ImRaD

Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion

a suggested template for original research documents, or writing summary/abstracts in scientific writing

From Wikipedia:

• Introduction – Why was the study undertaken? What was the research question, the tested hypothesis or the purpose of the research?
• Methods – When, where, and how was the study done? What materials were used or who was included in the study groups (patients, etc.)?
• Results – What answer was found to the research question; what did the study find? Was the tested hypothesis true?
• Discussion – What might the answer imply and why does it matter? How does it fit in with what other researchers have found? What are the perspectives for future research?