list different types of research papers

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Types of research papers

There are multiple different types of research papers . It is important to know which type of research paper is required for your assignment, as each type of research paper requires a different preparation. Below is a list of the most common types of research papers:

Analytical Research Paper

In an analytical research paper you pose a question and then collect relevant data from other researchers to analyze their different viewpoints. You focus on the findings and conclusions of other researchers and then make a personal conclusion about the topic. It is important to stay neutral and not show your own negative or positive position on the matter.

Argumentative (Persuasive) Research Paper

The argumentative paper presents two sides of a controversial issue in one paper. It is aimed at getting the reader on the side of your point of view. You should include and cite findings and arguments of different researchers on both sides of the issue, but then favor one side over the other and try to persuade the reader of your side. Your arguments should not be too emotional though, they still need to be supported with logical facts and statistical data.

Definition Paper

The definition paper solely describes facts or objective arguments without using any personal emotion or opinion of the author. Its only purpose is to provide information. You should include facts from a variety of sources, but leave those facts unanalyzed.

Compare and Contrast Paper

Compare and contrast papers are used to analyze the difference between two viewpoints, authors, subjects or stories. Make sure to sufficiently describe both sides in the paper, and then move on to comparing and contrasting both thesis and supporting one.

Cause and Effect Paper

Cause and effect papers are usually the first types of research papers that high school and college students are confronted with. They trace probable or expected results from a specific action and answer the main questions "Why?" and "What?", which reflect effects and causes. In business and education fields, cause and effect papers will help trace a range of results that could arise from a particular action or situation.

Interpretative Paper

An interpretative paper requires you to use knowledge that you have gained from a particular case study, for example a legal situation in law studies. You need to write the paper based on an established theoretical framework and use valid supporting data to back up your statement and conclusion.

Experimental Research Paper

This type of research paper basically describes a particular experiment in detail. It is common in fields like biology, chemistry or physics. Experiments are aimed to explain a certain outcome or phenomenon with certain actions. You need to describe your experiment with supporting data and then analyze it sufficiently.

Survey Research Paper

This research paper demands the conduction of a survey that includes asking questions to respondents. The conductor of the survey then collects all the information from the survey and analyzes it to present it in the research paper.

Frequently Asked Questions about the different types of research papers

The definition paper solely describes facts or objective arguments without using any personal emotion or opinion of the author. Its only purpose is to provide information.

Cause and effect papers are usually the first types of research papers that high school and college students are confronted with. The answer questions like "Why?" and "What?", which reflect effects and causes. In business and education fields, cause and effect papers will help trace a range of results that could arise from a particular action or situation.

This type of research paper describes a particular experiment in detail. It is common in fields like biology, chemistry or physics. Experiments are aimed to explain a certain outcome or phenomenon with certain actions.

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Types of research papers.

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Although research paper assignments may vary widely, there are essentially two basic types of research papers. These are argumentative and analytical .

Argumentative

In an argumentative research paper, a student both states the topic they will be exploring and immediately establishes the position they will argue regarding that topic in a thesis statement . This type of paper hopes to persuade its reader to adopt the view presented.

Example : a paper that argues the merits of early exposure to reading for children would be an argumentative essay.

An analytical research paper states the topic that the writer will be exploring, usually in the form of a question, initially taking a neutral stance. The body of the paper will present multifaceted information and, ultimately, the writer will state their conclusion, based on the information that has unfolded throughout the course of the essay. This type of paper hopes to offer a well-supported critical analysis without necessarily persuading the reader to any particular way of thinking.

Example : a paper that explores the use of metaphor in one of Shakespeare's sonnets would be an example of an analytical essay.

*Please note that this LibGuide will primarily be concerning itself with argumentative or rhetorical research papers.

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Research Paper Format | APA, MLA, & Chicago Templates

Published on November 19, 2022 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on January 20, 2023.

The formatting of a research paper is different depending on which style guide you’re following. In addition to citations , APA, MLA, and Chicago provide format guidelines for things like font choices, page layout, format of headings and the format of the reference page.

Scribbr offers free Microsoft Word templates for the most common formats. Simply download and get started on your paper.

APA | MLA | Chicago author-date | Chicago notes & bibliography

Formatting an apa paper, formatting an mla paper, formatting a chicago paper, frequently asked questions about research paper formatting.

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in APA Style are as follows:

Watch the video below for a quick guide to setting up the format in Google Docs.

The image below shows how to format an APA Style title page for a student paper.

APA title page - student version (7th edition)

Running head

If you are submitting a paper for publication, APA requires you to include a running head on each page. The image below shows you how this should be formatted.

For student papers, no running head is required unless you have been instructed to include one.

APA provides guidelines for formatting up to five levels of heading within your paper. Level 1 headings are the most general, level 5 the most specific.

Reference page

APA Style citation requires (author-date) APA in-text citations throughout the text and an APA Style reference page at the end. The image below shows how the reference page should be formatted.

Note that the format of reference entries is different depending on the source type. You can easily create your citations and reference list using the free APA Citation Generator.

Generate APA citations for free

The main guidelines for writing an MLA style paper are as follows:

Check out the video below to see how to set up the format in Google Docs.

On the first page of an MLA paper, a heading appears above your title, featuring some key information:

Page header

A header appears at the top of each page in your paper, including your surname and the page number.

Works Cited page

MLA in-text citations appear wherever you refer to a source in your text. The MLA Works Cited page appears at the end of your text, listing all the sources used. It is formatted as shown below.

You can easily create your MLA citations and save your Works Cited list with the free MLA Citation Generator.

Generate MLA citations for free

What can proofreading do for your paper?

Scribbr editors not only correct grammar and spelling mistakes, but also strengthen your writing by making sure your paper is free of vague language, redundant words, and awkward phrasing.

See editing example

The main guidelines for writing a paper in Chicago style (also known as Turabian style) are:

Chicago doesn’t require a title page , but if you want to include one, Turabian (based on Chicago) presents some guidelines. Lay out the title page as shown below.

Bibliography or reference list

Chicago offers two citation styles : author-date citations plus a reference list, or footnote citations plus a bibliography. Choose one style or the other and use it consistently.

The reference list or bibliography appears at the end of the paper. Both styles present this page similarly in terms of formatting, as shown below.

To format a paper in APA Style , follow these guidelines:

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in MLA style are as follows:

The main guidelines for formatting a paper in Chicago style are to:

To automatically generate accurate Chicago references, you can use Scribbr’s free Chicago reference generator .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, January 20). Research Paper Format | APA, MLA, & Chicago Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-paper/research-paper-format/

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Different Types Of Research Papers

17 Aug 2021

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What is a research paper, main types of research papers.

When you are studying in college or university, you have to write a research paper because it is an integral part of the curriculum. Generally, while preparing this academic work, you will do research on the various technical, scientific or social aspects of some phenomenon and then organize the obtained information. It is not easy. If you have never faced this type of academic writing before, the task may seem complicated or even impractical. What makes it difficult?

There are many pitfalls that make the process harder and in fact, the majority get stuck on the first stage – choosing the right research paper ideas . Others simply can’t write the work on their own. Luckily, there is a simple solution for the second issue as there’re many different professional services that will help you with your paper all you need is to ask to “ write my research paper ”. It can be a good choice for some of you. However, this task is not as difficult as it looks like if you know what it is all about! You can easily accomplish writing a research paper on your own by following the tips that we provide on our website.

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There are a few types of research articles. However, the objectives of this task are always similar – it is a piece, scientific in nature that is related to scientific research. Experiments aimed at improving and acquiring new knowledge, testing scientific hypotheses, the establishment of laws that are manifested in nature and in society, scientific generalizations, and scientific confirmation of projects.

What does it consist of? The whole paper is based on your own experience and thoughts that you write using the analysis of the topic you knew before and the data that you acquired. Students tend to not like such types of papers. It requires spending much time on researching, making reports, and analyzing data. It’s a very important type of the paper because it teaches students how to do research properly and helps them gain some vital skills.

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There are a few main types of research papers. Each of them requires a special approach that you should mark while preparing to write it. We will try to walk you through every single type of research paper in order to help you better understand them and the differences between them.

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Above we provided the seven main categories of research papers. You could also find some brief information about each of them. We hope this information was useful for you and can help you cope with your assignments because accomplishing this kind of project is important for your overall academic success! It can appear like a complex task. There are too many nuances to keep in mind and apart from following the requirements of a particular project type, you also have to follow the right structure and format. Therefore, if you still think that it’s quite hard to cope with this task on your own, we recommend you consider hiring a term papers writing service that will complete the work for you.

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Types of Research Papers

In this blog, we will discuss types of research papers. So, let’s get started.

When you study in university or college, you will have to write a research paper because it is an important part of the curriculum. In general, when you will produce this academic paper, you will have to do research on numerous technical, scientific, or social components of a phenomenon, and then organize the results. It is not simple. If you have never done academic writing before, the task may be difficult or even impossible. What makes it challenging?

There are numerous problems that make the process more difficult, and the majority of people get stopped at the initial stage – selecting appropriate research paper topics. Others are unable to complete the assignment on their own. Fortunately, there is an easy answer for the second problem, as there are numerous professional essay writer services that can assist you with your paper. All you have to do is ask them to “ write my research paper .” For some of you, it might be a good option.

What is Research Paper?

Table of Contents

A Research paper is a piece of academic writing or a long essay that presents the original and independent research of the author on any topic and the analysis and interpretation of the research findings. The research paper must be clear, concise, focussed, structured and backed up by evidence. It has a formal tone and style, but it is not complex and does not require the use of long sentences and complicated vocabulary because its purpose is to aid the reader’s understanding. Here we will be knowing about the “Types of Research papers”.

Research papers are of different types and identifying what type of research paper to use is a way critical task. The most suitable research paper type is always chosen to keep in mind your research paper topics, your research methodologies and the manner by which you analyze your data.

Top 10 Different types of Research Papers

Analytical Research Paper

Argumentative research paper.

