Academic

Academic collocations for essays, research, and scholarly discussion

Introduction

Academic writing demands precise collocations. You "conduct research" not "do research" (in formal writing), "draw a conclusion" not "make a conclusion". These combinations are the building blocks of scholarly communication.

This chapter covers the academic collocations essential for essays, dissertations, and scholarly discussions.

Themes

All Collocations in This Chapter (28)

• conduct research To carry out systematic investigation into a subject
• draw a conclusion To form a judgement or opinion based on evidence or reasoning
• carry out a study To perform or execute an academic investigation
• reach a conclusion To arrive at a final judgement after considering the evidence
• present findings To formally share the results of research or investigation
• gather evidence To collect proof or information to support a claim or argument
• collect data To systematically obtain and record information for analysis
• analyse data To examine data in detail in order to explain and interpret it
• support a theory To provide evidence or arguments that strengthen a theoretical claim
• cite a source To reference another author's work as evidence or authority in your writing
• peer review The evaluation of academic work by other experts in the same field
• academic journal A scholarly periodical containing peer-reviewed research articles
• research paper A written document presenting original research findings or analysis
• working hypothesis A provisional theory used as a starting point for further investigation
• critical analysis A detailed examination and evaluation of a text, theory, or situation
• empirical evidence Evidence obtained through observation, experiment, or experience rather than ...
• literature review A comprehensive survey of existing research and publications on a particular ...
• case study An in-depth investigation of a single person, group, event, or situation
• field work Research conducted outside the laboratory or office, in real-world settings
• primary source An original document or first-hand account from the time period being studied
• secondary source A work that interprets, analyses, or discusses primary sources
• key findings The most important results or discoveries from a piece of research
• significant results Research outcomes that are meaningful and unlikely to have occurred by chance
• theoretical framework A structure of concepts and theories that guides and supports a research study
• academic writing Formal, structured writing produced for scholarly or educational purposes
• publish a paper To have a research article formally released in an academic journal or confer...
• submit a thesis To formally hand in a dissertation or extended research document for assessment
• academic integrity The ethical principles and standards of honesty in academic work