example of chapter one in research paper

Chapter I - The Problem and Its Background

This document provides guidance on writing the first chapter of a research paper, which focuses on describing the problem and its background. The first chapter should include an introduction, background of the study, statement of the problem, significance of the study, and scope and delimitation of the study. It gives examples and considerations for writing each section to clearly define the research problem and explain its importance and limitations. Read less

More Related Content

• 1. Writing the First Chapter of Your Research An Overview of Chapter 1 TVVillaflores
• 2. The Problem and Its Background • Introduction • Background of the Study • Statement of the Problem • Significance of the Study • Scope and Delimitation of the Study
• 3. Introduction • Use “The Problem and Its Background” as a title for the first chapter of your research paper. • Include a short introductory paragraph before discussing the background of your study.
• 4. The Problem and Its Background This chapter describes and discusses the problem and background why the researchers conducted this study. In addition, the chapter also includes the significance, and the scope and delimitation of the study.
• 5. Background of the Study • This part shows the origin of the problem. It is an account describing the circumstances which suggested the research. It also includes the rationale for conducting the study.
• 6. Consider the following: Create reader interest in the topic; Reach out to a specific audience; Establish the problem that leads to the study; Place the study within the larger context of the scholarly literature.
• 7. Consider the following: A quantitative introduction typically is written from the third person point of view. This helps create a sense of objectivity.
• 11. Statement of the Problem • The problem studied must be shown as one which arose from a situation or need or of unresolved difficulties. The reader must be made to recognize this need.
• 12. Consider the following: State the problem precisely, accurately, and clearly. State it either in the declarative or interrogative form.
• 13. Consider the following: Can either be either one statement/question, or a series of statements/questions, or a combination of these forms. Define the problems in terms of the data that can be obtained.
• 16. Significance of the Study • This section should state why the problem investigated is important, and what significance the results have. It should include a statement on the relevance to felt needs, the contribution of the research to new knowledge, and policy implications and other possible uses for its results.
• 17. Consider the following: Create a clear rationale for the importance of the study. Elaborate on the significance for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
• 18. What to include? Reasons why the study adds to the scholarly research and literature in the field. Reasons about how the study helps improve practice. Reasons why the study will improve policy.
• 20. Scope and Delimitation of the Study • The limits of the study need to be properly defined. The scope is expected to indicate a reasonable area of study which is large enough to be significant but narrow enough to permit careful treatment.
• 21. Scope and Delimitation of the Study • The scope of the problem should be stated specifically. The nature of any subjects treated, their number, the treatments they received, any limitations that exist in the reference population, instruments or research design should be stated.
• 22. Consider the following: Use delimitations to address how the study will be narrowed in scope. May be about the population of study, the instrument, data gathering method, previous knowledge, etc.
• 25. References • Cristobal Jr., A.P. and dela Cruz-Cristobal, M.C. (2018). Practical Research 2 for Senior High School: Enhanced Teacher’s Manual. Quezon City: C& E. Publishing, Inc. • College of Education, University of the Philippines. (1998). Theses and Dissertations: Guidelines and Standards. Quezon City: UP CED • Emplamado, R.G. (2019). Unpublished Research: Erasable Ink for Whiteboard Marker Using Dried Banana Peel. • Ganas, K.C. et al. (2109). Unpublished Research: Ground-Level Ozone Monitoring Device.
• 26. References • Inocentes, C.E. et al. (2019) Unpublished Research: Feasibility of Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Using Curcuma Longa, Cassia Alata, and Origanum Vulgare Dye Extracts in Electricity Generation. • Isla, J.M.P. et al. (2019). Unpublished Research: UV-Assisted Water Purifier System with Activated Plant Seed Carbon (UVASON). • Marcelo, C.P. et al. (2019). Unpublished Research: Improvised Electrophoresis System with AI Feature (IESA).

How to write a fantastic thesis introduction (+15 examples)

The thesis introduction, usually chapter 1, is one of the most important chapters of a thesis. It sets the scene. It previews key arguments and findings. And it helps the reader to understand the structure of the thesis. In short, a lot is riding on this first chapter. With the following tips, you can write a powerful thesis introduction.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase using the links below at no additional cost to you . I only recommend products or services that I truly believe can benefit my audience. As always, my opinions are my own.

Elements of a fantastic thesis introduction

Open with a (personal) story, begin with a problem, define a clear research gap, describe the scientific relevance of the thesis, describe the societal relevance of the thesis, write down the thesis’ core claim in 1-2 sentences, support your argument with sufficient evidence, consider possible objections, address the empirical research context, give a taste of the thesis’ empirical analysis, hint at the practical implications of the research, provide a reading guide, briefly summarise all chapters to come, design a figure illustrating the thesis structure.

An introductory chapter plays an integral part in every thesis. The first chapter has to include quite a lot of information to contextualise the research. At the same time, a good thesis introduction is not too long, but clear and to the point.

A powerful thesis introduction does the following:

• It captures the reader’s attention.
• It presents a clear research gap and emphasises the thesis’ relevance.
• It provides a compelling argument.
• It previews the research findings.
• It explains the structure of the thesis.

