IMRAD text structure
Draft/Cecilia The acronym IMRAD (Introduction - Method - Result - And - Discussion) is often used to explain the format for research papers and articles, especially in the field of Science. However, depending on discipline and type of text, the structure may vary. In some disciplines and reference styles, headings like the ones listed in the IMRAD format are used, but some fields allow for more variation in text structure and do not use these terms as headings. Nonetheless, the contents listed below will be included in most scholarly texts and may serve as a guide for the basic structure of a research paper.
Writers need to follow the format that has been specified for the task at hand; students will get information of what format to follow from their supervisors and departments, and scholars writing for publication need to follow the publication's preferred format.
For more detailed information about the structure of essays, we recommend that students also look at the AWELU section called
Draft / Cecilia
Introduction
The purpose of the Introduction is to present the topic that is to be discussed. The Introduction therefore often contains- background of previous and relevant research within the field or in neighbouring fields
- the writer's aims / hypotheses
- brief outline of the text
Method
A Method section (sometimes called Theory & Method section) provides information about the the way in which the study that is reported was conducted. The purpose of giving this information is to allow for replication of the study / experiment that is described and to help the reader assess the method that has been chosen for the study. The Method section therefore ususally contains- presentation of methodology used
- presentation of theoretical framework that the study fits into
Results
In the Results section, the results, both general and more specific, of the study conducted will be presented. The Results section often contain- data of study
- factual results (tables, figures, etc.)
Discussion
In the Discussion section, the results are interpreted...- [text here]
- [text here]