Within the ever-evolving sphere of academic and scientific research, ethical considerations play an imperative role. Research ethics are a set of principles that guide research, study, or experiment design and process; they serve as a code of conduct for scientists and researchers to abide by when collecting data from people. Transparently communicating how a study followed ethical guidelines is beneficial for both the researcher and participant; the guidelines ensure the participant’s right to privacy is protected, while also enhancing research validity and maintaining scientific integrity.
Why are ethics important in research?
Research ethics are established to ensure that the rights and welfare of research participants are appropriately protected, and all research designs involving living beings are reviewed by an ethics committee prior to the execution; this is done to ensure all ethical standards are met.
Following ethics shows objectivity in research studies and experiments, the absence of harm combined with efficient result transparency gives the study credibility as well. Moreover, ethical research models and experiment designs attract more funding because research integrity and transparency are essential in gaining support to execute research. Finally, the standard ethics in research are also put in place to increase collaborative work across disciplines and institutions.
Voluntary Participation
When scouting and briefing volunteers for a research study, it is imperative to clarify that there are no negative consequences of withdrawing from the study. Voluntary participation is an ethical principle protected by international law and many scientific codes of conduct.
Informed Consent
All potential participants should receive and comprehend all the information about the study or experiment. The participant debriefing should include the following:
What is the study about?
Risks and benefits of participating
Timeline of study or experiment
Contact information and institutional approval number of the research supervisor
Right to withdraw at any given point in the study
The information withdrawal procedure
All of this information should be clearly mentioned and explained in a debriefing document which the participants should sign. It is important for all this information to be thoroughly comprehended by participants hence the material should be translated for those with limited English.
Anonymity
In a research study, anonymity can only be guaranteed by not collecting any personally identifiable information. An alternative to anonymising data is to generate data pseudonyms and replace personal information with these pseudonym identifiers instead.
Confidentiality
Participant confidentiality has to be maintained properly before, during and after the study. The information has to be stored safely during collection, analysis and utilisation. For example, all digitised files must be password protected and only approved researchers can access these databases. For cases in which confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, this must be thoroughly communicated in the debriefing phase.
Potential Harm
Any kind of harm during a study should be minimised. However, the researcher would need to consider all aspects of liability to debrief participants appropriately.
Psychological harm: sensitive questions or tasks that can trigger negative emotions such as anxiety or shame
Social harm: participation can involve social risks, public humiliation or stigma
Physical harm: any pain or injury that can result from study procedures
Legal harm: reporting sensitive data could lead to legal risks and potential breaches of privacy
Result Communication
Researchers should remember that good scientific research is honest and credible, as this keeps results as transparent as possible. There are 2 issues that can come from inaccurate result analysis and communication:
Plagiarism: the researcher should be vigilant to not commit plagiarism or self-plagiarism as this can benefit the researcher from presenting these findings and concepts as “new”
Research misconduct: falsifying or fabricating data which is considered academic fraud
In conclusion, ethical considerations in academia contribute to responsible research. Embracing principles such as honesty, integrity, transparency, fairness, and respect not only ensures the credibility of academic work but also fosters a culture of trust and collaboration within the scholarly community. As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of academia, it is imperative to remain vigilant in upholding these ethical standards. By doing so, we not only contribute to the advancement of knowledge but also serve as ethical role models for the next generation of scholars, shaping a brighter and more ethically grounded future for academia.
In the evolving landscape of academia, scholarly works and intellectual breakthroughs are paramount. This past August, our virtual shelves have been enriched with an array of thought-provoking publications. These carefully selected papers represent academic literature, spanning disciplines and shedding light on research and insights. Whether you’re a student, educator, or simply an inquisitive mind, join us on this exploration of the most compelling texts that have graced our research library in the past month.
AI in healthcare
This paper discusses how artificial intelligence, specifically in nursing, can improve the quality and efficiency of delivering personalised treatment. The research highlights that AI will equip healthcare professionals with top medical research and intelligent analytical technology. The research paper navigates the current foundation of AI in healthcare and the challenges that hinder complete implementation.
