Tattooing and Techniques of Cross-Cultural Research
Part IV: Outline of a Conference Paper

by William Divale

 Department of Anthropology

York College (City University of New York), Jamaica, NY

A conference research paper should contain the following sections. Text of paper to be read should be 14 point type with text double-spaced but tables single-spaced. If possible, use 14 point bold type for tables so they will be easy to read when projected on a screen through an overhead transparency. Margins should be one inch on all sides.

Title Page
This should contain the title of the paper, your name, the name of the College, and the Conference name and dates.

Abstract Page
This should be one paragraph short summary of your paper and its findings (150 to 200 words).

Introduction (½ page)
This should be a brief introduction to topic. Discuss the basic concepts and define key terms.

Literature Review (1½ - 2 pages)
This section summarizes the research articles pertaining to the tests you are doing in your paper. Outline key arguments or hypotheses and results of these studies. 

Hypotheses (½ page)
State the hypotheses from the literature review section that you are testing. [For the tattoo project, state the hypotheses from the literature which are stated in an individual context, e.g., “Tattooed individuals will exhibit more aggression, etc.” Then restate them in a cross-cultural context where the items measured are social norms rather than individual behaviors, “Societies with tattooing will exhibit more aggressive behavior or train children to be more aggressive.”]

Variables (Key Concepts) (1 page)
Describe how the concepts in the variables of the hypothesis are defined and measured, e.g., describe the coding process that you developed or used. [For the tattoo project, I will present the tattoo variables in my paper so you won’t have to explain them in your conference paper].

Sample (½ page)
Describe the sample you used. Why and how was it chosen? [For the tattoo project, I will discuss the sample in my paper so you won’t have to explain it in your conference paper].

Results (3 - 4 pages)
Discuss the results of each of your hypothesis tests. Show the tables with the hypothesis and the statistical results. Number each table consecutively. Because of limited time in a conference presentation, you should not show more than four or five tables. [Since you will have more time at this conference so you can show up to six tables.]

Tables (4 –6 pages)
Tables should have the hypothesis clearly stated on the top, then have the results. You should explain the table’s results. Talk about the strength of the association, e.g., the size of the correlation, Phi, Cramers V, Sperman’s Rho, or Pearson’s r, depending on what you are using. Is the table statistically significant, e.g., what is the probability the results are due to chance? Point out these numbers.

Discussion (½ page)
Discuss what was learned from the study. What would you do differently next time? What needs to be done as a result of the findings?

References Cited
This section should contain a list of all the bibliographic references that you cited in the paper. Follow the APA (American Psychological Association) style. You would not discuss this at the presentation but you want to have it incase of any questions.

INDEX

Part I: Syllabus

Part II: Outline of Basic Steps of a Cross-Cultural Study
(contains Proposition Inventories, Data Entry Sheet, etc.)

Part III: Outline of a Cross Cultural Study Paper

Part I V: Outline of a Conference Paper