THE IMRAD FORMAT

IMRAD means Introduction, Method, Results and Discussions.

Introduction answers “why?”

Methods answers “when, where, how, how much?”
Results answer “what?”
Discussion answers “so what?”

Below is the suggested sequence of sections that should be followed for the IMRAD.

Preliminaries
Title
Authorship
Abstract

1. Introduction
2. Theoretical Background
a. Theoretical framework
b. Literature review
c. Conceptual Framework
3. Method
a. Subjects
b. Instruments
c. Data Collection Procedures
d. Data Analysis
e. Ethical Considerations
4. Results
5. Discussion
a. Findings
b. Conclusion
c. Recommendations
6. References

INTRODUCTION
You may find that writing structured introduction gets you the perk to start up and gives
you the needed focus that significantly improves your entire paper. You may write your
introduction at the beginning or have the freedom to revise it at the end of the study when you
have the full grasp of your research.

Introductions usually have three parts: presentation of the problem or the research
inquiry; purpose and focus of the current paper and summary or overview of the writer’s
position or arguments.
 In the first part of the introduction, you will have the presentation of the problem then,
background on the problem, why you think that this problem needs to be addressed. You may tell
why this problem has been a problem, why previous attempts have failed to solve it, or why you
think this particular slant or angle to the problem is important. You can also mention what
benefits are to be gained from solving this problem or exploring this topic from your perspective.

In the second part of the introduction, state your purpose and focus. Here, you may even
present your actual thesis. Sometimes your purpose statement can take the place of the thesis by
letting your reader know your intentions. Some writers like to delay presenting their thesis,
especially if their readers may not be ready to accept it.

The third part, the summary or overview of the paper, briefly leads readers through the
discussion, forecasting the main ideas and giving readers a blueprint for the paper.

Example of an Introduction
(Excerpt from research project of Nikki Rose M. Chico at University of the Philippines)

Natural products have rich structural diversity and complexity that served as key factor in
the discovery and development of drugs (Cseke, 2006). The term natural product is used to refer
to secondary metabolites-compounds of low molecular weight that are said to be not involved in
the primary growth development of a species but tends to have special functions (Cannell, 1992).
Some of these functions include analgesic, antimicrobial, antifeedants and sex attraction but
there are natural products that have low or no apparent biological role.

In order to address this issue, one solution that can be done is by chemical derivation,
wherein a reagent is introduced to modify the chemical structure of the compound, thus, altering
its physical and chemical properties (Furlan et al, 2007). This modification may lead to the
synthesis of new compounds that may exhibit an improvement, weakening, or inhibition of its
bioactivity.

In this study, Kyllinga monocephata, diospyrosblacoi, Sesbaniagrandiflora and

Cordylinefructicosa were subjected to chemical modification with the use of phenyhydrazine
hydrochloride and hydrazine dihydrochloride. By introducing new functionalities in the chemical
structure of the compounds in these plants after reacting the extracts with the chosen reagents, a
change in their biological property may arise due to the synthesis of an active compound from
otherwise inactive compounds. Moreover, the study explore the reactivity of phenylthdrazineHCI
and hydrazine 2HCI towards these extracts whether diversification could be achieved or not. The
study aims to compare the antimicrobial activity of reacted hexane and ethyl extract of D.blacoi
with the corresponding unreacted form.
Statement of the Problem
There should be a statement of the whole problem followed by the specific questions or
sub-problems in which the general problem is broken up.

Assumption and hypothesis

Historical and descriptive research does not need explicit assumption and hypothesis.
Only experimental research needs a well-written assumption and hypothesis. Usually for
experimental research the hypothesis is in null form.

Significance of the study

The importance of the whole study must be explained. Who, where and what benefits
once can get from the study should be written.

Some phrase that you can use in formulating your significance of the study:
a. This study will enhance involvement in……
b. Result could help benefit….
c. The findings may serve as guide to…..
d. The study will provide….
e. This could motivate and challenge the…..

Definition of Terms
Only terms that are important in the understanding of the study should be defined. To use
operational definition has a great advantage in understanding your study.

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

Scope – identifies the coverage and boundaries of the studying terms of objective, subjects,
facilities, area, time and the issue to which the research is focused.
Delimitation- defines the constraints and weaknesses which are mot within the control of the
researcher therefore they are not expected to be part of the study.

Phrases that could help express the scope:

1. This study will focus on…..
2. The coverage of this study is…..
3. The study focuses on…..
4. The study consists of…..

