Purpose → Having good questions



leads your research in the right direction, delimit the research boundary keep your focus on what is intended to do.
good questions
significant ：of practical/theoretical value original ： different from questions by other researchers in one or more aspects answerable ：can be tackled within the time and resources available .
Types of research I: source of data Primary (empirical) research data are first-hand and original information. Also called empirical research. Theory-oriented or practice-oriented. Secondary research data come from documents, books and journals. E.g. use libraries to search for the written wisdom of other scholars Also called documentary or library research
1. Some Essential Definitions
Research Subject Topic Hypothesis
What is Academic / Scientific research?

The word “Research”, originating in a Greek word in the sense of “search again”, means investigating thoroughly.
the effect of parental attitudes on teenage alcoholism e.g.2 America's political troubles
the effects of terrorism on the social policies of the American government over the last ten years
Primary (empirical) research involves the study of a subject through first-hand observation and investigation, such as conducting a survey or carrying out a laboratory experiment;
the model of research can be illustrated as follows:
PPP Purpose → → → Process → → → Product (questions) (a systematic approach) (answers)




Three inter-related elements All research starts with questions. Without questions in the first place, there will be no research. However, a good question doesn’t guarantee a a systematic approach. In turn, valid answers may not be natural results.
Academic Writing
Questions for thought:
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Do you often read academic research papers? Have you ever written academic research papers? Where do you usually find the materials you need for your paper?
the effectiveness of computer programs in the remediation of writing problems
Hypothesis
假说, 假设, 前提
All research aims at finding the answers to a questions. Very often the investigator has already formed a tentative answer to the question before the research starts, and the function of the research is to check whether the conjectured answer can be confirmed or refuted by the evidence. such a tentative answer is called hypotheses. Not a wild guess. made based on previous research findings or established theories.
Subject
an area of interest that can be narrowed down to a suitable topic; subjects are either too broad or too loosely defined to serve as topics for research papers. Topic

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Essential Definitions Differences Between Research Papers and Reports What a Research Paper Is What a Research Paper Is Not Why a Research Paper Is Important Structure of A Research Paper What are the usual steps in writing a research paper?

Process: employ a systematic approach
Means: the research should follow a set of procedures which are clearly described and can be fully justified. The procedure used for selecting subjects, datacollection and data-analysis should be recorded and reported to other researchers. the reasons why certain procedures are adopted rather than others should be explained so that the procedure can be reduplicated by others.
What Is a Research Paper? a sort of report describing some original, scholarly, scientific research formal, substantial and well-documented paper present information and ideas clearly and effectively. explores, discusses, or analyzes some factual or theoretical questions relying on sources of information other than the writer’s personal knowledge and experience.

Obtaining valid answers

Validity
valid answers: the only answers that can be obtained, rather than other alternative answers

2. What is a research paper?

A term paper or essay for a university
course A published article in a journal Conference presentation Degree papers a thesis for Master’s degree a dissertation for doctor’s degree a graduation project for Bachelor’s degree
Objectives of the course
graduation paper writing--- the last and most important task illustrating the formats of research paper some techniques in writing and submitting a paper.