My favourite examples of research writing generally satisfy the following:
1) The article/piece communicates effectively, elegantly and economically the premise of the research, the methodology and conclusions. Writing that is dense, repetitive and grandiloquent (especially when there is no need) tends to put me off: it does not seem to get to the point, feels superfluous and is exhausting to read.
2) The research underlying the writing is robust and well conceived. A well thought out and planned study generally is easier to describe without having to rely on excessive jargon and additional complexities. It allows for the reader to better grasp what the author(s) is hoping to accomplish and errors/improvements (if any) are simpler to pinpoint and fix.
Keeping the above the two points in mind, one of favourite research writers is the behavioural economist, Dan Ariely. He's now quite well known now after the success of his books (particularly Predictably Irrational) [1][2]. His writing is lucid, simple and incredibly effective. He is able to communicate his research findings (that are rooted in behavioural economics theory) in a manner that is accessible and enjoyable to the layman, something I value tremendously. His research papers are understandably more technical and academic in their scope but still very readable for those not in the same line of research or previously acquainted with his work [3].
I'm also a huge film buff and a big fan of Roger Ebert's movie reviews over the years. [4][5]
His ability to always find the right words to articulate a sentiment continues to blow my mind. His depth of understanding of the medium of film was significantly greater than mine but we often agreed about various aspects of a film and the interpretation of scenes. I was always enamoured at how he could express these thoughts and opinions with such great economy, style and insight.
REFERENCES:
[1] Ariely, D. (2009). Predictably irrational, revised and expanded edition: The hidden forces that shape our decisions. HarperCollins.
[2] http://danariely.com/the-books/
[4] Taxi Driver (1976) - Roger Ebert review - http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-taxi-driver-1976
[5] 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - Roger Ebert review - http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-2001-a-space-odyssey-1968
1) The article/piece communicates effectively, elegantly and economically the premise of the research, the methodology and conclusions. Writing that is dense, repetitive and grandiloquent (especially when there is no need) tends to put me off: it does not seem to get to the point, feels superfluous and is exhausting to read.
2) The research underlying the writing is robust and well conceived. A well thought out and planned study generally is easier to describe without having to rely on excessive jargon and additional complexities. It allows for the reader to better grasp what the author(s) is hoping to accomplish and errors/improvements (if any) are simpler to pinpoint and fix.
Keeping the above the two points in mind, one of favourite research writers is the behavioural economist, Dan Ariely. He's now quite well known now after the success of his books (particularly Predictably Irrational) [1][2]. His writing is lucid, simple and incredibly effective. He is able to communicate his research findings (that are rooted in behavioural economics theory) in a manner that is accessible and enjoyable to the layman, something I value tremendously. His research papers are understandably more technical and academic in their scope but still very readable for those not in the same line of research or previously acquainted with his work [3].
I'm also a huge film buff and a big fan of Roger Ebert's movie reviews over the years. [4][5]
His ability to always find the right words to articulate a sentiment continues to blow my mind. His depth of understanding of the medium of film was significantly greater than mine but we often agreed about various aspects of a film and the interpretation of scenes. I was always enamoured at how he could express these thoughts and opinions with such great economy, style and insight.
REFERENCES:
[1] Ariely, D. (2009). Predictably irrational, revised and expanded edition: The hidden forces that shape our decisions. HarperCollins.
[2] http://danariely.com/the-books/
[3] Ariely, D. (2000). Controlling the information flow: Effects on consumers’ decision making and preferences. Journal of Consumer Research, 27(2), 233-248.
[4] Taxi Driver (1976) - Roger Ebert review - http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-taxi-driver-1976
[5] 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - Roger Ebert review - http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-2001-a-space-odyssey-1968
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