Examination of the relationship between tourism, environment and economy
This research paper deeply analyses the correlation between the tourism industry, ecological environment and regional economy in the Shandong province in China. Utilising the coupling coordination evaluation system, the 3 aspects of each city within the region were monitored from 2010-2017. The study concluded that tourism and the economy are highly correlated and that the ecological environment adapts to the changes, indicating that all 3 aspects generally develop in coordination.
Impact of the industrial revolution on food machinery
This article proposes that with the rise of food manufacturing and processing machinery, the industry should focus on acquiring skilled engineers to oversee operations. The paper highlights how analytical and scientific equipment in the food industry has impacted various aspects of production. Furthermore, the research provides a comprehensive history of the implementation of technology in the food industry dating back to the 17th century.
This paper closely examines the role of music in architecture as the researcher found conceptual and fundamental connections between music and traditional Iranian architecture. By analysing parameters like rhythm, high low, hierarchy, numbers, symbolism, and geometry, the study found compatibility with physics and mathematics.
This article assesses how hotels in Poland progress towards SDGs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers conducted a case study on one hotel and surveyed 102 different hotels across Poland, the data was analysed descriptively and interpreted the market situation of hotels in Poland while examining the practices hotels would engage in before and during the pandemic and comparing these to each of the 17 SDGs
[Dubai, 14 August 2023] – Zendy has signed a global licensing agreement with Bristol University Press, an academic publisher known for its commitment to advancing research and knowledge dissemination. The agreement will allow Zendy users to access academic resources from Bristol University Press across social sciences and aligned disciplines.
Bristol University Press has built a reputation for publishing world-class research that addresses pressing global challenges and contributes to the advancement of social sciences. Their dedication to inclusive knowledge aligns seamlessly with Zendy’s mission to make quality academic content accessible to individuals, researchers, and students regardless of geographical boundaries.
“We are excited to partner with Bristol University Press to offer our users a more diverse selection of research on our platform,” said Zendy Co-founder Kamran Kardan. “This collaboration underlines our commitment to connecting researchers, students, and knowledge enthusiasts with top-tier academic content, fostering collaboration and learning on a global scale.”
This announcement comes as Zendy continues to forge partnerships with prominent academic publishers to expand its content library and cater to diverse user interests. Zendy recently announced a series of new partnerships with IntechOpen,IEEE,IT Governance Publishing, and IGI Global.
The partnership with Bristol University Press reinforces Zendy’s dedication to nurturing a global academic community and making scholarly resources accessible to all.
About Zendy: Zendy is a product of Knowledge E. Since its inception in 2019, Zendy has connected over 200,000 users to academic journals, proceedings, articles, e-books, and more. Zendy is on a mission to make academic literature more affordable and accessible for students, researchers, and professionals worldwide. Zendy was awarded Best Startup – Education at the Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2022. To learn more, visit www.zendy.io.
About Bristol University Press: Bristol University Press is an academic publisher committed to publishing high-quality research that addresses global challenges and contributes to various disciplines. The press is known for its commitment to open access and the dissemination of knowledge for the betterment of society. To learn more visit, bristoluniversitypress.co.uk.
As we embark on a journey through the pages of knowledge, we are thrilled to present the themes in academic research that have ignited the minds of readers in the past month. From the realms of science to sustainable proposals, our curated selection brings you the most-read, thought-provoking, and insightful research articles that have graced our digital shelves. Join us as we unveil the top-read research that has captured the attention and curiosity of scholars and enthusiasts alike.
Racial Differences in the Impact of Elevated Systolic Blood Pressure on Stroke Risk
This study dissects the assumption that between the ages of 45 and 65, incident strokes are more common in black people than in white people; traditional symptoms or risk factors cannot prove this. The experiment assessed over 27,000 black and white participants between 2003 and 2007; with a follow-up in 2011. The main focus of the research was to navigate geographical limitations and how these link to racial differences in terms of healthcare.
This insightful article discusses appropriate data portrayal methods in Physics. Establishing that not all data can be considered conclusive, the piece takes examples from the laws of physics and how they have been proven through the appropriate presentation of hard data.
This research paper studies the rate of melanoma within the Hispanic population of North Carolina. It proposes that Melanoma presents itself at a more advanced rate in Hispanics than in other ethnic groups while highlighting the benefits of comprehensive self-examinations due to skin cancer showing lesser symptoms in the Hispanic population. The study determined the percentage of Hispanic patients that undergo skin examinations conducted by a physician or resort to regular self-examinations.
This research paper is a quantitative review of case studies within transportation. The paper urges researchers to navigate sustainable alternatives and practices to improve transportation. As this will benefit the general public and government. It will result in reduced traffic accidents, increased usage of renewable energy, higher quality of transport infrastructure, responsible consumption and production and a significant decrease in the usage of fossil fuels.
This research study manipulated the density within the carpenter ant colonies by significantly multiplying nest space and manually tracking over 6.9 million ant locations. The researchers assessed over 3,200 interactions to understand the relation between density, spatial organisation and interaction rates. The results highlight the organisational resilience in ant colonies to change density and allow them to sustain basic colony functions.
Z-library is an e-book and journal database that has sparked controversy, conversation, and reform since its launch in 2009. After countless lawsuits and domain seizures, the rise and fall of Z-library have allowed many non-pirated alternative digital libraries to emerge and provide students and researchers with legal content gateways. The steady increase of these non-restricted alternatives has elevated the dissemination of quality research globally for students, researchers and lifelong learners to benefit from.
In this blog, we uncover legal and safe academic platforms that are great alternatives to Z library. These platforms do not violate copyright or privacy laws and offer a far better navigation experience with advanced features to aid research consumption and comprehension.
This project initially started as a volunteer-driven effort to organise and digitise the literary content, it features more historic books for which US copyright laws have expired. Since its establishment, it has grown to offer over 60,000 literature and academic resources from an array of subjects and areas of study. The platform is completely free of cost and offers the available material in different formats to ease research consumption and dissemination.
Established in 2008, this library is a partnership between California State Library and Kahle-Austin Foundation and is an initiative overseen by Internet Archive. The Open Library specialises in e-books and offers over 20 million academic and literary sources to browse through and download without any restrictions or paywalls. The main goal of this library is to “create one web page for every book ever published” in an effort to make all library material accessible by anybody, anywhere.
Overdrive is one of the leading digital reading platforms globally, the organisation disseminates reading material within 88,000 libraries and schools in 109 countries. It is a very secure method of downloading and utilising ebooks and requires a student ID or public library pass to access. The platform houses everything from academic essays, university press books and freshly released novels. Overdrive also operates Libby, which is a new app under their umbrella that allows readers to borrow ebooks, audiobooks and magazines from local libraries, it stands to be accessible for all ages and offers a very wide range of reading material to encourage reading from a young age.
Launched in 2019, Zendy offers unrestricted academic research across all mediums like ebooks, journals, articles, case studies and much more. The platform was launched with the intention to bring diversity and global collaboration across various fields of scientific research; to ease research discoverability and consumption Zendy also hosts AI-powered features, advanced search and filtering options, personalized lists, and automatic citations.
This is an organisation that is run by the University of California, Davis. The platform hosts free courses and textbooks in an effort to make academia accessible worldwide, LibreTexts is centred around the value of providing open education resources in an ethical and legal way. Arguably, the best offering of this platform is the interactive visuals that can be enabled when reading a piece of research; this feature was launched to ease comprehension and aid visual learners.
This digital library offers free ebooks that have been thoroughly and professionally typeset and designed. It features a user-friendly browsing and reading experience and offers a wide range of content; everything from novels to academic research. Standard Ebooks is a volunteer-based project that formats, typesets, proofreads and corrects reading material and creates new editions that are compatible with e-reader technology. The website is not only widely accessible but also easy to use.
Run by the University of Minnesota and supported by Open Education Network, this platform covers public domain and open access textbooks. It allows users to download, edit and disseminate textbooks at no cost. With a current offering of over 1,200 textbooks across several areas of study, Open Textbook Library has been gathering academic content for over 10 years in the industry and is a well-reputed resource.
Founded in 2008, HathiTrust is an esteemed collaboration between research libraries and academics worldwide. The platform offers over 17 million digitised academic materials and access to some of the most prestigious libraries globally, like the Bodleian Library in Oxford and original digitised collections from the Harvard University Library. It is a valuable academic platform that houses research content across an array of disciplines without paywalls and restrictions.
