Assignment:
Preparing Research Reports
The Structure of a Research Paper
- The first element is the Title
- The Title is followed by an Abstract
- The abstract is followed by an Introduction
- Following the introduction/literature review is the Method, Researchers states the # of participants, how they were selected, and demographics (age/gender)
o Sub sections: Measures-Qualitative/Quantitative
o Optional: Procedures/ Data Analysis
- Results: Results of the analysis
- Discussion: Interpretation of the outcome
- References
Abstract
- Abstracts should cover three essential elements:
1. Research hypothesis, purposes, or questions.
2. Highlights of the research methods, including mentions of the participants and methods.
3. Highlights of the results.
Introduction and Literature Review
- The body of a typical research report begins immediately below the abstract, without a main heading. The introductory comments are usually integrated with the literature review.
The first purpose of an integrated introduction and literature review is to identify the research problem area.
The second purpose is to establish its importance.
Describing Participants
- In research reports, the subheading Participants appears immediately under the main heading of Method.
- Provide the # of participants, selected demographics, methods of recruitment, the response rate.
Describing Measures
- Quantitative Researchers usually use objective measures such as multiple-choice tests and attitude scales. (I.e. "Strongly agree" to "Strongly disagree". When a quantitative researcher uses a previously published measure, you should cite it and include a reference for it.
- Qualitative researchers usually use less-structured measures than quantitative researchers, qualitative researchers should explicitly provide specific information on their measurement methods
Reporting Research Results
- List the results of the research.
- When there are a number of related statistics to report, it is usually best to present them in a table.
Writing the Discussion
- The last part of the body of a research report is the discussion.
- Begin by referring to the original purposes of the research, which may have been stated as research questions, purposes, or hypotheses.
- Indicate, the extent to which the purposes were achieved as represented by the research results.
- State limitations in the methodology.
- It is appropriate to suggest directions for future research.
The paper will have the student select an important policing topic from one of their policing courses that they believe could benefit from research.
The student will then analyze the issue and build a research proposal based