Contents of a research paper

N.B. The texts written in the parenthesis () are for clarifications, and not to be written
as heading or sub-heading.

ABSTRACT/ (Proposal summary for proposal)

LIST OF ACRONYMS and Abbreviations (if any)
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study (introductory part)
1.2 Statement of the problem (gap identification (e.g. methodological, conceptual,
practicablity gap), premises/ rationality of doing this research )
1.3. Objectives of the Study
1.3.1 General Objective of the study
1.3.2 Specific objective of the study (consider SMART)
1.4 Significance of the Study
1.5 Scope of the study (conceptual, geographic and time framework (i.e. the year or
months that the research is being conducted)
1.6 Limitations of the study
1.7 Organization of the study (i.e. chapter one deals with the introduction part,
chapter two focuses on reviewing related literature ….and so on)
1.8 Operational definition of terms
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
(Here you need to review recently published scholarly works (2023, 2022, 2021, 2020,
2019, 2018…) from reputable journals i.e. Elsevier, Emeralds, Taylor and Francis, Sage,
Wiley, Springer Nature, Inderscience and so forth).

(Literature should be systematically reviewed based on your title and specific

objectives. Once you thoroughly reviewed recently published scientific papers, then
you can propose/ develop/ establish hypotheses (i.e. for quantitative research).
Hypothesis is optional for qualitative research).

Conceptual Framework
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Description of Study Area
 3.2 Research Approaches
3.3 Research Design
3.4 Data Types and Data Sources
3.5 Target Population
3.6 Sampling Size Determination and Sampling Techniques
3.6.1 Sample Size
3.6.2 Sampling Technique
3.7 Data Collection Instruments
3.8 Data Analysis and Presentation Techniques
3.9. Validity and Reliability
3.9.1 Validity
3.9.2 Reliability
3.11 Ethical Consideration
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1. Response Rate
4.2 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents
(You have to substantiate your findings with recently published scientific papers i.e.
whether your research result is consistent with the previous studies or not. If it is
inconsistent you need to justify why it happens (e.g. sampling technique, sample size,
socio-cultural differences etc.))

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESEARCH

PRIORITIZATION
5.1 Conclusions
5.2 Recommendations
5.3 Research Prioritazation
REFERENCES
APPENDIX (it may include questionnaires, large tables, and other attachements)