Writing an Effective Thesis
Introduction Chapter
Ts Dr Sia Chee Wee
Department of Petroleum
Engineering
Content
• Lesson Outcomes
• Purpose and Importance of the Introduction
• Structure of the Introduction
• Background of the Study
• Statement of the Problem
• Research Questions/ Objectives/ Hypotheses
• Scope and Limitations
• Summary
Lesson Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to
• grasp the importance of the introduction chapter in a thesis and its role in
setting the stage for the entire research document.
• identify and describe the essential components of a well-structured
introduction, including background information, problem statement, research
questions or objectives, significance, and organization.
• formulate a clear and focused problem statement that addresses a research
gap effectively.
• effectively define and communicate the scope and limitations of a research
study, ensuring transparency, and providing a clear understanding of the
boundaries and constraints of their research projects.
What is a Thesis?
An undergraduate thesis/ dissertation
• is a scholarly research project undertaken by
undergraduate students to explore a specific
topic within their field of study.
• involves conducting research, gathering and
analyzing data, and presenting findings in a
structured written document.
• Is used to demonstrate the student's ability
to engage in independent research, apply
critical thinking skills, and contribute to the
body of knowledge in their chosen academic
discipline.
Structure of a Thesis
• The specific chapters in a thesis can vary depending on
the field of study, academic institution, and the nature
of the research.
• Theses for the Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in
Petroleum at UTP should follow the following structure:
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2:
LITERATURE
REVIEW
CHAPTER 3:
METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER 4:
RESULT AND
DISCUSSION
CHAPTER 5:
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
Structure of a Thesis
• CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
• Provides an overview of the research, including the background, problem statement,
purpose, research questions or hypotheses, significance, scope and limitations.
• CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
• Summarizes and analyzes existing research and scholarly literature relevant to the
study's topic. It identifies key theories, concepts, and gaps in knowledge.
• CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
• Describes the research methods and procedures used in the study. This chapter
explains how data was collected, analyzed, and interpreted. It should address issues of
validity, reliability, and ethical considerations.
Structure of a Thesis
• CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
• Presents the research findings, often in the form of tables, figures, and narratives.
• Analyzes and interprets the research findings, discussing their implications and
addressing the research questions or hypotheses. It's where you make sense of the data
and relate it back to the literature.
• CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION
• Summarizes the key findings, discusses their significance, and provides answers to the
research questions or hypotheses. It also suggests future research directions.
• Offers practical recommendations or solutions based on the research
findings. This chapter is often found in theses with a practical or applied focus.
Importance of the Introduction
The introduction chapter in a thesis
• serves as a critical foundation for the
entire research document.
• defines the purpose, significance, and
scope of the research.
Structure of the Introduction
Introduction
Chapter
Background
of the Study
Problem
Statement
Purpose of
the Research
Significance
of the Study
Overall
Objective(s)
Specific
Objectives or
Research
Questions or
Scope and
Limitations
Scope
Hypotheses
Flow of the
Thesis
Limitations
Background of the Study
• Provides the context and foundation for your research
• Offers readers an understanding of the broader subject area and the reasons
behind your research.
• What to be included in the background of the study?
•Begin by introducing the
general topic or subject area
of your research.
•Provide a brief overview of
what the topic is about and
why it is relevant.
Introduction to the
Research Topic
Literature Review
Summary
•Summarize the key findings
and trends from relevant
literature in your field.
•This includes major theories,
concepts and previous
research related to your topic
To ensure the
study is
relevance, the
references that
are cited must be
recent.
•Highlight the gaps,
limitations, or unanswered
question in the existing
literature.
•Explain why these gaps are
significant and how your
research will address them.
Research Gap
Identification
Rationale for the
Study
•Explain why your research is
necessary.
•Discuss the importance of
filling the identified gaps and
how your study will
contribute to the body of the
knowledge in your field.
•Conclude the background
section by smoothly
transitioning to the problem
statement or research
questions that your study
seeks to answer
Transition to the
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
• a concise, specific statement that
defines the problem or research
question your study aims to address.
• a clear and focused description of
the issue you intend to investigate.
• outlines the problem that your
research intends to solve or the
questions it aims to answer.
Problem Statement
• Provides the context and foundation for your research
• Offers readers an understanding of the broader subject area and the reasons
behind your research.
• What to be included in the background of the study?
Description of the Problem
Context and Background
• Provide a clear and concise
explanation of the issue or
challenge that the research
aims to address.
• Define the problem in
specific terms, avoiding
vague or overly broad
statements.
• Offer some context and
background information to
help readers understand the
significance of the problem.
• Explain why the problem is
important or relevant to the
field of study or the broader
community.
Problem Statement
• Research gap identification (in Background of the Study) and the problem
statement are related elements in a research study, but they serve different
purposes and are not the same.
Research Gap Identification
Problem Statement
It is a broader concept that involves reviewing the
literature and pinpointing gaps, inconsistencies, or
limitations in previous research.
It is narrower and more specific compared to
research gap identification.
It focuses on assessing the state of the field and
determining where additional research is needed.
It outlines the problem that your research intends to
solve or the questions it aims to answer.
A preliminary step in the research process where you
assess the existing literature to identify areas where
further research is needed.
A specific statement that defines the focus of your
research and serves as the starting point for your
investigation.
Limitations
Gaps
Unanswered
Questions
Problem Statement
Example
Purpose of the Study
• Explains the primary goals and the
objectives of your research.
• What should be included in the purpose
of the study?
• Overall Objectives: Begin by stating the main
objective or purpose of the research. The
main goal you intend to accomplish with this
study.
• Specific Objectives or Research Questions or
Hypotheses: Complement the overall
objectives by including specific, measurable,
and focused objectives, research questions, or
hypotheses that guide your study.
Research Questions or Hypotheses
Research Objectives
Research Questions
Hypotheses
concise statements that outline the
specific goals or outcomes you aim to
achieve through your research.
inquiries or interrogative statements
that seek to explore or address specific
aspects related to your research
objectives.
declarative statements that make
predictions or assertions about the
relationships between variables or the
expected outcomes of your research.
formulated based on what you want to
find out or understand in pursuit of
your objectives.
often used in quantitative research to
test specific aspects of your objectives.
should be measurable so that you can
assess whether you have accomplished
them. This often involves using
quantifiable criteria or indicators.
Purpose of the Study
Specific Objectives:
Purpose: statements that outline the precise goals or outcomes you intend to achieve through your research
Focus: Specific objectives are more outcome-oriented and often describe what you plan to accomplish or measure during your
research. They guide the overall direction of your study.
Scope help define the scope of your research by setting clear boundaries on what you aim to achieve. They help you prioritize
and allocate resources effectively.
Structure: usually written in a numbered or bulleted format and are typically concise and to the point.
1.Research Questions:
1.Purpose: inquiries or interrogative statements that seek to explore or address specific aspects of your research. They
articulate what you want to find out, understand, or investigate.
1.Focus: more focused on the process of inquiry. They help you explore different aspects of your research topic and provide a
basis for data collection and analysis.
1.Scope: are open-ended and can be more flexible in terms of scope. They guide your exploration of the topic without
necessarily setting specific outcome-based goals.
1.Structure: are typically phrased as questions and may not be as concise as specific objectives. They often begin with "who,"
"what," "why," "how," or "when."
1.Hypotheses:
1.Purpose: statements that make predictions or assertions about the relationships between variables or the expected
outcomes of your research. They are used primarily in quantitative research to test specific aspects of your study.
1.Focus: focused on stating what you expect to find or observe in your research. Used to determine whether the data you
collect supports or refutes your predictions.
1.Scope: often narrower in scope than specific objectives. Typically concerned with a specific aspect of your study, such as the
relationship between two variables or the effect of a treatment or intervention.
1.Structure: typically written as declarative statements, with a null hypothesis (H0) stating no effect or relationship and an
alternative hypothesis (H1) stating the expected effect or relationship.
Example
• Research Objective 1:
• To investigate the effect of pH on CO2 hydrate stability in brine systems containing
Divalent cations by varying the pH of the brine and measuring the corresponding
changes in CO2 hydrate stability.
• Research Question 1:
• How does varying the pH of brine solutions containing Divalent cations influence the
stability of CO2 hydrates?
• Hypotheses 1:
• Null Hypothesis (H0): "Changes in pH do not significantly affect the stability of CO2
hydrates in brine systems containing Divalent cations."
• Alternative Hypothesis (H1): "Altering the pH of brine solutions containing Divalent
cations results in measurable changes in the stability of CO2 hydrates."
