We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Write a Research Paper Analysis?

By Deborah Walker
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 14,282
Share

A research paper analysis has several distinct components. Unless otherwise specified by your instructor, the research paper analysis should include a short abstract just before the title page. Immediately after the title page is the introduction, which is followed by a review of currently published literature related to the topic. Next comes an in-depth description of your own research or case study and a detailed discussion of your findings. A discussion of your conclusions, a listing of the references used to write the paper, and an optional appendix are the final sections of your research paper, which should be properly formatted.

A 150-200 word abstract, which your instructor may not require, is necessary if you intend perhaps to publish your research paper analysis in a professional journal. The abstract is a brief statement of the main problem that the paper discusses and purpose of the research you undertook. The research methodology, a discussion of the findings, and the conclusion round out the abstract. A reader should be able to decide whether to read further just from the abstract.

The introductory of a research paper analysis provides the reader with the general background information and the aims of your paper. As the thesis statement is the backbone of your research paper, it must be very well thought out and expressed. Once your introductory paragraph is complete, the next section of the paper reviews the current academic literature and research on the topic.

The research paper next explains the exact methodology you used to arrive at the conclusions you will discuss later in the paper. It is most important that you set up your research in such a way that the data gleaned from it actually helps to answer questions that are unrepresented in the currently published literature. Tell the reader exactly what you are trying to find out from your own research, how you plan to find out, and why getting the answers to your questions can benefit the field.

In the next two sections of the research paper, explain your results and draw your final conclusions. Clearly explain to your reader exactly what your research revealed. You can discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your study, along with the implications of the results. In the conclusion, you should include possible questions for further research.

Your research paper analysis needs a properly formatted citation of all of the references used to write the paper and is followed by the appendix containing additional source material such as charts or tables, if necessary. Modern Language Association (MLA) or American Psychological Association (APA) ) style guides, for example, have their own requirements for citing references and for research paper layout generally. Which guide you use is determined by your research discipline; in general, humanities and follow MLA while the social sciences use APA. The final step before turning in your research paper analysis is carefully proofreading and editing for grammar, spelling, and content.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By Rundocuri — On Feb 25, 2014

That is a good point Talentryto. Studying the example will also help you understand what to write about when it comes time to do your own research and your conclusions about the topic. I think too many students stress out about writing any type of research paper before getting a feel for this type of writing from a sample research paper.

By Talentryto — On Feb 24, 2014

I think the best way to approach writing a research paper analysis is to study a research paper example. This will give you an idea of what you will be analyzing when you select a paper to write about for your analysis.

Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-write-a-research-paper-analysis.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.