How to write Chapter One of a Final year Project: 8 Steps You Need to Know
Introduction and Background of the study
This is an overall introduction to your topic of interest that provides an in-depth background to the topic. You must be precise and state the purpose of your research. This is the most detailed part of chapter one; here, you will give a historical development of your research topic. State the different overlapping views in this area and the significant investigations that researchers have done.
Also, it would help if you talked about the present state of your research. Have there been any changes? You can cite a few paragraphs from your literature review, but it must summarise the conflicts in your area of the project that have not been addressed.
Statement of the Problem
This is where you state the specific problem that you intend to address. It usually will begin with: This project addresses the problem of….” When writing your problem, make sure you address the existing problems before you intend to proffer solutions in your research.
Purpose of the study
This is the section where you give the overall purpose of your project. It must be related to your literature review and answer the questions raised in your problem statement. Ensure that your hypothesis is clearly stated and testable.
The significance of the study
This states the importance of addressing the problem you are set to work on. It would help if you linked your work to any area that you think the study will help. Is it going to improve the human condition or the state of education? Whatever it is, this is where you have to state the relevance of your research.
Theoretical Framework
This is the basic theory used to provide insight into which your research work is built. There are lots of theories depending on the topic you are working on. For example, research work on evolution would be working with Charles Darwin’s theory.
Research Questions
These are guiding lights for your research, and they provide insight into the objective and purpose of the study. Your questions should be structured in a way that will provide answers to the researcher. Avoid yes-or-no questions and try using the WH questions.
When you ask a YES/NO question, you cannot make headway in your project work because you will not have information to work with. Stay away from closed-ended questions. Rather than use open-ended ones,
Research Hypothesis
Your hypothesis must be tentative to the problem under study and should relate to the questions you have raised in your research questions.
Limitations
There may be constraints that may influence the outcome of your research; they are beyond your control, so you must state them.
Delimitation
Some topics are broad and, because of the time you have, you might have to chop off some areas deliberately,;, and clearly define the length to which your project will cover.
Definition of terms
Make sure you define important terms and concepts in your projects, such as variables, acronyms, and keywords.
Steps in writing chapter one of a research project (Summarised)
The format in which your chapter will follow differs depending on your discipline. However, most of the chapter one follows the following format;
- Background to the study
At this stage, it is expected that the research extensively discusses the keywords in their research topic, showing its relationship with existing works of literature and the gaps in knowledge. It states what will be done in the work/research study.
- Statement of the problem
Here, the researcher is expected to discuss the central issues surrounding their research topic, providing detailed information on the effect of the status quo on the intended population to be studied.
- Objectives of the study
Here, the specific objectives that will guide the study are formulated. The specific objectives can be framed based on the research problem and the identified gap in knowledge. The research-specific objectives must be constructed in a manner that reflects and supports the general objective of the research study.
- Research questions
The formulation of research questions allows the researcher to obtain data from respondents. Research questions can be formulated by turning specific objectives into questions.
- Research hypothesis
The researcher formulates a hypothetical assumption that will be tested in the long run in the research. These assumptions, in most cases, are derived from the research questions and specific objectives.
- justification or significance of the study.
Here, the researcher is expected to discuss the importance of the intended study and how it would contribute to the development of the targeted population, wider society,y and the body of knowledge.
- Scope of the study
The scope of the study provides readers with information on the content areas to be covered in the study and the geographical areas to be covered or studied.
- Limitations of the study
This segment provides details on the possible setbacks the study will likely face. Limitations can come in the form of time constraints, unavailability, developing related literature, lack of finance, or the inadequacy of the instrument to be employed for data analysis, among others.
- Operational definition of terms
Here, the keywords and other related words used in the study are defined and explained to aid understanding.
- References
It is expected that the researcher provides a comprehensive list of all the works of literature that they have consulted while carrying out the study workbook, as well as detailed information on all the authors cited or quoted in the workbook. References may appear at the end of each chapter, which is called endnotes, or at the bottom end of every page, such as in footnotes.
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How to write Chapter One of a Final year Project: 8 Steps You Need to Know