CHAPTER 1 OF A RESEARCH PAPER INTRODUCTION Discusses four (4) relevant ideas: • TOPIC or subject matter: define and elaborate using methods of paragraph development like classification and giving examples. • IMPORTANCE of the Topic: cite the role that the topic plays in your life and the benefits you derive from it. • REASONS for Choosing the Topic: emphasized what motivated you to choose the topic. • PURPOSE of the Study: discusses the objective of the study. Background of the Study • Consists of statements on what led the investigator to launch the study • May have been generated by some empirical observations, the need to explore the problem and some other relevant conditions. • Describe as clearly as possible the problem intended to be addressed and refer to the relevant literature in the field. • It is an overview of factors which have led to the problem, comprise the problem and historical significance relative to the problem. Statement of the Problem • There should be a general statement of the whole problem followed by the specific questions or sub problems into which the general problem is broken up. Theoretical Framework • This is the foundation of the research study. These are highly related theories and principles that were established and proven by authorities. Theories are formulated to explain, predict, and understand phenomena and in many cases, to challenge and extend existing knowledge within the limits of critical bounding assumptions. What must be obtained from a theory? • The name/s of author/s of the theory must be taken including the place and the time/year when he or she postulated such a principle or generalization. • The part or parts of the theory that are relevant to your study. Conceptual Framework •A tentative explanation or theoretical explanation of the phenomenon or problem and serves as the basis for the formulation research hypotheses. • The conceptual framework becomes the central theme, the focus, the main thrust of the study. It serves as a guide in conducting investigation. Assumptions and Hypothesis • Historical and descriptive investigations do not need explicit hypotheses and assumptions. Only experimental studies need expressly written assumptions and hypotheses. • Assumptions - a belief that forms one of the bases for the research. This belief is not to be tested or supported with empirical data. Very often belief is not stated in a research proposal. • Hypothesis is a tentative answer to a research question, it can be derived • From the observation before the research is conducted. This is called inductive hypothesis. • From the theory. This is called deductive hypothesis. Kinds of Hypothesis • Research hypothesis is usually developed from experience, literature or theory, or combination of these. This is the expected relationship between variables. • Null hypothesis is the one that states NO relationship between variables. The function is to let the research test the hypothesis statistically. Scope and Delimitations The scope and delimitations should include the following: • A brief statement of the general purpose of the study. • The subject matter and topics studied and discussed. • The locale of the study, where the data were gathered or the entity to which the data belong. • The population or universe from which the respondents were selected. This must be large enough to make generalizations significant. • The period of the study. This is the time, either months or years, during which the data were gathered Limitations of the Study • Include the weaknesses of the study beyond the control of the researcher. • The weaknesses spring out of the inaccuracies of the perceptions of the respondents. Significance of the Study • The rationale, timeliness and/or relevance of the study. The rationale, timeliness and/or relevance of the study to existing conditions must be explained or discussed. • Possible solutions to existing problems or improvement to unsatisfactory conditions. • Who are to be benefited and how they are going to be benefited. It must be shown who are the individuals, groups, or communities who may be placed in a more advantageous position on account of the study. • Possible contribution to the fund of knowledge. Definition of Terms • Only terms, words, or phrases which have special or unique meanings in the study are defined. • Terms should be defined operationally, that a is how thy are used in the study. • The researcher may develop his own definition from the characteristics of the term defined. • Definitions may be taken from encyclopedias, books, magazines and newspaper articles, dictionaries, and other publications but the researcher must acknowledge his sources. • Definitions should a/be brief, clear, and unequivocal as possible. • Acronyms should always be spelled out fully.
