What Makes a Good Research Paper? Examining Differences and Similarities in Turkish and American Expectations

Abstract

Success in a research paper is not only about gathering information and presenting your own thoughts and interpretations; equally as important understands the instructor's understanding of what the purpose of research is and what constitutes a “good research paper”. Individual instructors often have very different ideas about what the focus of the paper should be and what they are looking for in terms of information, independent thinking, structure, and accuracy of language. These differences become even more marked as universities seek to diversify their student bodies and teaching staff. This study aimed to explore Turkish and American instructors’ perceptions regarding the possible influence of their cultural and educational backgrounds on their understanding of a “good” research paper. The data was obtained from interviews of both Turkish and American instructors to examine the similarities and differences in expectations for research assignments. These interviews revealed some differences in how different instructors view research assignments and how they grade them.