Cause and Effect Research Paper

Experimental Research Paper

Problem-solution research paper, report paper, survey research paper.

Describe multiple points of view → Analyze all points → Conclude.

Analytical Research Papers imply an analysis of facts, events, issues, and ideas. In this, the researcher first describes multiple points of view pertaining to the research problem, then analyze all the described points by collecting relevant information from various other researchers, and finally concludes. During Analytical Research, the researcher must remain neutral i.e. paper should not favor one point and oppose another.

In Analytic Research Paper, the researcher does not face difficulty in describing multiple points of view but in analyzing them. There are many Homework Help websites available to ease your work. It is the first type of research paper.

Describe the problem from two different viewpoints → Propose pros and cons → Give preference to one.

An argumentative Research Paper, as the name suggests, involves arguments about the research topic from two viewpoints. In this type, the researcher must describe the problem with two opposing viewpoints, analyze them to propose their pros and cons, and finally supports one viewpoint. This research paper mainly focuses on getting the readers to favor your point of view. It is the second type of research paper.

Cause and effect research papers

Describe situation → Present causes/effects → Draw a conclusion

This paper is usually assigned to the freshers. The main aim of this paper is to teach the researcher on how to write a research paper. This paper includes

In this research paper, the researcher first describes the problem, then explain its causes and effects and finally gives the conclusion. It is the third types of research papers.

Experiment → Share useful experience → Provide data and sum up.

While writing an Experimental research paper, the researcher must describe the whole experimental process in detail. In this, the researcher conducts the experiment, then shares his useful experiences, and then finally provides the relevant data and sums up his research. These research papers are usually written for biology , chemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology. In this research paper, the researcher must describe his experiment with supporting data and experimental analysis.

Describe the problem → Propose a solution → Defend it

As the name suggests, the Problem-Solution Research Paper aims at finding solutions to certain problems. In this research paper, the researcher describes the problem, analyze the available information, find some possible solutions and prove their effectiveness by giving examples, details, statistical data etc.

Outline the work done on a particular topic –> Sum up findings

In the Report Paper, the researcher needs to gather all the information about the research topic, describes the most valuable characteristics of data and finally sum up his findings. This paper aims at providing all the facts and necessary information about the research topic.

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Conduct a survey → Analyze findings → Draw conclusions

In this paper, the researcher has to do the research, interpret data, analyze findings and then finally draw conclusions. In this, the survey is conducted by asking questions to respondents. This analyzes behavior in different conditions.

8. Definition Research papers

It is known as self–an explanatory research paper because, in this kind of research paper, you aren’t required to stay neutral or support one side. The foremost objective is to deliver details about the topic offered without researching and reviewing the studies of further researchers at all. You can contain additional data from additional sources even without analyzing them entirely.

9. Compare and contrast Research papers

It is another type of research paper. These are used to compare two distinct researchers or writers with different perspectives. For example, two businessmen are compared to where their position is researched. The most crucial thing is that you have to represent both sides’ opinions in your research paper, but don’t forget to compare and contrast both sides and, in the end, support one side.

10. Interpretative

Students mostly write these research papers to share their ideas and knowledge from researching a certain field or case. For example, a literature student is invited to report a research paper on the poetry they have read, and then they have to compose this research paper. Or a company case in any analysis course. The most significant thing in this kind of research paper is that the points the student has written based on it and has supported the data should be reasonable.

What are the 3 types of research reports?

The research report is the report which records all collected data. Statisticians or researchers organize it. They analyze the data and then collect it to make a company report. All data collected by analyzers is reliable and original because it is organized with proper research and analysis. Moreover, the data is contained in two forms: it may be in the form of qualitative or whether it is in the form of survey.

1. Original Research Report

It is a primary source research report. Original research is based on the researchers because they have written it themselves. They did the proper study to write an original research report data. These are the following points that researchers describe in their report.

2. Methodologies Research Report Method

It provides the following data;

3. Short Reports or Letters

These consist of vital details about a topic to report to a reader. A short report may either be written or oral in the report structure of a letter or memo. It typically consists of an overview of the report, a defined goal, a brief background, and a determination.

What Are The 4 Types Of Report?

A good report is a report that fully avoids unclear words, is written in simple language, and also avoids vagueness. Its main message should be self-explanatory. The following are the types of external reports.

What Is The Format Of Common Research Paper?

10 Parts Of A Common Research Paper Format

Conclusion (Types Of Research Papers)

These all are different types of research paper. If you have any queries or want any other information regarding research papers, please do tell us in the comment section. If you are having any difficulty in determining the type of research paper or in making a research paper feel free to take Research Paper help from our experts

Types Of Research Papers FAQ

What is a good research title.

A good research title should give an idea of the content of the research and should be interesting.

Where can I find reliable sources for research Papers?

Trusted and well-known Journals and books that are written by researchers are the most reliable sources for writing research papers.

What are the 4 goals of research?

Description, prediction, explanation, and application are four goals of the research.

What are the most common errors made in research papers?

Usage of irrelevant tables and figures, lack of strong thesis statements, lack of planning, weak supporting statements are the most common errors in research papers.

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