HOW TO WRITE CHAPTER 1 (THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND)

Chapter 1 of a research paper should contain a discussion of each of the

following topics:
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Hypotheses
Significance of the study
Scope and Delimitation of the study
Definitions of terms
The Introduction
Guidelines in Writing the Introduction
The introduction of a research should contain a discussion of any or all
of the following:
1.) Presentation of the problem. The start of the introduction is the
presentation of the problem, that is, what the problem is all about.
This will indicate what will be covered by the study.
2.) The existence of an unsatisfactory condition, a felt problem that
needs a solution.
3.) Rationale of the study. The reason or reasons why it is necessary to
conduct the study must be discussed.
4.) Historical background of the problem.
5.) A desire to have a deeper and clearer understanding of a situation,
circumstance, or phenomenon.
6.) A desire to find a better way of doing something or of improving a
product.
7.) A desire to discover something.
8.) Geographical conditions of the study locale.
9.) A link between the introduction and the statement of the problem. A
sentence or two should show the link between the introduction and
the conducting of the researcher.
Statement of the Problem
There should be a general statement of the whole problem followed by
the specific questions or subproblems into which the general problem is
broken up.
Guidelines in formulating the general and the specific subproblems or
specific questions

1.) The general statement of the problem and the specific subproblems
or questions should be formulated first before conducting the
research.
2.) It is customary to state specific subproblems in the interrogative
form. Hence, subproblems are called specific questions.
3.) Each specific question must be clear and unequivocal, that is, it has
only one meaning. It must not have dual meanings.
4.) Each specific question is researchable apart from the other
questions, that is, answers to each specific question can be found
even without considering the other questions.
5.) Each specific question must be based upon known facts and
phenomena. Besides, data from such known facts and phenomena
must be accessible to make the specific question researchable.
6.) Answers to each specific question can be interpreted apart from the
answers to other specific questions.
7.) Answers to each specific question must contribute to the
development of the whole research problem or topic.
8.) Summing up the answers to all the specific questions will give a
complete development of the entire study.
9.) The number of specific questions should be enough to cover the
development of the whole research problem or study.
Hypotheses
A hypothesis is a tentative conclusion or answer to a specific question
raised at the beginning of the investigation. It is an educated guess about
the answer to a specific question.
Forms of hypotheses. There are two forms of hypotheses. One is the
operational form and the other is in the null form. The operational form is
stated in the affirmative while the null form is stated in the negative.
The operational form states that there is a difference between the
phenomena while the null form states that there is no difference between
the two phenomena. In other words the null form expresses equality between
two phenomena. This is more commonly used.

Significance of the Study

The importance of the whole study must contain explanations or
discussions of any or all of the following:
Guidelines in explaining the importance of the study

1.) The rationale, timeliness, and/or relevance of the study to existing

conditions must be explained or discussed.
2.) Possible solutions to existing problems or improvement to
unsatisfactory conditions.
3.) Who are to be benefitted and how they are going to be benefitted. It
must be shown who are the individuals, groups, or communities, who
may be placed in a more advantageous position on account of the
study.
4.) Possible contribution to the fund of knowledge.
5.) Possible implications. It should be discussed here that the implications
include the possible causes of the problems discovered, the possible
effects of the problems, and the remedial measures to solve the
problems. Implications also include the good points of a system which
ought to be continued or to be improved if possible.
Scope and Delimitations of the Study
Guidelines in Writing the Scope and Delimitations
1. A brief statement of the general purpose of the study
2. The subject matter and topics studied and discussed.
3. The locale of the study, where the data were gathered or the entity to
which the data belong.
4. The population from which the respondents were selected. This must
be large enough to make generalizations
5. The period of the study. This is the time, either months or years during
which the data were gathered.
Definitions of Terms
Guidelines in defining terms:
1.) Only terms, words, or phrases which have special or unique meanings
in the study are defined.
2.) Terms should be defined operationally, that is, how they are used in the
study.
3.) The researcher may develop his own definition from the characteristics
of the term defined.
4.) Definitions may be taken from encyclopaedias, books, magazines and
newspaper articles, dictionaries, and other publications but the
researcher must acknowledge his resources. Definitions taken from
published materials are called conceptual or theoretical definitions.
5.) Definitions should be as brief, clear, and unequivocal as possible.
6.) Acronyms should always be spelled out fully especially if it is not
commonly known or if it is used for the first time.