SciHub
Launched in 2011, SciHub is a resource that provides free access to scientific and academic research papers. It was established with the goal to eliminate all barriers in science to foster global collaboration, promote open access practices and provide academic research to individuals regardless of their institutional affiliations, financial situations and geographic location. The website hosts over 80 million academic research papers across an array of disciplines.
Sick of wasting hours jumping between databases trying to find relevant research papers? Discover Zendy, the fastest and easiest way to discover over 85 million academic resources on one intuitive platform.
While research brings valuable discoveries, the very process of research discoverability can be considered challenging. Needing to access an array of databases and being met with paywalls and other restrictions can cause a researcher’s productivity to significantly decline. We value your time as a student, researcher, professor and lifelong learner hence we’ve built an intuitive platform that is an easy and effective method of conducting research. Zendy houses millions of journal articles, books and proceedings across a wide range of disciplines that are all accessible for free.
Undoubtedly, the open access movement has made significant strides in the world of research and academia. However, it is still challenging to locate relevant research papers across a number of open access databases and libraries without accessing a number of third-party websites. On Zendy, locating relevant research is not only simple but also quick. The platform utilises advanced filtering and intelligent search algorithms to deliver personalised search results.
Furthermore, the academic online library is designed with specific features to make locating, reading and consuming research much easier. Zendy’s latest AI-powered features which are summarisation and key phrase highlighting, have both been implemented to efficiently give readers a gist of the lengthy and informative research papers. It doesn’t stop there, Zendy also provides reading, favorites, and history lists to ease the process of re-locating previously visited research papers.
As an academic library, Zendy deeply recognises the importance of quality research that is available and accessible for students, researchers and professionals. In the current sphere of misinformation, evidence-based research is imperative for informed decision-making. We aim to make this simple, our academic library houses research content across all major disciplines within journals, proceedings, e-books, articles and much more.
To promote and implement equality in the field of research, building easier access to scientific research is important. Moreover, creating and maintaining legal gateways to access research is beneficial for readers and researchers alike, this not only boosts the reach of the study but also allows for significant improvement with key contributions from emerging regions. Zendy stands as a safe and legal gateway to provide access to scientific research to anyone, anywhere.
Various branches of Science have spearheaded the latest advancements we witness in our world. The field of Science is ever-evolving because researchers and scientists work rigorously; churning out compelling developments to ensure that life on Earth thrives in terms of longevity and universally beneficial conditions. While Science evolves, it has not always been the most welcoming field to diversity; even now, women and minorities struggle to break through scientific fields in several parts of the world. While setting foot in a research laboratory in itself is a recognised achievement, this blog highlights the work of 5 influential women who trailblazed their scientific disciplines at a time when their very presence was not accepted in these settings.
Katherine Johnson – Mathematician
As a pioneering Mathematician, Katherine Johnson was one of the first African American women to work for NASA. Her role at NASA entailed calculating and analysing the flight paths of NASA space crafts. She is best known for generating the revolutionary calculations that enabled the first Americans to launch into the Earth’s orbit and set foot on the moon in 1962. This involved a complex networking system that linked worldwide communications and tracking stations to the IBM computers in Washington. The calculations that ran through the computers were thoroughly analysed and double-checked by Katherine Johnson because the astronauts were wary of trusting machines. In 2015, at the age of 97, Katherine Johnson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama in an effort to recognise her pivotal contributions to NASA’s first human space flight.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson – Doctor/Physician
Making significant strides in Medicine, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson was the first female doctor in England. She practised Medicine when women were not allowed to, and she spent 6 months at Middlesex Hospital and had to leave when male students began to protest against her on the basis of her gender. However, she received an honours certificate in Chemistry & Material media due to her incredible scores. After applying to several Medical schools and being rejected on grounds of gender, she was finally accepted into the Society of Apothecaries.
In early 1865, Elizabeth went on to establish her very own practice. However, the general public was reluctant to be treated by a female doctor so her patients were often poor or female. This changed in late 1865 when the cholera epidemic caused a demand for doctors and the traffic at her practice showed a steady increase. In 1870, Elizabeth found out that the University of Sorbonne in Paris was welcoming female admissions into their medical programmes; this encouraged Elizabeth to learn French and attain her medical degree to become a qualified doctor.
Finally, in 1874, she recognised how scarce female doctors were in Britain and how beneficial they were to treating female medical conditions. This led to her co-founding the London School of Medicine for Women which was the first teaching hospital for women.
Chein-Shuing Wu – Physicist
Nicknamed the “First Lady of Physics” – Chein-Shuing Wu was a Chinese-American immigrant that grew to be recognised as a pioneer in the field of Physics. She is widely recognised for the Matthan Project which led to the creation and development of nuclear weapons in war research; however, her most notable work is the Wu experiment which proved that identical particles do not always behave and react in the same manner. In 1978, Wu was awarded the inaugural Wolf Prize in Physics for her revolutionary discovery.
Rosalind Franklin – Scientist
The very photographer of the famous “Photo 51” – Rosalind Franklin is now widely known for discovering the double helix structure of DNA and RNA by utilising X-ray crystallography. While her impact on Science is critical, the credit for discovery was given to James Watson and Francis Crick who were her male colleagues at the time.
Due to the lack of recognition, Rosalind Franklin moved on to Birkbeck College and thoroughly studied the molecular structures of viruses, coal and graphite. Her most notable work was on the structure of the Tobacco Mosaic Virus which enabled her to travel the globe and deliver seminars about the coal & virus molecular structure.
Marie Curie – Physicist & Chemist
Taking the world of Physics & Chemistry by storm, the discoveries and contributions of Marie Curie are invaluable. She conducted crucial research on radioactivity and discovered 2 chemical elements, radium and polonium.
Marie also led the first research project on the impact of radiation treatment on tumours, her generous work specialising in cancer research resulted in her spearheading the Curie Institute which was formerly known as the Radium Institute. The establishment is the leading medical research centre in Paris which focuses on cancer research and radiation therapy, now, it has also expanded to cell biology and biophysics.
Furthermore, Marie Curie is the first person and only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice and the only person to have won the esteemed award in 2 scientific categories, those being Physics and Chemistry.
Read research and breakthrough discoveries from pioneering women in science on Zendy now.
Our monthly Top Reads series is here! We showcase five intriguing research papers from various disciplines that have significantly contributed to their respective fields. This past June brought about research papers that highlighted breakthroughs and discoveries that have emerged from the world of academia. From the realms of psychology to aerospace, from healthcare to economics, these papers encompass a wide range of topics and offer unique insights into the ever-evolving landscape of research.
The Psychology of Money and Public Finance
This book consists of the primary papers written by Günter Schmölders, who specialised and pioneered in economic psychology. In the 1950s, Schmölders conducted socio-economic research at the University of Cologne in Germany. The book dives into the financial mindset and responsibilities of a private household and the philosophy of an entrepreneur, while also touching on the psychology of taxation, public finance and macroeconomics.
Software Performance Monitoring: An Approach for Aerospace
This journal article proposes the implementation of software applications for aerospace manufacturing firms. The article highlights how critical softwares are for the aerospace industry and proposes a monitoring method based on traditional business intelligence architecture. The researchers also conduct a case study that utilises secondary research and interviews with aerospace professionals.
Examining the Co-relation Between Academic Performance and Antisocial Behaviour in Teenagers
This study profoundly examines the role of schools and the causes of anti-social behaviour by comparing these factors to teenagers’ academic performance. The sample consisted of 127 students aged 13-15 from different schools across the US. The primary data suggested a negative relation between antisocial behaviour and academic performance and finds a significant difference between male and female academic performance regardless of their involvement in anti-social activity and behaviour.
Exercise Dose & Diabetes Risk in Overweight and Obese Children
This article details an experiment conducted on overweight and obese children to see how aerobics training affected their weight loss journey. This long-term study ran from 2003 to 2007 and tested different doses of aerobics on children across other races and genders. The children were randomly assigned a low or high dose of aerobics or a controlled condition of their usual physical activity. The study found that after 13 weeks, aerobics training improved their fitness.
This article discusses how significantly genomic technology has advanced biomedical research. It argues that every medical speciality is affected by genomic advancements while highlighting the positive impact of genomic breakthroughs and several applications across healthcare. Genomics is a branch of biology focused on the structure, function, evolution, mapping and editing of genomes; in the context of healthcare, this allows professionals to identify genetic alterations that could be responsible for inherited or acquired diseases which potentially determines routes of treatment.
