In general, it is acceptable to use the first-person point of view in abstracts, introductions, discussions, and conclusions in some journals. Even then, avoid using "I" in these sections. Instead, use "we" to refer to the group of researchers that were part of the study.
However, many journals require you to follow specific guidelines regarding how much of the paper's content can be written in first person. Sometimes this is specified by the journal itself; for example, one of our journals requires that all sentences containing the word "I" be deleted from any manuscript submitted for consideration.
If yours does as well, then you will need to find other ways to indicate the role of each author on the work presented in the paper. For example, you could include an "Author List" section at the end of the paper where each author contributes an individual statement about their involvement in the research project.
Using first-person pronouns in a report should be done with caution. Pronouns such as "I," "me," and "my" are appropriate subjects in reports because the speaker is referring to themselves alone or themselves as a single unit. However, if the speaker is referring to more than one person then the sentence should be rewritten to use "you" instead.
For example, "John wrote the book" is correct because "he" is the subject of the sentence.
According to APA, "when detailing your research stages ("I studied...") and referring to yourself and your co-authors, you can utilize the first-person point of view" ("We examined the literature [...]). Instead of anthropomorphizing the task, explain research stages in the first person. For example: "I studied how scientists model organisms after humans. I found that they usually choose a single trait from the human body map and recreate it in my model organism.
First-person narratives are easy to write because they don't require additional information other than what is included in the source material. For example, if the source material includes only the sentence "Scientists create models of humans," then you would write "Scientists create models of humans to understand how people work and to help find solutions for medical problems." The reader knows that you are describing your own project and its findings because they are mentioned directly in the text.
Second-person narratives require additional information beyond what is included in the source material. For example, if the source material includes only the sentence "Scientists create models of humans," then you would need to include the name of one of the researchers involved with creating these models. Again, the reader knows that you are describing your own project and its findings because they are mentioned directly in the text.
This is one of my favorite questions since the answer is usually a nice surprise: I or we is entirely fine in APA Style! To minimize misunderstanding, the Publication Manual actually advocates utilizing first person when appropriate. For example, if you are writing about your experience with a particular movie, using first person would be correct.
In fact, according to the manual, "a personal narrative or diary" can use first person. As can a letter written by an individual author.
So yes, you can use first person in a research paper!
Use of first-person pronouns is not permitted ("I," "me," "my," "we," "us," etc.). In formal writings, the terms "one," "the reader," "readers," "the viewer," or anything similar can occasionally be used successfully in place of first-person pronouns, but be cautious not to overuse these expressions. You want to come out as formal, not uncomfortable and rigid.
When we write, we have a propensity to personalize it by writing in the first person. In other words, we employ pronouns like "I" and "we." When writing personal information, a journal, or a novel, this is allowed. It is, nevertheless, uncommon in scholarly writing. The primary reason for this is that the aim of such writing is to present facts and arguments in a clear and coherent manner; using first-person narration can be distracting and hinder this goal.
In academia, publications are expected to be written in a rigorous and evidence-based manner. As such, using the first person to narrate an essay or paper would be inappropriate as it could potentially confuse readers about what facts are being presented and how they relate to one another.
It is also important to note that using first-person language is not always appropriate. For example, if you are writing about a historical figure, it might be confusing to readers if you use the first person to refer to them. In addition, if you are writing in a journalistic style, then using the first person can be distracting since it implies an actual person is responsible for the content being published.
Finally, using first-person language can be beneficial in certain contexts. For example, if you are writing about something that happened to you, using the first person can be more effective than if you were to write about someone else who experienced the same thing.
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