LESSON 2: INTRODUCTION, RESEARCH PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES

PRE-TEST:
Direction: Answer the question comprehensively and concisely.
1. How can you identify a research problem stated in a study?
2. What are the components that comprise the introduction?
3. How can you distinguish purpose statement from a research objective?
4. What is the significance of the research study?

Learning Activities:
The learner shall be able to:
1. Identify a research problem stated in a study.
2. Familiarize on how to write a good introduction to an educational research study
and the components that comprise such an introduction.
3. Distinguish a purpose statement, research question and a research objective.
4. Design a good quantitative purpose statement and good quantitative research
questions.

How to Write an Introduction to a Research Paper?

Though introduction to any writing is frequently associated with beginning, it's not
that simple for an introduction to a research paper.
What is a Research Paper Introduction?
The introduction serves the purpose of leading the reader from a general subject
area to a particular field of research. It establishes the context of the research being
conducted by summarizing current understanding and background information about the
topic, stating the purpose of the work in the form of question, or research problem, briefly
explaining your rationale, methodological approach, highlighting the potential outcomes
your study can reveal, and describing the remaining structure of the paper.
An introduction is the initial part of a research paper and the part that a reader is
likely to read first (at least when focusing deeply and reading your paper in detail). Hence,
definitions, notions, and other information required for understanding the paper are
presented/listed here.
Every research paper needs context so that readers can understand why you have
created it. This is exactly what you can do in your research paper introduction. Of course,
this can mean that your introduction is the hardest part of the paper to write first. So, it is
essential that you take your time and make sure you get it right.
The introduction of writing is going to set out your rationale, which is what research
will be based around. Your readers should be able to tell what they are reading right from
the beginning and whether it interests them.
It is essential that you make the beginning of your research paper interesting and
engage with your readers from the first line. This will make sure that people continue to
read and learn about what you have found out. You must always include an introduction to
your paper.
Importance of a Good Introduction
Think of the introduction as a mental road map that must answer for the reader these four
questions:
 What was I studying?
 Why was this topic important to investigate?
 What did we know about this topic before I did this study?
 How will this study advance our knowledge?
A well-written introduction is important because, quite simply, you never get a second
chance to make a good first impression. The opening paragraph of your paper will provide
your readers with their initial impressions about the logic of your argument, your writing
style, the overall quality of your research, and, ultimately, the validity of your findings and
conclusions. A vague, disorganized, or error-filled introduction will create a negative
impression, whereas, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your
readers off thinking highly of your analytical skills, your writing style, and your research
approach.

