Writing a research paper is an important part of any student’s education. Whether it’s in elementary school, middle school, high school or college, learning how to properly research topics and present findings is a crucial skill. For middle school students especially, this process can feel overwhelming as they are just being introduced to more in-depth academic writing. To help take some of the uncertainty out of the research paper process, here is a sample middle school research paper along with explanations of each section:
Title Page
The first page of any research paper is the title page. This page includes the title of the research paper, the student’s name, the teacher’s name, the class name and date. Here is a sample title page:
Team Sports vs. Individual Sports
By [Student Name]
Research Paper
Ms. Johnson’s 7th Grade English Class
December 14, 2023
Abstract
The abstract is a short summary of the research paper. It comes after the title page and is typically 100-200 words. The abstract introduces the topic, briefly states the purpose and methods used to conduct the research as well as highlights any key findings or conclusions. Here is a sample abstract:
This research paper examines the differences between team sports and individual sports. Team sports involve numerous players working together towards a common goal, while individual sports involve only one athlete competing alone or against others. The purpose of this study was to analyze how team and individual sports differ in aspects like teamwork, social skills, competitiveness and personal goals. Research methods included analyzing published studies on sports participation as well as interviewing high school athletes. Key findings suggest team sports help develop stronger communication, leadership and social skills whereas individual sports foster independence, competitiveness and personal responsibility.
Introduction
The introduction comes after the abstract and serves to give some background on the topic as well as state the research question or thesis statement. It should be 2-3 paragraphs. Here is a sample introduction:
Sports play an important role in many people’s lives. They promote healthy lifestyles and allow individuals to achieve feats of athleticism as well as build character. Different types of sports each have their own benefits and challenges. Team sports such as basketball, soccer and baseball involve numerous players who must work cooperatively to achieve success. Individual sports like tennis, swimming and gymnastics put the emphasis on a single athlete’s abilities and efforts.
While both team and individual sports encourage physical fitness, many wonder whether one type may lead to greater life skills. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast team sports versus individual sports in factors like developing teamwork, leadership, social skills, competitiveness and personal responsibility. Through an examination of published research studies as well as interviews with high school athletes, this study aims to determine whether team or individual sports do a better job of teaching these important life lessons.
Literature Review
The literature review examines credible sources that are relevant to the topic such as published research studies, articles and books. It summarizes and synthesizes the key information found to give context and support to the research question. The literature review is typically 2-4 paragraphs. Here is a sample literature review:
Several studies have looked into the benefits of team versus individual sports participation. A longitudinal study by Gould & Carson (2008) followed over 300 high school athletes for 5 years after graduation. Their findings showed team sport athletes were more likely to take on leadership roles in college activities and the workplace compared to individual sport athletes. They attributed this to team sport athletes having to learn communication, problem-solving and how to motivate others.
Similarly, Fullerton (2009) analyzed sports participation and social skills development in over 500 middle and high school students. Results indicated team sport athletes received higher scores on factors like cooperating with others, resolving conflicts peacefully and demonstrating empathy compared to individual sport athletes. Fullerton argued this was because team sports require depending on others and navigating interpersonal relationships to succeed as a unit.
Some research argues individual sports also cultivate important skills. A study by Lamb (2012) compared self-confidence, independence and personal responsibility levels in high school swimmers, gymnasts and basketball players. They found swimmers and gymnasts reported higher scores in independently setting and achieving goals as well as taking ownership for both wins and losses since their performance was not tied to others.
Methodology
The methodology discusses how the research was conducted. It will include the research design used (quantitative or qualitative), data collection methods, details on participants and how the data was analyzed. The methodology is usually 1-2 paragraphs. Here is a sample methodology:
A mixed methods research approach was used for this study. Quantitative data was collected through an online survey of 100 middle school athletes at Jefferson Middle School – 50 who played on team sports and 50 who participated in individual sports. The survey included Likert scale questions to rate various skills like communication, teamwork, competitiveness and goal setting.
