Research paper Taking advantage of fundamental concepts in the programming language” School of Business, Economic, and Technology
Campbellsville University- Louisville Center
Research Report Guide
A Guide for MS/CS Students
©2020, Dr Vincent Scovetta
Campbellsville University. All rights reserved.
1/3/2021
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Table of Contents
The Research Report ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
APA Format ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 4
Chapter 1- Introduction (3 – 4 pages) …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Problem Statement and Purpose of Research …………………………………………………………………………………. 4
Relevance and Significance …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
Research Questions …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Barriers and Issues ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
Chapter 2 – Review of the Literature (6 – 8 pages) ……………………………………………………………………………. 5
Chapter 3 – Research Methodology (2 – 4 pages)…………………………………………………………………………….. 6
Chapter 4: Findings, Analysis, and Summary of Results (2 – 4 pages)………………………………………………….. 6
Chapter 5: Conclusions (2 – 4 pages)………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
References …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Research Report Structure……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Front Matter ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Chapters 1 through 5 (14 -20 pages) ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Back Matter………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Document Preparation – Form and Style ………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
References and Citations ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
Margins ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Line Spacing ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Paragraph Spacing ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 9
Page Numbering………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
Font Type Style and Color …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Title Page………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
The Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Chapter Title, Heading 1, Heading 2 …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
Tables and Figures in the Text Body …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
Appendix ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
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Additional Resources …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
Appendix A – Sample Title Page …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Appendix B – Sample Abstract Page ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 15
Appendix C – Sample First Page of Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………… 16
Appendix D – Sample Figure ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 17
Appendix E – Sample Table ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18
Appendix F – Sample Chapter 1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 19
Appendix G – Sample Reference List …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 21
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The Research Report
The Research Report serves as the deliverable towards partial completion of the requirement for
the MS/ITM courses. The requirement of your research is expected to be built and constitutes the
five-chapter model. This document is not intended to be a one-time or static document. The
Research Report needs to be at least 14 – 20 pages and is written in the past and present tense, as
appropriate.
The Research Report should be a complete and concise document that establishes your
credentials as a relative expert in the domain of your study. In all cases, a good understanding of
the specific domain will be necessary for the successful completion of your study. It is vital that
you stay current in the literature germane to the study you are conducting and update the
chapters accordingly.
APA Format
The format of the research report should comply with the APA guidelines. Use the following
web link for reference:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/ge
neral_format.html
Chapter 1- Introduction (3 – 4 pages)
In this section, present enough information about the proposed work so that the reader understands
the general context or setting. It is also helpful to include a summary of how this document is
organized.
In the research report, each chapter should begin on a new page
Introduction
This section introduces the reader to the structural content of your Research Report.
Problem Statement and Purpose of Research
In this section, present a concise statement of a research-worthy problem to be addressed (i.e., why
the work should be undertaken – don’t state “it was a requirement of the professor”). Follow the
statement of the problem with a well-supported discussion of its scope and nature. The discussion
of the problem should include: what the problem is, why it is a problem, how the problem evolved
or developed, and the issues and events leading to the problem. Your problem statement must be
clear, concise, to the point and able to be articulated in no more than three sentences.
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Relevance and Significance
This section provides the necessary support for both the problem statement of your study. Consider
the following questions and support your discussion by citing the research literature:
Why is there a problem? What groups or individuals are affected?
How far-ranging is the problem and how great is its impact? What’s the benefit of solving the
problem?
What has been tried without success to correct the situation? Why weren’t those attempts
successful?
What are the consequences of not solving the problem?
How does the goal of your study address the research problem and how will your proposed
study offer promise as a resolution to the problem?
How will your research add to the knowledge base?
What is the potential for generalization of your results?
What is the potential for original work?
Research Questions
In this section you will define the research questions you expect to answer in your finding /
results / conclusion sections. The research question(s) must be directly related to the problem
statement and introduce the reader to their respective relationships. The answers to the research
question(s) as elaborated in Chapter 3 need to be either qualitative or quantitative. In this
section, the research questions should be numbered
Barriers and Issues
In this section, identify how the problem is inherently difficult to solve. You should also show how
the solution you propose are difficult to obtain (unlike a book report). You should show the study
you propose is of adequate difficulty to warrant a successful grade assignment.
