Hypotheses – What ideas are suggested as possible explanation for the problem, situation or condition

and will be proved to be correct or incorrect by the research?

Objectives – What steps will the researcher take to try and fill this gap or improve the situation? (Relate
them to the research problem.)

Break down a general objective into minor, connected parts (specific objectives). Specific objectives
should systematically address the different research questions, and specify what you will do in your
study, where and for what purpose.

*Scope of the Study – Is the study limited to a specific geographical area or people, or to only certain
aspects of the situation? Is there any aspect of the problem the researcher will not discuss?

*Limitation of the Study – Is there any factor, condition or circumstances that will prevent the
researcher from achieving all his/her objectives?

Assumptions – In considering the methods, model, formulation or approach, are there important
conditions or states that the researcher takes to be true?

Conceptual Framework – sometimes referred to as “theoretical framework”; presents your ideas in a

model or illustration of what you intend to investigate and some theories related to it. The research
problem is a part of the conceptual framework that you will build based on the existing theories and
research.

*The sections, Scope of the Study and Limitation of the Study, can be combined in one section to form
the “Scope and Limitation of the Study”. When writing the remaining chapters of the thesis, the
Limitation of the Study should be included in Chapter 3 as part of the Methodology.

*Some proposals do not need hypotheses.

Below are some suggested steps for writing the first chapter or Introduction.
1. Think of topics that interest you. Discuss your topics with your adviser before choosing the most
interesting and practical one.

2. You have to search for more information first in order to understand what has been studied about the
subject or your topic of interest.

3. Define a research problem.

4. Before you can formulate or define the appropriate research questions, you need to be familiar with
your topic and current trends/research advances on the topic. A pilot study or feasibility study can be
done before the actual research process.

5. Research questions should be developed keeping in mind time constraints—can these be answered
by only one study or several studies?

Usually in qualitative approaches, research questions are formulated, instead of a

hypothesis/hypotheses. Qualitative research starts an investigation with a concept.

Quantitative research approaches use the hypothesis as the frame for the methodology. Here, you will
have an appropriate framework and variables considered.

In both approaches, the main research question is the basis for the hypotheses and objectives of the
research.

6. Hypotheses can be developed from the research questions. Designing a hypothesis is supported by a
good research question and will influence the type of research design for the study.
7. The development of the research objective can be done after the development of the research
questions or hypothesis.

8. Do not forget to CITE current or relevant work of other authors and try to use the different techniques
in incorporating other authors’ ideas in your writing; summarizing, paraphrasing and directly quoting the
source. This should be applied all throughout your paper. See Citations and References – The APA Style
Guide for a guide to acknowledging the works of other authors when incorporating their ideas into your
writing.