Qualitative data was gathered through individual interviews of 10 athletes – 5 team sport athletes (3 basketball players and 2 soccer players) and 5 individual sport athletes (3 swimmers and 2 gymnasts). The semi-structured interviews were 30 minutes each and consisted of open-ended questions about participants’ experiences in their sport and any skills they felt they gained.
Interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed. Both the survey data and interview transcripts were analyzed for common themes related to the research question. Descriptive statistics of survey results and direct quotes from interviews are used in the findings section to support arguments.
Findings
The findings section presents the results of the research. Data collected through surveys, interviews, observations or other methods is analyzed and key findings are summarized and reported out. Statistics, tables, charts and quotes relevant to the research question are also typically included. The findings section is usually the longest part of the paper at 2-4 paragraphs. Here is a sample findings section:
Based on survey responses, there were statistically significant higher mean scores on measures of communication (M=4.2), cooperation (M=3.8), and leadership (M=3.5) for team sport athletes compared to individual sport athletes (M=3.6, 3.1, 3.0 respectively). Additionally, 91% of team sport athletes agreed their sport helped them learn how to work with others and resolve conflicts, compared to only 45% of individual sport athletes.
When asked how their sport fosters independence, 90% of individual sport athletes agreed it did so by requiring them to push themselves and solve their own problems. As one gymnast stated, “It’s all about me training hard and perfecting my routines alone so when it comes to competition, I don’t have anyone to blame but myself if I win or lose.” On the other hand, 78% of team sport athletes said their sport teaches personal responsibility through being accountable to their teammates by showing up for practices and games on time. A basketball player remarked, “I know if I don’t do my part in practice, it hurts our team during games so I have to take owning up for that seriously.”
Analysis and Discussion
The analysis and discussion section interprets the key findings and relates them back to the original research question and supporting sources cited in the literature review. It also discusses any limitations or directions for future research. This section should be 2-3 paragraphs. Here is a sample analysis and discussion:
The results of this study support the hypothesis that team sport athletes demonstrate stronger skills in aspects like communication, cooperation and leadership compared to individual sport athletes. This aligns with previous research that found team sports helped develop social abilities necessary for navigating interpersonal relationships. Individual sports were shown to better cultivate independence, competitiveness and personal responsibility since those athletes must rely solely on their efforts. Overall, it can be concluded both team and individual sports teach important life lessons, just in different domains.
A limitation of this study was its sample size, making it hard to generalize the findings to all middle school athletes. Future research could survey more schools in different regions. Additionally, the reliance on self-reported measures through surveys and interviews could be subject to bias. More objective performance assessments or observations of athletes in practice/competition may provide clearer data. Lastly, it would be interesting for longitudinal research to investigate whether benefits vary depending on length of time played or other sport/demographic factors.
Conclusion
The conclusion restates the purpose and key findings while also providing brief implications or takeaways. It is typically 1-2 paragraphs. Here is a sample conclusion:
This study aimed to compare life skills developed through participation in team versus individual sports. Results showed both sports teach essential abilities but that team sports may better develop social and leadership skills necessary for group environments. Individual sports seem to cultivate independence and personal accountability to a greater degree.
Overall, middle school students could gain many benefits by experiencing sports of both types throughout their development. Participating in both team and individual sports at different stages may allow young athletes to build a well-rounded set of skills for success in school, future careers and relationships. Educators and parents should encourage exploration of diverse sport experiences to help optimize student growth in and out of the classroom. While the specific sport is less important than simply staying active, consideration of a student’s strengths and interests may guide the best options for both enjoyment and learning.
Reference Page
The reference page is included at the end of the paper and lists all sources cited in APA format. A reference entry includes the author(s), date of publication, title of work and other identifying information. Here is a sample reference page with three entries:
References
Fullerton, S. (2009). The impact of sport participation on education outcomes. The BG Perspective, 3(2), 19-30.
Andrew Stroud