Research is the “ process of systematically acquiring data to answer a specific question or to solve a problem” (McNabb, 2008, p. 78). There are at least four kinds of research depending on the methodology used: (a) quantitative, (b) qualitative, (c) mixed methods, and (c) action research . Qualitative derive their conclusions from the conduct of experiments, and surveys. Qualitative method includes case studies and ethnographies which are both focused on a more in-depth discussion about processes and dynamics of the object of study. Mixed methods, as the name suggest, combine the previously mentioned two types. A typical process would be a survey at the first phase to assess the characteristics of the particular population, then the second part would be, for example, an analysis of the relationships and conflicts within a certain organization (Creswell, 2003). Action research is a recent phenomenon which enables the sources of information to be more involved in the process (Oliver, 2010). This is usually utilized in organizations who are initiating the research to pinpoint a particular problem and work on appropriate solutions.
Despite the differences in methodologies, research papers are a result of a seven-step process which involves the research problem, literature review, statement of purpose, research questions, data collection, data analysis and interpretation, and research report. The final step, writing the research report, is the focus of this paper. The format and style of the report depends on a large degree to the purpose of the research and its intended audience. The most popularly-used styles today are APA, Chicago, Harvard, and MLA. This paper focuses on the APA style and the succeeding sections shall discuss the (a) users and principles of the APA style, (b) outlines and general format, and (c) in-text citations and reference. The conclusion will reiterate the important points of the entire document.
Users and principles of the APA style
Research reports in APA formats have four major sections: “ title page, abstract, main body, and references” (Angeli et. al, 2010). Information such as the author’s name and school are included at the upper half of the paper just below the title. This page also contains a short capitalized heading flush left on top which runs through the whole document. The second section, abstract is a short summary of the report and can either be descriptive or informative. A descriptive abstract tells the reader what the purpose of the study is as well as the topics in the report. The informative abstract provides more information because it contains the “ purpose of the study, methods used, findings of the research, and conclusions and recommendations” (Tebeaux & Dragga, 2012, p. 171).
In-text citations and references
Proper citation is a mark of an honest writer. Plagiarism is a crime because the one doing it is taking another person’s idea as his or her own. According to Insley (2011) in a study conducted among college business students, the reasons for plagiarism include laziness among students as well as their limitations in time-management. The lack of knowledge on how to write down citations is another reason.
Data collection
Information presented in research reports come from one of two sources. These may originate from primary sources or from secondary sources. Primary data is a result of experiments, surveys, direct observation, and interviews. When it is someone else who gathered the information and present this in a report, this is considered secondary data already. The methods in data collection depend on the methodology that the researcher has decided beforehand.
According to the APA Style Guide, 6th edition, secondary information can come from print sources, electronic sources, even multimedia materials. The basic format in print materials is author, date, title of material, and publication details. In the entry of the location of the publisher, it is required that the city is followed by the State or Country. For locations in the USA, the name of the city is followed by the abbreviation of the state. Electronic sources have additional requirements. One of which is the digital object identifier or doi. APA recommends that doi is used if it is available because the URLs that contain the material may not be accessible in the future. For articles that come from databases available online, APA states that these are not necessary information, again for the reason that the addresses of the databases may change in the future.
Electronic sources are of various kinds. APA has a set guideline on how to cite online materials including lecture notes and presentations. For these documents APA requires that the format of the material be included as well. The material may be PDF format or Microsoft format. An article in TechTrends (2010) explained that technological advancement has led to different ways to share materials and care should be exercised in including ideas in presentations. The study in this journal noted that there is already a lack of citations in multimedia presentations. One way to avoid plagiarizing work of others is by going to the initial source if possible.
Conclusions
The APA style has been used for several decades in the social sciences field. It provides the researcher with an instrument to present the research findings in a concise and logical manner. Its author-date citation format is likewise an effective way to guide the reader to the sources of information of the ideas that do not belong to the researchers. The APA style is also a means to ensure that plagiarism is avoided and the findings are able to reach its target audience.
References
American Psychological Association. (n. d.) Basics of APA Style Tutorial. Retrieved from http://www. apastyle. org/.
Angeli, E., Wagner, J., Lawrick, E., Moore, K., Anderson, M., Soderlund, L., & Brizee, A. (2010, May 5). General format. Retrieved from http://owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Creswell, J. W. (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, 2nd edition. California: Sage Publications.
Daniel, L. G. & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2007). Editorial: Effective Use of APA Style in Manuscript Preparation. Research in the Schools, 14 (1), i-x.
Insley, R. (2011). Managing Plagiarism: a Preventative Approach. Business Communication Quarterly 74 (2), 183-187. Doi: 10. 1177/1080569911404058.
Johnson, R. B., & Christensen, L. B. (2008). Educational research: Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Marsh, B. (2007). Plagiarism: Alchemy and Remedy in Higher Education. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press
McNabb, D. E. (2008). Research Methods in Public Administration and Nonprofit Management: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, 2nd edition. New York: M. E. Sharpe, Inc.
Oliver, P. (2010). Understanding the Research Process. London: Sage Publications, Ltd.
Tebeaux, E. & Dragga, S. (2012). The Essentials of Technical Communication. United Kingdom: Oxford University Press.
The Missing Link: The Lack of Citations and Copyright Notices in Multimedia Presentations, (2010). TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, 54 (3), 38-44. Doi: 10. 1007/s11528-010-0401-8.
