Report R1.6 How to Write a Research Paper Seminar Leader: Tripti Singh, FPM Scholar, XLRI, Jamshedpur xltripti[at]yahoo.co.in The seminar focused on how to write a research paper and a discussion on a project done by the facilitator. The seminar started with a discussion on Sternberg’s material on tips for better writing. It was felt that less amounts of quotations, jargons, etc., were more desirable in a research paper. It was also suggested that some catchy ideas need to be proposed at starting of the paper to attract reader’s attention. One of the participants suggested that the researcher should have a clear idea about target readers. He/she should accordingly focus on segments like international journals, national journals, and other publications that reach the target audience. The question of writing a paper through survey research approach was also discussed. The facilitator started her discussion on relationship between theory and method, that is, how theory can be translated into measurable components in research. Also, it was suggested in the seminar that the researcher should be clear about what he/she wants to know from the work pursued and choice of right theory to be used. Discussions were made on building and testing variables, indicators and values to be measured, and the levels of measurement to be used. A brief description was made on exploratory and descriptive research survey methods. The method of data collection is to be finalised whether it is through interview schedules, telephone interviews, Internet search, or other resources. The survey design and population and sample to be used have to be finalised. The next step is to identify the instrument, describe the validity and reliability of the instrument, and induce sample items. Different models have to be developed at where the above methods can be used and confirmed to collect the information. After that, results and analysis part is to be carried out. The facilitator carried out the above discussion by citing examples from her own paper “Developing a scale to measure spiritual competence." As soon as she started the discussion on spiritual competence, a lot of questions arose about definition of spiritual competence and surprisingly, different persons had different answers for it. One of the participants in context of definition of spiritual competence argued that it is like "soul," which is difficult to define. The facilitator also discussed about the different methods used for data collection, the survey method and instrument used, and sample items. After that she discussed the testing of above procedures at various stages of her research work and the ways in which she had analysed the results. The procedures for sending a paper for publication in a journal, the manuals used for different types of journal, etc., were also discussed. Reference Sternberg, R. J. (1993, September). APS observer newsletter. American Psychological Society.
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