Components of a Research Paper

Here are the common sections found in a typical research paper in Conferences and Journal. It is not exaustive and can be different based on Subject, type of paper, etc.

1. Title:
• concise, descriptive, and indicative of the paper's content.
2. Abstract:
•  A brief summary of the entire research paper, usually around 150-250 words.
• provides a quick overview of the research question, methods, results, and conclusions.
3. Keywords:
• A list of relevant terms or phrases that highlight the main topics covered in the paper. 
• helps in indexing and searching for the paper.
4. Introduction:
• Presents the background and context of the research.
• States the research question or hypothesis.
• Describes the significance of the study.
• Provides an overview of the paper's structure.
5. Literature Review:
• Surveys and reviews existing literature related to the research topic.
• Demonstrates the gap in knowledge that the current study aims to fill.
• Establishes the theoretical framework for the research.
6. Methodology and Design:
• Describes the research design, methods, and procedures used to collect and analyze data.
• Includes information on participants, materials, and tools used.
• Should be detailed enough for others to replicate the study.
7. Results:
• Presents the findings of the research in a clear and organized manner.
• Utilizes tables, figures, and graphs to represent data.
• Avoids interpretation or discussion at this stage.
8. Discussion:
• Interprets and analyzes the results in relation to the research question or hypothesis.
• Compares findings with existing literature.
• Addresses limitations and suggests areas for future research.
9. Conclusion:
• Summarizes the main findings of the study.
• States the implications of the research.
• Describes the limitations of the work
• Include recommendations for future research or practical applications.
10. Acknowledgments:
• Recognizes individuals or organizations that contributed to the research but are not considered authors.
11. References:
• Lists all the sources cited in the paper.
• Follows a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago).
12. Appendices:
• Includes supplementary material such as raw data, additional charts, or questionnaires.
• Supplementary material that is too extensive for the main body of the paper.
• mostly optional