Conducting academic research is a challenging task. Against this backdrop, this video-based crash course shows you how you can successfully write a quantitative research paper.
You will learn what constitutes a good quantitative research paper und how it is structured in an introductory video. Then, you will learn how to write the different sections of a research paper in several video lectures. The crash course follows the “classic” structure of academic papers in social sciences:
- Introduction
- Theory and State of Research
- (Hypothesised Model &) Research Questions
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
Through video lectures, you will learn for each section of a quantitative research paper…
- …what content is expected from you.
- …how you produce this content.
- …how to secure the quality of the respective section.
The core of this crash course is section 4 Methods. Amongst others, you will learn…
- …how you should structure the Methods section.
- …how you draw the sample for your empirical research
- …how you analyse your data with descriptive and inferential statistics.
If you are relatively new to quantitative research, it is advised that you go through this crash course step by step/video by video. Make sure that you only go to the next video after you fully understood the previous one. Later, when you conduct your own research project, you can use this crash course like a reference book to secure the quality of the respective sections of your research paper.
0 Quality and Structure of Research Papers
The introductory video lecture explains the general quality criteria and the “classic” structure of research papers in social sciences.
1 Introduction
The introduction is the first section of an academic research paper. The reader should get an overview of what he or she can expect from the following sections. Thus, this section should briefly introduce the examined topic, state the main research objectives and give a brief overview of the following sections.
2 Theory and State of Research
In this video lecture, you will learn that the theory section serves two purposes by forming the basis for the research questions and delivering the theoretical foundation for the empirical part of a research paper. Furthermore, you will understand how to conceptualise constructs and how to report the state of research. Finally, you will be given a manual on how to conduct literature research.
3 (Hypothesised Model and) Research Questions
Theories, models and research questions play a central role in quantitative research. Moreover, the success of a research project substantially depends on the “solid” development of a hypothesised model and the respective research questions/hypotheses. Thus, these elements of quantitative research are explained and it is shown how you can successfully develop a hypothesised model and research questions/hypotheses to establish a strong foundation for your quantitative research project.
4 Methods
The video lectures to the Methods section form the core of this crash course. In the respective five videos, you will learn…
- …what contents the Methods section includes and how to structure these contents.
- …how to draw a sample from which you collect data.
- …which scales of measurement you can use.
- …how you can analyse quantitative data with descriptive statistics.
- …how you can analyse quantitative data with inferential statistics.
4.1 Structure and Contents
This video lecture explains which contents you need to report in which sub-section of the Methods section.
4.2 Sample and Inductive Statistics
This video lecture begins with the fundamental terminology of sampling, e.g., population, sample and representativity. On this basis, different research designs (rather exploratory and rather representative designs) and different sampling methods are explained. You will understand which sampling method you need to apply to which research design. Furthermore, you will understand how to determine the sample size and uncover the “secret” of inductive statistics.
4.3 Scales of Measurement
Scales of measurement form the basis of descriptive and inferential statistics. Accordingly, nominal, ordinal and metric scales of measurement are explained in this part of the crash course.
4.4 Descriptive Statistics
Descriptive statistics are used to describe a sample through frequencies, measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion, which will be explained in this video lecture.
4.5 Inferential Statistics
Virtually all academic research papers with quantitative research necessarily require inferential statistics. Therefore, this video lecture explains the principal idea of inferential statistics and gives a systematic overview of the main methods. Furthermore, these main methods of inferential statistics are explained in more detail.
5 Results
In this video lecture, you will learn which contents you need to report in the Results section.
6 Discussion
The last section of an empirical research paper is the Discussion, which, normally, consists of two sub-sections. In the first sub-section, you need to interpret your results. In the second sub-section, you need to state the limitations of your research and give an outlook on future projects that should follow your research.
Lecture Notes - Download
You can download the lecture notes here: