Imrad Template

IMRAD Format
1. TITLE
The title is the most important part as it is the first thing that readers come across
with in a manuscript or article. It is the most read part or perhaps the only one that is
read (in Tables of Contents, library indexes, online repositories, etc.). As such, it
should be well crafted in order to measure up to the following considerations:
 Comprehensive. Does it capture the essence or give a complete idea about what
the paper is?
 Brief. Is it no longer than 12 substantive words?
- Do away with phrases like “a study of, an analysis of…”
 Catchy. Does it attract interest?
2. ABSTRACT
- The abstract for the report comes at the beginning of the paper, but you should write it
after you have drafted the full report.
- The abstract provides a very short overview of the entire paper, including a sentence or
two about the report’s purpose and importance, a sentence or two about your methods, a
few sentences that present the main findings, and a sentence or two about the
implications of your findings.
Next to the title, the abstract is the second most important part. If a reader finds the
title interesting, s/he goes next to the abstract.
- a summative statement that answers the following questions:

 What is the article all about? (issue/ topic)
 What does the paper address and intend to do? (problem/s/ objective/s)
 What are the most important findings? (central argument/ conclusion/
significance)
- should not include details of the method nor should this have references to the
literature and to tables and figures (all these should find their place in the
introduction, instead)
- 100 – 150 words, preferably one paragraph
3. INTRODUCTION
- The introduction explains why this research is important or necessary or
important.
- Begin by describing the problem or situation that motivates the research.
- Move to discussing the current state of research in the field; then reveal a
“gap” or problem in the field.
- Finally, explain how the present research is a solution to that problem or gap. If
the study has hypotheses, they are presented at the end of the introduction.
- a comprehensive but concise presentation of what the article is all about, including
the background of the study, the problem/s and objective/s, the review of literature
and/or theoretical framework, and significance – but, this time, all integrated into a
single, continuous essay
Page 2 of 4
- should address the following questions (ideally, with no more than two paragraphs
for each question):
 what is the state of existing knowledge on the topic/issue? (review of literature:
setting the context/background/rationale)
 what is the issue you have identified and that your study intends to focus on?
(problem)
 what specifically are you going to address/ do in this study (objective/s)
 why is your study important? (significance/ contribution)
 what is your hypothesis, if any?
Movement of ideas: from general (what is already known about the topic) to specific
(what your study aims to uncover and make a contribution to)
- 1-2 pages only
Variations: If there is a large volume of studies done on the topic, a separate section
of review/survey of literature may be created as a subsection under the
‘Introduction’.
4. METHOD (variants: Methodology; Materials and Methods; Procedures; Design
- The methods section tells readers how you conducted your study.
- It includes information about your population, sample, methods, and equipment.
- The “gold standard” of the methods section is that it should enable readers to duplicate your
study.
- Methods sections typically use subheadings; they are written in past tense, and they use a lot
of passive voice.
- This is typically the least read section of an IMRaD report.
- this section elaborates on the HOW of the study
- this includes a discussion of the following:
 Research population or community: Where? Who? Why? How selected?
 Sampling
 Materials
 Procedures
 Methods: What methods will be used? How? Why these methods?
 Data analysis: How did you analyze the data?
 Ethical considerations, if any
5. RESULTS/FINDINGS
In this section, you present your findings. Typically, the Results section contains only the
findings, not any explanation of or commentary on the findings
- are usually written in the past tense.
- Make sure all tables and figures are labeled and numbered separately.
- Captions go above tables and beneath figures.
(‘Results’ for experimental researches; ‘Findings’ for non-experimental)
- presents the study’s data: what did you find out/observe?

- presentation may include tables and figures but judiciously (is this table/figure really
necessary?)
- may come in subheadings representing the various themes of the study
Page 3 of 4
- This should not include each and every detail of what you have found out in the
study. Rather, be selective. Put in only those results/findings that build your
manuscript’s thesis or argument.
6. DISCUSSION
- In this section, you summarize your main finding

- comment on those findings and connect them to other research.
- You also discuss limitations of your study, and use these limitations as reasons to
suggest additional, future research.
- What do the results/findings that you have presented above mean?

- How do these results/findings fit into the broader context/literature?
- theoretical/methodological implications? practical applications?
- includes likewise the limitations of the research design and materials used, if any
Note: “Results/Findings” and “Discussion” can come together as a single section,

especially if these sections are not that lengthy.
These sections can come with smaller subsections that represent the thematic
subdivisions in the study’s results/findings and discussion.
8. CONCLUSION
- wraps up the paper’s argument by:

 restating aims/objectives of the paper
 summarizing key findings/arguments
 pointing out direction/s for future investigation (and/or recommendations), if any
- 1 – 2 pages only
Variation: In some journals, the ‘Conclusion’ is tucked as the final paragraph/s of

the ‘Discussion’ or ‘Results/Findings and Discussion.’ In this case, there is no
separate heading for ‘Conclusion.’
9.. REFERENCES
- thumb rules:
 Include in the reference list only the materials that are actually cited in the article.
Conversely, each material in the list should have a corresponding citation in the
text.
 All references are listed together (i.e., no separate listings for journal articles,
books, electronic sources, etc.) and are ordered alphabetically.
 Ensure that all bibliographical entries are complete as much as possible.
Format:
Line space : double space
Font Style : Times New Roman
Font Size : 12
Margin : 1.5 left; 1 top; 1 right, 1 bottom
https://www.nature.com/articles/bdj.2008.192#Abs3
https://nyhealthfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/
m_e_tool_series_indepth_interviews-1.pdf
Page 4 of 4
https://interq-research.com/determining-sample-size-for-qualitative-research-what-is-the-
magical-number/
https://umb.libguides.com/PrimarySources/secondary
https://delvetool.com/blog/thematicanalysis

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IMRAD Format

- a summative statement that answers the following questions:

- 100 – 150 words, preferably one paragraph

- 1-2 pages only

4. METHOD (variants: Methodology; Materials and Methods; Procedures; Design

(‘Results’ for experimental researches; ‘Findings’ for non-experimental)

- presents the study’s data: what did you find out/observe?

- In this section, you summarize your main finding

- What do the results/findings that you have presented above mean?

Note: “Results/Findings” and “Discussion” can come together as a single section,

- wraps up the paper’s argument by:

Variation: In some journals, the ‘Conclusion’ is tucked as the final paragraph/s of

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