What is a working paper classified as?

Asked by: Jacey Conroy  |  Last update: September 2, 2026
Score: 5/5 (54 votes)

A working paper is primarily classified as an unpublished, preliminary research document that has not undergone formal peer review, often serving as a "grey literature" or "prepublication" draft to solicit feedback. It is a work-in-progress, widely used in economics and social sciences to share findings early, and is generally hosted by institutions or authors.

What is a working paper considered?

Working Papers are preliminary versions of technical papers containing the results and discussions of current research. Written for eventual publication in professional economics journals, these papers offer a draft-by-draft view of our research process over a wide range of economic topics.

What type of document is a working paper?

A working paper is a document, still in the process of preparation, which has been publicly circulated in order to encourage debate and discussion. Reseach papers are an example of working papers.

What is another name for a working paper?

A working paper is a draft or an early version of a piece of writing, usually one that either has been or will be submitted for publication. Working papers submitted for publication can also be called prepublication or preprint versions, or by the term gray literature.

How do I cite a working paper?

Working paper

  1. Author or organisation.
  2. Year of publication (in round brackets).
  3. Title of report (in italics).
  4. Working paper series and/or number (if available).
  5. Place of publication: publisher (if available).

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29 related questions found

Should I use APA or MLA for a research paper?

APA (American Psychological Association) is used by Education, Psychology, and Sciences. MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used by the Humanities. Chicago/Turabian style is generally used by Business, History, and the Fine Arts.

Are working papers citable?

When citing an unpublished work designated as a working paper, provide a parenthetical indicating the name of the sponsoring organization, the working paper designation and number, and the year.

Is a working paper a journal article?

Working Papers are pre-publication versions of academic articles, book chapters, technical papers, or reviews. Authors may release working papers to share ideas or to receive feedback on their work.

What are the three types of research papers?

Types of research papers

  • Analytical research paper.
  • Argumentative or persuasive paper.
  • Definition paper.
  • Compare and contrast paper.
  • Cause and effect paper.
  • Interpretative paper.
  • Experimental research paper.
  • Survey research paper.

What are working papers also referred to?

The working papers are the property of the accounting firm conducting the audit. These papers are formally referred to as audit documentation or sometimes as the audit file.

Is a working paper a report?

What is a working paper? A working paper is a report (either a review – rapid or comprehensive, a technical report, a scientific report – including empirical/modelling analysis, or a discussion paper).

What are the types of working papers?

While there are many different types of working papers, three of the most common are interview summaries (which are written notes from interviews conducted by the auditor), worksheets (which summarize specific audit tests for a sample of transactions), and reperformance documents (copies of financial statements with ...

What is considered a working document?

Working Documents means internal and external documents related to work eligibility, communication, planning, or intellectual property creation.

What is the difference between a working paper and a technical paper?

Research paper can mean almost anything, including; working paper (a manuscript that has been written but not yet published). While technical report is published by the author's organization, or self-published, without peer review.

What is the difference between a working paper and a research paper?

A working paper is a paper you put out to a selected readership for soliciting comments; a research article is placed in the public domain for the target audience to see; and purportedly for reviewing as the related literature to further their studies.

Is a working paper a publication?

Working papers are a unique type of academic publication that exists to share preliminary research to elicit feedback.

Is a working paper unpublished?

A working paper or discussion paper is a “work in progress”, a paper you're still working on. It's a preliminary, nearly finished, unpublished version of your research project that's not yet ready to be presented at a conference nor to get published in a journal.

Should I use MLA or APA for a research paper?

Three styles are commonly used at Oakton.

MLA citation style is primarily used for research papers in English classes. APA citation style is primarily used for research papers in nursing and social sciences classes. Chicago Style is often used for research papers in history or humanities classes.