RESEARCH PAPER

RESEARCH PAPER

5 CHAPTERS
 INTRODUCTION
 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
 METHODOLOGY
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
INTRODUCTION
The first part of a research paper is called the Introduction or Chapter I. It consists of the
following parts:
(1) background of the study
(2) statement of the problem
(3) hypotheses
(4) theoretical and conceptual framework
(5) significance of the study
(6) scope and limitations and
(7) definition of terms
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

 The background of the study gives the readers important information about the research being
conducted. The following are its features:
1. It cites the reason why the researcher chooses to study a particular topic. The researcher
writes about his/her personal observations, difficulties, issues and other relevant experiences that led
him/her to conduct a study about the topic at hand. He/she may cite relevant studies that might have
caught his/her interest to pursue such study.
2. It describes the setting or the place where the research will take place. Different localities have
different needs to be addressed. Thus, it is important to note where the study will be conducted. This
gives special consideration to the needs of that particular locality.
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

3. It presents bases that may support or negate the claims of the researcher. A researcher may present
relevant literatures related to the study he/she is conducting.
4. It gives justification for the need for the research study. The researcher may cite benefits and other
advantages that the research study might present after it has been done. The researcher must
establish the importance to conduct the research study. Once this has been established, he/she may
push to start working on the problem.
In summary, the background of the study provides a brief explanation on how the study was
conceived, how will it be conducted, and the possible contribution it may give to the society.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

 The statement of the problem, also called the heart of a research study, is where
the general and specific problems or objectives are presented. The introductory
statement in this section is usually the general problem or goal based from the
research title. This is followed by specific problems or objectives that will be
thoroughly studied in the course of the research. More often, specific problems are
stated in interrogative form, while research objectives are stated in a declarative
form. Specific problems need to be answered by statements of hypotheses, while
research objectives may not be followed by a hypothesis.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Example:
Research Title:The Impact of the El Nino to the Way of Life of the Filipino Farmers
General Problem: This study attempts to document the effects of El Nino on the way of life of the
Filipino farmers.
Specific Problems:
1. What are the effects of El Nino on the production of agricultural products of the Filipino farmers?
2. What are the effects of the said environmental phenomenon to the social and economic interactions
of the Filipino farmers?
3. What practices are adopted by the said farmers to limit the effects of El Nino to their way of life?
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

TYPES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS

There are four types of research questions based on their purpose.
1. Factor-isolating questions. The purpose of these questions is to categorize or
name factors and situations.
Example: What are the possible reasons for the low grades of students in English?
2. Factor-relating questions. These questions aim to establish relationships
between the factors that have been identified.
Example:What relationship exists between variable A and variable B?
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

TYPES OF RESEARCH QUESTIONS

There are four types of research questions based on their purpose.
3. Situation-relating questions. These questions aim to see the changes that might happen
to one variable when the other variable changes. These questions usually need experimentation
in order to get results.
Example:What is the effect of the changes in climate to the behavior
4. Situation-producing questions. These questions lead to promote explicit course of action
or conditions under which a goal could be accomplished. These are commonly used in action
research.
Example: What appropriate classroom management technique could be devised to maintain
classroom cleanliness?
HYPOTHESES

In research, hypothesis is defined as a temporary answer to a research

problem. It serves as a guide as to what processes are needed in answering
the research questions and what research design is to be undertaken in the
study.
In qualitative research, hypotheses may not be needed or may emerge as
the study progresses, depending on the purpose of the study. For instance,
in doing descriptive research, you may not need hypotheses for you to be
able to describe what is going on or to describe a certain phenomenon or
idea.
TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS

1. SCIENTIFIC HYPOTHESIS provides an answer to a research question based on the

review of related literature. If conflicting results exist in the related literature, the
researcher may consider those results from researches conducted in similar
context as that of the present study. Scientific hypothesis is written in the research
write-up, may it be in quantitative or qualitative research.
2. STATISTICAL HYPOTHESIS presents the standard hypothesis for the statistical
procedure to be employed in the study. Below are its types:
a. Null hypothesis suggests a negative relation between variables. It negates the
existence of a characteristic or a difference in effect of the variables.
TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS

2. STATISTICAL HYPOTHESIS presents the standard hypothesis for the

statistical procedure to be employed in the study. Below are its types:
a. Null hypothesis suggests a negative relation between variables. It
negates the existence of a characteristic or a difference in effect of the
variables.
b. Alternative hypothesis suggests a positive relation between
variables. It affirms the existence of a characteristic or a difference in
the effect of the variables.
TYPES OF HYPOTHESIS

EXAMPLE:
Statement of the Problem:
1. Can the produced paper made from Taro roots and leaves be a good substitute for
commercial paper?
2. Is there a significant difference between paper made from Taro roots and leaves from
commercial paper in terms of appearance, texture, and usefulness?
Hypothesis:
1. Paper produced from Taro roots and leaves can be a good substitute for commercial paper.
2. There is no significant difference between paper made out of Taro roots and leaves from
commercial paper in terms of appearance, texture and usefulness.
THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Framework is described as the abstract, logical structure of meaning that guides the
development of the study. All frameworks are based on the identification of and
relationships among key concepts.
The theoretical and conceptual framework discusses the different principles from
where the study is anchored on. A theoretical framework is adopted when a
particular theory is enough to provide theoretical basis for the conduct of the study.
On the other hand, a conceptual framework is used when the concepts from
different theories are borrowed to provide bases for an investigation, because on
theory does not cover all the concerns of the study.
THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Problem: What is the effect of Aloe vera extract on the rate of growth and regeneration
of Planaria?

Conceptual Framework:
Regeneration of
Planaria
Aloe vera
extracts
Growth of
Planaria
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

 The Significance of the study explains how the study will be beneficial to the different
stakeholders of the society. It identifies the target beneficiaries or target users of the
current study. It should be clear to the beneficiaries the advantages and significance
of the research results.
 The researcher must establish that the current study is beneficial in relation to
solving a particular problem or addressing a particular need, contributing additional
knowledge to what already exists; bridging the gap of knowledge or ideas; improving
social, economic, cultural, socio-political conditions and research methods; and
supporting government’s thrusts. The significance of the study can be written
deductively – from general to specific benefits of the study, or inductively – from
specific to general benefits.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

 The scope and limitations presents the variables or subjects of the study, the extent
to which the research will cover, the possible factors or nuances that will be given
focus on the course of the study, the possible challenges that the researcher might
encounter, and other things that might be related to the topic but are beyond the
control of the researcher.
 This section is divided into two: the scope, which covers the explanation as to up to
what extent the researcher would want to explore or interpret in his/her research,
and the limitations or delimitations, which is a justification as to the ‘limits’ or
boundaries of the research.
SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

 Limitations are conditions beyond the control of the researcher that may
cause restrictions and make the conclusions to be generalizable only to
the conditions set by the researcher. Due to these factors, the research
conclusions might not hold true for other situations or context.
 Delimitations, on the other hand, are the conditions that the researcher
purposely controlled. These are the limits beyond the concern of the
study.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

The definition of terms presents the key terms used in the study. There are two possible ways
on how a key term can be defined – conceptually or operationally.
Conceptual definition explains the meaning of a particular term using the dictionary. These
are based on established concepts and ideas that has been already defined and is commonly
used and understood by readers.
On the other hand, operational definition describes a term by how the researcher used it in
his/her study. The use of both types of definition is encouraged to make the meaning clear to
the readers. Usually, technical terms are defined using operational definition to help the laymen
understand the terms easily.
In constructing this section, it is recommended to start with a simple introductory paragraph
followed by the alphabetical list of terms and their corresponding definitions.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Conceptual Definition:
This is like looking up a word in the dictionary. You explain what a term
means based on its established concept or idea. For example:
Caffeine: "A natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, and some soft drinks.
It's known for its ability to increase alertness and reduce fatigue."
Memory: "The mental ability to retain and recall information. It involves
encoding, storing, and retrieving information in the brain."
These definitions are based on commonly understood meanings and
concepts.They help readers grasp the basic idea of the terms.
DEFINITION OF TERMS

Operational Definition:
Now, let's say you want to measure "memory performance" in your study.
You might define it operationally like this:
Memory Performance: "Measured as the number of words correctly
recalled from a list after a 10-minute delay in a memory test."
This definition describes how you're specifically using the term "memory
performance" in your study. It's more specific and tailored to the research
context.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

 What is the value of related literature?