Writing research papers is a fundamental aspect of academia that plays a key role in developing and disseminating knowledge accurately. It serves to communicate new findings, ideas, and theories to a broader audience within the scholarly community. Research paper writing is a systematic approach to investigating, analysing, and synthesising information.
The importance of research papers lies in their ability to enhance the collective understanding of a subject, generate new insights, and encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In this blog, we venture into the meticulous process and various aspects of research paper writing; from carefully choosing a research topic to overcoming common challenges, this blog is your pocket guide to advancing your research writing skills.
Choosing an Appropriate Topic
The first step to choosing a research topic is to identify the specialism and subject area that your research would be relevant to and thoroughly study the research that is already available within the field; this will reveal the gaps of research within the subject.
There are 2 ways in which the gaps in research can be approached; either by adding new aspects to prevalent topics or moving away from the trending topics and venturing into a lesser-explored part. Working on new research provides the subject with a fresh perspective that can lead to newer advancements than adding to a prevalent topic. However, working on a prevalent topic offers an array of credible citations and previous research.
The way your research question is phrased should invoke exploration and inquiry from readers, while also accurately describing the matter that the research paper will be exploring and investigating.
Conducting the Research
To execute reliable scholarly research there are a number of measures to be taken. From laying the initial research framework to executing primary research, it is beneficial to place careful strategies at every phase of the research process. The following steps break down the recommended research flow.
Execute preliminary exploration: Before diving into primary and secondary research, conduct a preliminary exploration of the topic. Familiarize yourself with existing knowledge, theories, and research findings related to your area of interest.
Develop a research plan: Create a research plan that outlines how to efficiently gather the required information. Identify the sources you will require (e.g., scholarly articles, books, primary sources) and research methods you will apply (e.g., surveys, experiments, interviews). A well-structured plan will ensure a systematic approach to your research.
Utilise credible sources: Rely on credible sources to gather information. Academic journals, databases, books, and reputable websites are excellent starting points. Evaluate the credibility of sources by considering factors such as author expertise, publication date, peer-review process, and the reputation of the publishing platform. Here are some recommended reliable databases: Google Scholar, Zendy, IEEE, EBSCO
Take effective notes: As you gather information, take organized and concise notes. Summarize key points, record bibliographic details, and note any relevant concepts or ideas. Properly cite and reference your sources to avoid plagiarism and ensure accurate attribution.
Analyze and synthesize information: Once you have collected a substantial amount of data, analyze and synthesize the information to draw meaningful conclusions. Identify patterns, trends, and relationships within the data and critically evaluate the findings in relation to your research question. Identify any gaps in the existing literature that your research could address.
Ethical considerations: Adhere to ethical guidelines throughout your research process. Obtain necessary permissions, protect participant confidentiality, and ensure the ethical use of data. Familiarize yourself with the ethical standards set by your institution or discipline and maintain integrity in your research practices.
Structuring the Research Paper
The structure of the research paper ensures a smooth flow of research. This showcases the author’s thoroughness on the available literature and how their own research affects the trajectory of the subject. Each component of the research paper presents evidence-based explanations of the approaches to the methodology, analysis and literature review sections. The structure is designed to present the transition of the research stages appropriately.
A) Title and Abstract
The title and abstract page of the research paper is the reader’s first impression. It should be written in a completely objective tone and should allow the reader to accurately skim and gain insight into the gist of the research aims and findings.
B) Introduction
The introduction section gives the reader a thorough background into your research area. Your topic can be introduced as a broad subject and then narrowed down to your specific research question, this provides the reader with an understanding of your positioning within your field of study.
The introduction section has 5 main goals:
Introduce the field of study
Present and summarise existing literature
Establish your approach
Describe the problem statement that the paper will investigate
Provide an overview of the research paper’s structure
Example:The field of Marine Biology gains more traction as debates on marine pollution cause controversy in media outlets (Introduction to field). According to Smith (2022), one of the leading causes of marine pollution is the increase in plastic within the oceans, which leads to habitat destruction. This suggests that human water activities are contributing to the decline in the longevity of marine life (Present and summarize literature). This research paper aims to thoroughly investigate the extent of sea tourism in key regions and establish a comprehensive comparison of the state of the marine life within these regions (Establish approach). Furthermore, this paper highlights the threats that water activities pose to the trajectory of research within marine biology and investigates whether potential safety measures or ceasing human water activities would be more effective in preserving marine life (Description of problem statement). This research paper will present a comprehensive literature review that analyses recent debates, findings and incidents in marine life that have been directly caused by human activities and then highlight the key methodologies utilised to investigate and compare water tourism against the state of marine life in key regions; additionally, the paper consists of a thorough analysis of the findings and proposes safer practices (Structure of research paper).
