42+ Sample Research Note

What is a Research Note?

There are different definitions of a research note: In scientific terms, a research note is defined as papers describing pilot, initial, and/or exploratory findings or a novel data gathering or analytic strategy. It is critical in this note that scientific discoveries are clearly explained and documented. In addition, research notes should provide a brief synopsis and an introduction paragraph, and they should be structured as continuous and cohesive text to be as concise as it feasibly can.

In business terms, a research note is a statement issued by a brokerage company or other investment advisory service that discusses a particular asset, industry, market, or news item. It provides helpful tools for investors, but businesses that share them must exercise caution in how they are used to avoid market manipulation or prejudice.

In this article, the scientific definition of a research note (and research) will be focused on.

Elements of a Research Note

What does a research note usually contain? Here are some important elements that you should be aware of:

Research Authors. This part of the research note must contain the names of the authors that have given an important contribution during the research process. It should also indicate their corresponding roles during the research. Their affiliation information (such as e-mail addresses) may also be provided.Title. As it states, the research note should also contain the title of the research, without it, it may lead to outright confusion into what the study is all about. The title should be concise and specific and must clearly state what the article discusses.Abstract. Abstracts should include a brief synopsis of the article or the note. Although the abstract should clarify why the piece could be of interest, the significance of the study should not be overstated. The abstract should not contain any citations. Furthermore, any abbreviations that are included in the abstract should be spelled explicitly if necessary.Keywords. These are words that are found in your research. Relevant keywords will play an important part in improving the article’s visibility whenever someone searches for it online.Main Body. When writing the main body of the research note, keep in mind that it should be easy to read and must be shown in such a way that it is appropriate to the type of study being conducted. The main body of the research note can contain the introduction, the methods used, the results of the research, and the conclusion that was reached.Supporting Data. All research notes that report on new study findings must include the underlying source data. Include details about how the data was analyzed to produce the various results (tables, graphs, etc.) in this section of the research note. Methods of data analysis include the type of statistical tests that were used. If software code was utilized, you should also include information on how to access this code if it is not proprietary to the research.Written Consent. Whenever personal data of the patient/participant is involved, such as doing case studies, clinical trials, or questionnaires, the research authors must make sure that they have acquired written consent from the parties involved. If the subjects were minors, written consent from their guardian should be provided. If the subject of the research involves a deceased individual, written consent from their next of kin should be obtained.Acknowledgements. This section should credit anybody who helped with the research or writing of the article but does not classify as an author; it should also indicate the different ways on how they helped. It should also be noted that any grant money, if present, should not be reported here.References. References can be enumerated in any usual citation style as long as they are consistent inside a given article. Remember that only articles, books and book chapters, datasets, and abstracts that have been published or are in press, or are available through general populace e-print/preprint servers/data repositories, may be cited when using written work as references. Also, web links, URLs, and links to the writers’ own websites should be presented as hyperlinks inside the main body of the text, not as references.Tables and Figures. All tables and figures must be referenced and mentioned in the text of the article. Tables and figure legends should be supplied at the conclusion of the document. Any images must be supported by formal permission to publish from the people who appear in them. Any distinguishing features, such as medical record numbers or identifiers in the case of clinical images, that could be used to assess the patient or participant must be removed.

Types of Research Methods

Whenever you conduct research, you will need to select the method for which the research will be conducted and presented. That being said, here are some of the types of research methods:

Descriptive. Information is taken into account in descriptive methods in this type of research method, and surveys and case studies are conducted to clarify the facts. These play a role in determining as well as describing with examples, the factual data, and they are not rejected. In descriptive research, many parameters can be used to explain the facts.Qualitative. Qualitative alludes to the non-numerical parts of the investigation. When the information or data cannot be absorbed in terms of statistics, qualitative research proves to be of great assistance. Albeit not credible as much as quantitative, qualitative research helps to create a better synopsis in terms of theories in the data.Analytical. Analytical research uses the factual data that have been validated already to form the foundation for the research and critical assessment of the material is carried out in this approach. Analysis techniques make use of quantitative approaches as well.Applied. Applied research refers to action research that focuses on a single topic and generalizes the facts as much as possible. Variables are assumed to be constants, and forecasting is performed so that approaches in applied research may be easily discovered. The research employs technical jargon, and the summary is founded on technical data.Fundamental. Fundamental research talks about the fundamental or pure research done to discover an element or a hypothesis that has never been discovered before. Several fields are linked, and the goal is to discover how conventional items might be altered or something new generated. The summary is written entirely in everyday language, and logical results are used in the research.Conclusive. Conclusive research seeks to provide a solution to the research issue and has an appropriate technique design. A well-designed structure aids in the formulation, resolution, and presentation of hypotheses and outcomes. The outcomes will be general and beneficial to the rest of the planet. Researchers in a conclusive research will generally feel a great sense of accomplishment when they solve challenges and benefit society as a whole.Surveys. Surveys are an important part of the research approach. It aids in the collection of large amounts of real-time data and aids in the process of research. It is less expensive and maybe completed faster than almost any technique. Surveys can be conducted using either quantitative or qualitative methodologies. Because quantitative surveys produce numerical results and the data is actual, they should always be prioritized above qualitative surveys. Surveys are mostly used in business to determine market demand for a product and to anticipate production based on the survey results.Case Studies. Different situations are investigated in case studies, and the best one for the research is chosen. Case studies aid in the formation of research ideas and the establishment of research foundations. Case studies can provide various data and theories that can be used to construct thorough reviews of the study issue. According to the literature reviews from the studies, researchers might make the issue generic or particular. The case study may be used to gain a thorough knowledge of the research.

