Appendix A: Presenting, Writing, and Publishing

Throughout this textbook, we have described how to create a research question and answer it using sociological research methods. Once you’ve completed your analysis, though, your project is not over. In many ways, it is just beginning. Research that sits idle on your computer is not of use to anyone. Most sociologists hope their work will have relevance to others besides themselves: peers, policymakers, even the general public.

In this appendix, we’ll talk about the process of preparing to share your work with others, which begins with deciding what to share and with whom to share it. Then we’ll talk about the two main ways of sharing your work: (1) presenting it as a research talk and (2) publishing it. This material is designed to be read at any point. If you are taking a methods class or writing a thesis, you may want to read this appendix early on to understand how to structure the end product—that is, your research talk, proposal, or paper.

Opening chapter image credit: Jessica Lewis/thepaintedsquare, via Pexels. Adapted by Bizhan Khodabandeh.