C) Literature Review
The literature review is an important component of any research paper, it serves as a thorough analysis and evaluation of the available sources, debates, themes and gaps within the respective field of study. This section is the researcher’s opportunity to discuss and present all the relevant sources to exhibit their own familiarity and positioning on the subject.
A well-written literature review depicts and presents a thorough analysis, criticism and identification of on-going debates and studies within the field, this information is not just presented and cited but also dissected.
Listed below are a few beneficial questions to cross-check when writing a literature review.
Trends: Which theories and methodologies are more referenced and utilised?
Themes: What concepts and debates persist across the sources?
Debates and conflicts: Where do the sources disagree and why?
Critical publications: Any influential theories or studies that changed the direction of the field?
Gaps: What is missing from the literature? Are there weaknesses that need to be addressed?
It is important to note that within certain disciplines there is an abundance of sources, debates and findings; to conduct an efficient literature review in these cases, the author can simply stick to the specialism or sources that are directly relevant to the research paper rather than approaching it as a broad topic.
D) Methodology
The research methodology section depicts the data collection and analysis process of the research. In this component of the paper, the researcher has to explain the selected data collection methods and how they are appropriate and efficient for the kind of research that was conducted. This needs to be written in detail specifying the method, sample size, measures taken to ensure objectivity and other relevant variables.
The methodology section needs to include the following:
The type of research conducted
How the data was collected and analysed
Any tools or materials the research utilized
How research biases were avoided
Why these methods were selected
This section solves the ‘How?’ and allows readers to evaluate the reliability and credibility of the findings.
E) Results & Analysis
The findings section in an academic research paper is where the results of the research are presented. Firstly, start by clearly stating the research objectives and hypothesis or research questions that guided your study. Then, present the data and findings in a logical and organized manner, using tables, charts, or graphs if appropriate. Interpret the findings by discussing their implications, relating them to existing literature, and addressing any limitations or potential biases. Finally, conclude the section by summarizing the key findings and their significance in relation to the research objectives.
When writing the findings section, ensure clarity and conciseness by using a straightforward and objective writing style. Avoid interpretation or speculation in this section; save that for the discussion section. Use subheadings to divide the findings into sections to ensure easy navigation for readers.
F) Discussion
The discussion section of the research paper is where the researcher presents an in-depth analysis of the importance, relevance and description of the results. It should focus on the evaluation of the findings and associate back to the literature review and subject area, this section should discuss how the findings support your initial hypothesis.
You may include the following in your discussion section:
Summary: A brief recap of the key results and research output
Interpretations: What do the results mean?
Implications: Why do the results matter?
Limitations: What can’t the results depict?
Recommendations: Slight modifications for further studies to get more accuracy
G) Conclusion
The conclusion is the last part of the research paper. It should be concise yet engaging, leaving the reader with a thorough recap and understanding of your findings, as well as the answer to the initial research question.
Your conclusion should include:
The answer to your main research question
A summary of the research process
Depict any new knowledge you have contributed
Wrap up your thesis or dissertation
H) References & Citations
After the conclusion, the research paper must consist of a reference list. This has to be in alphabetical order and in the correct citation format that the respective institution or discipline follows. The citation list allows readers and researchers to create a framework of knowledge and refer to articles that further support your research and argument, this allows for more educational awareness around your area of research.
Proofreading and Editing
In the world of academia, accuracy and precision is the core of the dissemination of research. Research papers are read and referenced by researchers globally hence there’s little room for error. The proofreading and editing process within academia is rigorous, everything from the format to the grammar is carefully reviewed repeatedly.
