Writing up a Research Project

Teaching Research Methods: Resources for HE Social Sciences Practitioners

Writing up a Research Project


Aims of the Session

• Appropriate writing of a quantitative project.

• Appropriate writing of a qualitative project.

• Guidelines for scientific writing.


Writing the Research Project

• Start ASAP, e.g. literature review and methods.

• Write down any ideas.• Read the Project guidelines.• You will have to rewrite each section (allow

time).• BACK YOUR WORK UP!


Title/Abstract

• Title: Should be as concise as possible.• Don’t need ….”An investigation to see

whether…..” or to ask questions.

• Abstract: Also known as a summary.• Main points of the project, ‘abstracted’

from it.


General Page Format

• Double Spaced (except Abstract which is single spaced).• Font size 12.• Page numbers at centre of bottom of page.• Margins• 1.5 inches from the left.• 1.0 inches for all other margins.

• Please refer to Project guidelines for details for cover page & title page.

• Acknowledgements.


Abstract

• 1-2 sentences of Introduction.• 1 sentence for Aim.• 2-3 sentences for Methodology.• 3-4 sentences for Results • 3-4 sentences for discussion & conclusion.• Limit of 250-300 words.• Single –spaced.


Contents Page

• Ensure in line with sequence of chapters. Style of page numbering, the BOLD & upper & lower case text.

• Ensure have a list of Tables/Figures & Plates.


Title

• Should be concise, but fully informative.• Example: Changes in glutamine & glutamate concentrations

for tracking training tolerance.• Avoid superfluous words such as “An investigation of…..”• Example: An investigation into the changes in glutamine &

glutamate concentrations for tracking training tolerance.• Do not use questions for a title.• Example: Do the changes in glutamine & glutamate

concentrations track training tolerance?


Chapter One: Introduction

• Think of this like a funnel.Start with the general subject area. Discuss theory and research work which is relevant to the

research topic. Move from the general area to the particular hypotheses to be tested via a coherent &

logical argument. State the specific

hypothesis



• 1.1 Introduction.• Background to problem with key/major references.• Rationale of study.• Statement of problem.• Significance of study.

• 1.2 Aims• The aims of the study are: - • (i) • (ii)



• 1.3 Hypotheses/Research Questions.• In order to fulfil the aims it was hypothesised

that: • OR (mainly for qualitative projects)• In order to fulfil the aims the following research

questions were addressed: -



• Loosely/Incorrectly stated:• “More people of one

sex will avoid the ladder because they are superstitious”

• “People will perform worse on a sensory-motor task in front of an audience”

• Correctly stated:– “There will be no significant

difference between the number of men and women avoiding walking under the ladder”

– “Participants will make significantly more errors on the sensory-motor task in front of an audience than when they are alone”



• 1.4 Delimitations.• A constraint imposed by the researcher.

• 1.5 Limitations.• Something that the researcher has no control

over.• Use Bullet Points for Limitations/Delimitation's.



• 1.6 Definition of Terms.• Alphabetical order.• Note: Dictionary Definitions are not accepted

unless it is from a sport science or medical science publication.


Chapter Two: Literature Review

• 2 Literature Review.• Comprehensive coverage of the literature relevant to

the study (< 8 – 10 yrs old unless a specific ‘benchmark’ text/paper).

• A critical appraisal of the literature.• How your study is related to/has emerged from this

literature.• Commence with generality & finish with specificity.• Use subheadings.


Chapter Two: Literature Review

• Common errors:• Poor referencing.• Written in wrong tense (use past tense)• Aim of review not written, or too broad.• Diagrams not explained.• Poor use of results from articles.• Use of questions (try to avoid)• Poor writing style.• Poor critical appraisal of literature.• No summary.


Chapter Three: Method

• 3.1 Participants• Number of subjects used & their classification.• Age of subjects (mean SD).• Info on any relevant demographic &/or general statistic

about the subjects.

• 3.2 Equipment• All equipment necessary for another researcher to• successfully complete the same experiment.



• 3.3 Protocol• Step-by-step fashion.• Write as point form initially & then convert to• paragraphs.• Note: Bullet point is NOT an acceptable way to• present your method.

• 3.4 Data Analysis• Statistics used (if any) & brief explanation why.