Structure and Writing Style

 I. Structure and Approach
The introduction is the broad beginning of the paper that answers three important
questions for the reader:
 What is this?
 Why am I reading it?
 What do you want me to think about / consider doing / react to?
Think of the structure of the introduction as an inverted triangle of information. Organize
the information so as to present the more general aspects of the topic early in the
introduction, then narrow toward the more specific topical information that provides
context, finally arriving at your statement of purpose and rationale and, whenever possible,
the potential outcomes your study can reveal.
These are general phases associated with writing an introduction:
1. Establish an area to research by:
 Highlighting the importance of the topic, and/or
 Making general statements about the topic, and/or
 Presenting an overview on current research on the subject.
2. Identify a research niche by:
 Opposing an existing assumption, and/or
 Revealing a gap in existing research, and/or
 Formulating a research question or problem, and/or
 Continuing a disciplinary tradition.
3. Place your research within the research niche by:
 Stating the intent of your study,
 Outlining the key characteristics of your study,
 Describing important results, and
 Giving a brief overview of the structure of the paper.
NOTE: Even though the introduction is the first main section of a research paper, it is often
useful to finish the introduction very late in the writing process because the structure of the
paper, the reporting and analysis of results, and the conclusion will have been completed
and it ensures that your introduction matches the overall structure of your paper.
II. Delimitations of the Study
 Delimitations refer to those characteristics that limit the scope and define the
conceptual boundaries of your study. This is determined by the conscious exclusionary and
inclusionary decisions you make about how to investigate the research problem. In other
words, not only should you tell the reader what it is you are studying and why, but you must
also acknowledge why you rejected alternative approaches that could have been used to
examine the research problem.
Obviously, the first limiting step was the choice of research problem itself. However,
implicit are other, related problems that could have been chosen but were rejected. These
should be noted in the conclusion of your introduction.
Examples of delimitating choices would be:
 The key aims and objectives of your study,
 The research questions that you address,
 The variables of interest [i.e., the various factors and features of the phenomenon
being studied],
 The method(s) of investigation, and
 Any relevant alternative theoretical frameworks that could have been adopted.
Review each of these decisions. You need to not only clearly establish what you
intend to accomplish, but to also include a declaration of what the study does not intend to
cover. In the latter case, your exclusionary decisions should be based upon criteria stated as,
"not interesting"; "not directly relevant"; “too problematic because..."; "not feasible," and
the like. Make this reasoning explicit!
NOTE: Delimitations refer to the initial choices made about the broader, overall design of
your study and should not be confused with documenting the limitations of your study
discovered after the research has been completed.
III. The Narrative Flow
Issues to keep in mind that will help the narrative flow in your introduction:
 Your introduction should clearly identify the subject area of interest. A simple
strategy to follow is to use key words from your title in the first few sentences of the
introduction. This will help focus the introduction on the topic at the appropriate level and
ensures that you get to the primary subject matter quickly without losing focus, or
discussing information that is too general.
  Establish context by providing a brief and balanced review of the pertinent
published literature that is available on the subject. The key is to summarize for the
reader what is known about the specific research problem before you did your analysis. This
part of your introduction should not represent a comprehensive literature review but
consists of a general review of the important, foundational research literature (with
citations) that lays a foundation for understanding key elements of the research problem.
See the drop-down tab for "Background Information" for types of contexts.
 Clearly state the hypothesis that you investigated. When you are first learning to
write in this format it is okay, and actually preferable, to use a past statement like, "The
purpose of this study was to...." or "We investigated three possible mechanisms to explain
the...."
 Why did you choose this kind of research study or design? Provide a clear
statement of the rationale for your approach to the problem studied. This will usually follow
your statement of purpose in the last paragraph of the introduction.
IV. Engaging the Reader
The overarching goal of your introduction is to make your readers want to read your
paper. The introduction should grab your reader's attention.
Strategies for doing this can be to:
1. Open with a compelling story,
2. Include a strong quotation or a vivid, perhaps unexpected anecdote,
3. Pose a provocative or thought-provoking question,
4. Describe a puzzling scenario or incongruity, or
5. Cite a stirring example or case study that illustrates why the research problem is
important.
NOTE:  Only choose one strategy for engaging your readers; avoid giving an impression that
your paper is more flash than substance.
What is background of the study?
The background of the study is a part of a research provided in the introduction
section of the paper. It is a compilation of adequate information that is based on the
analysis of the problem or proposed argument, the steps and methods needed to arrive at
the design, the implementation of the results achieved, and feasible solutions. It is different
from the introduction. The introduction only contains the preliminary information about
your research question or thesis topic. It is simply an overview of the research question or
thesis topic. But the background of your study is more in-depth - it explains why your
research topic or thesis is worth the time of your readers.
The background of study will provide your readers with context to the information
talked about throughout your research paper. It can include both relevant and essential
studies. The background of the study is used to prove that a thesis question is relevant and
also to develop the thesis. In summary, a good background of the study is the work done to
determine that your research question or thesis topic is a problem and that the method
used is the one required to solve the issue or answer the question.
What is the importance of background of the study?
The background of the study helps your reader determine if you have a basic
understanding of the research problem being investigated and promotes confidence in the
overall quality of your analysis and findings.
How to write background of the study in a research paper
Stage 1. At the beginning stages of formulating your thesis, many of the issues are still very
unclear, and you need to solidify your thoughts, so you should conduct preliminary
research. This will help you to put forward a research question or thesis statement that will
finally lead to more relevant and specific research. You can visit a library, check the internet
and other electronic databases to find preliminary sources such as scholarly journals and
books about your background of the study.
Stage 2. Read and gather the information you need to develop - a thesis statement or
research question that will guide your thesis. You should take notes and also keep an
accurate track of the sources of information you have used up to this point. A lot of people
use note cards, but it’s easier and better to use electronic note-taking programs in this
electronic age. Just make sure to use a form that is comfortable and easier for you. Also,
make sure you cite the source of every information you are using on each note so that you