Listed below are recommended proofreading practices:
Review grammar: Grammatical mistakes are common and often missed, it is crucial to review the placement of grammatical marks while proofreading the content. For example, s small misplacement of a comma can lead to contextual misinterpretations
Review Clarity: The academic language is designed to eliminate bias and room for misunderstanding. It is classified as a tone of voice of it’s own to maintain it’s objective and factual nature, to avoid the lack of clarity in research papers; it is recommended to re-read and review all the written content to assess whether it is widely comprehensive.
Seek Feedback: A fresh set of eyes on a research paper is always beneficial. Feedback can expose mistakes and misinterpretations that the author could have missed due to rigorously working on the research paper.
Writing research papers is a craft that requires thorough attention to detail. Each section of a research paper is tackled and approached in a unique way to ensure the flow of information is smooth. The methodology section ensures the reliability of the research, while the results and analysis section presents the findings in a clear and organized manner.
The discussion section provides an in-depth analysis and interpretation of the results, while the conclusion summarizes the key findings and their implications. Proper referencing and citations are essential for acknowledging the contributions of other researchers. Lastly, the proofreading and editing process ensures accuracy and clarity in the final research paper. By following these steps, researchers can effectively contribute to their respective fields, drive progress, and foster academic excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a research paper be?
The length of research papers varies greatly depending on the topic. Research papers are in-depth, but it is common to find short research papers ranging between 2,000 and 4,000 words. More comprehensive research papers range between 10,000 to 20,000 words.
How do I choose a good research topic?
Always choose a topic you have an interest in. When you care about the topic, the research process will be more in-depth and enjoyable. Once you have a broad idea of the topic, you can then narrow down your idea by immersing yourself in reading material. It’s essential to review new and old literature on the same topic to help you understand different perspectives.
What are the common mistakes to avoid in research paper writing?
Always avoid plagiarism first and foremost, as it will impact your credibility as a researcher and writer, no matter how interesting your idea is. Other common mistakes include grammatical errors, repetition, inconsistent formatting, a weak abstract, and overly complex language.
Discover millions of e-books, journal articles, proceedings and more on Zendy now.
[United Arab Emirates, July] – Zendy, the AI-powered research library, has signed a licensing agreement with leading international academic publisher, IGI Global. With this agreement, IGI Global’s extensive collection of Open Access content, including their fully transformed OA journal portfolio (175+ e-Journals) as well as book content across subject areas including Business & Management; Scientific, Technical, Medical (STM); and Education, will become available to Zendy’s fast-growing user base.
By working with publishers, Zendy continues to strengthen its dedication to promoting accessibility and fostering collaboration among the global research community.
“We are delighted to partner with IGI Global to enhance the accessibility of open access books and journals through Zendy. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to breaking down barriers to access knowledge and empowering researchers worldwide. We can create a more inclusive and equitable scholarly ecosystem through collaboration,” said Zendy Co-founder Kamran Kardan.
Melissa Wagner, Vice President of Editorial for IGI Global, mentions, “Integrating with Zendy supports our mission of equality and accessibility of innovative research for all, which has been at the forefront of our company’s values for over 35 years. This partnership will enable our open access authors to benefit from even wider discoverability, usage, and citations of their work from readers worldwide.”
Zendy is dedicated to contributing towards Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 10 (Reduced Inequalities). By working with publishers to increase accessibility to academic research, Zendy aims to bridge the knowledge gap and promote equitable access to scholarly resources worldwide.
For more information about Zendy, please visit www.zendy.io.
About Zendy
Zendy is a product of Knowledge E. Since its inception in 2019, Zendy has connected over 200,000 users to academic journals, proceedings, articles, e-books, and more. Zendy is on a mission to make academic literature more affordable and accessible for students, researchers, and professionals worldwide. Zendy was awarded Best Startup – Education at the Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2022. To learn more, visit www.zendy.io.
About IGI Global
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA with a subsidiary office (IGI Science and Technology, Ltd.) operating out of Beijing, China, IGI Global is a leading medium-sized and independent international academic publisher of scholarly reference sources. They are committed to facilitating the discovery of pioneering scientific research that enhances and expands the body of knowledge available to the research community through traditional and open access publishing workflows. Working in close collaboration with more than 200,000+ expert researchers and professionals from leading institutions, IGI Global publishes quality peer-reviewed content in three major academic subject areas: Business & Management; Scientific, Technical, & Medical (STM), and Education. To learn more, visit www.igi-global.com/about/.