Chapter Four: Results

• 4 Results• Maintain confidentiality.• Presentation of data must be clear (most raw data in an

appendix).• Title of Tables at top (table top).• Title of Figures at bottom (figure foot).• Group data in separate tables & figures.• Short paragraph to highlight the main/important data on

the table & explain what the data means in relation to the table/figure.

• Discuss the data in the next chapter.



• When reporting significance values in the text, the ‘p’ value must be reported in parentheses, immediately following the statement, e.g.

• Significant differences (p<0.05) were found between the age groups of the subjects used.



• Figures:• Do not put too much information on the figure.• Title at bottom.• Ensure that colours or shading is clear in terms of style

& format.• Ensure that axis are clearly labelled & units given.• SD Bars.• Care with Pie Charts (not too many segments).


Table 4: Mean and standard deviation for the demographic data for trained & untrained subject groups.

Trained Untrained

Age (years) 21 6 26 5 *

Height (cms) 178 4 179 7

Weight (kg) 72 3 79 4 *

(Note: - * denotes significant difference, p< 0.05)


Chapter Five: Discussion

• 5 Discussion• Explain the results. Why did you get these results?• How does it relate to your hypotheses or research

questions?• How do they compare to the literature you have used in

the review.• How could the study be improved?• Does the method & results help you fulfil your aims?• Can you relate your findings to a wider pop?


Chapter Six: Conclusions & Recommendations

• 6. Conclusions and Recommendations• Should only be based on the results of your

study.• Link to your aims.• How would you develop this research to

further improve it and add to the database currently available on the research topic?

• Implications of findings for future research.


Reference List & Appendices

• Reference List:• HARVARD Style of referencing.• Alphabetical Order.• Original articles.

• Appendices:• All raw data.• Ordered in the sequence that such items occur

throughout the Project.


Qualitative Project

• Due to the nature of the techniques & data collected it is not possible to give a definite guide.

• Must seek guidance for appropriate write-up from tutor.

• Chapters 1 & 2 would be similar to a quantitative project.



• 3 Method (based on interview research)• 3.1 Introduction

• Reasons for the research, supported by literature• 3.2 Pilot Study

• Why was the format chosen?• 3.3 Interview Procedure

• How the sample was chosen, access to interviewees• 3.3.1 Interview Schedule

• Topic areas explored i.e. interview questions or broad categories.



• 3.3.2 Protocol• 3.3.3.Analysis• Method of coding e.g. grounded theory,

content analysis.• Use of coding e.g. open or axial.


Chapter Four: Discussion of Results

• 4 Discussion of results• 4.1 Introduction to Themes identified• 4.2 Theme One (insert title of theme)• 4.3 Theme two• 4.4 Theme Three• 4.5 Theme Four• 4.6 Summary• Within each section, what are the main aspects that

have contributed to his theme.


Chapter Four: Discussion of Results

• 4.2 – 4.5 Discussion of results• Definition of theme.• Illustrative examples of theme.• Comment on theme in relation to previous research.• How the present research takes the debate/topic

onward.• Direct quotes from interview.

• Rest of Project is the same as quantitative project.


Guidelines on writing style

• Avoid…• Punctuation errors (especially in it’s and plural’s).• Spelling errors.• Abbreviations.• Awkward expressions.• Clichés, such as the results showed that…• Passive voice: e.g. It has been identified that….• wasted words.



• Avoid…• wrong words, especially affect and effect.• Repetitions.• non-sentences.• one-sentence paragraphs.• paragraphs with more than one main idea.



• Flow:• Avoid unlinked ideas (non-sequiturs)• Make a logical sequence of ideas within and

between paragraphs.• List headings, subheadings and topics within

each section before you begin.


Recommended Reading

• Banyard, P. & Greyson, A. (2000). Introducing psychological research. (2nd Ed.). Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave.

• Bell, J. (2001) Doing your research project. Open University Press: Buckingham.• Field, A. & Hole, G. (2003). How to design and report experiments. London: Sage

publications.• Field, A. (2000). Discovering Statistics using SPSS for window. London: Sage publications• Gratton, C. & Jones, I. (2004) Research methods for sport studies. London: Routledge.• Coolican, H. (1999). Research Methods & Statistics in Psychology, pp. 413-425. Hodder &

Stoughton: London.• Thomas, J.R. and Nelson, J.K. (1996). Research methods in physical activity (3rd edition)

Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics

Writing up a Research Project

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