Parts of Research and

Research Writing
(Chapter 1 & 2)
DE VILLA, Jesryl L.
 Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

This chapter elucidates and discusses the problem and background of how the
researchers conducted their study.

This chapter of a research paper should contain the following parts:

● Background of the study
● Statement of the Problem
● Significance of the Study
● Scope and Delimitation of the Study
Background of the study - The background of a study is the first
section of the research paper and establishes the context underlying
the research. This part shows the origin of the problem.

It contains the rationale, the key problem statement, and a brief

overview of the research questions that are addressed in the rest of
the paper.
 ● Create reader interest in the topic
Considerations in ● Reach out to a specific audience
Writing Background ● Establish the problem that leads to
of the Study the study
Statement of the Problem - A problem statement is an
explanation in research that describes the issue that is in need of
study. It is expected to be brief and concise, and should not include
the findings of the research or detailed data. The average length of a
research statement is generally about one page.

Consider the following:

● State the problem precisely, accurately, and clearly.
● Define the problems in terms of the data that can be obtained.
Significance of the Study - The significance of a study is its
importance. It refers to the contributions to and impact of the study on a
research field. The significance also signals who benefits from the
research findings and how.

Consider the following:

● Create a clear rationale for the importance of the study
● Elaborate on the significance for readers
Scope and Delimitation of the Study - The study’s scope and
delimitations are the sections where researchers define the broader
parameters and boundaries of their research.

● The scope details what your study will explore, such as the target
population, extent, or study duration.
● The delimitations are factors and variables not included in the study.
 ● Why – the general aims and objectives
● What – the subject to be investigated and the
variables
● Where – the location or setting of the study

Guidelines on ● When – the timeframe within which the data

is to be collected
Creating a Scope ● Who – the subject matter of the study and
the population from which they will be
selected
● How – how the research is to be conducted
and description of the research design
 Since the delimitation parameters are within the
researcher’s control, readers need to know why

Guideline on they were set, what alternative options were

available, and why these alternatives were rejected.
Creating For example, if you are collecting data that can be
Delimitation derived from three different but similar
experiments, the reader needs to understand how
and why you decided to select the one you have.
 Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework
A theoretical framework is a foundational review of existing theories that serve as a
roadmap for developing the arguments you will use in your own work.

This chapter contains the following parts:

● Review of Literature
● Review of Research
● Conceptual Framework
● Research Hypothesis
● Operational Definition of Variables
Review of Literature
A literature review is the writing process of summarizing,
synthesizing and/or critiquing the literature found as a result of a
literature search. It may be used as background or context for a
primary research project.

For example, if you're writing a literature review that will aid you in
writing a thesis or dissertation, you may want to have a very
comprehensive lit review that reviews all relevant literature on a
topic, as well as relevant sources beyond what is immediately and
freely available
Consideration in Writing Review Literature
● Inform the audience of the developments in the
field
● Establish your credibility
● Discuss the relevance and significance of your
question
● Provide the context for your methodological
approach
● Discuss the relevance and appropriateness
 Review of Research
It is a survey of previously published research on a
topic. It should give an overview of current thinking
on the topic. And, unlike an original research article, it
will not present new experimental results.
 Conceptual Framework
A conceptual framework includes one or more formal
theories (in part or whole) as well as other concepts and
empirical findings from the literature. It is used to show
relationships among these ideas and how they relate to the
research study.
 Research Hypothesis

What is Hypothesis?

The hypothesis is an assumption or an idea proposed for the

sake of an argument so that it can be tested.

Independent variable (what the researchers change)

Dependent variable (what the research measures).

 Research Hypothesis

Research hypothesis is a statement that introduces a research

question and proposes an expected result. It is an integral part of the
scientific method that forms the basis of scientific experiments.
Therefore, you need to be careful and thorough when building your
research hypothesis.

In research, there is a convention that the hypothesis is written in

two forms, the null hypothesis, and the alternative hypothesis.
 Operational Definition of Variables
Operational definitions specifically identify how the variables are
measured for the purposes of the research. An operational
definition should identify how the variable is calculated or
recorded as a numeric value. In addition, the operational
definition should specify the range of possible values and the
variable’s level of measurement (nominal, ordinal, or interval).
Thank you!