Quantitative research articles typically follow a standard structure/blueprint. This makes writing a such a paper formulaic in a way.

Title - See examples of titles. Generally, a title will both grab the readers attention (the first portion of the title, followed by a colon) while also offering some insight into the focus and type of analysis (what follows the colon).

Abstract – Approximately 150 words summarizing the paper. Should clearly identify the research question, data and methods, and may preview key findings in a general way. If you study the organization and content of multiple abstracts from studies you read, you'll start to divine common elements and conventions.

Introduction – 3 to 6 paragraphs; set-up the study; contextualize the issue or question. The last paragraph should make it clear what the research question is and why it is important.

Literature Review – 1/3 to 1/4 of the paper. The LR is a key element of any study. You are not a lone researcher studying something in isolation. You are part of a community of scholars (past and present) who are trying to make sense of some social phenomena/on. That community is having an ongoing discussion through articles, books, and chapters. On the one hand, the literature (theory; empirical research) informs your study. On the other hand, your study finds a place in those ongoing theoretical and empirical debates and developments. It’s important that you come to know the literature in the field well enough that your review of the literature is actually your review of the literature, not some piece-meal run-down of particular publications. Integrate articles, chapters, and books around key themes, findings, debates or arguments, etc. Keep in mind that you're giving the reader an overview of the relevant literature (and the relevant "contours" of that literature) as they relate to and inform your study. The LR should always end with a paragraph that explicitly relates the literature to your study. It should be clear how your study is both informed by and relates back to the literature. Keep in mind that you won't be able to read/review every piece of the relevant literature. Think of your selected references as a sample of the most relevant pieces of that literature.

Methods and Data – 2-5+ paragraphs. This section should provide all of the necessary information for someone to replicate the study. It should include information on data sources, the sample and sampling method, measures/variables (and any transformations) of concepts, and analytical techniques employed. You might also detail the kinds of diagnostics you ran and what was done, if anything, to mitigate or address any concerns. If you created a survey, you should detail your measures and include the actual survey in an appendix. Some people refer to a descriptive statistics table for their variables here (table is in an appendix). Others actually put the descriptive statistics table in their results section. It may be appropriate to cite things relating to your methodological choices. You need NOT "narrate" every step you undertook (e.g., "I then reverse coded the variables...") or tell them what you named your variables (no one cares). Assume the reader is knowledgeable in the ways of quantitative research. Give them enough to understand and even replicate the study, but spare them the unnecessary play by play. If you plan on reporting your results in a way that aligns with the new statistics regime (i.e., you're abandoning statistical significance), you should include a brief paragraph explaining that choice, citing the American Statistical Association, Amrhein et al.'s Nature article, etc.

Results – Approximately 1/3 of the paper. How are you going to tell the story empirically? How are you going to have it unfold? Much of this depends on your research question(s) as well as the framing of your paper. Think about what elements are important (e.g., correlations, descriptive statistics, regression analyses, etc.) to answering your question(s). In addition to tables and graphs of results, you need to include a “talk through” of the results. This talk through is typically very matter of fact and likely includes a write-up of your results. You will have to consider the pros/cons of reporting results in the old or new regime. Remember: Nothing is ever "proven" in inferential statistics. Be very careful and nuanced with your phrasing. You have to be as careful in your phrasing of results as you are in your data prep and analysis. Don’t get into a lot of theory talk at this point (that can come in the discussion). Always keep in mind your audience and what kind of presentation of results is accessible to them.

Conclusion and Discussion – This usually includes a few key elements: 1) A reiteration of key findings (or pattern of findings) with a discussion of how they relate back to the literature/theory. No need to get into the finer details as you did in your talk through of results. Focus instead on the broader takeaways and a discussion of their implications for the literature. 2) Lessons of the study; limitations of the study; 3) How the elements of #2 should inform future research. Depending on the nature of the study, you may go on at some length discussing these things.

Appendices – Any elements that are important to include, but would have been to obstructive or overwhelming to embed in the actual text.

References – Use ASA Style from the start!!!!! Just look at how it’s done in ASR articles or find the ASA citation style guide online.