Chapter 2 – Review of the Literature (6-8 pages)
In this section, it is important to clearly identify the major areas on which you will need to focus
your research in order to build a solid foundation for your study in the existing body of
knowledge. This section requires that you review at least 5 peer-reviewed literature sources to
be used in the research.
The literature review is the presentation of quality literature in a particular field that serves as the
foundation and justification for the research problem, research questions or hypothesis, and
methodology. You will develop a more comprehensive review of the literature as part of your
report.
For each of the 5 articles, write a paragraph each for the following sections
The following topics are intended to serve as a guide:
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Description of the research including who the target population was (if available)
Research Method used to conduct the research (describe what the researcher(s) did to
gather data for the research)
o Was survey distributed? How many questions? How many participants?
o Was it a focus group? Was it a case study? Be explicit
Findings: Indicate the findings as reported in the article
Conclusion: What was the conclusion of the research
Citation in APA format, is critical as you report/review the articles
DO NOT add the APA reference at the beginning of each article review in Chapter 2. Be
sure to add to them to the References page
DO NOT include any subheadings in Chapter 2
Chapter 3 – Research Methodology (3 – 4 pages)
This section is the core of your research. You are required to describe how to the research problem
will be addressed and the stated research goal will be accomplished. Based on the literature,
elaborate on the major steps that must be taken to accomplish the goal and include a preliminary
discussion of the methodology and specific research methods you plan to implement. Provide
adequate discussion of the general process you will follow to implement your research
methodology.
Chapter 4: Findings, Analysis, and Summary of Results (2 – 4 pages)
Chapter 4 includes an objective description and analysis of the findings, results or outcomes of the
research. Limit the use of charts, tables, figures to those that are needed to support the narrative.
Most of these illustrations can be included as part of the Appendixes.
The following topics are intended to serve as a guide:
Data analysis
Findings & discussion
Analysis
Summary of results & discussion
Chapter 5: Conclusions (2 – 4 pages)
Conclusions – Clearly state the conclusions of the study based on the analysis performed and
results achieved. Indicate by the evidence or logical development the extent to which the
specified objectives have been accomplished. If the research has been guided by hypotheses,
make a statement as to whether the data supported or rejected these hypotheses. Discuss
alternative explanations for the findings, if appropriate. Delineate strengths, weaknesses, and
limitations of the study.
Implications – Discuss the impact of the work on the field of study and its contributions to
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knowledge and professional practice. Discuss implications for future research.
Recommendations – Present recommendations for future research or for changes in research
methods or theoretical concepts. As appropriate, present recommendations for changes in
academic practice, professional practice, or organizational procedures, practices, and behavior.
References
Follow the most current version of APA to format your references. However, each reference should
be single-spaced with a double space between each cited entry. Make sure that every citation is
referenced and every reference is cited.
Research Report Structure
White space added to the report will negatively affect the final grade of your report. Do not add
extra space to your document in an effort to extend the page count.
Times New Roman Font style should be used throughout the paper
Font color should be black throughout the paper
WHAT TO INCLUDE:
Front Matter
The front matter includes the following:
o Title Page
o Approval Signature page – LEAVE BLANK
o Abstract
o Acknowledgements page – LEAVE BLANK
o Table of Contents
o List of Tables (if applicable)
o List of Figures (if applicable)
Chapters 1 through 5 (14 -20 pages)
As outlined above
Back Matter
The back matter includes the following:
o Appendices (if applicable)
o References
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Document Preparation – Form and Style
Form and style guidelines for a Research Report serve a number of purposes: to ease adaptation of
the document for publication in whole or part, to ensure a level of professional appearance, and
ease the burden on the readers of the document by presenting material in a logical, consistent
fashion. Nevertheless, form and style guidelines should not be burdensome for Peer Reviewer or
Professor. The bulk of the effort in developing and mentoring a Research Report should certainly
be directed toward the quality of the thoughts being presented, not the appearance of that
presentation.
