How To Structure A Research Paper Effectively

Jason's consistent writing principles tailored for high-impact empirical business research. As I've worked on putting together my paper-writing seminar, I've developed a list of writing principles that I think people might find interesting. Section One: Structural and Stylistic Principles (1) Lead with the Contribution * State the empirical finding and theoretical contribution clearly in the abstract, introduction, and each section opening. * Avoid “mystery novel” builds; use “newspaper” style (Cochrane; Starbuck) (see next post). (2) One Paper, One Contribution * Frame the manuscript around a single, central, novel contribution. * Trim or reframe secondary analyses (Cochrane; Bem). (3) Empirical Clarity over Jargon * Define constructs precisely. * Differentiate constructs from adjacent concepts. Avoid theoretical fog (Pinker; Starbuck). (4) Start Strong, Finish Stronger * First sentence = empirical anchor. * Last paragraph = theoretical resonance + boundary conditions. * No “more research is needed” clichés (Starbuck; Bem). Section Two: Theoretical Integrity and Positioning (5) Anchor Constructs in Theory and Context * Establish the focal construct’s position in a nomological network (antecedents, outcomes, moderators). * Cite prior work only after stating your theoretical move (Bem; Thatcher et al. 2002, 2018). (6) Match Theory to Data * Align theoretical scope and granularity with the level of data analysis (individual, team, org). * Avoid overreach; respect construct and data maturity (Cochrane; Bem; MISQ examples). (7) Clarify the Type of Contribution * Specify whether you’re validating, refining, or extending constructs or theory. Be explicit about generalizability bounds (Thatcher et al.; Bem). Section Three: Sentence and Paragraph Discipline (8) Topic Sentences Drive Paragraphs * Every paragraph starts with a sentence that summarizes the key idea. Keep to one point per paragraph (Starbuck; Pinker). (9) Avoid Academic Throat-Clearing * Eliminate vague openings like “The IS field has long been interested in…” or “As technology evolves…” (Cochrane; Pinker). (10) Eliminate Unnecessary Words * Edit for compression and clarity. Avoid metacommentary and verbose qualifiers (Strunk & White; Bem). Section Four: Empirical Craft and Presentation (11) Show, Don’t Just Tell * Present empirical findings clearly in tables/figures. Use those to lead—not trail—the write-up (Thatcher et al.; Starbuck). (12) Explain How, Not Just What * In results and discussion, interpret the “why” behind empirical patterns—link back to theoretical framing. (13) Name Constructs Consistently * Use precise, unambiguous terminology across abstract, intro, model, methods, and discussion (Starbuck; Thatcher et al.). I am sure that I've missed a few - but - 13 feels like enough. I hope they help others as they pursue publication (or teaching others how to publish). Best of luck! #academicwriting

Writing a thesis can be daunting, but having a clear and structured outline can make the process more manageable and efficient. Here’s a comprehensive guide to structuring your thesis for maximum impact: I. Introduction → Background information → Research problem or question → Objectives of the study → Significance and motivation of the research II. Literature Review → Overview of relevant literature → Key theories or concepts → Gaps or controversies in the literature → Theoretical framework III. Methodology → Research design → Data collection methods → Sampling techniques → Data analysis procedures IV. Results And Analysis → Presentation of findings → Data analysis and interpretation → Discussion of results about research question/hypotheses V. Discussion → Interpretation of results → Comparison with existing literature → Implications and significance of the findings → Limitations of the study VI. Conclusion → Summary of key findings → Contributions to the field → Recommendations for future research VII. References → Citations of all sources used in the thesis VIII. Appendices (If Applicable) → Additional data or supplementary material A well-organized thesis outline helps in writing and ensures that all critical aspects of your research are covered. N/B: There are differences in the institution's preference, so always adhere to your institution's outline. #Academia #mentorship #PhD #Research #AI

Mastering the Research Article – My Step-by-Step Approach One of the most important skills for any scientific writer is knowing how to write a research article. It’s the foundation of what we do—and learning how to structure it well is crucial. Here’s exactly how I approach it: 1️⃣ Start with the figures – Once all figures are finalized, I begin by writing the figure legends. Take this seriously—figures should be self-explanatory. If someone looks only at the figures, they should still understand your story. 2️⃣ Write the Methods – Explain how the results were obtained. 3️⃣ Then the Results – Present what you found. Stay factual and link directly to each figure. 4️⃣ Now the Discussion – This is where you explain what the results mean. Connect your findings to the bigger picture. Compare to existing literature, mention limitations, and offer hypotheses. 5️⃣ Go back to the Introduction – Now that you’ve written the core, you can clearly explain why this study matters. Set up the context and the research question. 6️⃣ Finally: Title, Abstract, and the rest – These come last: the abstract, acknowledgments, conflicts of interest, funding info, etc. Save them for when you have the full picture in place. How do you approach writing a research article? Do you follow a similar order? #ScientificWriting #ResearchArticle #WritingTips #AcademicWriting #ScienceCommunication