I have often been asked about the differences between white papers and research papers. You are likely to wonder about this yourself if you have a white paper described to you. Indeed, I make a comparison between the two in my About Me page to highlight the salience of a white paper.
While both kinds of papers are long-form documents that research a given topic to inform the reader, there are important differences. Let’s examine them in more detail.
1. Intent
A research paper, as the name suggests, researches a specific subject. It’s objectives are to observe, analyze, infer, and inform. It reviews topical knowledge and seeks to further it by studying new hypotheses or revisiting old ones in light of new methods or data. Through analytical and critical study, such papers expand our understanding of the world.
A white paper is written to inform and persuade. White papers are generally written to explain complex situations or concepts to an audience to make the case for why a change is necessary. In most cases, white papers propose one or more prospective solutions to make the distinction between the status quo and the proposed future state. The balance between information and persuasion is contextual and depends on the familiarity of the audience with the subject.
2. Audience
A research paper writer’s peers are usually the audience for the paper. They have a great degree of familiarity with prior knowledge the paper is built on, analytical techniques, and writing conventions. The writer knows this and so does not spend too much space on explaining rudimentary concepts.
A white paper is wholly geared towards its audience. Therefore, understanding who the paper is for and what it is meant to achieve are critical to its success. Because a white paper is meant to be a persuasive document, it needs to understand what concerns the audience and how the solutions proposed by the paper can benefit them. A white paper may need to be more thorough in explaining terms and processes that are unfamiliar to the reader.
3. Content & Length
There is no upper limit on the length of a research paper. Thus, it can freely delve into details as long as its contextually appropriate for the paper. The paper must also do this to strengthen its hypotheses/theories and to stand scrutiny in peer reviews. A research paper put through thorough checks by the writer himself serves to build his credibility.
A white paper, theoretically, can be of any length. But in most cases, a concise paper is more likely to be read by an audience, be it decision makers or casual readers. This doesn’t mean that a white paper can make claims without evidence. In addition to being factual, a white paper writer also builds credibility by speaking to the audience’s concerns.
4. Presentation
A research paper is bound by certain conventions and they differ depending on the topic. These conventions could be about the fonts, figure captions, index, citations, footnotes, page layouts and so on. Physics papers may look different compared to psychology papers. Similarly, these papers will be featured in different journals that typically focus on specific scientific areas. So a journal of mathematics may look quite different from that of biology. Research papers are more constrained in how they are presented.
A white paper, on the other hand, has a great deal of freedom here. This helps an organization commissioning the white paper ‘personalize’ it by applying its own branding through custom fonts, layouts, and color usage. Of course, care must be taken to ensure the document provides information in an easily digestible format but there are no rigid format constraints. Ironically, this actually makes it one of the more challenging aspects of a white paper. More freedom means more choices and hence more decisions. Designers are often commissioned alongside white paper writers to put the finishing touches to the document.
5. Distribution
Research papers can be, but are usually not, used as marketing documents. Because their audience are the writer’s peers, students of science, and casual researchers, they are featured in journals, books, and as standalone articles in scientific libraries. Journals and libraries usually require subscriptions. Private organizations tend to feature their articles on their websites.
For maximum reach, white papers are freely made available on the commissioning organizations’ websites. These papers are also distributed by communications departments to decision makers, either as physical or electronic copies. One or two page summaries, covering the gist of the papers, can also be distributed to prospects at locations where they interface with the organizations’ representatives.
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I hope this article clarified some of the main differences between white papers and research papers. Are you interested in white papers or want to have one written for your organization? I can help. Please visit the Solutions page to learn more about how to get started.