Keywords: two kinds of papers; Solve (or answer) problems; evaluation criterion
How to write a good paper is often related to how to evaluate the paper, because it is worthy of the evaluation standard of the paper, and in fact, we generally know the direction and requirements of writing a good paper.
Educational papers can be divided into two categories: general academic discussion articles and special research reports. These two types of papers have different characteristics.
General academic discussion articles, commonly known as "argumentative papers", are speculative research papers. The stylistic structure of this kind of educational papers is flexible and changeable, and it can be written mainly based on the accumulated knowledge and experience of researchers and ready-made literature materials, without systematic and special research actions. Most of the papers published in educational journals in China are of this kind. The characteristics of speculative papers are theoretical analysis and logical proof. In terms of content, they pay attention to viewpoint innovation, theoretical depth and academic discussion. In terms of methods, qualitative analysis methods such as causal analysis, contradiction analysis, historical analysis, comparative analysis, structure and function analysis, induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis, and scientific abstraction are commonly used; In writing, it emphasizes discussion more than narration, textual research more than demonstration, literature annotation more than chart statistics, and theoretical reasoning more than practical test.
Special research reports are mostly empirical research papers, including educational experiment reports, investigation reports, experience summary reports, action research reports, observation research reports, case study reports and so on. They are called "special papers" because the style of these research reports has its unique structural model. For example, the structural model of experimental research report is: ① the title of the report; (2) ask questions; ③ Research methods; ④ Experimental results; ③ Discussion and summary; ⑥ Reference materials. Generally speaking, the stylistic structure of empirical research is rigorous, the expression is standardized and the format is relatively fixed, which has some requirements of "practical writing" style. In most cases, researchers need to go through certain research actions or practices to complete. The main characteristics of this kind of papers are to test hypotheses, confirm theoretical judgments, or gain experience. In writing, the research background, research value, research purpose or hypothesis, related variables, research process and methods are generally stated first, and then the research results are emphatically stated, and the obtained results are analyzed and discussed, pointing out the newly discovered situations and problems. Finally, according to the research results, answer the test of theoretical hypothesis and whether the research purpose is achieved, solve the research problems, or state the opinions of the researchers, and also put forward questions and suggestions for further discussion. It must be noted that the statement of research questions, variables, processes and methods should be clear, accurate and concise; The description and explanation of the research results should be objective, plain and clear; Discussion should be based on objective facts, adopt scientific style, properly analyze and evaluate; The conclusion should be comprehensively summarized and highly summarized.
Although the characteristics of the above two types of papers are different, the process of educational research is essentially a process of asking questions, stating questions or analyzing problems, solving problems or answering questions, so the writing of the two types of papers is generally carried out according to this process, so the evaluation criteria of the two types of papers are also * * *.
The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Second Edition) published by 1974 stipulates the format and writing method of psychological research papers. This manual has become the standard for publishing papers and reports in psychological journals. According to relevant research, the evaluation of psychological papers and research reports has the following eight criteria:
1 has one or more new results with theoretical significance; The research results have important practical significance and applicability; 3. The conception of the paper is novel and different, or it gives a new explanation to the old problems; The explanation of the research results is clear and reasonable; 5. This paper synthesizes the new research data in a concise way; 6. Pointed out the problems or limitations of some previous theoretical viewpoints; 7. The research has a clear research schema, ideas or experimental (or practical) operation; The reported results or theories are universal.
Among these eight standards, the evaluation criteria of research results are highlighted (see 1, 2, 4 and 8), and the innovation (see 1, 3, 5 and 6), application and popularization of the paper are emphasized (see 2 and 8). In addition, it also emphasizes the idea, value and previous research and discussion of the paper. The Handbook of the American Psychological Association suggests that after the first draft is written, people with different opinions should read and evaluate it, not just "friends", which will make it easier to find problems or mistakes. The article should also pay attention to neat handwriting and clear paragraphs, which will make the reading effect of the paper better.
According to the regulations and requirements of the American Psychological Association for papers and research reports, an excellent psychological paper or research report should roughly answer five basic questions:
1 What problems do you study? Why do you want to study this subject? How do you study? What's the innovation in your research? How do you explain the problems found?
We believe that if these five evaluation criteria are endowed with different connotations (that is, the specific requirements for the evaluation of educational papers), then these five criteria can also be used as the criteria for evaluating an educational paper. Achieving the five standards takes "questions" as the starting point and conclusion, and answers questions step by step as the main line, which embodies the basic research process of "asking questions-analyzing problems-solving problems or answering questions" shared by general education papers and special education research reports. The author tries to further explain the connotation of the above five evaluation criteria according to the present situation of educational research.
