Structure of a Research Paper

A research paper follows a standard structure to ensure clarity, logical flow, and academic rigor. The typical structure includes:

1. Title Page

• Title of the research paper
• Author(s) name(s)
• Affiliation(s)
• Contact information
• Date of submission

2. Abstract

• A brief summary of the research (150–250 words)
• Includes research objectives, methods, key findings, and conclusions

3. Keywords

• A list of relevant terms (usually 4–6) that reflect the main themes of the paper

4. Introduction

• Background of the research topic
• Problem statement
• Research gap and motivation
• Objectives of the study
• Research questions or hypotheses
• Organization of the paper

5. Literature Review

• Summary of previous research related to the topic
• Identification of gaps in existing studies
• Theoretical framework (if applicable)

6. Methodology

• Research design (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed)
• Data collection methods (surveys, experiments, interviews, etc.)
• Data analysis techniques (statistical tests, AI models, etc.)
• Tools/software used
• Justification for methodology

7. Results and Discussion

• Presentation of research findings (tables, graphs, figures)
• Interpretation of results
• Comparison with existing studies
• Discussion of implications

8. Conclusion

• Summary of key findings
• Answer to research questions or validation of hypotheses
• Contributions to the field
• Limitations of the study
• Future research directions

9. References

• Citations of all sources used in APA, MLA, IEEE, or another required format

10. Appendices (if needed)

• Additional data, survey questions, detailed calculations, etc.