English 10 – 2nd Quarter Examination Coverage

Parts of Chapter 1 in Research Writing:

I: Background of The Study:

The background of a study is the first section of the paper and establishes the context underlying the research. It
contains the rationale, the key problem statement, and a brief overview of research questions that are addressed in
the rest of the paper. The background of a study serves to convey the central argument of your study and its significance
clearly and logically to an uninformed audience. The background of a study in a research paper helps to establish
the research problem or gap in knowledge that the study aims to address, sets the stage for the research question and
objectives, and highlights the significance of the research.

Creating an effective background of a study structure:

Given that the purpose of writing the background of your study is to make readers understand the reasons for
conducting the research, it is important to create an outline and basic framework to work within. This will make it
easier to write the background of the study and will ensure that it is comprehensive and compelling for readers.

Elements in the Background of the Study:

 Present a general overview of the research topic, its significance, and main aims; this may be like
establishing the “importance of the topic” in the introduction.
 Discuss the existing level of research done on the research topic or on related topics in the field to set
context for your research. Be concise and mention only the relevant part of studies, ideally in chronological
order to reflect the progress being made.
 Highlight disputes in the field as well as claims made by scientists, organizations, or key policymakers that
need to be investigated. This forms the foundation of your research methodology and solidifies the aims of
your study.
 Describe if and how the methods and techniques used in the research study are different from those used in
previous research on similar topics.
Steps in how to Write Background of the Study:

1. Identify the research problem.

2. Craft an impactful statement of the research objectives.
3. Conduct a review of available literature.
4. Address existing controversies and assumptions.
5. Present the relevance of the study.
6. Proofread to eliminate errors in language, structure, and data shared.

How to avoid mistakes in writing the background of a study:

1. Write the background of a study in a formal academic tone.
2. Avoid including unrelated concepts.
3. Provide relevant, reliable evidence to support your claims.
4. Ensure that the details presented in the background of the study are captured chronologically.
5. Check the journal guidelines for the recommended length.
II: Statement of the Problem:
- The statement should be specific and clearly define the problem or issue that the research project aims to
address. It should be narrow enough to be manageable, but broad enough to be of interest to others in the
field.
- 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?
 Contextualize the problem. What do we already know?
 Describe the exact issue your research will address. What do we still need to know?
 Show the relevance of the problem. Why do we need to know more about this?
 Set the objectives of the research. What will you do to find out more?
Characteristics of a good research problem:
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.

Three parts of persuasive statement of problem:

Part A (The ideal): Describes a desired goal or ideal situation; explains how things should be.
Part B (The reality): Describes a condition that prevents the goal, state, or value in Part A from being
achieved or realized at this time; explains how the current situation falls short of the goal or ideal.
Part C (The consequences): Identifies the way you propose to improve the current situation and move it
closer to the goal or ideal.
III: Purpose of the Study:
- illustrates what the study will do, which should reflect the statement of the problem. The purpose also
discusses how you will conduct your study and the kinds of comparisons you will make.
IV: Rationale:
- The rationale for one's research is the justification for undertaking a given study. It states the reason(s) why
a researcher chooses to focus on the topic in question, including what the significance is and what gaps the
research intends to fill. In short, it is an explanation that rationalizes the need for the study.
What to Include in the Study Rationale:
- Although every study rationale is different and discusses different specific elements of a study’s method or
approach, there are some elements that should be included to write a good rationale.
Make sure to touch on the following:
 A summary of conclusions from your review of the relevant literature
 What is currently unknown (gaps in knowledge)
 Inconclusive or contested results from previous studies on the same or similar topic
 The necessity to improve or build on previous research, such as to improve methodology or utilize newer
techniques and/or technologies.
V: Research Questions:
In general, however, a good research question should be:
 Clear and focused. In other words, the question should clearly state what the writer needs to do.
 Not too broad and not too narrow.
 Not too easy to answer.
 Not too difficult to answer.
 Researchable.
 Analytical rather than descriptive.
Fundamentals of research question:
 Focused on a single problem or issue.
 Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources.
 Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints.
 Specific enough to answer thoroughly.
 Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis.
 Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly.

