Research Paper Examples: Free Samples & Templates for Students

Research Paper Example for Different Formats

Getting the format right is crucial when writing a research paper. Each citation style has specific rules for everything from margins to reference lists and professors will dock points if you get it wrong.

The easiest way to nail the formatting? See what a finished research paper example looks like in each style.

We've collected examples of research paper samples in the four major formats below so you can see exactly how each one should look.

APA Research Paper Example

APA format is what you'll use for psychology, education, and most social science classes. If you're writing about human behavior, learning, or social issues, this is probably your format.

The good news about APA? It's actually pretty straightforward once you see it in action. Clean, simple citations and a logical flow that professors love.

Here are some research paper examples in APA style:

Research Paper Example MLA

MLA (Modern Language Association) format is your go-to for English, literature, and language classes. If you're analyzing books, poems, or cultural topics, your professor probably wants MLA.

What makes MLA research paper different? It's all about the sources, you'll be citing page numbers instead of years, and the whole thing has a more narrative flow than scientific formats.

Here is an example:

Research Paper Example Chicago

Chicago style is what you'll use for most history classes and some art courses. Research papers in Chicago style give you more flexibility than APA or MLA - you can choose between footnotes (which professors love because they can see your sources immediately) or parenthetical citations.

Here is a research paper formatted in Chicago style:

Research Paper Example Harvard

Harvard style is what you'll encounter in business school and some economics classes. If you're writing about companies, analyzing case studies, or discussing policies, Harvard format is designed to handle those types of sources really well.

Research papers in Harvard style are particularly good when you're dealing with lots of reports, business documents, and contemporary sources - the author-date system makes it easy to show how recent your research is.

View this sample Harvard style paper here:

Examples for Different Research Paper Parts

Need to see what each section of a research paper actually looks like? Here are real examples from each part so you can see the format, style, and content that works.

Research Proposal

The research proposal sample showing how to structure your initial plan:

Abstract

An abstract serves as a concise overview of your entire research paper. It provides a quick insight into the main elements of your study. It summarizes your research's purpose, methods, findings, and conclusions in a brief format.

Literature Review 

See how to structure and format your literature review.

Methodology

Real example showing methodology section formatting and structure:

Conclusion

Sample conclusion showing how to wrap up your research paper

Research Paper Examples for Different Fields

Looking for examples in your specific subject area? Different fields have different writing styles, citation requirements, and research approaches.

The following examples show "research papers for different subjects" so you can see what works in your field.

History Research Paper Sample

Need to see what a "history research paper" looks like? History papers have their own style - lots of primary sources, chronological organization, and narrative flow that tells the story while making your argument.

Check out the history research paper topics blog to get inspired and motivated by these amazing ideas.

View this history research paper sample:

Sociology Research Paper Sample

Want to see how sociology papers handle data and statistics? Sociology research has a very specific format for presenting statistical findings and social analysis.

Here is a sample:

For more insights and inspiration, explore the sociology research topics blog to discover intriguing ideas and relevant issues.

Science Fair Research Paper Sample

Looking for a science paper example? Science fair papers follow a strict format - hypothesis, methods, results, discussion and they need to be super clear about your experiment process.

Here are some examples:

Psychology Research Paper Sample

Need to see what a psychology research paper looks like? Psychology papers require specific formatting for presenting experimental data, statistical analysis, and behavioral observations.

The key to a successful psychology paper is selecting the right topic. 

Make sure to pick an intriguing psychology research paper topic that captivates your interest and aligns with your research objectives.

Here is an example psychology paper:

Art History Research Paper Sample

Looking for an art history example? Art history papers have their own approach - lots of visual analysis, historical context, and interpretation of artistic movements.

Check out this sample paper analyzing European art and impacts:

Good Research Paper Examples for Students

Need even more examples? Here are some additional samples of research papers for students across different topics and academic levels: