TECHNICAL RESEARCH WRITING AND EVALUATION GUIDE

Research skeleton, Format and Outlines

A Reference and Research librarian ‘s Guide to undergraduate students

Reference and Research Desk

UNAM OSHAKATI CAMPUS LIBRARY

LESSON # 1

0. RESEARCH COVER PAGE

 Research topic
 Institution Name
 Student information
 Supervisor/Co-supervisor information
 NOTE: No Pagination needed on this page
1.1 INTRODUCTION
 Shortly provide an overview of the problem
 Introduce your topic to the reader in style
 Present your research problem
 Reveal what the reader expects to find in the research paper
 When it comes to existing literature featuring similar characteristics as your topic,
describe what other scholars focused.
 Give an overview of the paper’s structure

Reference Note: this is an introduction, not literature review or background of the study. Keep it brief,
lure the reader into your paper, create interest do not over cite.

1.2 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

 Provide in context the background information regarding the research problem. Your
research problem is connected to your research topic thus, provide historical information
pertaining to your research topic and in conjunction to your research problem.
 Provide the key over view of your research questions that will be addressed in the study.
 Provide the objective of the study (it is mostly best to have this part towards the end of this
section as it gives the reader an overall idea about your research).
 Cite! Research is scientific! Use evidence from existing literature that consists of information
that is similar to your research topic. Meaning find articles, books, newspapers, any other
source of information featuring the characteristics of your research problem or similar
situations.
 In your article searches and citation, consider a representation of information from a Global,
National, Regional/local perspective. Meaning in your search terms try and find articles with
findings regarding a similar problem in other parts of the world as well. It is vital to present
and review what other scholars discovered in other parts of the world, region or country, it
reveals the vitality, history and commonness of the topic.
 Tips: what is this topic all about? when did the issue come into existence? Why do you think
there is a problem?
1.3 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
 Clearly provide a description of your research problem. Narrate your research problem
in an analytical manner.
 What are the characteristics of the problem?
 How does it manifest?
 Who is effected by this problem?
 What are the results of this problem overall?
 What are the environmental, health, or economical concerns, effects or outcomes that
may appear as a result of this problem?
 What or who is at risk if this problem is not addressed or dealt with?
 Reference Note: Seek for existing literature on the same or similar topic and present
their findings. You can also cite scholars who suggested or provided mechanisms used
to address the problem.
1.4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
 What is the purpose of the study?
 What is the beneficial reason for this study?
 Why are you carrying out this study?
 Clearly explain what the purpose of the study is.

1.5 Objectives or research questions

 Depending on the methodology employed in your study, present the objectives or
the research questions.
 Quantitative: Objective of the study
 Hypothesis of the study
 Qualitative: Research questions (3 is a neutral good number)
 Objectives are goals to your study and statements declaring the focus and
identification of variables which indicate specific activities (to be accomplished).
 Identify the main objective of the study and describe the specific objectives as well.
 Research questions are particular questions that you wish answered in the quest to
addressing your research problem.
 Think about how you would best find answers to your questions/ how you would
best achieve your research objectives or goals.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
1.6.1 Delimitation of the study
Boundaries of the study, defined parameters of the investigation
Specify the inclusion and exclusion criteria
1.6.2 Limitation of the study
 Describe the different challenges that the researcher might face (proposal stage)
 Present the different challenges faced (mini-thesis stage).
  Limitations are influences that the researcher cannot control, shortcomings or
influences that may make it a challenge for the researcher to complete the research
as planned.
1.7 STUDY RATIONALE/SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
 State why your study is of importance.
 How will the results to this study be of any significance?
 To whom/who will this study ‘s findings be of beneficial?
 What benefits will come from this study? Economically, socially, health-wise etc..
 What body of knowledge will benefit from the findings/results of your study?
 Suggestion of possible solutions to the research problem.
 To what extend will your study results be a contribution to the solution of your
research problem?
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
 At this section the researcher is expected to reveal his or her knowledge of the research
topic by presenting in discussion findings from related literature.
 Search for existing literature that researched on topics that are similar to your research
topic or that addressed the same or similar research problem as yours.
 Your literature review should not just be a presentation of findings but a discussion and
connected to your research topic.
 Discuss what other scholars discussed, including their suggestions etc. Address this
section form a global, regional, national perspective.
 Reference Note: Cite properly, accurately and consistently.
 Use discourse markers (but, however, in addition, thus, therefore, hence,
consequently, etc….) in order to achieve a particular flow in your discussion.
 Create themes/categories per paragraph and according to your research objectives and
research questions.

