Guidelines For the Research Paper

General Information

• Your paper should have at least three variables: one INDEPENDENT, one DEPENDENT and one CONTROL.
• You only need to run one test, but you should pick the test that fits your variables best.
• Run your test with just the independent and the dependent, then run it with the control.
• Be sure to explain everything you do and all the information about the variables you use.
• Remember that you can include graphs in your paper, but they do not count toward the necessary number of pages!

Paper Layout

I. Introduction (about half a page):

• What is the problem this research addresses?
• What is the research question?
• Why is it important?
• Why is it interesting?
• What are the potential implications?
• Is there a theoretical debate?
• What is the research design?

II. Relevant literature (about a page):

• What is known about this question?
• What does the relevant empirical literature say?
• Is there a near-consensus? Or a major debate? Or, not much at all?
• How does your research relate to the literature?

III. Methodology (half a page BUT could combine with data analysis section):

• What is the hypothesis?
• What is the methodology of the research?
• What are the independent and dependent variables?
• Defend the methods: why these methods and not others? (operationalization of concepts into variables as well as data analysis)
• What statistical techniques are being applied? Why are they appropriate?
• Are there any methodological weaknesses? (may include this in data analysis section or in conclusion)

IV. Data analysis (about two pages):

• And what do the numbers say?
• Univariate measures, measures of association, measures of statistical significance.
• Graphical display of findings (not included in five pages).
• Control variables?
• Use of alternative measures?
• Does your data analysis provide evidence in support of the hypothesis?

V. Conclusion/Discussion (half a page or more):

• Summarize findings. What have we learned?
• What does the research mean for empirical theorizing about research problem?
• Speculate about findings (why did you find what you did while others found something different).
• What are the limitations of study? (What might be going on that would help you answer your research question that you were unable to uncover/address/control for/whatever.)
• What are the implications of study? Why does this (or might it) actually matter? Does it relate to any current events or debates?
• What future research is necessary (or at least would be helpful)?