How to Structure and Write a Student Research Paper

A research paper reports a study you carried out: what question you asked, how you investigated it, what you found and what it means. Unlike an essay, it is built around your own data or analysis, so its structure is more fixed.

In many disciplines, especially the sciences, social sciences, health and business, student research reports follow the IMRaD pattern used in academic journals. This guide explains each part and how to write it.

What IMRaD is and why it is used

IMRaD stands for Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion. Each section answers one question for the reader:

Most papers also include a title, an abstract, a conclusion (sometimes merged with the Discussion), references and, where needed, appendices.

The fixed order lets readers find information quickly. A marker checking your sampling looks in Methods; one checking your interpretation looks in the Discussion.

What markers look for

• A focused research question or aim, justified by existing literature.
• Methods described clearly enough that someone could follow or repeat them.
• Results reported accurately and objectively, without interpretation mixed in.
• A Discussion that interprets findings in relation to the question and the literature, and acknowledges limitations honestly.
• Consistency: the question, methods, results and conclusions all line up.

Writing each section

Introduction

Move from broad to specific. Briefly set out the context, summarise what existing research shows, identify the gap or problem, then state your aim, research question or hypotheses. End with what your study does.

Keep the literature focused. In a short report, a few key sources that lead logically to your question are better than a long survey of the field.

Methods

Describe what you did, in enough detail to be repeatable. Depending on the study, this may include:

• Design, such as survey, experiment, interviews or secondary data analysis;
• Participants or data sources and how they were selected;
• Materials or instruments, such as questionnaires or software;
• Procedure, the steps in order;
• Analysis, how you processed the data;
• Ethics, including approval and consent where relevant.

Methods are usually written in the past tense. Use sub-headings if your department allows them.

Results

Report what you found, in a logical order that follows your research questions. Use tables and figures where they make patterns clearer, and refer to each one in the text. Describe the main findings in words, but save interpretation for the Discussion.

Discussion

This is often where the most marks are available. A clear pattern is:

1. Restate the main findings briefly, linked to your question.
2. Interpret them: what do they suggest, and why might they have occurred?
3. Compare with previous studies: do your findings agree, extend or contradict them?
4. Acknowledge limitations, such as sample size, method or context, and explain how they affect your conclusions.
5. State implications for practice, policy or future research.

Conclusion and abstract

The conclusion summarises what the study found and why it matters, without new data. The abstract is a short standalone summary, typically covering aim, method, main results and conclusion in one paragraph. Check your word limit, as abstracts are often restricted.

A practical writing order

You do not have to write the paper in the order it is read. Many researchers find this sequence easier:

1. Methods, because you already know what you did.
2. Results, once your analysis is complete.
3. Discussion, interpreting the results you have written up.
4. Introduction, now that you know exactly what the paper needs to set up.
5. Conclusion, abstract and title, last.

Common mistakes

• A vague research question that the methods cannot actually answer.
• Interpreting in the Results section or reporting new findings in the Discussion.
• Methods too brief to follow, such as "a survey was conducted" with no detail on sampling or questions.
• Unlabelled or unexplained tables and figures.
• Over-claiming, for example generalising from a small convenience sample to a whole population.
• Hiding limitations. Honest, specific limitations show research maturity.
• An abstract that only introduces the topic without reporting what was found.

Research paper checklist

• My research question or aim is clear and stated in the Introduction.
• My Methods are detailed enough to be repeated.
• My Results report findings without interpretation.
• Every table and figure is numbered, titled and referred to in the text.
• My Discussion links findings back to the question and to previous research.
• I have stated specific limitations and their effect.
• My abstract includes aim, method, key results and conclusion.

Frequently asked questions

Is a research paper the same as a research report?

The terms are often used interchangeably for student work. "Report" sometimes suggests a more practical or applied piece with numbered sections, while "paper" may follow journal conventions more closely. Your brief or template is the best guide.

Can I use the first person in a research paper?

Many disciplines now accept "we" or "I" in Methods, for example "I conducted semi-structured interviews". Others prefer the passive voice. Check recent papers in your field and your department's guidance.

Where does the literature review go?

In IMRaD, the literature is usually covered within the Introduction. Some longer reports and dissertations include a separate literature review chapter. Our guide to literature reviews covers that format in detail.

How long should each section be?

Proportions vary by discipline and study type. Methods and Results are often shorter in qualitative work, while the Discussion is usually substantial in most fields. Use your marking criteria to judge where the weight lies.

Getting further help

If you are shaping a research question or planning a study, our research paper and project guidance helps you clarify your aims and methods while you remain the author of your paper. The research question builder can help you sharpen a focused question before you start.