Research writing differs depending on the reason for the research and the writing. For scientists, research writing shared in scientific journals means not duplicating prior research, as well as the opportunity to build on or complement that prior research with new insights. Academic research writing examines compares and contrasts older documentation and situations with present day documents and situations, as a means of opening discussions on social, historical, political and other issues. Business research writing is intended to address concerns in marketing, company performance, and financial forecasting.
Scientific research writing discuss the investigation process, beginning with an abstract (summary of the work) and introduction to the basis for the work. It includes the materials and methods used; then moves onto the data explaining the results and a discussion of the findings, and concludes with the list of outside resources used. Academic and business research writing, generally, introduces the topic or question being considered. It's followed with the body of the research, separated into subheadings discussing the various facets of the topic, and concludes with discussion of the findings.
A logically arranged research paper allows readers the chance to read selectively. The reader may only be interested in the results of the investigation or the researchers interpretations. So, as the researcher will have to find a way to control the information he's discovered, so that as he "develops his story," he keeps his subject in mind while making it easy enough for his readers to grasp.
One of the misconceptions about research writing, is that it needs to be loaded with quotations from scholars and experts. Quoting them is a sign of respect. After all, their words carry the weight of wisdom and experience. However, the primary aim of research writing isn't quoting other people, but appraising their work, then revealing your own thoughts and arguments.
Research writing involves primary research (interview, surveys, observations and analysis) and secondary research (information collected and analyzed by others). The writer evaluates her sources, then determines which sources fit with her purpose of her writing and which sources to avoid because they may be questionable. Ultimately, research adds to the writer's knowledge base and enhances her understanding of the subject. The research may bear out the writer's thoughts or opinions or it may contest them, causing her to change her mind, but it always shapes the thinking of the writer and the reader.