Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Background of the Study

This refers to the need for the research, what are its contributions to the field,
both teaching and research efforts, and/or policy making)

This portion aims to acquaint the reader of the problem to be dealt with by
describing the facts, personal concerns, or actual conditions and situations in
the environment (of interest in the study) which become the basis for selecting
the research problem
 Gaps in knowledge
 Need to clarify conflicting practices in a specific field
 Need for data base in evaluating practices and policies
 Development of new or better research procedures for scholarly work
 Validation of certain theories/principles

Review of Literature

This refers to the body of literature related to the study being conducted or a
discussion of how the research is related with the current researches in the
field.

The purpose of reviewing the past literature on the topic is to expand the
context of the study, to help further define the problem, and to provide an
empirical basis for the hypotheses. This section cites references of significant
publications and current journal articles related to the problem.

Theoretical/Conceptual Framework

This includes a discussion of the different theories and models that provide the
conceptual underpinnings of the study or the legitimate bases for defining its
parameters. The conceptual paradigm is also included and discussed in this
part.

Explains in narrative form, the main dimensions to be studied – the key

factors or variables – and the presumed relationships among them.
Theoretical or conceptual scheme is developed from the review of the
literature and is usually represented in a diagram. Conceptual or theoretical
framework is not necessary in qualitative research.

A conceptual framework is a tentative theoretical scheme that the researcher

has developed or his/her research problem. It is introduced by a discussion of
 the theoretical orientation used by the researcher. Theoretical framework on
the other hand, presents an integrated set of propositions espoused by an
individual or group of individuals which has generally been recognized.

Statement of the Problems

This refers to what the proponent intends to investigate and what he/the wants
to accomplish in the research.

This portion should state the problem clearly as a main problem, written either
as a declarative statement or as a question broken down to specific sub-
problems, usually also written in the form of questions.

Hypothesis

This refers to the statements that the researcher wishes to prove. The
hypothesis is stated in the null form

Scope and Limitation

This presents the limits, boundaries or the parameters of the study.

It specifies the precise boundaries of the study. It indicates what the study
will include and what it will not include. Scope would refer to the parameters
of the study, its coverage, method, and subjects. Delimitations refer to what
are the limiting aspects of the study as well as restrictions to generalizability
of results.

Significance of the Study

This part presents how different individuals or groups are benefited by the
results of the study.

It describes the theoretical and practical values derived from the study. It
includes potential contributions to various fields, to knowledge, or to research
literature. This section may also be presented in terms of who will benefit
from the investigations and in what ways.

Definition of Terms

This includes a listing of unfamiliar words defined according to how they are
used in the study. Also included in this part are acronyms.
It lists and defines the principal terms used, particularly where the terms have
different meanings to different people. It includes both a conceptual and
operational or behavioral definitions, that is, how the variables are
manipulated or measured in the study.
 Chapter 2

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Research Design

This describes how the research was carried out, what research design was
used.

This portion describes the overall plan for the investigation. The design may
be descriptive survey, correlational, experimental, etc.

Respondents/ Subjects

This part describes the group of people where data needed for the study came
from or were obtained.

Sample and Sampling Techniques

This describes the quantity of the sample, how it was determined and the
sampling methodology used to select the sample.

The researcher should describe the group from which the sample is drawn, the
method of sampling and the rationale for the sampling method. It also
includes how many subjects or participants were involved in the study.

Research Instruments

This describes the research tools that were used to gather the needed data (e.g.
questionnaire, interview guide, test, etc.)

It describes each of the instruments used for data gathering in terms of process
of preparation, information about administration, scoring, and interpretation,
evidences of reliability and validity.

Data Gathering Procedure

This presents the sequential steps or procedures that were used or done by the
researcher in his data gathering.

This portion discusses in detail the procedures, techniques, and strategies

employed in data gathering. Detailed discussion is required to enable another
researcher to replicate the method.
Data Analysis

This describes the manner for which the data were analyzed and interpreted. It
includes all the statistical concepts that were used for data analysis (if any).

It identifies the statistical designs used to analyze data including level of

significance employed and mode of analysis. It specifies which variable s
were used in the analysis. Statistical formulas should be included in the
discussion. For complex statistical designs (e.g., regression analysis, factorial
analysis, etc.), there is a need to include a step-by-step procedure in using
them
 Chapter 3

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This reports the findings objectively. Modes of presentation include:

Tabular

Graphical

Qualitative

The presentation can be done by first, briefly stating the main results or findings.
Then, report the data in sufficient detail to justify the conclusions. Mention all relevant
results including those that run counter to the hypothesis. Do not include individual
scores or raw data, with the exception of single-case studies or illustrative samples.

Tables provide exact values and can efficiently illustrate main effects, figures of
professional quality attributes of a test, the degrees of freedom, the probability level, and
the direction of the effect. Be sure to include descriptive statistics (e.g. mean); where
means are reported, always include an associated measure of variability, such as standard
deviations, variances, or mean square errors.

Commonly used alpha levels are .05 and .01. Before you begin to report specific
results, you should routinely state the particular alpha level you selected for the statistical
tests you conducted.

The salient findings must follow discussions that would contain interpretations or
implications, especially with respect to the original hypothesis. In here, the researcher is
free to examine, interpret, and qualify the results, as well as draw inferences from them.
Theoretical consequences of the results and validity of the conclusions must be
emphasized. The literature review may again be cited to explain the results. Procedural
limitations are also discussed.
 Chapter 4

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS

AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary of Findings. Briefly summarize the findings of the study; wording of the
summary and abstract should not be exactly the same; summary is usually longer than the
abstract presented at the beginning of the report.

Conclusions. General statements or conclusions should be logically inferred from the

results. Generalizations should be clearly delimited. Conclusions may either support or
not support the hypotheses.

Recommendations. It includes suggestions, which may involve change in policies,

practices, etc.
REFERENCES. A list of the sources used in the research must be supplied which
complies with the APA style guidelines. This list should include only those sources cited
in the research.

The list of references is always started on a new page.

The word “References” should be centered on top of the page.

All sources cited in the manuscript must be listed in alphabetical order in the
reference list.

(References are not bibliographies. Bibliographies refer the interested reader to

additional sources for further reading that were not specifically cited in the manuscript,
and are not used in the APA-style manuscript).

The author’s name is not indented at the left. The lines below the author’ name,
within the entry, are indented 1-tab.

Within each entry, in each set of references, is typed single-spaced. Between each
entry is typed double-spaced.

APPENDICES. Appendices may be needed for formulae, maps, diagrams, interview

protocols, survey questionnaires, checklists, letters, computer printouts of statistical tests,
supplementary materials or any similar data that are not contained in the body of the
research. These should be provided after the conclusion in the logical order they are
mentioned in the main body. A list of appendices should be drawn up, each being given a
consecutive letter, and placed in the table of contents. If there are several appendices each
should receive a title.