Should I use a research question, hypothesis, or thesis statement?

The way you present your research problem in your introduction varies depending on the nature of your research paper. A research paper that presents a sustained argument will usually encapsulate this argument in a thesis statement.

A research paper designed to present the results of empirical research tends to present a research question that it seeks to answer. It may also include a hypothesis—a prediction that will be confirmed or disproved by your research.

Frequently asked questions: Writing a research paper

What is a research project?: A research project is an academic, scientific, or professional undertaking to answer a research question. Research projects can take many forms, such as qualitative or quantitative, descriptive, longitudinal, experimental, or correlational. What kind of research approach you choose will depend on your topic.
What’s the difference between a research plan and a research proposal?: The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.
How do I know I have a good main research question?: Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement.

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

Researchability

Feasibility and specificity

Relevance and originality
What makes a good research question?: Research questions anchor your whole project, so it’s important to spend some time refining them.

In general, they should be:

Focused and researchable

Answerable using credible sources

Complex and arguable

Feasible and specific

Relevant and original
How do I write questions to ask for research?: All research questions should be:

Focused on a single problem or issue

Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources

Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints

Specific enough to answer thoroughly

Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis

Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly
What’s the difference between research aims and objectives?: A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement, before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.
How do I write a research objective?: Once you’ve decided on your research objectives, you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement.

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

Example: Verbs for research objectives
I will assess …

I will compare …

I will calculate …
What’s an example of a research objective?: Your research objectives indicate how you’ll try to address your research problem and should be specific:

Example: Research objective
To assess the ability of a cobalt-chromium-based alloy knee joint to accommodate impact loads.
What is a research objective?: Research objectives describe what you intend your research project to accomplish.

They summarize the approach and purpose of the project and help to focus your research.

Your objectives should appear in the introduction of your research paper, at the end of your problem statement.
How do I format a paper in Chicago style?: The main guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style are to:

Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman

Use 1 inch margins or larger

Apply double line spacing

Indent every new paragraph ½ inch

Include a title page

Place page numbers in the top right or bottom center

Cite your sources with author-date citations or Chicago footnotes

Include a bibliography or reference list

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator.
How do I format a paper in MLA style?: The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:

Use an easily readable font like 12 pt Times New Roman

Set 1 inch page margins

Apply double line spacing

Include a four-line MLA heading on the first page

Center the paper’s title

Indent every new paragraph ½ inch

Use title case capitalization for headings

Cite your sources with MLA in-text citations

List all sources cited on a Works Cited page at the end
How do I format a paper in APA Style?: To format a paper in APA Style, follow these guidelines:

Use a standard font like 12 pt Times New Roman or 11 pt Arial

Set 1 inch page margins

Apply double line spacing

Include a title page

If submitting for publication, insert a running head on every page

Indent every new paragraph ½ inch

Apply APA heading styles

Cite your sources with APA in-text citations

List all sources cited on a reference page at the end
Can I present new arguments in the conclusion of my research paper?: No, it’s not appropriate to present new arguments or evidence in the conclusion. While you might be tempted to save a striking argument for last, research papers follow a more formal structure than this.

All your findings and arguments should be presented in the body of the text (more specifically in the results and discussion sections if you are following a scientific structure). The conclusion is meant to summarize and reflect on the evidence and arguments you have already presented, not introduce new ones.
What should I include in a research paper conclusion?: The conclusion of a research paper has several key elements you should make sure to include:

A restatement of the research problem

A summary of your key arguments and/or findings

A short discussion of the implications of your research
When should I write my research paper introduction?: Don’t feel that you have to write the introduction first. The introduction is often one of the last parts of the research paper you’ll write, along with the conclusion.

This is because it can be easier to introduce your paper once you’ve already written the body; you may not have the clearest idea of your arguments until you’ve written them, and things can change during the writing process.
What should I include in a research paper introduction?: The introduction of a research paper includes several key elements:

A hook to catch the reader’s interest

Relevant background on the topic

Details of your research problem

and your problem statement

A thesis statement or research question

Sometimes an overview of the paper

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