Steps in Taking Research Notes

Taking notes in research is just as important as conducting the research method of your choice properly and effectively. If done in a proper manner, it enables you to have more understanding and saves you valuable time when writing the main research paper. With that being said, here are the steps that you can follow to make sure that you can effectively take research notes:

  • 1. Identify Your Ideas

    In this step, you need to focus your approach on your chosen topic before even beginning to conduct your detailed research. The first thing you may do is to go through the most frequently known facts about your issue, as well as to become aware of the many points of view and thoughts on it. Then, make an initial listing of the subtopics you expect to encounter in your reading. These will shift your focus and may be useful as note labels. After that, pick a component or aspect that intrigues you, possibly one that is already causing debate. Then you may begin to develop your research question.

  • 2. Only Write What is Necessary

    After identifying the ideas that you need to write down, then comes the time in which you will properly jot them down to your notes. But, keep in mind that the report you’ve written down must be a reflection of your own thoughts, not a jumble of borrowed ones. As a result, devote some of your research time to comprehending your sources and incorporating them into your own ideas. The note cards or note pads will only capture thoughts that are pertinent to your area of study, and they will largely paraphrase rather than quote.

  • 3. Take Time in Labeling Your Notes

    After writing down the necessary notes that you’ve gathered, take your time in properly labeling them. Tips for labeling notes properly include making a habit of recording bibliographic information in a master list when you start looking at each source, putting notes on separate cards or sheets as much as possible to allow you to label the topic of each note, and leaving plenty of space in your notes for your own comments such as questions and reactions that spring to mind as you read, second thoughts, and all the cross-references you’ve acknowledged when you reflect back at what you’ve written.

  • 4. Verify Your Research Notes

    After you’ve done everything, from writing the notes to labeling them properly, it won’t hurt to take your time to give your notes a second look. You may have missed something that can prove to be a key aspect of your research, the research elements you’ve written may be inconsistent, or there may be too many clerical or grammatical errors that render the research note or paper to be ineligible and can affect its potential for publication. It is important that your notes must be clear and free from errors and any unnecessary pieces of information.

FAQs

What is documentary research?

Documentary research refers to the utilization of outside sources, such as documents, to support an academic work’s viewpoint or thesis. Documentary research frequently incorporates some or all of the following steps: conceptualizing, utilizing, and evaluating records. In documentary research, the documents would be analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively (or both).

Consent in research usually refers to receiving thorough information about a study. Before you agree to volunteer and participate, you will be provided this information in writing, and it will be worded clearly so that you can comprehend it. Before you may participate, you must sign an informed consent form indicating that you have been provided and understood this information.

How long does research usually take?

The length of research is determined by its nature. Some studies may consist of a single meeting and questionnaire, or it may be in a continuous duration for several years. In many circumstances, such as clinical trials that involve any form of pharmaceuticals, they must run for at least a few months in order to collect sufficient data. Prior to participation in this type of research, you are always informed about the timeframe and number of visits. You will also be informed if they must take place in a medical setting, such as a hospital, or at your home in order to enable you to decide whether or not to participate.

As stated earlier, proper notetaking is just as important as conducting research properly. Whatever medium you use, be it electronically or manually, (pen and paper/card) research notes should effectively explain any initial findings of any scientific discoveries. In writing research notes, you should also keep in mind how the research process that you have completed and the information that you have gathered will provide help in answering your inquiries. In this article, there are examples of research notes provided for you to use as a reference.