A good research is designed to build on and use existing knowledge. Once a research
topic is already determined and well-thought of, the researcher must look for academic
and research journals, books, and other similar documents that contain reports of
previous research studies about a topic related to the present research. This is called
literature review or review of related literature. It involves a process of
identifying, locating, organizing, and analyzing information about a research topic.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Conducting a literature review is essential because it prevents duplication of studies and

helps avoid problems that others have encountered. It would be wasteful for a
researcher to begin working on a study without knowing what others have already
done. Literature review also provides valuable information about how to measure the
research variables involved and what research designs will be most useful. A thorough
literature review before the implementation of the study reflects the depth of
discussion, analysis, and interpretation of findings.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Literature serves the ff. functions in the research process:
 It provides information about past research studies related to the intended investigation, preventing
the duplication of research undertakings
 It presents gaps in the field of study. Gaps may either be areas in the body of knowledge that are not
explored yet or parts where research studies yielded inconclusive results.
 It affords confidence and authority to the researchers since reviewing the literature can provide them
all possible constructs and perspectives of the present study.
 It gives information about the methods used in similar studies, including the characteristics of the
samples, the sampling techniques or the process of selecting the research participants, the variables
considered, the kinds of data gathered, and the type of analysis and interpretation done on the
collected data.
 It enumerates findings from previous studies that may support those of the present study.
 It provides ideas on how implications may be drawn out of the analysis and interpretation of data.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
 What are the steps involved in writing the review of related literature?
1. Introduction. The introduction of the review of literature discusses briefly the
research problem and the significance of the study. It may also present the
organization of the discussion of the claims and arguments of experts and
researchers aligned with the topic of interest.
2. Body. The body contains a narrative of relevant ideas and findings found in the
reports of other researchers that support the present research problem. It must be
stressed that the review of literature is not simply a listing and discussion of
research findings, but it must be organized to form a story that will help the
conduct of the research and the analysis and interpretation of data gathered in the
research process. It may be helpful to make a topic outline as a guide in organizing
and writing the body of the literature review.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

3. Synthesis. The synthesis ties together the main ideas revealed in the review of
related literature. It presents an overall picture of what was established up to the
present, and perhaps how the review can support the development and conduct of
the research. The role of synthesis is very important because it explains why the
review is relevant and helpful to the present research.
4. Bibliography. This part contains the full bibliographic information of all the sources
mention in the review. This information list is needed in building the References
section of the research report.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In writing the review of related literature, always begin with a good introduction and
end it with a synthesis. Make a connection between the topic and subtopics discussed.
As much as possible, the use of direct quotations must be avoided. Consistently, the
source or reference for each claim or argument must be cited.
APA FORMAT

American Psychological Association or APA style is the most common way to cite
sources in field of social sciences. In using this format, the author-date method of in-text
citation is followed in which the author’s surname and the year of publication for the
source should appear in the text, e.g. (Cahan, 2000). A complete reference should
appear in the bibliography section of the research paper.
APA FORMAT

Citing in APA Format

1. A work of two authors. Name both authors in parentheses whenever their work is
cited. Use the word “and” between the authors’ names within the text and use the
ampersand (&) in the parentheses.
Research is … (Robinson & Levin, 1997)
Robinson and Levin (1997) discussed…
APA FORMAT

