Research Writing: Review

doi:10.15406/frcij.2016.02.00076

eISSN: 2469-2794

Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal

Review Article Volume 2 Issue 6

Research Writing: Review

Pratik Vijay Tarvadi

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Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, India

Correspondence: Pratik Vijay Tarvadi, Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, Tel 91-9845306634

Received: September 20, 2016 | Published: October 7, 2016

Citation: Tarvadi PV (2016) Research Writing: Review. Forensic Res Criminol Int J 2(6): 00076. DOI: 10.15406/frcij.2016.02.00076

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Abstract

Research and research writing have slowly gained enormous amount of interest to such a tune that it has been used for grades in educational institutes and as a criteria for promotion in certain areas. Researchers are comfortable doing research but not all of them publish their work. This could be due to a belief that paper writing is not an easy task. This paper briefly enlists the basic steps of paper writing, with the aim to help the beginners in doing a start for writing the papers.

Keywords: research, research paper

Introduction

Research is done, to suit our wishes and it is done based on our need. Research is like a mystery to be solved and when research done, the mystery is solved. The question lies that is it enough for the researcher to know the solution of the mystery or is he supposed to go further and tell it to others how was the mystery solved and what is the solution? The elaborate explanation of the method, observations and discussing on it constitute the research paper. Hence in brief, a research when done, it brings out observations, which helps in formulating policies based on the results obtained from the observations. These policies are used for implementing for betterment in society. Research is careful, systematic, patient study and investigation in some field of knowledge, undertaken to discover or establish facts or principles and organized study or gathering of information about a specific topic.¹Research is defined as to track down information or gain knowledge about a specific subject.¹ Research paper is defined as “A substantial piece of academic writing, usually done as a requirement for a class, in which the author does independent research into a topic and writes a description of the findings of that research”.²

Steps of the research and writing

It is assumed that writing research paper is a tough job in academic and clinical life. In reality, if the basics of writing research paper are understood, then writing it would not be a herculean task. The following explains the steps of writing a paper,³

Identifying the topic
Scheduling the research and conducting it
Drafting the paper
Revising, Editing and then Proofreading

The aforementioned first two points are well learnt during our graduation and post graduation. The important aspect comes in putting it in paper the work done in the best way that can be accepted in the journal. The following enlists the headings under which the research has to be scripted in the manuscript paper.^4,5

Introduction

This section used to tell on what other researchers did and why this author is doing it. Here the author should state on the problem that is in question which needs to be solved in the present scenario.

Aims and Objectives

This section deals with the main purpose for doing this study.

Material and methods

Figures (If required)

This section is to tell how the researcher did his work, giving details about the procedure and the instruments used if any with the figure. If the method is a repeat of other works references should be cited and if it is new method, detailed information has to be provided so that reader can redo the procedure. This is one of the critical steps in the paper writing and hence the author has to be doubly sure of his write up.

Observations and results

Figures and Tables (When required)

This section is for the findings of the study. The findings have to be illustrated using tables and figures, which helps in understanding the observations. The data given in written form and given as table or figure should not be repetitive. The tables and figures should not be overcrowded rather should be simple and small.

Discussion

This is another important section, which deals with comparison of the findings of the study done with findings of other studies on the similar subject. Here based on the results, the discussion is scripted but again there should not be repeat of results rather mere comparison. If the results are in nonconformity of others results, still has to be added with reasoning of this variance in results between two studies.

Conclusion

This section deals with the scientific explanation of your work and it should not be confused to rewriting results. This section states the study’s contribution to the field. It also includes what future work can be done on the similar lines.

Acknowledgments

This section is used for thanking people who have contributed in the research work and writing the manuscript. Here, the names of coauthors that have assisted you as another researcher should not be added.

References

The complete research and the paper have been with a help of other works done by other authors. It is a must that their names are cited in this section. As help has been taken from their work, it is ethically and moral value to cite the authors whose work has been used for the author’s research and manuscript writing.

Abstract

In a article writing, abstract has to be written before introduction but while preparing the manuscript, abstract has to be written last. Abstract briefs the reader the work done by the author and the findings of the work. As stated by Angel Borja Abstract with the title, is the advertisement of the article. The abstract should be interesting and easily understandable. The final stage of Revising, editing and proofreading, is another critical step. Though the technology corrects the spelling and grammar but the scripting needs to be revised and edited if any faults found. The initial writing of the script is as it comes to mind, but rereading after the full script is ready, the author would realize about the continuity and also the missing links, which needs to be revised and edited. It is always better that the script is read by another author, who had not written this script, as he/she is new to the written script and would help in positively revising the script.

Conclusion

The aim of research is to find new thing or rediscover old finding, research paper is to present it to the world what the author has done, and what were his findings. Though writing a paper may appear herculean, but understanding the concept of writing and structurally framing the work done would help every author to bring to the public his work with ease.