(1) What problems do you study?
Taking the problem as the inducement and starting point to evaluate the quality of an educational paper, we must first judge whether the researcher's expression of the research question is clear and specific. Experienced researchers generally determine the specific research questions and contents according to the connotation of the research topic and the reality of the research field, and then determine the system structure of the paper. A paper should discuss three to six specific problems, and each research question should be studied clearly. We need to judge which of these problems have been solved by others, which have not been solved and need to be solved urgently, whether these problems are "exploratory" and whether we need to spend time and energy to study them. The research question should be put forward from a new angle, which is profound and enlightening and has the value of further thinking and exploration. It is also necessary to clearly understand the key points, key points and difficulties of the problem and clarify the starting point for solving the problem. The combination and sequencing of each research question should show a certain logical structure and theoretical framework, and should be complete and rigorous.
(2) Why do you want to study this subject?
When evaluating the quality of an educational paper, we should also look at the background, significance and value of the topic. The level of topic selection is mainly reflected in its social practical significance and theoretical contribution value. It is necessary to judge the possible contribution of the research results of this discipline to the development of human society, discipline construction and personal life, work and study. As an evaluator, it is mainly through the reflection after reading the full text and the comprehensive analysis of the role and value of the research results to judge the necessity of the author's research on this topic.
(3) How do you study?
In the special research report, we can judge whether the obtained research results are reliable by analyzing the suitability, scientificity and standardization of the research methods, so we should pay attention to the evaluation of the research methods. In educational research papers and educational experiment reports, special sections or paragraphs are often used to describe the research methods and their application process, so that readers can analyze and judge the appropriateness and scientificity of the research methods used in this topic, thus judging whether the obtained research results are reliable, and then considering whether to accept the research conclusions drawn by researchers.
In many academic papers, although the research methods are not specifically elaborated, they often pay attention to the research perspective and ideas of the papers, which is also a research method problem. In academic research, sometimes the perspective and starting point of discussing problems often determine the success or failure of a paper. Only when the thinking method is correct can the research question be introduced into discussion and deepening. Unique thinking methods can also bring about problem innovation.
(d) What are the innovations in your research?
The innovation of the paper is the core and focus of evaluating the level of the paper. New discoveries and insights in empirical research, new arguments and unique analysis in speculative research, and even the research methods and new research ideas adopted can all be regarded as the innovations of this paper. There are several ways to evaluate the innovation of the paper.
1 According to the literature review in the paper. Through the discussion of previous related literature, we can find the research foundation and new starting point of this topic, so as to judge the breakthrough and innovation of the research and distinguish which contents are existing research achievements, which contents are innovative achievements and which contents are further improved and deepened on the basis of other people's research.
According to the research results. In special research reports, the research results often contain the new findings of researchers. The richer the research results, the more new discoveries researchers may make. Great discoveries will make people shine. General academic papers should be judged according to the author's theoretical viewpoint.
According to the clear statement in the paper, combined with the knowledge and experience of the evaluator. Judging the new viewpoints, new insights and new conclusions of the paper through the "abstract", "analysis" and "conclusion" in the paper, we often use "we think …" and "our conclusion is …" in writing. However, it must be pointed out that some authors think they are new and original, but there is nothing new in fact. Therefore, it is necessary to have a deeper understanding and research on the subject field, and make a correct judgment by combining the knowledge and experience of the evaluator.
(5) How do you explain the problems found?
When evaluating a special research report, the evaluation focuses on whether the paper has conducted in-depth analysis and discussion on the research results, whether it has broadened the research horizon by combining the relevant information held by researchers, whether it can properly explain the test hypothesis, and whether it can properly explain new situations and new problems.
The evaluation of general academic papers mainly depends on whether the analysis problem is profound, whether the description of phenomena is accurate, whether the evaluation of events is appropriate, and whether the discussion of viewpoints pays attention to integrating theory with practice. No matter what kind of educational paper, it requires clear, correct and convincing views; Interpretation or discussion is logical, organized, hierarchical and complete.
In short, the evaluation of an educational paper should generally be based on the problem statement, the significance of the topic, research methods, research innovation, analysis depth, article structure, text expression and so on. The key point is to see the value of the research topic and whether the researcher has solved the research problem correctly, or whether the process of solving the problem contains creativity and whether the research purpose has been achieved.