Write and Publish a Research Paper
24 weeks · 3 milestones
Conduct original research and publish a paper in a peer-reviewed journal or conference.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Identify a genuine gap in existing literature, formulate a researchable question, and design a methodology capable of answering it. Pre-register your research plan before collecting any data — this is the single step that distinguishes a real research project from a post-hoc rationalisation of results. Run structured searches across at least two databases, write a one-paragraph gap statement naming what existing work does not answer, and draft a one-page methodology brief covering data source, sample, and analysis approach.
Proof required
Submit: (1) an annotated reading list of 10+ papers establishing the literature gap, (2) your research question in one sentence, (3) a one-page methodology brief naming data source, sample selection criteria, and analysis plan, and (4) the URL of your OSF or PROSPERO pre-registration (required for empirical and systematic-review work; qualitative studies submit a reflexivity statement instead).
What gets checked
- Research question is specific and falsifiable — not 'How does X affect Y?' but 'Does a 12-week resistance training intervention reduce systolic blood pressure by ≥5 mmHg in sedentary adults aged 40–60?'
- Pre-registration URL resolves to a public or reviewer-accessible page showing this study's question, methodology, and submission date — for empirical and systematic work, a submission without it does not pass
- Methodology brief names a specific data source and sample criteria — 'qualitative study using interviews' is not a methodology; 'semi-structured interviews with 12 GPs in England, purposive sampling until thematic saturation' is
Resources
Enroll free to unlock learning resources →Mastery
MethodSpace by SAGE Publishing
Free blog and resources on mixed-method research design — go here after OSF to understand advanced pre-registration for complex designs
Unlocks after completing Foundation + Depth