If the paper is a write up of research involving a hypothesis, the structure of the paper is likely to consist of an introduction, methods used, results and discussion, and conclusion. Some social scientists also use Chicago Style. An overview of APA documentation is included in Freshman-Sophomore English handbooks or refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association or The Chicago Manual of Style. Those who prefer APA expect it to be followed meticulously. To answer the research questions they pose, natural scientists look for facts that can be replicated.
Research consists of direct and indirect observation in the laboratory or in the field.
In contrast, a research paper about the literature of the field or about an issue relevant to the field will be closer to the humanities structure listed above. If students understand the conventions of your field, you are more likely to receive papers that meet your expectations and that give students an appreciation of your discipline. This page was originally constructed by the Writing Consulting Program at the University of Kansas. It is currently maintained by the Center for Teaching Excellence.