won’t forget where you got the information from, just in case you want to use it in your
thesis.
Stage 3. Develop and pen down the research question or thesis statement. Think about the
things you’ve read and searched, and the issues or solutions that have been found by other
people, and then formulate your stance or opinion on the issue. Write out your position or
opinion as an authoritative statement. You may conduct more detailed research at this
point and look for more sources that are more relevant to your research question or thesis.
Stage 4. Complete your research using the thesis statement as your guide. Find sources that
are relevant to your specific thesis and provide more insight into your research question
using these sources. Your sources should provide information on the history and past
researches related to your thesis.
Stage 5. As you create your background study, create relevant sections. When you start
writing, create five different sections that have the key issues, major findings, and the
controversies that are surrounding your thesis, and also a section that provides evaluation
and a conclusion.
Stage 6. Identify the further studies that need to be done in the conclusion section. Also
mention possible solutions to the issues that have not been put into consideration in the
past.
Stage 7. Revise and edit your background of the study carefully. You can write out several
drafts of your work, revising, editing, and adding more information before coming up with
the final one. Make sure each draft is better than the previous. You can also ask someone
else to help you go through it.
The writing formats
You can follow this format when writing your background of the study:
 Start by giving a general overview of your thesis topic and introduce the key ideas
you will be making use of throughout your thesis.
 Then, give precise information about all the methodologies used in the research. This
can take up to several paragraphs depending on the individual and research question
or thesis topic.
 Cite your sources where necessary to avoid plagiarism.
 Then you can introduce the experiment by describing your choice of methodology
briefly, why you have decided to use this methodology instead of others, and the
objective of the methodology.
What does a good background of the study example contain?
A good example of background of the study is one that:
 Contains reviews of the area being researched.
 Has currently available information about the problem of the study.
  Captures the previous studies on the issue.
 Indicates the history of the issue of the study from previous researches done on the
subject.
What Makes the Introduction Different from the Background?
Your introduction is different from your background in a number of ways.
1. The introduction contains preliminary data about your topic that the reader will
most likely read, whereas the background clarifies the importance of the paper.
2. The background of your study discusses in depth about the topic, whereas the
introduction only gives an overview.
3. The introduction should end with your research questions, aims, and objectives,
whereas your background should not (except in some cases where your background
is integrated into your introduction). For instance, the C.A.R.S. (Creating a Research
Space) model, created by John Swales is based on his analysis of journal articles. This
model attempts to explain and describe the organizational pattern of writing the
introduction in social sciences.
A Statement of the Problem and Research Objectives
A statement of the problem is used in research work as a claim that outlines the
problem addressed by a study. The statement of the problem briefly addresses the
question: What is the problem that the research will address?
A problem statement should be concise and include the following: A brief description
of the problem and the metric used to describe the problem. Where the problem is
occurring by process name and location. The time frame over which the problem has been
occurring.
They summarize the accomplishments a researcher wishes to achieve through
the project and provides direction to the study.
A typical study may be expected to have between 1 and 6 research questions. Once
the writer has determined the type of study to be used and the specific objectives the
paper will address, the writer must also consider whether the research question passes the
"so what" test.
Why is a Statement of the Problem Important?
A problem statement is a communication tool. Problem statements are important to
businesses, individuals and other entities to develop projects focused on improvement.
Whether the problem is pertaining to badly-needed road work or the logistics for an island
construction project; a clear, concise problem statement is typically used by a project's team
to help define and understand the problem and develop possible solutions. These
statements also provide important information that is crucial in decision-making in relation
to these projects or processes.
How to write a statement of the problem.
1. Describe how things should work.
2. Explain the problem and state why it matters.
3. Explain your problem's financial costs.
4. Back up your claims.
5. Propose a solution.
6. Explain the benefits of your proposed solution(s).
7. Conclude by summarizing the problem and solution.
Then a research problem will follow because it’s all about an area to be concern or a
difficulty to be solved or a condition to be improved. Then Research objective is the last one
which describe what we expect to achieve. A statement about what the study aims to
achieve overall.
Specific objectives should systematically address the various aspects of
the problems defined under the statement of the problem and the key factors that are
assumed to influence or cause the problems. They should specify what you will do in your
study, where this study will be done, and for what purpose.
What are the key characteristics of a statement of the problem?
A good research problem should have the following characteristics:
1. It should address a gap in knowledge.
2. It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing body of research
3. It should lead to further research
4. The problem should render itself to investigation through collection of data
5. It should be of interest to the researcher and suit his/her skills, time, and resources
6. The approach towards solving the problem should be ethical
5 elements of the statement of the problem
 the problem itself,
 stated clearly and with enough contextual detail to establish why it is important;
  the method of solving the problem, often stated as a claim or a working thesis;
 the purpose, statement of objective and
 scope of the document the writer is preparing.
What are the goals of a statement of the problem?
The ultimate goal of a statement of the problem is to transform a
generalized problem (something that bothers you; a perceived lack) into a targeted, well-
defined problem; one that can be resolved through focused research and careful decision-
making.
Writing a statement of the problem should help you clearly identify the purpose of
the research project you will propose. Often, the statement of the problem will also serve as
the basis for the introductory section of your final proposal, directing your reader’s
attention quickly to the issues that your proposed.
A statement of problem need not be long and elaborate: one page is more than
enough for a good statement of problem.
A specific result that a person or system aims to achieve within a time frame and
with available resources. In general, objectives are more specific and easier to measure than
goals. Objectives are basic tools that underlie all planning and strategic activities.
5 Steps to Writing Clear and Measurable Learning Objectives
 Identify the Level of Knowledge Necessary to Achieve Your Objective. Before you
begin writing objectives, stop and think about what type of change you want your
training to make. ...
 Select an Action Verb. ...
 Create Your Very Own Objective. ...
 Check Your Objective. ...
 Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.

