Writing Chapter 1:

The Problem and Its

Background

Reporter:
John Martin R. Dionisio
Writing Chapter 1:
The Problem and Its Background

TOPIC OUTLINE:

The Introduction and Guidelines for

Writing the Introduction

Statement of the Problem

Assumption and the use of the basic

assumption
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

What is an introduction for a research paper?

• Scope: The topic you’ll be covering

• Context: The background of your topic

• Importance: Why your research matters

in the context of an industry or the world
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

APA Guidelines 7th Edition

The body of a paper always opens with an

introduction. The introduction contains a
succinct description of the issues being
reported, their historical antecedents, and the
study objectives.
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

Why is an introduction vital to a research paper?

A good introduction will:

• Help your reader understand your

topic’s background
• Explain why your research paper is
worth reading
• Offer a guide for navigating the rest
of the research
• Pique your reader’s interest
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

What should you include in an

introduction for a research paper?

1. Frame the Importance of the Problem

2. Historical Antecedents
3. Articulate Study Goals.
-Describe the goals in a way that clarifies the
appropriateness of the methods you used.
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

What should you include in an

introduction for a research paper?

3. Articulate Study Goals -Describe the goals in a way

that clarifies the appropriateness of the methods you used.

1. Quantitative Goals

2. Qualitative Goals

3. Mixed Method Goals

Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

Statement of the Problem and Guidelines

When should you write a problem statement?

1. Contextualize the problem

2. Show why it matters

3. Set your aims and objectives

Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

Writing a problem statement

1. Contextualize the problem
-The problem
statement should frame
your research problem,
giving some background
on what is already known.
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

Writing a problem statement

2. Show Why it Matters

-The problem statement
should also address the
relevance of the research.
Why is it important that
the problem is addressed?
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

3. Set your aims and objectives

the problem statement should
frame how you intend to
address the problem.
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

The research aim is the overall purpose of your research. It is generally written in
the infinitive form:

 The aim of this study is to determine…

 This project aims to explore…
 This research aims to investigate…

The research objectives are the concrete steps you will take to achieve the aim:

 Qualitative methods will be used to identify…

 This work will use surveys to collect…
 Using statistical analysis, the research will measure…
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its
Background

Assumptions
statements/principles that are
accepted as true based on logic or
reasons, without proof or
verification
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

Assumptions
statements/principles that are accepted as true based on logic or reasons, without proof or
verification

Assumptions Hypothesis
Assumptions are basically beliefs and ideas that Hypothesis is a prediction
we hold to be true

Often with little or no evidence & are not Can be statistically tested & may be accepted or
statistically tested in research rejected

Based on the beliefs, the researchers attempt to Predict a relationship between variables &
discover the correlation statistically tested to conclude the study
Writing Chapter 1: The Problem and Its Background

the use of Basic Assumptions

1. You cannot assume the value of your study

2. You cannot assume the reliability of the
instruments you propose to use in your
research
3. You cannot assume the validity of basic data
4. You cannot assume that your population is
typical