Citing in APA Format

2. A work of three to five authors. Include the entire author’s surname in parentheses
the first time the source is cited. Use the word and between the authors’ names
within the text and use the ampersand in the parentheses.
Kim, Song, Chang, Kang, and Park (2013) argued…
Learning is … (Kim, Song, Chang, Kang, & Park (2013)
APA FORMAT

Citing in APA Format

3. A work of six or more authors. Use the first author’s name followed by et al. in
parentheses.
Choi et al. (2013) reported …
4. Associations, corporations, government agencies, etc. as an author. If the name of an
association is the source, it should be cited as follows:
According to the Department of Education (2013)…
However, if the association has a well-known abbreviation, the abbreviation in brackets is
included the first time it appears and then only the abbreviation in later citations.
First citation: Commission on Higher Education [CHED] (2012)…
Second citation: CHED (2012)…
APA FORMAT

Citing in APA Format

5. Citing indirect sources. If a source was mentioned in another source, the citation is as
follows:
Smith argued that…(as cited in Johnson, 2005, p.92)

6. Electronic sources. Electronic documents are cited the same way as any other
document by using the author-date style.
Briones (2009) explained…
APA FORMAT

Citing in APA Format

7. Citing websites. Websites are cited the same way as any other source, using the
author-date style if known. If there is no author, the title and the date are cited as the
in-text citation (for long titles, the first few words are cited). For sources with no date,
“n.d.” (for no date) in place of the year is used.

Andrews, n.d.
APA FORMAT

Citing in APA Format

a. In-text citation for website with no author
Bulacan has become a major link between large and concentered consumer markets in the
National Capital Region (NCR) or Metro Manila and the resource-rich provinces of
Northern Luzon (Provincial Government of Bulacan, 2007).

b. Reference entry for website with no author

Provincial Government of Bulacan. (2007). Retrieved from
http://www.bulacan.gov.ph/business/products.php
APA FORMAT

Citing in APA Format

c. In-text citation for a section of a website with no author
In addition, bamboo bike cannot be split in two because of having so much fiber
(“Philippine Bamboo Bikes Hit”, 2012)

d. Reference entry for section of a website with no author

Philippine Bamboo Bikes Hit Market. (2012). Manila Bulletin. Retrieved from
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/Philippine-bamboo-bikes-hit-market-14323242.html
METHODOLOGY

What is a thesis research methodology?

 A thesis research methodology explains the type of research performed, justifies
the methods that you chose by linking back to the literature review, and describes
the data collection and analysis procedures. Most importantly, this is the section
where the readers of your study evaluate its validity and reliability.
RESEARCH DESIGN

 Research Design is the process of structuring techniques and strategies that help
researchers solve their problems or answer their inquiries. This may entail detailed
data gathering procedures that lead to the fulfillment of the research goals. To do this,
researchers need to carefully design research methods, data collection, and other
pertinent processes to minimize the cost of conducting the investigation. Most
importantly, they need to plan the data gathering procedures to ensure that the data
used in the study is valid. This is especially true for quantitative research where
procedures need to be strictly followed.
 RESEARCH LOCALE
 RESEARCH RESPONDENTS
 DATA COLLECTION AND PROCEDURE
 DATA/STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
DATA COLLECTION AND PROCEDURE

Explain the rationale behind the sampling procedure you have chosen. This could
involve probability sampling (a random sample from the study population) or non-
probability sampling (does not use a random sample).
For quantitative studies, describe the sampling procedure and whether statistical tests
were used to determine the sample size.
For qualitative research, describe how the participants were chosen and how the data
is going to be collected.
DATA ANALYSIS
For quantitative research, describe what tests you plan to perform and why you have chosen them. Popular data
analysis methods in quantitative research include:
• Descriptive statistics (e.g., means, medians, modes)
• Inferential statistics (e.g., correlation, regression, structural equation modeling)

For qualitative research, describe how the data is going to be analyzed and justify your choice. Popular data analysis
methods in qualitative research include:
• Qualitative content analysis
• Thematic analysis
• Discourse analysis
• Narrative analysis
• Grounded theory
• Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)