory · sampling · variables · analysis · interpretation · drafting · revision · proofreading
Record of daily events
- articleWritten piece or grammatical word
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- submitPresent for consideration
- authorshipOrigin of written work
editor · volume · issue · conference · proceedings · open access · preprint · retraction
Relating to characteristics, not quantities
- quantitativeConcerning measurable amounts
- experimentalTesting new methods
- observationalBased on direct perception
- longitudinalAlong the longer dimension
cross-sectional · survey · interview · ethnography · statistical analysis · regression · correlation · sample size
abstract
Condensed version of text
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
- literature reviewAnalysis of prior scholarship
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
results · discussion · conclusion · appendix · thesis statement · argument · sections · headings · tables · figures
thesis
Academic argument requiring defense
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
- monographSingle-topic scholarly work
- empirical studyInvestigation based on observation
case study · review article · meta-analysis · capstone · senior thesis
citation
Mention of a source
- bibliographyList of cited works
- sourcesPoints of origin
- literature reviewAnalysis of prior scholarship
primary source · secondary source · annotated bibliography · in-text citation · quotation · paraphrase · attribution · plagiarism · citation style · APA
hypothesis
Testable proposed explanation
- data collectionSystematic accumulation of facts
- experimentSystematic investigation procedure
- fieldworkResearch conducted on location
observation · laboratory · sampling · variables · analysis · interpretation · drafting · revision · proofreading · editing
journal
Record of daily events
- articleWritten piece or grammatical word
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
- submitPresent for consideration
authorship · editor · volume · issue · conference · proceedings · open access · preprint · retraction · acceptance
qualitative
Relating to characteristics, not quantities
- quantitativeConcerning measurable amounts
- experimentalTesting new methods
- observationalBased on direct perception
longitudinal · cross-sectional · survey · interview · ethnography · statistical analysis · regression · correlation · sample size · control group
- Academic Researchhypothesis, methodology, literature review, data analysis, data collection
- academic textspsychology textbook, journal article, thesis, dissertation, monograph
- research papersjournal article, scholarly article, dissertation, introduction, conclusion
- documentsdocument, news, email, report, letter
- researchstudy, archive, peer review, investigating, citation
- writingsessay, essays, article, articles, stories
research paperopinion piece
Article expressing personal views
personal essay · blog post · rant · editorial · hot take
research papernovel
New and unusual
short story · fiction · creative writing · fan fiction · advertisement
research paperstream of consciousness
Narrative mimicking uninterrupted thought
paper, research, papers, researcher, researched, researching, papery, researches, paperless