2.1 THEORETICAL/CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE STUDY

 Your field of study consists of different types of theoretical frameworks
 Which of the existing theories could suit your research paper?
 The theoretical frameworks can help guide the researcher on how to best seek questions or
achieve the research objectives by using an existing guide or framework.

 A theoretical framework is a foundational review of existing theories. These theories

serve as a roadmap for developing the arguments you will use in your own work.
 Theories are developed by researchers to explain phenomena, draw connections, and
make predictions. In a theoretical framework, you explain the existing theories that
support your research, revealing that your work is grounded in established ideas.

3.0 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design

 This section reveals the design of your information enquiry that you as a researcher
will follow or adopt. What type of study is this? What type of approach? In your
 search for answers, are you addressing an existing issue finding out how it is done for
example or why it is done the way it is done perhaps, are you seeking to enquire or
gather new information… what would be the best design and approach to reach your
goals or to answer your questions.
 Carefully select your study design and also specify on the specific study type you
would use to collect the data and motivate your choice, (why is this design suitable
for your study?).
 Exploratory/Descriptive design (Descriptive Case study, Cross Sectional surveys etc)
 Analytical study (Eg: Case control, cohort, etc)
 Experimental study, (clinical trial etc)

3.2 Research Methods

 This section presents the methods used by the researcher to collect the data to
answer the research questions and to reach the objectives of the study. It is
expected that you motivate your choice here. Why is this methodology
suitable for your study?
 Ensure that your research method (including data collection method) matches
your research design.
 Qualitative
 Quantitative
 Mixed-methods (at your current undergraduate level confirm with your
lecturer on whether you are allowed to employ this method).

3.3 STUDY POPULATION AND SAMPLING

3.3.1 Population

 Provide and describe the population (people, households, health

facilities, districts, etc that you are interested in and from which
you wish to draw a sample (study population).
 How many units do you need in your sample? (sample size)
 How will these people be selected? (sampling method)
 Depending on the chosen methodology, one may follow:
 Random sampling techniques (quantitative) be specific
 Purposeful sampling techniques (qualitative) be specific
 Stratified sampling etc…

3.4 Research instruments

 Indicate the data collection instruments of your choice (remember to ensure that these
instrument suits your research methodology) and justify your choices.
 Give a description of the characteristics of the instruments you used or are going to use
(mini-thesis or proposal).
 Tools used to collect the desired data during the data collection phase of the study:

Questionnaires (E.g.: structures self-administered questionnaire with close ended

questions).
FGD
Observational check lists
Interview Guides etc.

3.4 Data collection procedure

Describes the entire process of data collection including specific methods, tools,
consents and permissions involved into the data collection activities.

3.5 DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING

 Indicate how the data will be managed

 Indicate how the data will be processed
 Indicate how the data will be organized
 Indicate how the data will be analysed
 Indicate whether the data will be analysed manually or by the use of a specific
computer software E.g: SPSS
 Justify your choice.

3.6 Pilot the study (instruments)

Indicate where and how you would conduct your pilot study and explain the primary
purposes of piloting your research instruments.

3.7 Validity and Reliability issues

 Validity: explain how your observations actually measure what they intend to
measure.
 Extent to which your conclusions are true, sound or accurate.
 Validity explains how you have planned to control the Systematic error, Bias
and Confounders in our research.
 Internal validity: validity of your findings within the research that you
undertook or will undertake.
 External validity: generalisability of your findings to other populations and
situations.
 Reliability: explain how if someone else uses the same method and
circumstances would obtain the same findings. This would reveal that you as a
researcher did not do anything unethical to influence or change your research
findings.
 Such findings should be repeatable.
4.0 ETHICAL CONSIDERATION

 Indicate the procedures to follow in order to obtain ethical clearances and

authorizations by different parties. E.g. UNAM, MoHSS, Town Council, regional
constituency etc.)
 Indicate how would your study comply with the following ethical principles:
 Privacy and Anonymity
 Confidentiality
 Pseudonyms
 Data Storage
 Data Security issues
 Voluntary participation
 The principles of beneficence

5.0 REFERENCES

List and order your references as per Vancouver referencing style. You list of references
must correspond to your in-text citations.

• Research is scientific=Evidence based

• Providing evidence by providing the sources of information you used when carrying
out your research.
• Proper referencing reveals authenticity

1. In-text citation- discussion by the researcher done inside the document

A. Direct quoting- copying and pasting as is (indicate the page number and use quotation
marks)

B. Paraphrasing- using synonyms to present someone else's words

2. Referencing list: a list of all authors of the sources of information that you used with the
reference numbers that you assigned them.

We reference to avoid plagiarism!

Compiled by: S T Namandje

UNAM OSHAKATI CAMPUS

REFERENCE DESK