How to Write an Informative Research Paper.pptx

An informative research paper presents facts, data, and insights on a topic without taking sides or persuading the reader. Its purpose is to educate the audience by offering a well-researched, balanced perspective on the subject.

1. "How to Write a Research Paper & Collect Data: A Guide " Key Strategies for Engaging Academic Writing BY: DR. JASBEER SINGH

2. AGENDA Introduction Case Studies for Examples Decision-making Structuring Your Paper Steps to Follow 5 4 3 2 1 Conclusion: Key Takeaways for Writing a Research Paper Useful Links for Research and Data Collection 6 7 Final Thought 8

3. Introduction What is a Research Paper? A detailed study that answers a specific question in your field. It involves gathering information, analyzing it, and drawing conclusions. Why is it Important? Demonstrates your knowledge. Contributes new insights to your academic or professional field.

4. Steps to Follow: Relevance to Your Field Align your topic with current trends or problems in your area of study. Example: If you are studying psychology, a possible topic could be "The Effects of Social Media on Teenagers' Self-Esteem." Interest and Passion Choose something that excites you— you’ll be working on it for a long time. Example: If you enjoy environmental issues, you could study "Sustainable Energy Solutions for Urban Areas." Narrow Focus Avoid topics that are too broad to make your research more manageable. Example: Instead of studying "Mental Health," focus on "The Impact of Online Learning on College Students' Mental Health During COVID-19." What is a Research Question? The question your research will answer. Should be clear, specific, and answerable. Example of a Good Research Question: Instead of “How does technology affect students?” → Try: “How has the use of educational apps improved student performance in high school mathematics?” Why it’s Important: Guides your entire paper and data collection process. Step 2: Formulating a Research Question Step 1: Choosing the Right Topic

5. Relevance to Your Field Align your topic with current trends or problems in your area of study. Example: If you are studying psychology, a possible topic could be "The Effects of Social Media on Teenagers' Self-Esteem." Interest and Passion Choose something that excites you— you’ll be working on it for a long time. Example: If you enjoy environmental issues, you could study "Sustainable Energy Solutions for Urban Areas." Narrow Focus Avoid topics that are too broad to make your research more manageable. Example: Instead of studying "Mental Health," focus on "The Impact of Online Learning on College Students' Mental Health During COVID-19." What is a Research Plan? A step-by-step guide outlining how you’ll answer your research question. What to Include: The methods you will use to gather data. Example: If your research question is “How does remote work affect employee productivity?” your plan could include surveys for employees and interviews with managers. Step 4: Creating a Research Plan Step 3: Conducting a Literature Review

6. Types of Data: Qualitative Data: Descriptive information (e.g., interviews, observations). Example: Interviewing teachers about their experiences with online learning. Quantitative Data: Numerical data (e.g., surveys, statistics). Example: Surveying 100 students on how often they use study apps and comparing this with their grades. Surveys: Best for collecting data from large groups. Example: A survey with questions like "How many hours do you spend on social media each day?" to study the effect of social media on teenagers. Interviews: Use open-ended questions to gather detailed insights. Example: Interview managers to understand how remote work has impacted team collaboration. Experiments: Conduct experiments to test a hypothesis. Example: If studying how lighting affects productivity, create an experiment where one group works in bright light and another in dim light, then compare results. Step 6: Collecting Data Step 5: Data Collection Methods

7. How to Analyze Qualitative Data: Look for themes or patterns in interview responses. Example: In interviews with teachers about online learning, you might notice recurring themes like "lack of student engagement" or "technical issues.“ How to Analyze Quantitative Data: Use graphs or tables to make sense of the numbers. Example: If you surveyed students about social media use and grades, you could create a chart showing the relationship between hours spent on social media and average grades. Avoid Complex Jargon Keep your language simple and straightforward, especially if you’re explaining technical concepts. Example: Instead of “Photosynthetic photon flux density was measured,” say “The amount of light used in photosynthesis was measured.” Use Short Sentences Clear and short sentences help readers follow your argument. Example: Instead of “In regard to the experiment conducted,” say “In our experiment…” Step 8: Writing Your Research Paper Step 7: Analysing Data

8. Step 9: Writing Your Research Paper Introduce your topic and research question. Ex ample: “This paper investigates the impact of online learning on the mental health of college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Summarize key studies that relate to your research. Describe how you collected your data. Example: “Surveys were conducted with 150 college students aged 18–25.” Present the data you collected. Example: “The survey found that 60% of students reported increased anxiety due to online learning.” Interpret what your results mean. Example: “These findings suggest that online learning may have negatively impacted students’ mental well-being, particularly in the absence of social interaction.” Summarize your research and suggest future studies. Conclusion: Discussion: Results: Methodology: Literature Review: Introduction:

9. Structuring Your Paper Example: For a project on "The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health," the results might include surveys or statistics on social media use, followed by a discussion of their impact on different age groups.

