From Field Practice to Peer-Reviewed Publication: Using the IMRaD Framework to Bridge the Practice–Publication Gap in Development Research in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Researchers working in applied development contexts frequently generate extensive project documentation through program implementation, monitoring, and evaluation activities. However, a persistent challenge remains in transforming this practiceoriented material into publishable scientific research that meets the methodological and structural standards of peer-reviewed journals. This paper examines how the IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) framework can be systematically applied to convert field-based development interventions into rigorous academic manuscripts. Using a methodological case analysis of an agricultural development project implemented in Eastern Zambia, the study illustrates how the application of IMRaD principles strengthens research quality by clarifying problem statements, improving methodological transparency, structuring data analysis, and anchoring findings within relevant theoretical frameworks. The analysis identifies common limitations in development project documentation, including the absence of explicit research questions, insufficient methodological detail, and the conflation of results with interpretation, all of which hinder scholarly dissemination. By demonstrating practical strategies for reorganizing existing project records into an IMRaD-compliant structure, the paper offers a replicable model for enhancing the academic credibility of applied research. The study contributes to the literature on scientific writing and development research by providing a structured approach for bridging the gap between field practice and peer-reviewed publication. Its implications are particularly relevant for researchers working in non governmental and faith-based organizations, where valuable empirical insights are often underrepresented in global academic discourse.