Outlines for different kinds of papers often vary. An outline for an essay, for instance, would be different from that of a dissertation. Aside from that, you can have slightly different outlines depending on your approach to writing a research paper. However, the key question is, how do you write a research paper outline?

We’ll discuss that in detail and provide many more tips associated with how to do a research paper outline. Do read on, and let’s get right to it!

Outline in research paper

Before we get right into how to outline a research paper, we should discuss the concept of an outline and a research paper individually.

Can you imagine using an appliance you’ve never seen before without reading the setup instructions? Or can you prepare a meal from scratch for the first time without its recipe already put down? The answers are no. Just like you would be lost without these guides, you will be lost without a structure of research paper outline.

An outline is a written instruction or step-by-step marker and guide that helps you track your progress while carrying out any activity. You can have an outline for your assignments, chores, work schedule, and many more.

A research paper, on the other hand, is pretty self-explanatory. They are papers usually written at various institutions with a higher level of education for further research into specific fields.

Once a student has filtered through several research topics available and selected one, the next appropriate step is outline development. Now placing these two terms together, a research paper outline is a guide written by the author, providing a pathway to its completion. You could call it an action plan or the academic version of a to-do list.

The outline for a research paper can vary based on elements like topics, field, methodology, and even institution. For example, a science research paper outline can be very different from an art research paper outline.

At the same time, the structure of a research paper outline can slightly differ even if they are established from the same fields. Some institutions may have different recommendations when it comes to structuring the conclusion or even some parts of the body of a paper. What’s important, however, is knowing the right kind of outline to develop based on your research field and the requirements of your institution.

Standard research paper outline template

Now that we’ve got the hang of what research paper outlines are, let’s take a look at sample outlines for research paper.

Outline of research paper middle school

For an outline of a research paper in middle school, you need just a few pointers to get started. Papers typically written at this level are simple and easy to structure.

High school research paper outline

For a high school research paper outline, you’ll need a proper outline having an introduction, a body of information, and then a conclusion.

College research paper outline

For a college research paper outline, you need a more detailed outline. You have the title or cover page, also the opening chapter, to introduce key details. Then you have the abstract, the summary of the entire paper. It contains findings, their significance, and a quick conclusion.

Afterward, you have the proper introduction, then the methodology. This describes the methods, tools, and techniques used for the research. Next, you have the results and discussions section, where you share your findings and interpret the meaning. You may need to add visual elements like charts, graphs, and figures.

Lastly, you have the conclusion, a summary of the results, a concise thesis statement, the importance of the paper, references, and many more.

Best tips on how to write a research paper outline

To begin your research paper outline, follow these steps:

• Choose a topic for your paper

To start an outline, you need a topic. Without a topic, you have no basis or identity for an outline.

• Make a list of all the concepts you wish to include or debate

Record your main points, potential findings, and any other ideas you want to address in the main research paper.

• Sort similar concepts into sub-groups

When writing out the main points and ideas you have, you’re bound to see similarities between them. To make a proper outline, sort similar ideas into smaller groups to make it easier to go back to them when writing the main paper.

• Make a hierarchy of your ideas

What should readers discover first when they read your paper? What matters the most? Which concept will help you finish your paper more naturally? When you ask yourself these questions, you can determine the order of importance.

• Make good headers and subheadings

Headers and subheadings are key when writing outlines. You must ensure they’re well-written on the outline to avoid mistakes on the main paper. More often, these headings or subheadings translate into your research paper’s main points or even headings.

Conclusion

Writing an outline can be very straightforward when you have your topic and fully understand the ideas behind your arguments. Follow the general outline structure used by your field and institution when crafting your outline. Afterward, use these tips above, and you’ll be ready to craft your first research paper outline.

But what does the methodology section of your research paper require? What’s it all about – and how do you write one from scratch? Not to worry, in this post, we unpack these questions one by one and give you a detailed guide on how to write methods in research paper.

How can you define methodology in research?

How do you define the methodology or methods of a research paper? Well, methodology in research is a concise description of all the processes involved in gathering information, including the techniques and methods of execution. Additionally, all these create a road map that supports your findings and establishes connections between your techniques and your conclusions.

Think of the methods for a research paper as the tactics you used to obtain your findings. This chapter will need to highlight the philosophical undertones of your research while telling the reader your research choices and why they are justified. It normally includes the type of research you conducted, the method of data collection, the method of data analysis, and the various sampling techniques applied.

This process allows your readers to evaluate the reliability and validity of your study and your research topic. Typically, a sample of writing methodology should include the following:

• The research form you conducted
• Your data collection and analysis process
• Materials and tools used throughout the research process
• Justifications for your research methods

Why is the methodology chapter essential in a paper?

The methodology chapter is essential in a paper for different reasons. However, two reasons stand out the most from others.

Firstly, the methodology section comprehensively outlines your understanding of the research design theory you adopted. A flawed research design theory automatically translates to a flawed methodology, which means your entire paper is in question. You get unmatched results that are flawed, and your work comes off as unreliable. This is why this section of your paper is vital – it establishes the credibility of your entire work.

Secondly, the methodology section is the data bank of your entire paper. It is the one chapter that helps to make your entire research replicable. Through a methodology chapter, other researchers can undertake your study using the same techniques and compare their findings to yours. This is a key aspect of academic research, as every study you see today builds on previous studies.

Other reasons why this chapter is vital are:

• It gives the ability to identify and evaluate any problems encountered during research
• It addresses research limitations and shortcomings
• It comprehensively demonstrates your understanding of research design

How to write a methodology

Before you start writing a research methodology, you must take note of your field of research. The simple reason is that the contents and the exact structure of a methodology chapter can vary depending on your research field.

Before you begin to learn how to write methods for research paper, check the guidelines your university provides to be sure. You could also review past research papers in your library archives for clarity. Below, we’ll explore how to write a methodology from scratch:

1. Create an outline and have a plan behind it

Before you start writing, it is always helpful to write a rough outline. This gives you a concrete plan in mind with a clear pathway to follow. Never go head first into writing without knowing what exact points to put in specific places. Start with the conclusion in mind, so you won’t have to stitch incorrect pieces together.

2. Introduction

As with all sections in a paper, the methodology should have a brief introduction. There, you remind your readers about your study’s focus and the research’s aims.

3. Research design

The next part of your methodology section should be the research design. You justify all the major design choices taken clearly and intuitively in this part. This is like the main body of your methodology chapter, so don’t hold back on the details. You’ll talk about aspects like research philosophy, type, strategy, time, sampling methods, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques.

4. The methodological limitations

This portion of your methodology chapter will go through the techniques you had to adopt and why they were justifiable given the circumstances. Methodological limits can vary considerably amongst studies, such as time and money constraints to selection bias.

5. Concluding remarks

Here, it would be best if you summarised everything you’ve delivered throughout the chapter. It should be brief and concise – it shouldn’t be more than a paragraph or two. Also, only incorporate content previously covered in your chapter; do not offer any new information.

Conclusion

Remember to defend every decision! Clearly explain the “why” for each “what.” Also, add trustworthy methodological textbooks or academic sources to support your claims.

A research report must be concise and accurate. In other words, another researcher should be able to use the same processes to get similar results. This article highlights some useful report writing tips.

The main components of report writing

There are components of report writing that cannot be undermined. These components must be adequately taken care of if your report writing will be accepted as up to standard. These include:

1. Introduction

The background information of your report should be clearly stated in this part. This could include a brief introduction of the literature available for the topic. You should also include your thesis statement distinctively in your introduction.

2. Literature review

The literature review in any study shows the information gap that the work intends to bridge. You should carefully and systematically do the literature review. It should always be timely as it is essential to the work. Your literature review should expose the justification of your study.

3. Methodology

This part of the research report shows how you have gathered your data and the method of data analysis. The methodology should be clear enough for another researcher to replicate. A methodology must always be written in passive and never in active sentences.

Also, every material used should be referenced and diagrams labeled appropriately. Discussion of results should not be done under methodology.

4. Results

This point is where you state what you have found out in the course of your research. You should, however, interpret your results at a later stage.

5. Discussion of findings

It is at this point you interpret your results. Your discussion of findings should take you back to your literature review and create a link to your thesis statement. It would be best to show how relevant the results are and how your findings are related to other research.

6. Conclusion and recommendation

A good conclusion is meant for reinforcement. New things should not be introduced in the conclusion. Summarize significant results in your research and highlight limitations. Use your limitations to make recommendations for further research. Recommendations could be merged with the conclusion or separated. It will depend on the school’s format.

