PARTS OF A RESEARCH PAPER

CHAPTER 1: The Problem and Its Background

• Introduction
• Background of the Study
• Statement of the Problem (SOP) / Research
Problem
• Significance of the Study
• Scope and Delimitation
• Definition of Terms

A. INTRODUCTION
• Introduce your topic
• Create some context and background
• Tell the reader about the research you plan to
carry out
• Explain the importance of your research
• State your hypothesis
• NEVER state your opinion nor make a
conclusion
• always put proper citation and correct basis

Null Hypothesis
• no significant relationship or effect between
variables
• results are due to chance and are NOT
significant.
• is denoted as Ho
• stated as the opposite of what the alternative
hypothesis states

Example
“Attending physiotherapy sessions does not affect athletes' on-field performance.”

Alternative Hypothesis
• proposes a specific relationship or effect between variables.
• there is a significant difference between variables being studied
• it is denoted as H1 or Ha
• it challenges the Null Hypothesis (accepted or rejected)
Example:
“Attending physiotherapy sessions improves athletes' on-field performance.”

B. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

• state the purpose and reason behind the study
• search information about your study
• proper citation
• provides a detailed understanding of the topic
• follows no such format and only provides essential context to the study.

C. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

• main problem that the researcher is trying to solve
• addresses the important questions that needs to be answered
• consist of General Problem and Specific Problem
• specific problem helps to answer the general problem

Example:
Title:
“The Effect of El Niño to the Way of Life of the Filipino Farmers”

General Problem:
This study attempts to document the effects of El Niño to the agricultural products
of Filipino farmers.

Specific Problem:
1. What is the demographic profile of the Filipino framers in terms of;
a. age;
b. cultivated land; and,
c. type of farming?

2. What are the effects of the El Niño to the agricultural products of Filipino farmers in
terms of;
a. production;
b. social interaction; and,
c. economic interaction?

3. What intervention plan is mitigated to reduce the effects of the El Niño to the agricultural
products?

Title:
“The effect of habitual absences to the Academic Performance of Grade 11 TVL students
of BNAHS”

General Problem:
The main purpose of this study is to determine the effect of habitual absences to the
Academic Performance of Grade 11 TVL students of BNAHS

Specific Problem:
1. What is the demographic profile of the Grade 11 TVL students with history of habitual
absences in terms of;
a. sex
b. place of residency; and,
c. mode of transportation
 d. family set-up

2. What are the effects of habitual absences of students in terms of;

a. Academic performance
b. Submission of requirements and
c. Class performance

3. What are the possible interventions that can minimize the number of absences?

D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

• indicates the importance of the study
• identify who will benefit from the study
• how they will be benefitted
• this should match with the Research Recommendations
• can be paragraph form or outline type

The researchers believed that the findings of the study will benefit a number of people:
a. Teachers. The findings of the study will give them insights...
b. Administrators. The study will serve as a challenge to find reason for an intensification
of the program...
c. Parents. This will help the parents in understanding…
d. Students. The researchers believed that the students may greatly benefit from this study.

You can use the following format:

1. 1st paragraph- Why is it important to conduct this study?
2. 2nd paragraph- The main beneficiary – either a group or an organization
3. 3rd paragraph- The secondary beneficiary
4. 4th paragraph- The importance of the study to the researchers
5. 5th paragraph- The importance to future researchers

E. SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

• explains the extent (coverage) to which the research area will be studied
• it identifies the boundaries within the study will be operating
• it includes: areas of issues concerned
types and no. of respondents
period of the study

SCOPE
It describes the coverage of the study in terms of:
• concept, number of subjects, or the population (sample size) included in the study;
• timeline of when the study was conducted; and
• geographic area.

It provides the coverage of the study in terms of:

a. Area;
b. Subject/Problem;
c. Research Apparatus, Equipment or Instrument;
d. Time Frame or Period of the Study; and,
e. Any limitations or constraints in the reference population or sample size.

Writing the Scope

Start with any of these sample phrases that express the scope of the study:
1. The coverage of this study…
2. The study consists of…
3. The study covers the…
4. This study is focused on…
DELIMITATIONS
It will cite factors or variables that are NOT included and the boundary in terms of time
frame, the number of subjects, participants, or respondents who are excluded, and specify which
will not be dealt with in the study.

Writing the Delimitations

Start with any of these sample phrases that express the delimitation of the study:
1. The study does not cover the…
2. The researcher limited this research to…
3. This study is limited to…

F. DEFINITION OF TERMS
• includes terms that are interpreted as unique to your research
• includes all important variables
• either Conceptual Definitions or Operational Definition
• should be alphabetically arranged.