An informative paper aims to provide readers with knowledge and understanding about a specific topic through the presentation of factual information and research findings from secondary sources. The primary purpose of writing informative papers is to inform and educate an audience on the matter being discussed by conveying the existing knowledge or information without conducting new empirical research or experiments. Informative papers can provide valuable insights into various fields of study like social sciences, history, literature, etc., through critical analysis and synthesis of existing literature. However, they do not offer the same depth of original research nor present new insights generated by the writer like a research-based paper would.
Contrarily, a research-based paper primarily focuses on reporting original research conducted by the writer involving systematic empirical research or investigations to answer a specific research question or hypothesis. Unlike the mere summarizing of secondary sources and existing knowledge, the writer must conduct direct investigations and analysis of data that are not previously recorded or available. Thus, a research-based paper contributes novel knowledge to the existing scientific or scholarly discourse, making a more meaningful impact within the specific discipline.