Parts of a
Research Paper
CHAPTER I
Since we have known how to start your
research, it is now time to be familiar with
the parts of your research paper.
The Introduction:
The first part of a research paper is called
the Introduction or Chapter I. Here the
rationale behind the study is being
explained. The research problems and
hypotheses are also being stated in this
chapter.
Here are the parts of Chapter I:
I. Background of the Study
II. Statement of the Problem/Objectives
III. The Hypotheses
IV. Significance of the Study
V. Scope and Limitations/Delimitations
VI. Definition of Terms
I. Background of the Study
The background of the study gives the
readers important information about the
research being conducted. It presents the
rationale, setting, bases, need for the study,
and the overall benefits that can be derived
from the study.
The background of the study provides brief
explanation to how the study was conceived
and how will it be conducted and the
possible contribution it may give to the
society.
II. Statement of the
Problem/Objectives
This is also called the “heart of the a
research study”. Here the researcher presents
the general and specific objectives that he
would like to answer or attain at the end of
the research.
The introductory statement in this section is
usually the general objectives as based from
the research title. This is followed by
specific objectives that will be thoroughly
studied in the course of the research.
Research Objectives
Research objectives are statement of
what the researcher intends to do.
Research objectives are usually stated in
declarative form and start with infinitives like:
to determine
to find out
to describe
to compare
to test
Examples of research objectives
To determine the extent of high school
students’ participation in school activities.
To compare the effectiveness of classroom-
based and field based training programs on the
performance of community workers.
To test the effectiveness of oresol in the
treatment of diarrhea.
Types of Research Objectives
There are two kinds of objectives usually
formulated for a research study, the
general objective and the specific
objective.
General Objectives
The general objective relates
directly to the research problem and
states clearly what the researcher will
do and expects to find out.
Example of General Objective:
Research Title: “A Study on the Extent of
Participation in School Activities of High
School Students in City A.”
General Objective: To determine the extent
of participation in school activities of high
school students in City A.
Specific Objectives
The specific objectives may be viewed
as sub-objectives or small particles of the
general objectives.
Examples of Specific Objectives
Research Title: “Demographic and
Socioeconomic Determinants of Health-
Seeking Behavior of the Elderly in Southern
Mindanao”
General Objective: This study will be
conducted to identify demographic and
socioeconomic determinants of the health
seeking behavior of the elderly in Southern
Mindanao.
Specifically, the study aims to:
1. determine whether there is a significant
relationship between demographic factors,
such as age, sex, and civil status of the
elderly and their health-seeking behavior.
2. determine whether there is a significant
relationship between selected socio-
economic characteristics of the elderly,
particularly, educational attainment,
community involvement, occupation and
income, and their health-seeking behavior.
Examples of Statements of General and
Specific Objectives
“Relationship Between TV Viewing and
Academic Performance of Grade Six Pupils in
Private and Public Elementary School in Region
VI”
General Objective:
This study will be conducted to determine the
existence and degree of relationship Between TV
Viewing and Academic Performance of Grade Six
Pupils in Private and Public Elementary School in
Region VI
Specific Objectives:
Specifically, the study aims to:
1. determine whether there is a significant
relationship in the pupils viewing TV and their
general average in all subjects in grade six.
2. determine whether there is a significant
relationship between the amount of time spent
by pupils in viewing TV and their general
average in all subjects in grade six.
III. The Hypotheses
Hypothesis is defined as an “educated guess”
that is adopted to provide a temporary answer
to a research problem. This will help the
researcher to be guided through the processes
needed in answering the research questions
posed by the researcher.
Types of Hypotheses
Hypotheses can be classified either as null
or alternative hypothesis.
Null Hypothesis
A null hypothesis is a negative statement
which indicates the absence of a
relationship/correlation between two
variables.
Example of Null Hypothesis:
a. There is no significant difference between
the effect of treatment A and treatment B
to the subject X.
b. Variable X has no significant effect to the
subject A.
Alternative Hypothesis
This type of hypothesis is the opposite of the
null hypothesis. It suggest a positive relation
between variables. It suggests the existence
of a characteristic or suggests a difference in
the effect of the variables.
Example of an Alternative Hypothesis
1. There is a significant difference between
the effect of Treatment A and Treatment
B to the subject X.
2. Fertilizer A and Fertilizer D differ in
effect to the growth of plant Z.
IV. Significance of the Study
This section explain how the study will be
beneficial to the society. It enumerates how
the research is advantageous to the different
stakeholders of the society. The researcher
should identify his target beneficiaries or
target users of his research study.
It should be clear to these beneficiaries the
advantages and the significance that the
research might bring once the research is
done.
Example:
“Makabuhay Stem Extract as Antifungal
Ointment Against Athletes Foot”
Significance of the Study
The results of the investigation may greatly
benefit the following:
Students. The results of the study my
encourage students to make their own anti-
fungal medicine using their own knowledge
and with the help of other medical plants
that have antifungal characteristics.
Family Members. Families that cannot
afford to buy expensive ointments can now
provide their families with inexpensive
antifungal ointment which is organic and free
from chemical additives that can cause skin
allergy and ruin the delicate tissues of the
skin.
Local Health Officer. The results of this study may
provide basic information and skills to the local health
officer in making antifungal ointment using locally
grown plants. This study can provide information
about the different properties of plants that can help
the community folks in promoting proper health care.
Development of antifungal ointment can be shared
and promoted through the different community health
care centers and through their outreach programs.
City and Provincial Government. Through
income generating projects, the City and
Provincial Government can allocate funds to
provide capital in the mass production of anti-
fungal ointment from Makabuhay. In the
process, the local constituents may be
involved in the project that can help alleviate
their economic status.
V. Scope and Delimitations
It presents the variables or subjects of the study,
the extent to which the research will be covering,
the possible factors or nuances that will be given
focus on the course of the study, the possible
challenges that the researcher might encounter,
and the other things that might be related to the
topic but are beyond the control of the researcher.
This is divided into two sections:
1. Scope – which covers the explanation as
to up to what extent the researcher would
want to explore or interpret in his
research.
2. Limitations or delimitations – which is
a justification as to the limit or
boundaries of the research.
Example:
“Makabuhay Stem Extract as Antifungal
Ointment Against Athletes Foot”
Scope and Limitation of the Study
This study was limited only in the
preparation of an anti-fungal ointment from
Makabuhay stem extract against Athlete’s
foot.
VI. Definition of Terms
This section presents the important and key
terms used in the study. There are two
possible ways on how we can define a
particular key term. We can define it:
1. Conceptually
2. Operationally
Conceptual Definition
Conceptual definition is used to explain the
meaning of a particular term using the
dictionary. These are based on concepts and
ideas that has been already defined and is
commonly used and understood by the
readers.
Operational Definition
Operational definition is used to describe a
term by how the researcher used the term in
his study.
Example:
“Makabuhay Stem Extract as Antifungal
Ointment Against Athletes Foot”
Definition of Terms
Decoction refers to the extraction of the
water-soluble substances of a drug or
medicinal plant by boiling
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/decoction).
In this study, it referred to the process of
removing juice/extract from Makabuhay Stem
by boiling.
Athlete’s Foot is a common infection caused
by the Tinea fungus. Symptoms include
itching, burning and cracked, scaly skin
between the toes. Tinea grows best in damp,
dark and warm places, which is why it often
develops between the toes. It can spread to the
toenails, making them thick and crumbly
(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
athletesfoot.html). In this study, it referred to
the fungal infection treated with antifungal
ointment from Makabuhay stem extract.
