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IMRaD · IEEE / APA · 2026 Guide

Research Paper Format — the IMRaD structure & sections

Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion and references — exactly how a research paper should be structured and cited.

Updated June 2026·8-min read·By LivoDraft
Quick answer

A research paper follows the IMRaD structure — Abstract → Introduction → Methods → Results → Discussion — followed by a Conclusion and References. Use the citation style your journal requires (IEEE for engineering, APA for social science, Vancouver for medicine), and make sure every in-text citation maps to a real, complete reference.

Overview

What is a research paper?

A research paper is a concise, evidence-based document that reports original work — a problem, the method used to investigate it, the results, and what they mean. Unlike a thesis, it has no certificate/declaration front matter; instead it ends with a back-matter Declarations section and a real, verifiable reference list.

For a longer document see the thesis format guide; for publication-specific rules see journal article format.

Structure

The IMRaD structure

The standard research-paper section sequence LivoDraft uses (locked for compliance — rename-only):

  1. Abstract150–250 words: problem, methods, key results, conclusion.
  2. IntroductionProblem, related work, research gap and your contribution.
  3. Related Work / LiteraturePositions the paper against existing studies.
  4. Methods / MethodologyDesign, data, materials and procedure — reproducible.
  5. ResultsFindings with tables and figures — objective, no interpretation.
  6. DiscussionInterpretation against the literature; implications; limitations.
  7. ConclusionContributions restated; future directions.
Abstract

The abstract

A research-paper abstract is 150–250 words, a single paragraph covering the problem, methods, key results and conclusion. Some journals require a structured abstract (Background / Methods / Results / Conclusions labels) — LivoDraft can format either.

Back matter

Declarations

Papers replace the thesis certificate/declaration with a back-matter Declarations block before the references:

Author contributionConflict of interestFundingEthics approvalData availabilityAI-use disclosure
References

Citations & references

Engineering/CS papers use IEEE numbered citations; social sciences APA; medicine Vancouver. Every citation must map to a real, DOI-verified reference — LivoDraft builds the bibliography from genuine papers, never fabricated:

IEEE [1]APA (Author, Year)Vancouver (1)HarvardMLAChicago

See the citation-styles guide.

Draft your research paper — IMRaD & cited

Tell LivoDraft your topic and target journal. It drafts the full IMRaD paper, adds the declarations, builds a DOI-verified bibliography in your style, and hands you a print-ready Word file.

Draft my paper  →See pricing
FAQ

Research paper FAQ

What is the standard research paper format?+
The IMRaD structure — Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion — then Conclusion and References. IEEE citations for engineering/CS; APA or Vancouver for sciences.
What does IMRaD stand for?+
Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion — the four core sections of a scientific paper, preceded by an abstract and followed by references.
How long should the abstract be?+
Usually 150–250 words in one paragraph — problem, methods, key results and conclusion. Some journals want a structured abstract.
Which citation style should I use?+
Whatever your target journal/department specifies — IEEE (engineering), APA (social science), Vancouver (medicine). Every citation must map to a complete, real reference.