Example (Cont’d)
• Research Objective 2:
• To investigate how various divalent cations added to brine systems impact the stability of
CO2 hydrates.
• Research Question 2:
• What is the impact of various divalent cations added to brine systems on the stability of
CO2 hydrates?
• Hypotheses 2:
• Null Hypothesis (H0): "The addition of different divalent cations to brine systems does
not significantly affect the stability of CO2 hydrates."
• Alternative Hypothesis (H1): "The introduction of various divalent cations into brine
systems leads to observable changes in the stability of CO2 hydrates."
Example (Cont’d)
• Research Objective 3:
• To assess the combined impact of pH and divalent cations on the stability of CO2
hydrates in brine systems by simultaneously varying both parameters and measuring the
resulting changes in CO2 hydrate stability.
• Research Question 3:
• How do simultaneous variations in pH and the presence of divalent cations affect the
stability of CO2 hydrates in brine systems?
• Hypotheses 3:
• Null Hypothesis (H0): "Simultaneous changes in both pH and the presence of divalent
cations do not significantly alter the stability of CO2 hydrates in brine systems."
• Alternative Hypothesis (H1): "Concurrent variations in both pH and the presence of
divalent cations result in noticeable changes in the stability of CO2 hydrates within brine
systems."
Scope and Limitations
• You should clearly define the
boundaries and constraints of your
study.
• This section helps readers understand
what your research will and will not
cover.
• Being transparent about the scope
and limitations of your study
demonstrates your awareness of its
boundaries and helps readers and
reviewers better assess the validity
and generalizability of your findings.
Scope
Research Objectives
Time Frame
• Begin by restating your research objectives. This sets the context for what your study intends
to achieve.
• Indicate the time period covered by your research.
• Be specific about the years, months, or seasons relevant to your study.
Research Participants or
Sample
• If your study involves human participants, specify the characteristics of the sample, such as
age, gender, profession, or other relevant factors.
• If your study uses other types of data, explain the sources and criteria for data selection.
Variables or Factors
• List and define the key variables or factors you will study.
• Explain the scope of these variables and any specific aspects or dimensions you will focus on.
Methodology
• Describe the research methods and techniques you will use.
• Be clear about the scope of your data collection and analysis methods
Limitations
Resource Limitations
Sample Size
Scope of Generalization
Data Availability
Address any constraints related
to resources such as time,
budget, or access to data or
participants.
If your study involves a limited
sample size, acknowledge the
potential limitations in terms of
generalizability or statistical
power.
Clarify the extent to which your
findings can be generalized.
Discuss any data limitations,
including missing data,
incomplete datasets, or
reliance on secondary data
sources.
Explain how these limitations
may impact the extent of your
research.
If your research is specific to a
particular context or
population, acknowledge that
the generalizability may be
limited.
Limitations (Cont’d)
Methodological Limitations
Ethical Considerations
External Factors
Alternative Approaches
Unanswered Questions
Address any methodological
limitations or constraints, such as
limitations in data collection
techniques, measurement tools, or
research design.
If ethical considerations restrict
certain aspects of your research,
such as access to sensitive data or
ethical concerns with certain
research methods, explain these
limitations.
Acknowledge external factors that
may affect your research, such as
changing political or economic
conditions, that are beyond your
control.
Discuss any alternative approaches
or methods that you considered but
did not use in your study and
explain the reasons for their
exclusion.
Highlight any questions or aspects
of the research problem that your
study does not address. This can
open opportunities for future
research.
Summary
• Introduction's Crucial Role: The introduction chapter is the gateway to your
thesis, setting the stage for the entire document. It provides context, outlines
the research problem, and engages readers' interest.
• Components of the Introduction: The introduction typically includes key
components like background of the study, problem statement, research
questions or objectives, significance of the study, and the scope and limitations
of your research.
• Purpose and Significance: Clearly articulate why your research is important
and the gap it addresses in existing knowledge. Explain how your study
contributes to the field and why it matters.
Summary
• Research Questions/Objectives: Define your research questions or objectives
concisely, ensuring they align with the research problem and guide your study.
These questions provide a roadmap for your research.
• Scope and Limitations: Be transparent about the boundaries of your research
by discussing what your study includes and excludes. Address constraints like
resource limitations, sample size, and data availability.
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