Phrases that could help express the delimitations

1. This study is limited to…..
2. The study does not cover the ……
3. The researcher limited his research to….
4. It does not seek to include…..

Conceptual Framework
This can be presented both in a textual form and in a figure form. You can use the IPO or
IV-DV style.
Related Literature and Studies
This section has three parts namely: the literature which can be conceptual, the related
studies, the researches done by other people who is related and will give light to the present
study. The review will discuss the difference and similarities between the studies cited and the
present study.

Methods of Research and Procedures

Among the topics that should be included are methods of research used; methods of
collecting data; development of the instrument; sampling design and statistical treatment. The
methodology section except for statistical treatment should be written in narrative form. In case
of experimental research where there are some materials that you will use, exact measurement
should also be given. Do not use abbreviation except for units of measurements.

Analysis, Presentation and Interpretation of the Data

How you present the results of your research depends on what kind of research you did,
your subject matter, and your readers’ expectations. Quantitative information or data that can be
measured can be presented systematically and economically in Tables, charts, and graphs.
Quantitative information includes quantities and comparisons of sets of data. If you are
unfamiliar with the conventions, you may find it challenging to present quantitative findings.
You may include some commentary to explain to your reader what your findings are and how to
read them.

The Discussion Section

Your discussion section should generalize on what you have learned from your research.
One way to generalize is to explain the consequence or meaning of your results and then make
your points that support and refer back to the statements you made in your introduction. Your
discussion should be organized so that it relates directly to your thesis. You want to avoid
introducing new ideas here or discussing tangential issues not directly related to the exploration
and discovery of your thesis. This section, along with the introduction is usually written in
present tense.

The Conclusion and Recommendation Section

Some academic research assignments might end with the discussion and not need a
separate conclusions and recommendations section. Often, in shorter assignments, your
conclusion is just a paragraph or two added to the discussion section. In many of your research
assignments, however, you will be asked to provide your conclusions and recommendations in
your research paper.

You may be asked to present your recommendations separately in your research

assignment. If so, you will want to add some elements to your conclusion section. For example,
you may be asked to recommend a course of action, make a prediction, propose a solution to a
problem, offer a judgement, or speculate on the implications and consequences of your ideas.
The conclusions and recommendations section is usually written in present tense.

Reporting and Sharing of Findings

 The final step in a research study is to report the findings. This is often done by writing
up a description of the study and publishing the article in an academic or professional journal.
The level and scope of content depends on to whom the report is intended, e.g., to
funders/bankers, employees, clients, customers, and the public.

There are five key characteristics of research results: direction, magnitude, variance (of
averages and summaries), statistical significance (when hypothesis testing), and consistency
within the study. The importance and implications of the results depends on all five.

Directions and magnitude of the study is oftentimes neglected in the report. There are
thousands of correlations reported in the research literature without an indication of whether they
were positive or negative correlations. There are thousands of experimental differences reported
as statistically significant without an indication of the magnitude of the difference.

Averages or summaries simplify complexity and that is often helpful, but they can also
hide important information. It is very easy to accompany mean values with the variance, and that
adds considerable information.

While statistical significance is usually reported in quantitative research, it is widely

misinterpreted by researchers and by readers. The power of all statistical tests is positively
affected by sample size and inversely affected by the variance in the samples. Conversely, a
finding of statistical significance from large samples (greater than 1,000) can result from trivial
differences. Furthermore, it should also be noted that when 100 hypotheses are tested at the .05
level of significance, there is a good chance of finding about 5 statistically significant results by
chance when there are no real differences in the population.

Most quantitative research involves multiple results, and the pattern of the results is far
more important than any one by itself. For that reason, it is important that the report indicate all
the results.

How can you ascertain whether a research report indicates all the results? Sometimes, it
will say that it has or has not. Sometimes more measures are discussed in the data collection
section than are reported in the results section of the report. In addition, the following three
conditions that should raise concerns about selective reporting of the results for an analysis if
you had done a good research report, ask these questions and try to find out an honest answer to
it.

 Do all the reported hypothesis tests have statistically significant results?

 Are all the reported results consistent?
 Is there an indication that the researcher was surprised by some of the results?
 What is the direction, magnitude, variance, and statistical significance (when
applicable) of each result?
 What is the pattern of results for each broad question that was addressed?

An honest answer to these questions will give you a high probability of a good report.