10. Why It's Important: Ensures your paper is free from errors and flows smoothly. Tips: Take breaks between drafts to review your work with fresh eyes. Ask someone else to proofread your paper. Use grammar tools like Grammarly for basic checks. Example: You might find that a paragraph explaining your data collection is unclear, so you rewrite it for better clarity. Recap Key Points Summarize the main arguments and findings of your paper. Example: “This thesis has shown that social media usage significantly increases anxiety in teenagers, particularly those who spend more than four hours per day online.” Significance and Future Research Explain why your findings matter and suggest future research directions. Example: “Further research could explore how parental monitoring of social media affects teenage anxiety.” Step 11: Writing a Strong Conclusion Step 10: Revising and Proofreading

11. Decision-making Be Clear and Concise: Avoid complex sentences or jargon. Example: Instead of “The experimental apparatus was utilized for data collection purposes,” write “We used the equipment to collect data.” Use Headings: Organize your paper with clear section headings like “Methodology” or “Results.” Cite Your Sources: Why is Citing Important? Gives credit to the original authors for their ideas. Prevents plagiarism by acknowledging where you got your information. Helps others find the sources you used for further reading. Citing a Website Example (APA) In-text citation: (Author or Organization, Year) Example: "Dry eyes are a common issue for contact lens users" (American Optometric Association, 2022). Full citation in References: American Optometric Association. (2022). Dry Eyes and Contact Lenses. Retrieved from https://www.aoa.org/dry-eyes-and-contact-lenses

12. Example Study 1: The Impact of Blue Light on Eye Health CASE STUDIES:

13. Example Study 1: The Impact of Blue Light on Eye Health

14. Example Study 3: Visual Acuity Changes in Diabetic Patients

15. Conclusion: Key Takeaways for Writing a Research Paper Text Start with a Focused Topic Write Clearly and Concisely Analyze and Present Your Data Plan Your Data Collection Method Develop a Clear Research Question Ensure your research question is answerable and guides your study. Example: “What is the effect of blue light on eye strain in teenagers?” Review current research to understand the background of your topic and identify gaps in knowledge. Use reputable sources like PubMed or Google Scholar for finding vision care-related studies. Choose between qualitative (interviews, observations) and quantitative (surveys, experiments) methods. In vision care, this could mean using clinical trials, patient surveys, or eye exams. Use visual aids (charts, graphs) to simplify data analysis. In optometry, you might compare vision test results before and after a treatment, or survey data on patient satisfaction Use simple, direct language to explain complex ideas. Organize your paper with clear sections: introduction, methods, results, and discussion. Conduct Thorough Literature Review Proofread and Revise Choose a topic that is specific, relevant, and interesting to you. In optometry, focus on emerging trends like digital eye strain, myopia control, or diabetic eye care. Take time to review your paper for clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy. Seek feedback from peers or mentors to strengthen your arguments.

16. Useful Links for Research and Data Collection 1. Google Scholar A powerful search engine for academic papers across multiple disciplines. Link: https://scholar.google.com 2. PubMed A reliable source for medical and vision care research articles, including clinical studies in optometry. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 3. Journals in Optometry Optometry and Vision Science Journal: Covers research in the field of vision science. Link: https://journals.lww.com/optvissci/pages/default.aspx 4. MIT OpenCourseWare : Research Skills Free courses on academic research methods, covering topics like how to structure research, analyze data, and write reports. Link: https://ocw.mit.edu 5. Coursera: Research Proposal Writing Offers online courses on how to write research proposals and design research projects, suitable for students across disciplines. Link: https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=research%20proposal 6. American Optometric Association (AOA) Resources, guidelines, and recent studies in optometry and eye care. Link: https://www.aoa.org 7. Zotero A free reference management tool to organize and cite sources while writing your research paper. Link: https://www.zotero.org 8. EndNote A citation management software helpful for managing references in large-scale projects. Link: https://endnote.com

17. Final Thought

18. "Thanks for staying awake during all those research tips! 🧐 Your eyes are safe... for now! 👁️" "Good luck with your Research—and remember to take screen breaks! 😎 Scan to Connect