Research Aims and Questions

Formulating a Research Question
In forming a research question, you are setting a goal for your research. Your main
research question should be substantial enough to form the guiding principle of your paper
—but focused enough to guide your research. A strong research question requires you not
only to find information but also to put together different pieces of information, interpret
and analyze them, and figure out what you think. As you consider potential research
questions, ask yourself whether they would be too hard or too easy to answer.
What is a good research question?
Constructing a clear and focused research question (or questions) is crucial to
producing a good research proposal and, more importantly, shaping the direction of your
research. The question indicates exactly what you want to explore and allows the reader to
assess whether or not your project is viable. It also gives the reader a sense of the
arguments or findings that you might produce in response. This allows them to provide you
with useful feedback on the direction of your research.
The criteria for a good research question vary from one field of study to another. It is
therefore advisable that you consult with your supervisor and closely examine examples
from other theses and published studies to get a sense of the requirements in your field.
In general terms, however, a good research question should be:
 Relevant: It must clearly relate to the problems or issues that the project seeks to
address.
 Important: It should address a key problem in the field (see from identifying a gap to
constructing a problem above).
 Clear: It should be expressed using concise language and contain no ambiguity.
 Precise: What is being investigated should be clearly specified.
 Researchable: The information and sources required to answer the question must
exist and you must be able to access them (with the exception of data that you will
generate yourself through surveys, experiments, etc.).
In cases where there is more than one research question, the questions must be clearly
related to each other so that they add up to a coherent whole.