The current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association serves
as the primary guide for format and style. Since that manual focuses primarily on publication in
journals, some exceptions are necessary for a Research Report. The Research Report guidelines
are amplified with examples of:
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•
•
•
•
•
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Title Page (Appendix A)
Abstract Page (Appendix B)
Table of Contents (Appendix C)
List of Tables (Appendix D)
List of Figures (Appendix E)
First Page of a Chapter (Appendix F)
Reference List (Appendix G)
References and Citations
One of the most important tasks in writing a Research Report is to reference other works and
sources in the text body. You must provide a formal reference citation for each idea or statement
taken from the work of an individual or organization. Failure to provide a reference citation,
when one is appropriate, is plagiarism, which is a violation of the university’s Code of Student
Conduct and Academic Responsibility. An act of plagiarism will subject the student to
disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion from the university. Always err on the side
of caution when writing any formal paper. As you conduct your work, keep accurate records that
indicate which portions of your Research Report are not your own words and ideas. If you
attempt to do this as an afterthought, you run the risk of losing the source of the information and
committing plagiarism. Reference citations in the text should use the author-date citation system
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specified in the current edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association. All reference citations must be listed alphabetically in the References section at the
end of the document, again following the format specified in the current edition of the
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. However, each reference should
be single-spaced with a double space in between each entry. Make sure that every citation is
referenced and every reference is cited.
Margins
The left-hand margin must be 1.5 inches (4 cm.) to accommodate binding. Margins at the right,
top, and bottom of the page should be 1.0 inch. (See exception for chapter title pages below.)
The Research Report text must be left-aligned (leaving a ragged right edge).
Line Spacing
Double-spacing is required for most of the text in documents submitted during the Research
Report process. Pages for the abstract, acknowledgments, and parts of the table of contents,
however, must be single-spaced in the Research Report. Single-spacing also can be used for table
titles and headings, figure captions, references in a reference list (but double-spacing is required
between references in the list), footnotes, and long quotations. Long quotations may be indented
five spaces. Judicial triple can improve appearance and readability and is appropriate after
chapter titles, before major subheadings, before footnotes, and before and after tables in the text;
however, avoid open white spaces.
Paragraph Spacing
The text of the document is double-spaced. There should be no extra spaces between paragraphs
in sections; however, indent the first line of paragraphs five spaces (1/2 inch). Chapters must
begin on new pages.
Page Numbering
Page numbers for the front matter, starting with the Table of Contents, should be lowercase
roman numerals, centered at the bottom of the page. All pages following the front matter should
have page numbers in Arabic numerals in the upper right-hand corner. The page order and
numbering for the front matter is:
1. Title page is page i, but the page number is not printed.
2. Approval Signature page is page ii, but the page number is not printed.
3. Abstract is page iii but the page number is not printed.
4. Acknowledgements is page iv and not to exceed one page. The page number is not printed.
5. Table of Contents is page v and the page number is printed, bottom center.
6. List of Tables (only present if the document contains tables) is given the next page number in
sequence, printed bottom center.
7. List of Figures (only present if the document contains figures) is given the next page number
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in sequence, printed bottom center.
Font Type Style and Color
For body text, you should use 12-point Times New Roman. Text for the cover page may be
larger but should not exceed 14-point size. Text for the chapter title text should be 14-point size.
Be consistent in your use of typefaces throughout the document. Do not use a compressed
typeface or any settings on your word processor that would decrease the spacing between letters
or words. Sans serif typefaces such as Helvetica or Arial may be used for relatively short blocks
of text such as chapter headings and captions but should be avoided in long passages of text as
they impede readability.
Font color should be black throughout the paper
Title Page
Every document that is submitted, from the Research Report, must have a title page. The title
page includes the research title, date of submission, your name, and name of the department
which the report is submitted. You must include a Running head (as per APA format) in the
header of the title page
Use the format of the Sample Research Report Title Page provided in Appendix A.
