A. Precise identification of problem area, often including specification of independent and dependent variables and
identification of target population.
B. Sufficient clarity and conciseness
for indexing of title
C. Effective arrangement of words in title
CHAPTER ONE: THE PROBLEM
Introduction
Description and statement of problem
Includes demographics of the problem
Background of the problem
Sufficient delimitation of the
problem area
Narrowing of the scope without becoming concerned with a trivial
problem.
Trends related to the problem, unresolved issues, social - legal
- policy or other concerns
Statement of the problem
Basic difficulty ‑ area of concern
Statement
of basic or felt difficulty or problem situation
Significance and importance
of the problem area explored in basic or applied research.
Problem is clearly
stated
Data showing that the problem is significant
Assumptions are clearly stated
Purpose of the study
(Goal oriented)‑emphasizing practical outcomes or products
Succinct, precise, and unambiguous statement of the research problem (including the delineation of independent, dependent,
and classificatory variables), of the major questions to be resolved, or of the objectives to be investigated
Include information from the research proposal
RATIONALE
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Questions and objectives to be investigated
Distinction (if required) between problems or questions that are either factually oriented or value oriented.
ASSUMPTIONS
Conceptual And
Substantive Assumptions
Postulates
Note any distinctions between the
- 1. Purpose [which is often
goal‑oriented or instrumental in relation to certain pragmatic objectives], and
- 2. Research problem [which is primarily directed toward the finding of relationships, the making of comparisons,
or the noting of changes or possible cause and effect relationships] relative to operationally formulated research hypotheses.
Statement of methodological assumption such as
1]. Adequacy of reliability and validity of measures
2]. Representativeness
of sample
3]. Fulfillment of appropriate requirements for carrying out
statistical tests
Rationale and theoretical framework
Based upon literature in the field when appropriate
Delineation of the research problem
Logical and orderly
exposition in terms of the framework of the hypotheses, deductions, objectives, or questions asked in conjunction with the
statement of the problem.
Careful analysis of known and suspected facts
and explanation of existing information and knowledge that may have some bearing on problem
Systemic and orderly presentation of the interrelationship of relevant factors, facts, and concepts underlying the
problem
Spell out factors giving rise to the basic difficulty, of their
interrelationships, and of their relevance to the problem area.
Explication
of relationships among variables or comparisons to be considered
Relationship
of the problem to previous research is made clear
Statement
of hypotheses
Soundness of the logic underlying selection of variables
Soundness of factors to be studied
Note the
relationship of the variables and factors to the problem area
Hypotheses
are clearly stated
Conceptual rendition subsequently followed by operational
statements in Chapter I or in Methodology Chapter
Importance
of the study
Systematic and orderly presentation of the interrelationships
of relevant facts and concepts related to the problem.
May overlap with
statement of problem situation
Definition of terms
Clear identification of the problem statement through use of an appropriate heading or paragraph
caption (the same requirement holding for other major categories of the research).
Definitions of terms
1. Clarity in the definitions of key terms
and variables (especially constructs).
2. Use of operational definitions
whenever possible - will be covered in more detail in Methodology Chapter.
delimitations of the study
Imitations of the study are
stated
Narrowing of focus
Summary of PROBLEM
OUTLINE OF THE THESIS
OR DISSERTATION
Outline of the remainder of the thesis or proposal
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
overview
Introduction and Organization
of the present chapter - overview
Review of the literature pertinent to
the problem areas.
Evaluate the literature pertinent to the problem areas.
Historical background
(If necessary)
Purposes to be served by review of research literature
What has been previously discovered or thought
Who
has done what work?
Establish possible need for study and likelihood
for obtaining meaningful, relevant, and significant results
REVIEW
APPROACH
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
THEORETICAL ISSUES
EMPIRICAL
ISSUES
RELATED RESEARCH FINDINGS
THEORETICAL LITERATURE
EMPIRICAL
LITERATURE
INSTRUMENTS USED
methodological issues
When and where
latest research studies were completed
What approaches involving research
methodology, instrumentation, and statistical analyses were followed (literature review of methodology sometimes saved for
chapter on methodology)
Adequacy and relevance of the previous investigation
cited with reference to the basic difficulty posed, design of the current investigation, procedures followed, and projected
analysis of data.
Appropriate development of a rationale or theoretical
framework from the research studies cited with reference to the current problem under investigation.
Furnish from delineation of various theoretical positions, a conceptual framework affording bases for generation
of hypotheses and statement of their rationale (when appropriate)
Note:
In some highly theoretical studies, the chapter "Review of Literature" may need to precede "The Problem"
chapter so that the theoretical framework is established for a succinct statement of the research problem and hypotheses.
In such a case, an advance organizer in the form of a brief general statement of the purpose of the entire investigation should
come right at the beginning of the "Review of Literature" chapter.
LITERATURE REVIEW
General integrative reviews cited that
relate to the problem situation or research problem
Specific books, monographs,
and bulletins, reports, and research articles ‑ preference shown in most instances for literature of the last ten years
Unpublished materials (e.g., dissertations, theses, papers presented at recent professional
meetings not yet in published form, but possibly available through ERIC)
Selection
and arrangement of literature review often in terms of questions to be considered, hypotheses set forth, or objectives or
specific purposes delineated in problem chapter
CRITIQUE
OF LITERATURE
CONTRIBUTION STUDY WILL MAKE TO THE
LITERATURE
Summary of literature reviewed
(Very brief)
CHAPTER THREE:
METHODOLOGY OR PROCEDURES
Overview
Clear statement of the conceptions, assumptions, or postulates that underlie the problem being
investigated.
