Different scientific disciplines have different requirements and expectations to the structure and format of a scientific paper. This page will discuss some of the differences between social and natural science, and introduce the IMRaD format.

Natural science paper

NMBU offers many natural science programs. As a student, you will be expected at some point to write a scientific paper. This may be a report, a research essay, or a thesis.

The Yale Centre for Teaching and Learning provides an excellent introduction and overview of a natural science research paper. Click on the link below for more information.

Writing a natural science research paper (PDF)

Social science paper

Social science research papers differ from natural science research papers.

The University of Southern California has created an excellent resource for social science students. The resource provides an extensive overview of all aspects of a social science research paper. Follow the link below and select the header tabs to navigate through the resource.

Organizing your social sciences research paper

Journal paper

Scientific, journal-style papers come in a variety of styles, and formats. These styles and formats depending on the scientific field and traditions within that field. However, the IMRaD format is a common feature across many different natural science fields.

Søk og skriv provides an overview of the structure, format, content, and style of a journal-style scientific paper, using IMRaD. Keep in mind, this is only an overview and your professor or department may demand different formats or styles. Follow the link below for more information and scientific writing guidelines.

Overview of IMRaD structure

IMRaD format

Scientific writing will most often follow the IMRad format which is an acronym for Introduction - Method - Results - and - Discussion. Natural sciences, in particular, often strictly use IMRaD for scientific articles. Social sciences can be more flexible, often adding sections while still using the basic format of IMRaD.