The Abstract
The abstract (see Appendix B) is single spaced. An abstract is a stand-alone document and
therefore, should not include citations because it would then need references. Note that the
abstract must be fewer than 200 words.
Include at least 5 Keywords. The Keywords line should be indented by a tab (5 spaces). The
“Keyword” label should be bold and italics
Chapter Title, Heading 1, Heading 2
It is preferred that the Research Report contain no more than three levels of headings in the
body text. All headings should have only the first letter of each word capitalized except that nonmajor words shorter than four letters have no capital letters. See Appendix F for a sample page
for a first page of a chapter.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR HEADING LEVELS FOLLOW:
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Level 1: Chapter Title
This heading starts two inches from the top of the page, is centered on the page, and is set in Times
New Roman 14 point type. The first line contains the chapter number (e.g., Chapter 1). The
second line is blank. The third line displays the chapter title (e.g., Introduction), is centered on the
page, and is set in 14-point type.
Level 2: (Sub) Heading 1
Start heading 1 at the flush left margin of the page, four spaces (i.e., two returns when your
document is set for double-spacing) down from the title, set in bold Times New Roman 12-point
type. Double-space (one return) to the subheading body text. Indent the first line of the body text
five spaces.
Level 3: (Sub) Heading 2
Start the heading 2 at the left margin of the page, double-spaced (i.e., one return when your
document is set up for double-spacing) from the subheading, set in 12-point italics. Double-space
(one return) to the sub-subheading body text. Indent the first line of the body text five spaces.
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Tables and Figures in the Text Body
Charts, graphs, diagrams, figures, and summary tables that significantly enhance reading of the
Research Report should be placed in the text body. Only include material in the text body that is
needed by the reader to understand the point(s) you are trying to make. Other material should be
placed in Appendixes. Tables that summarize large amounts of data are best placed at the end of
the Master’s Thesis. If you have included data in your text related to some point, then the full
table containing such data belongs in an Appendix. When using tables and figures in the body of
the paper, remember that the horizontal center of the body is not at the center of the paper. It is
0.25” to the right of center due to the 1.5” left binding margin. All tables and figures that are less
than body width must be centered properly. Samples of a table and figure appear in Appendices
D and E.
Appendix
Place in appropriate appendices all analytical tables, evaluation instruments, and other material
important in the determination, evaluation, analysis, and description of your research that is not
contained in the text body (see section above). Use an Appendix to present material that
supplements the text or may be of interest to readers but is too detailed or distracting for
inclusion in the main body of the text. Surveys, evaluation instruments, original data,
complicated mathematical tables, new computer programs, computer printouts, and data
collection forms are examples of materials that are most appropriately appended. Do not exclude
material that would be necessary for another researcher to replicate your work and that is not
available elsewhere. Include copies of IRB permission from the sponsoring organization and
from the study site. Present copies of all letters and e-mails that allow you to use and modify
materials belonging to others. If appropriate, you may use a titled cover sheet for an Appendix.
Additional Resources
American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological
th
Association. (7 ed.). Washington, D.C.: Author.
Bolker, J. (1998). Writing your Research Reporting fifteen minutes a day: A guide to starting,
revising, and finishing your doctoral thesis. New York, NY: Henry Holt Publishing.
Kiernan, V (2005). Writing Your Dissertation with Microsoft Word. Mattily Publishing,
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Alexandria, Virginia
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Appendix A
Only visible on the title page
Sample Title Page
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Appendix B
Sample Abstract Page
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Appendix C
Sample First Page of Table of Contents
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Appendix D
Sample Figure
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Appendix E
Sample Table
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Appendix F
Page number restarts at 1
Sample Chapter 1
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Appendix G
Sample Reference List
References
Aithal,
P. S. (2016). Nanotechnology Innovations & Business Opportunities:
Review. International Journal of Management, IT and Engineering, 6(1), 182-204.
A
Aithal, P. S., & Aithal, S. (2016). Business Strategy for Nanotechnology based Products and
Services. International Journal of Management Sciences and Business Research, 5(4),
139-149.
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