Expected Paper Outline & Trigger Questions

Title

Aim: To

line.icon

Introduction

Aim: To introduce the whole picture of the research and its significance, using some background context

1st Paragraph: Statement of topic area

Introduce a position of the topic in a discipline

e.g., Fluency = Goal of L2 oral skills in L2 learning

Explain the significance of the topic in real-word problems – Failure of maintaining fluency -> face-threatening

(If necessary) Definitions of any key terms used throughout the paper

To solve the real-world problem, what we have known so far in the field

WIth respect to the real-world problem, introduce the knowledge gap (cf. intended theoretical contribution) and methodological challenges (cf. intended methodological advance)

2nd Paragraph: Contextualize the current study in the field

To fill the knowledge gap/methodological challenges, explain what research/knowledge/findings are expected (only relevant to the current study)

The current research focus/goal

3rd Paragraph: Description of the paper

Approach to addressing the research focus/goal

Organization of the paper

https://gyazo.com/b0c4b0b0205e62902f23f733c9bd007a

line.icon

Lit Reviewの論文全体での役割は、

(1) RQの意義を際立たせること、(2) 結果からその研究の理論貢献を導くための理論背景

なので、これら２つを中心にLit Reviewに含めるべき情報の取捨選択をしていく（＝ Outlineを作る）

特にProposalの段階では、(1)がメインとなるが、(2)の代わりにいくつか結果を予期して、それらの予測される結果の理論的意義を導くために必要な理論背景や先行研究の結果を特定しておく。

そこで引用した研究は、少なくともLit Reviewに入れるべきなのは間違いない。

If the research design is quantitative...

The order of Lit. Review would be...

Topic 1 (Independent variable)

Topic 2 (Dependent variable)

Topic 3 (The relationship between independent and dependent variables)

Research Questions

RQ1:

RQ2:

Major contributions to this research area (+Hypothesis)

line.icon

Methodology

Participants: 1) How many? 2) Characteristics (gender, prof. level, L1, etc)

Design

Research context/Instruments

Task and Task manipulation (Experimental task)

Data collection procedure

Analysis/Measurement/Rating

line.icon

RQ1

RQ2

line.icon

Discussion

To this end, the discussion section should have the follwoing components:

Restatement of the main idea of the study

To recap what knowledge gaps your study was set up to address, and how your study approached it

Thus, the overall research goal and methodologies should be briefly summarized at the first paragraph

Interpretation of the findings in light of research questions

Building on the literature reviewed (i.e., theoretical framework, similar empirical studies), make a theoretical sense of the results

Key trigger Qs for Discussion

In light of RQs, which findings are relevant

How do you think your data obtained the results from a theoretical perspective?

Any supporting theories? Any previous studies reporting similar results?

Any surprising/unexpcted results against theories? Any studies reporting different/opposite results?

Then, any potential methodlogical differences causing such differences?

Any potential moderator factors affecting the different results?

Connection to previous studies in light of theory building

Even limitations to the existing theoretical understanding is an important contribution

Proposed explanation of the findings, + info. about any findings that were contrary to expectations + Previous studies

line.icon

Pedagogical implications (optional)

line.icon

1. Knowledge gaps→Research questions→Main findings (Theoretical meaning of the results; 分野に対する貢献中心で、具体的な結果は必要に応じて入れてもOK)

2. Highlights—How the study contributed to the understanding of the target issue

State key findings/conclusion to be directly cited (each finding to be written in one simple sentence)

Some implications to society (real-world issues/areas that the findings can be applied to)

3. Limitations & Further research

Limitations = Knowledge gaps "unsolved" or "new/emerged through the interpretation"

Further research = RQs to be answered next

Tips

Lit Reviewで述べたKnowledge gapを埋めることができたか、総括する

ここだけしか読まないReaderも引用したくなる・Studyを理解できるようなものがベスト

直接引用されたいFindings/conclusionを一文で書く

line.icon

References

line.icon

Appendix

Note that people do NOT read, usually; so put key inofmration in the main text of the paper!

line.icon

Writing and Publishing Your Research Findings

https://gyazo.com/88ab691006b5b3ade9714c45a3140323

SCIENTIFIC WRITING TOOLKIT

https://gyazo.com/fa56b3724b00518a44e1f37a411e34eb