Precise statement of the
(1) Hypotheses or
(2) Deduced consequences of theories or
(3) Study objectives (especially in survey and descriptive research).
Hypotheses involving relationships and comparisons.
Presentation
of deducible consequences or predictions (if any) that are logically consistent with a hypothesis (i.e., antecedent‑consequent
statement: If A exists, then B follows).
Important terms are defined
Largely conceptual; operational definitions
Description of research methodology or approach
(E.g.,
experimental, quasi-experimental, correlation, causal‑comparative, or survey)
Logic, structure, and strategy of study carefully delineated.
Research design
Research design is described fully
Spell out independent, dependent and classificatory variables and sometimes formulate an operational
statement of the research hypotheses in null form so as to set the stage for an appropriate research design permitting statistical
inferences.)
Distinction made between whether the research involves variables
manipulated and controlled by the investigator (usually found in experimental research) or whether an ex post facto situation
exists involving the analysis of data already available or collected as in most field studies and correlation investigations.
Research design is appropriate for the solution of the problem
Research design is free of specific weaknesses
Method of sampling
is appropriate
Data‑gathering methods or procedures are described
Data‑gathering methods or procedures are appropriate to the solution of the problem
Data‑gathering methods or procedures are utilized correctly
NULL HYPOTHESES
OPERATIONAL
DEFINITIONS
Pilot studies
As they apply to the research design, development of instruments, data collection techniques,
and characteristics of the sample
Evidence of a preparatory pilot study
having been conducted.
Selection of subjects
Sample described
Population described
Clear description of samples studied.
1.
Mode of selection of subject cited (e.g., random assignment, matching, voluntary participation, or convenience by being available).
Weaknesses of mode noted in limitations section of this chapter
2. Data
regarding how representative a sample is relative to a population.
3. Information
on possible operation bias
Selective dropout and/or
"Survival of the fittest"
POPULATION
SAMPLING
Instrumentation
Adequate information pertaining to the reliability, validity, and standardization properties
of instrumentation: psychometric characteristic of scales or tests used.
Tests
Measures
Observations
Scales
Questionnaire
Procedures
Field, classroom or laboratory
procedures
Instructions to subjects or distribution of materials
Sufficient description of operational or field procedures followed in the collection of data‑where,
when, and how data were obtained.
Data collection and recording
Coordination of the specification of the relationship between the
Null (statistical) hypotheses and the
Research (problem) hypotheses.
Data processing and analysis
Procedure clearly enough described so that other investigators can replicate (repeat) the study performed under essentially
comparable conditions in the future.
Note the appropriateness of the statistical
treatment and data processing procedures.
Statistical analysis
ELEMENTARY DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS
Percentages, proportions, ratios, tables, charts, and graphs are all common techniques used for presenting research
results.
Proportions and percentages standardize raw data to the base of
1.00 and 100 respectively. They are easier to read and understand than frequencies when comparing groups of different sizes.
Proportion (p) is the value calculated by dividing the quantity in one category by the total
of all categories.
(p) =f/N
Percentage
(%) is a proportion that has been multiplied by one hundred.
% = (f/N) x
100,
Where f = frequency, the number of cases in any category
N = the number of cases in all
categories
Percentages and proportions are sensitive to small sample sizes
(i.e., fewer than 20) and hence frequencies are the preferred statistic to report. Also when reporting proportions and percentages
always report the number of observations as it helps judge the adequacy of the sample size and also prevents the researcher
from lying.[1]
RATIOS AND RATES
Ratio is the number of cases in one category divided by the number of cases in another category (i.e., males: females).
They give a precise measure of the relative frequency by telling the researcher the exact way one category outnumbers the
other. Ratio = f1/f2
Where f1= the number of cases in the first
category
F2
= the number of cases in the second category
Rate is a ratio of the actual
occurrence in a group category by the number of possible occurrences per some unit of time. Rates are multiplied by some power
of 10 toe eliminate decimal points. For example, the crude death rate for a population is defined as the number of deaths
in that population (actual occurrences) divided by the number of people in the population (possible occurrences) per year.
The formula is as follows:
Initial consideration would have to be
given to the population's sex ratio, birth rate, general fertility rate, age specific rate, completed fertility rates,
child-woman ratios, abortion rates, abortion ratios, death rates, age-specific death rates, cause specific death rates, proportion
dying of a specific cause, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rates, life expectancy, incidence rate, prevalence rate,
case rate, case fatality rate, immigration rate, emigration rate, net migration rate, balancing equation, natural increase,
rate of natural increase, and doubling time. Instead of the incomplete fragments of records, indigenous population must
be extrapolated from a base population (p1) to present using the tools of demography.Included would be:
Population Size. The total number of inhabitants of a specified area
at a specified date.
Census Enumeration. An
organized campaign to count the number of inhabitants residing within a specified area as of a specified date, enumerating
their demographic, social, and economic characteristics in the process.
Population Change. Increase or decrease in population size between two dates.
Average Annual Rate of Change. The average percentage increase or decrease
per annum required to account for the population change between two dates.
Components
of Population Change. Births, deaths, immigration, and emigration.
Reproductive
Change (Natural Increase). Births minus deaths.
Crude
Birth Rate. Number of births during a year per 1,000 midyear population in that year.
Crude Death Rate. Number of deaths during a year per 1,000 midyear population in that
year.
Net Migration Rate. Amount of net migration
during a year per 1,000 midyear population in that year.
Population
Projection. Estimate of what the population will be at a future date, based on assumptions about the future course
of birth, death, and migration rates.
Crude death rate=Number
of deaths in year x 1000
Total Population
[1]