Constructing a research question

The wording of your research question (or questions) is important because it will
direct your approach and writing and help to shape the feedback that you receive from
readers of your proposal. It is important to understand that you can change your research
question at a later date if you think that the wording needs to be changed or if you make
discoveries that encourage a different approach to the topic. It is highly likely, in fact, that
the question that you pose in your proposal will be different from the question or questions
that your thesis actually answers.
Wording of research questions can vary significantly from one field of study to
another, so it is advisable that you consult with your supervisor and seek out examples from
other research proposals, theses, or published papers.
However, the following general points can be made:
 How and why questions are usually preferred as they generate analytical rather than
descriptive findings.
 The question should be worded in such a way that a number of different responses
would be possible.
 The wording should be neutral in tone. Avoid value judgements or untested
assumptions.
 The wording should include the key concepts and relationships that you have
identified.
What is the Significance of the Study?
The significance of the study is a section in the introduction of your thesis or paper.
Its purpose is to make clear why your study was needed and the specific contribution your
research made to furthering academic knowledge in your field.
Essentially, the section on the significance of the study provides information to the
reader on how the study will contribute. However, it must be expressly stated what the
study will contribute and who will benefit from it.
What does Significance of the Study mean?
The significance of the study is a written statement that explains why your research
was needed. It’s a justification of the importance of your work and impact it has on your
research field, it’s contribution to new knowledge and how others will benefit from it.
Why is the Significance of the Study important?
The significance of the study, also known as the rationale of the study, is important
to convey to the reader why the research work was important. This may be an academic
reviewer assessing your manuscript under peer-review, an examiner reading your PhD
thesis, a funder reading your grant application or another research group reading your
published journal paper. Your academic writing should make clear to the reader what the
significance of the research that you performed was, the contribution you made and the
benefits of it.
How do you write the Significance of the Study?
When writing this section, first think about where the gaps in knowledge are in your
research field. What are the areas that are poorly understood with little or no previously
published literature? Or what topics have others previously published on that still require
further work. This is often referred to as the problem statement.
The introduction section within the significance of the study should include you
writing the problem statement and explaining to the reader where the gap in literature is.
Then think about the significance of your research and thesis study from two perspectives:
(1) what is the general contribution of your research on your field and
(2) what specific contribution have you made to the knowledge and who does this benefit
the most.
For example, the gap in knowledge may be that the benefits of dumbbell exercises
for patients recovering from a broken arm are not fully understood. You may have
performed a study investigating the impact of dumbbell training in patients with fractures
versus those that did not perform dumbbell exercises and shown there to be a benefit in
their use. The broad significance of the study would be the improvement in the
understanding of effective physiotherapy methods. Your specific contribution has been to
show a significant improvement in the rate of recovery in patients with broken arms when
performing certain dumbbell exercise routines.
This statement should be no more than 500 words in length when written for a
thesis. Within a research paper, the statement should be shorter and around 200 words at
most.
Two tips in Writing the Significance of the Study
 Refer to the statement of the problem
Your problem statement can guide you in identifying the specific contribution of
your study. You can do this by observing a one-to-one correspondence between the
statement of the problem and the significance of the study.
 Write from general to specific contribution
Write the significance of the study by looking into the general contribution of
your research, such as its importance to society as a whole, then proceed downwards—
 towards the individual level, and that may include yourself as a researcher. You start
broadly then taper off gradually to a specific group or person. It’s like an inverted
pyramid, a deductive approach. So, you write from the general to the particular uses of
your research’s findings.
Conclusion
The statement of the significance of the study is used by students and researchers in
academic writing to convey the importance of the research performed; this section is
written at the end of the introduction and should describe the specific contribution made
and who it benefits.
Definition of Terms in Research
Definition of terms is usually an annex to a work (book, research paper, pamphlet,
etc.) either at the beginning or more likely near the end with a list of acronyms, jargon,
credits, etc. This is an important part of Research paper or report is that in which the key or
important terms in the study are clearly defined. It is an alphabetical list of important terms
or acronyms that you define, particularly ambiguous terms or those used in a special way.
Any words, phrases, acronyms, etc. that will be used in your paper, specific to your
research, will defined in this section. Terms should be defined in the context of how they are
used in the study. Don’t define words that are common knowledge unless they are used in a
unique way in your study.
Researchers define terms so that readers can understand the context in which the
words are being used or their usual or unrestricted meaning. Define terms when they first
appear so that a reader does not read ahead in the proposal operating with one set of
definitions only to find out later that the author is using a different set.
What are the two types of the Definition of Terms?
Researchers develop two kinds of definitions:
1. Theoretical definition. A theoretical definition defines a term in an academic
discipline, functioning as a proposal to see a phenomenon in a certain way. A
theoretical definition is a proposed way of thinking about potentially related
events. Theoretical definitions contain built-in theories; they cannot be simply
reduced to describing a set of observations. The definition may contain
implicit inductions and deductive consequences that are part of the theory. A
 theoretical definition of a term can changes, over time, based on the methods in the
field that created it.
2. Operational definition. Operational definition of terms refers to a detailed
explanation of the technical terms and measurements used during data collection.
This is done to standardize the data. Whenever data is being collected, it is necessary
to clearly define how to collect the data. Data that is not defined runs the risk of
being inconsistent and might not give the same results when the study is
replicated. Often, we assume that those collecting the data understand what to do
and how to complete the task. However, people may have differing views and
interpretations of the same thing, and this will affect the data collection. The only
way to ensure that the data is consistent is by means of a detailed operational
definition of terms. 
Why Definition of Terms Important?
Because definitions enable us to have a common understanding of a word or subject;
they allow us to all be on the same page when discussing or reading about an issue.
Why is it Important to have or include the Definition of Terms in a Research?
It is important to include definition of terms in your thesis or dissertation in order to
understand the key terms being used in the study. ... Terms defined should be arranged in
alphabetical order and acronyms should always spell out fully most specially if it is used for
the first time and not commonly known.

POST-TEST:
Answer the following items briefly and concisely:
1. What are the components that comprise the introduction?
2. What Makes the Introduction Different from the Background?
3. How you construct a good research question?
4. Why is the significance of the study important?
5. Explain the types of the definition of terms.
6. What is the difference between problem statement and objectives?
7. Why there is a concluding statement in the significance of the study?
8. Explain the general points on how to construct a research question.