VI: Hypotheses:
A hypothesis states your predictions about what your research will find. It is a tentative answer to your research
question that has not yet been tested. For some research projects, you might have to write several hypotheses that
address different aspects of your research question.

Two types of hypotheses in Research:

1. Null hypothesis of a test always predicts no effect or no relationship between variables.

2. Alternative hypothesis states your research prediction of an effect or relationship.

VII: Significance of the Study:

- The significance of a study must be stated in the Introduction section of your research paper. While stating
the significance, you must highlight how your research will be beneficial to the development of science and
the society in general.

VIII: Scope and Limitations:

What Is Scope and Delimitation in Research?
The scope and delimitations of a thesis, dissertation or research paper define the topic and boundaries of the
research problem to be investigated.

The scope details how in-depth your study is to explore the research question and the parameters in which it will
operate in relation to the population and timeframe.

The delimitations of a study are the factors and variables not to be included in the investigation. In other words,
they are the boundaries the researcher sets in terms of study duration, population size and type of participants, etc.

Difference Between Delimitations and Limitations:

Delimitations refer to the boundaries of the research study, based on the researcher’s decision of what to include
and what to exclude. They narrow your study to make it more manageable and relevant to what you are trying to
prove.

Limitations relate to the validity and reliability of the study. They are characteristics of the research design or
methodology that are out of your control but influence your research findings. Because of this, they determine the
internal and external validity of your study and are considered potential weaknesses.

Guidelines on How to Write a Scope

A good scope statement will answer the following six questions:

 Why – the general aims and objectives (purpose) of the research.

 What – the subject to be investigated, and the included variables.

 Where – the location or setting of the study, i.e. where the data will be gathered and to which entity the
data will belong.

 When – the timeframe within which the data is to be collected.

 Who – the subject matter of the study and the population from which they will be selected. This population
needs to be large enough to be able to make generalization.

 How – how the research is to be conducted, including a description of the research design (e.g. whether it is
experimental research, qualitative research or a case study), methodology, research tools and analysis
techniques.

IX: Definitions of Terms:

- Definitions can be done within the text of the chapter, or you can list all the key terms with definitions at
the end of the chapter. Ask for guidance from your culminating activity committee.

Writing a definition of terms in a research paper involves providing clear and concise explanations of key
terms, concepts, or variables used in your study. The purpose of including a definition of terms is to ensure that
readers understand the specific meanings and contexts of the terms you are using. Here are some steps to
follow when writing a definition of terms in a research paper:

1. Identify the key terms: Make a list of the terms that may be unfamiliar to your readers or have specific
meanings within the context of your research.

2. Define each term: Write a clear and concise definition for each term. Consider the following guidelines:
a. Use precise language: Clearly state the meaning of the term using specific words and avoid vague or
ambiguous language.
b. Provide context: Explain how the term is relevant to your research study and its specific application in your
research.
c. Use examples: If appropriate, provide examples or illustrations to enhance understanding and clarify the
meaning of the term.
d. Be consistent: Use the same terminology consistently throughout your paper to avoid confusion.

3. Organize the definitions: Arrange the definitions in a logical order, such as alphabetical order, or in the
order of appearance within the paper.

4. Include the definition of terms section: Introduce the section titled "Definition of Terms" in your research
paper. You can place it before or after the introduction, depending on the preferred formatting style or
guidelines of your specific research paper.
5. Format the definitions: Use a consistent formatting style for the definitions, such as italicizing or bolding
the defined terms or using a different font.

6. Provide citations if necessary: If you are using definitions or concepts from other sources, make sure to
provide appropriate citations according to the citation style guide you are following.

Remember, the definition of terms section is meant to provide clarity and ensure readers understand the specific
terminology used in your research. By following these steps, you can effectively define key terms and enhance
the overall clarity and understanding of your research paper.