1. Writing a Scientific Research Article
Scientific Research Methodology

2. Language Academic language
A poorly written article with grammatical errors may not be accepted
The entire manuscript should flow naturally between sentences, paragraphs, and sections.
Outline the entire paper to provide a nice flow

3. Abstract 100 – 200 words (look up the guidelines) Key words
4 – 5 sentences
Key words
1st sentence - Background, general question
2nd sentence – Research Question/Hypothesis
3rd sentence – Model and data
4th sentence – Results
Find the general story of the results
5th sentence – Conclusion/Implications/Recommendations
Depending on the purpose of the article

4. Introduction/Background
First 2 pages
Global Statement: There is an important issue addressed
Specific Statement: Frame the issue
Significance (Contribution)
Why is the topic important and interesting?
What do you how to achieve
Short summary of existing literature
Some mentioning of methods and maybe hypotheses

5. Literature review Find a way to synthesize prior knowledge
Turn it into a story to support/inform your own research
Comprehensive yet targeted to your study
Contribution of your study
What makes yours different from others?

6. Objectives Objectives Hypotheses to test
What do you want to accomplish with this study?
Be specific and refined to narrow the emphasis
Hypotheses to test
How you address the research question
Significance of coefficient in a model

7. Theoretical Model/Considerations
Theoretical framework (descriptive theory)
Examples:
Principal-Agent theory
Asymmetric information
Utility/Risk Return
Risk Aversion
Formulation of the model
Constrained maximization
Minimum problem
Developments
First Order Conditions
Expected signs/relationships

8. Empirical Model
Operationalize the theoretical model by choosing specification, functional form, variable measures, etc.
Specify the empirical model
Define variables for your study
Justify their appropriateness
Theoretically or
Based on previous literature
Provide expected relationship for each variable

9. Data Description of data Type and source of data
Secondary
Primary
Description of the sample
Description of the variables
Descriptive Statistics (table 1)

10. Method Types Econometric Simulation Qualitative; Institutional
Case study

11. Methods
Identify the statistical model(s) used and explain it sufficiently
Linkage with the statistical model
Linkage with previous uses in the literature
Indicate tests that need to be performed to get to the final statistical model
Specify all the steps taken in the modeling process
Make the explanation sufficient for replication

12. Results Restate the problem and model
Report results from testing of assumptions (if any)
Provide main story
Significance and key relationship from hypothesis test
Significance and relationship of other variables (demographics…)
Compare and contrast
With previous literature, Previous expectations, Theory
Were expectations matched? Why or Why not

13. Results (cont) Explain in words what was discovered in the research.
Clear, thorough, and in a logical sequence.
Tell everything you know about the results; don’t just report the coefficient estimates and their significance.
Interpretation of results may be included in this section or another section.

14. Conclusion/Policy Implications
Same structure as the abstract but with more emphasis on the results (longer than the abstract)
Provide specific recommendations based on the finding for the study
For whom is it useful?
Provide Implications for policy, businesses, consumers, etc. that are linked to the results.
How do they vary from previous research?
Do the findings support or contradict previous research? Theories?
How does the work move scientific knowledge forward
Limitations (but don’t end with this)

15. References 100% correspondence between text and reference list
Give proper credit to those before you
Plagiarism and copying are strictly forbidden
Give proper credit to those before you.
Reference style will be specified by the journal