How to write a research report

For every research, there is an acceptable academic report format. An academic report should have a title and all necessary preliminary and final pages. Every part of the report should be adequately treated. Here are some valuable and effective tips for report writing.

• Analyze the work

Before doing any research, you must understand what it is about. It would be best if you considered what is expected carefully. You should ask yourself what the report’s purpose is and who your target audience is.

Also, consider word and time limits, the topic of your report, and the acceptable format. You can write a good academic report after you have clearly understood what is required.

• Develop a plan

Before you start writing your report, build a research report outline. Write out every piece of information you have about the different sections. You should also have a clear thesis statement for your research report.

• Research extensively

Research report writing can only be done when research has been done. The process of research should never be rushed. Ensure you have ample time to conduct thorough research before writing your report. Ensure you keep a record of all materials used during your research.

• Draw up your draft

After carrying out the research, draft your research report. The draft should follow the standard research report template for your institution if there’s one. Your draft should also include all preliminary and supplementary pages. This may seem inconsequential but can consume much time if handled poorly. Ensure all appendices and diagrams are adequately accounted for.

• Fine-tune your work

After taking the steps above, make sure you go through your report to ensure everything is as it should be. Brush it up and ensure that all guidelines and templates have been strictly adhered to. Errors should also be taken care of or corrected once noticed

Conclusion

The format of a research report is as important as the report itself. Important information could be lost if you do not organize your report well. Also, you could lose marks. Endeavor to find the acceptable format in your school and stick to it.

Limitations in research refer to the constraints on a work as regards its applicability. The limitations of research work are usually derived from the methodology used. You must point out the limitations in your work before your supervisor does.

Pointing out the possible limitations of a study reveals that you have done adequate research. It also shows that you have critically thought about your research problems and understood the reviewed literature. The limitations in a study open up areas for further research.

There are different types of limitation in research. The limitation could be based on methodology, and it could also be based on the researcher.

Common limitations in research you should know

Limitations in research are common and are nothing to be ashamed of. There are many examples of limitations in research. Some limitations in research are discussed below:

Sample size

The number of samples you are analyzing for your research could be a limitation. Sometimes, the sample size is too small to generalize findings. This should be highlighted clearly when writing your research study limitation.

Insufficient data

The limitation of the study, at times, is the fact that there is no sufficient data to back up your claim. The inability to get data will force you to narrow down the scope of your research. When stating this limitation, ensure you suggest reasons for insufficient data. Make your limitation useful by linking it to areas of further research.

Insufficient literature to review

This is another limitation of the study. Sometimes, not much has been done on an aspect. This could make it difficult to get literature to review for your work. However, before you decide this is the case, consult the librarian in your school or locality.

Ask around from those who are academically inclined to ensure you have left no stone unturned in searching for literature. You can only state that there is little literature when you have done an extensive search with few results. Remember to use this limitation to open up a research path for future researchers.

Method of data collection

Sometimes after you have finished your research, you find that you could have collected your data better. Acknowledge this limitation in your writing and state the need for revising the data collection method.

Self-report

Whether you are conducting interviews, questionnaires, or focus groups, self-report should never be generalized. This is because it cannot be verified independently. A lot of factors could limit self-report. The respondent could exaggerate facts or switch the time of events. This limitation should be highlighted so that it does not become something that will make you lose marks.

Access to data

If you have issues accessing data for your research, you should state it in your work. You should also give possible reasons for this limitation and suggest how it can be handled in the future.

How to write limitations of report for your research

The limitations of a study should be written at the beginning of the discussion or the end. It should not be written within the body or the discussion as it could easily get lost. When writing the limitation of your study, point it out objectively but do not be apologetic about it. Describe the limitation in clear terms.

Objectively point out the impacts of the limitation on your research. In addition, state the reason for the limitation and why it could not be overcome in the research. Finally, use the research limitation to suggest possible areas of further study.

Conclusion

Every academic paper has a limitation. Having a limitation does not mean that your paper is not good enough. However, it should also not be an excuse for writing a mediocre research paper. Make sure you do everything you can to write a good paper. Limitations should be things you genuinely cannot overcome in writing your academic paper.