Chapter 4
WRITING THE FIRST CHAPTER OF
YOUR RESEARCH PROPOSAL
A blueprint or plan for research
It is like a business contract as it depicts the
work to be done to achieved desired results
Research
Proposal/Thesis An instrument which lays down the basic
component of the proposed research activity.
Outline
Characteristics
• A straightforward document
• Not a literary production
• Clearly organized
INTRODUCTION PROVIDES CONTEXT
Helps readers understand the background
and significance.
INTRODUCES THE STUDY
ENGAGES THE READER Clearly states the research focus and
Sets the stage for the research. objectives.
INTRODUCTION FUNNEL STRUCTURE
CRAFTING YOUR
INTRODUCTION
HIGHLIGHT THE PROBLEM
Identify gaps and limitations.
IDENTIFY THE CONTEXT EXPLAIN YOUR APPROACH
Start with a broad statement. State how your study addresses
the problem
SUMMARIZE KEY STUDIES STATE THE GOAL
nclude the most relevant Clearly define the research
research. objective
The body of a manuscript opens with an introduction
that presents the specific problem under study and
describes the research strategy.
The reason why the study was chosen or why it is
necessary to solve the problem.
Background of Relevance of the issue/problem to be studied - Global,
national and local perspective of the issue
the Study
The factors that lead to the conceptualization of the
problem i.e. historical background when, how, and
where and the contextual background.
Description of the problematic situation, the extent and
gravity of the situation, who are affected and its effect.
An interrogative statement that
asks:
• “What is the relationship
between the student‘s
admission test score and the
time wherein the student
attains his degree?”
Criteria in Formulating
Problem Statement
• Must be stated in question
form
Research Problem • Should express relation
between two or more
variables
• Imply possibilities of
empirical testing
1. Descriptive/Description
• Ex. What is the performance of the Powderized Organic Malungay?
2. Comparison/Difference
Types of • Ex. What is the difference in the survival time (time finishing their degree)
between courses?
Specific 3. Relationship/Association
Research • Ex. What is the relationship between the student‘s admission test score and
the time wherein the student attains his degree?
Questions 4. Prediction
• Ex. What are the factors that may predict the student‘s academic
performance?
5. Others
• Evaluative (How effective is the government program in improving
employment rates among graduates?
• Intervention (What intervention can be proposed based on the findings of
the study?)
• Is a conjectural statement of the relation
between two or more variables.
• A tentative explanation for certain
behavior, phenomena or events which
have occurred or will occur
Hypothesis • Is a testable statement of a potential
relationship between two or more
variables
• Is a tentative, intelligent guess set forth as
possible explanation for an occurrence.
Directional vs. Non – directional hypothesis
• Directional hypothesis is one that specifies not only the existence but
the expected direction of the relationship between variables
• Non – directional hypothesis by contrast does not stipulate the
direction of the relationship
Simple vs. Complex Hypothesis
• Simple hypothesis is a hypothesis that expenses an expected
Types of relationship between one independent and one dependent variable
• Complex hypothesis is a prediction of a relationship between two or
Hypothesis more independent variables and two or more dependent variables. It
is often times referred to as multivariate hypothesis because they
involve multiple variables.
Research vs. Null Hypothesis
• Research hypothesis also referred to as substantive, declarative, or
scientific hypothesis, are statements of expected relationship or
difference between variables.
• Null hypothesis or statistical hypothesis state that there is no
relationship or difference between the independent and dependent
variables.
This section states why the problem investigated is
important, and what significance the result has. It
should include a statement on relevance to felt needs,
the potential contribution of the research to new
knowledge, to whom the findings would be useful for a
policy implications and other possible uses or its
results.
Significance 1. Explore importance of the problem.
2. State why the problem deserves new research.
of the Study 3. Identify the value of the results of the study to the
body of knowledge, policy formulation, etc.
4. Write the specific benefits to specific individuals,
groups or organizations.
5. Explain in what ways the expected outcome or
describe the benefits accruing to each of the
beneficiaries.
This is a discussion of (a) what the study
covers, i.e. scope and (b) what it does
not, i.e. delimitation.
• Scope - Set boundaries in terms of
geographical location, time,
Scope and content, applicability and
people/object studied.
Limitations • Limitations - Identify constraints
outside one‘s control or beyond
the control of the researcher such
as availability of records,
weather/environmental and must
be explained
How are they Defined?
• Conceptual Definitions
• Refers to the definition found in the dictionaries. It is
the academic or the universal meaning given to a
word or group of words.
II. Operational Definitions
Definitions of • Refers to the specific way or the meaning used in the
terms study. It is the definition that operates or function in the
investigation.
• For example, let us define Intelligence‘ conceptually
and operationally
• Conceptual: The capacity for abstract thought,
understanding, communication, reasoning, learning,
planning, and problem solving
• Operational: The score resulting from performing the
Test.
Rules in defining the terms
1 2 3 4 5
1. Circularity – the 2. Convertibility – the 3. Affirmation – the 4. Clarity – avoid 5. Structure – the
definition should not word to be defined and definition should state ambiguity or vagueness. grammatical form of the
contain the word to be the definition should be what the meaning of the Ex. A full time teacher is definition follows correct
defined or include a interchangeable. term is not what it is not. one who devotes the grammar whether it is on
cognate of it. Ex. A teacher is any (definition be negation) greater proportion of one‘s own language or in
Ex. Age – is the number of person, male or female Ex. Adoption is the his/her working time to his some foreign language.
years one has lived from who engages in the continuous use of a only source of livelihood
birth to his/her last teaching of young or technology following which is the teaching of
birthday. adults as a means of exactly the the young or old.
livelihood. recommendation for at
least three years.