In addition, a powerful thesis introduction is well-written, logically structured, and free of grammar and spelling errors. Reputable thesis editors can elevate the quality of your introduction to the next level. If you are in search of a trustworthy thesis or dissertation editor who upholds high-quality standards and offers efficient turnaround times, I recommend the professional thesis and dissertation editing service provided by Editage . 

This list can feel quite overwhelming. However, with some easy tips and tricks, you can accomplish all these goals in your thesis introduction. (And if you struggle with finding the right wording, have a look at academic key phrases for introductions .)

Ways to capture the reader’s attention

A powerful thesis introduction should spark the reader’s interest on the first pages. A reader should be enticed to continue reading! There are three common ways to capture the reader’s attention.

An established way to capture the reader’s attention in a thesis introduction is by starting with a story. Regardless of how abstract and ‘scientific’ the actual thesis content is, it can be useful to ease the reader into the topic with a short story.

This story can be, for instance, based on one of your study participants. It can also be a very personal account of one of your own experiences, which drew you to study the thesis topic in the first place.

Start by providing data or statistics

Data and statistics are another established way to immediately draw in your reader. Especially surprising or shocking numbers can highlight the importance of a thesis topic in the first few sentences!

So if your thesis topic lends itself to being kick-started with data or statistics, you are in for a quick and easy way to write a memorable thesis introduction.

The third established way to capture the reader’s attention is by starting with the problem that underlies your thesis. It is advisable to keep the problem simple. A few sentences at the start of the chapter should suffice.

Usually, at a later stage in the introductory chapter, it is common to go more in-depth, describing the research problem (and its scientific and societal relevance) in more detail.

You may also like: Minimalist writing for a better thesis

Emphasising the thesis’ relevance

A good thesis is a relevant thesis. No one wants to read about a concept that has already been explored hundreds of times, or that no one cares about.

Of course, a thesis heavily relies on the work of other scholars. However, each thesis is – and should be – unique. If you want to write a fantastic thesis introduction, your job is to point out this uniqueness!

In academic research, a research gap signifies a research area or research question that has not been explored yet, that has been insufficiently explored, or whose insights and findings are outdated.

Every thesis needs a crystal-clear research gap. Spell it out instead of letting your reader figure out why your thesis is relevant.

* This example has been taken from an actual academic paper on toxic behaviour in online games: Liu, J. and Agur, C. (2022). “After All, They Don’t Know Me” Exploring the Psychological Mechanisms of Toxic Behavior in Online Games. Games and Culture 1–24, DOI: 10.1177/15554120221115397

The scientific relevance of a thesis highlights the importance of your work in terms of advancing theoretical insights on a topic. You can think of this part as your contribution to the (international) academic literature.

Scientific relevance comes in different forms. For instance, you can critically assess a prominent theory explaining a specific phenomenon. Maybe something is missing? Or you can develop a novel framework that combines different frameworks used by other scholars. Or you can draw attention to the context-specific nature of a phenomenon that is discussed in the international literature.

The societal relevance of a thesis highlights the importance of your research in more practical terms. You can think of this part as your contribution beyond theoretical insights and academic publications.

Why are your insights useful? Who can benefit from your insights? How can your insights improve existing practices?

Formulating a compelling argument

Arguments are sets of reasons supporting an idea, which – in academia – often integrate theoretical and empirical insights. Think of an argument as an umbrella statement, or core claim. It should be no longer than one or two sentences.

Including an argument in the introduction of your thesis may seem counterintuitive. After all, the reader will be introduced to your core claim before reading all the chapters of your thesis that led you to this claim in the first place.

But rest assured: A clear argument at the start of your thesis introduction is a sign of a good thesis. It works like a movie teaser to generate interest. And it helps the reader to follow your subsequent line of argumentation.

The core claim of your thesis should be accompanied by sufficient evidence. This does not mean that you have to write 10 pages about your results at this point.

However, you do need to show the reader that your claim is credible and legitimate because of the work you have done.

A good argument already anticipates possible objections. Not everyone will agree with your core claim. Therefore, it is smart to think ahead. What criticism can you expect?

Think about reasons or opposing positions that people can come up with to disagree with your claim. Then, try to address them head-on.

Providing a captivating preview of findings

Similar to presenting a compelling argument, a fantastic thesis introduction also previews some of the findings. When reading an introduction, the reader wants to learn a bit more about the research context. Furthermore, a reader should get a taste of the type of analysis that will be conducted. And lastly, a hint at the practical implications of the findings encourages the reader to read until the end.

If you focus on a specific empirical context, make sure to provide some information about it. The empirical context could be, for instance, a country, an island, a school or city. Make sure the reader understands why you chose this context for your research, and why it fits to your research objective.

If you did all your research in a lab, this section is obviously irrelevant. However, in that case you should explain the setup of your experiment, etcetera.

The empirical part of your thesis centers around the collection and analysis of information. What information, and what evidence, did you generate? And what are some of the key findings?

For instance, you can provide a short summary of the different research methods that you used to collect data. Followed by a short overview of how you analysed this data, and some of the key findings. The reader needs to understand why your empirical analysis is worth reading.

You already highlighted the practical relevance of your thesis in the introductory chapter. However, you should also provide a preview of some of the practical implications that you will develop in your thesis based on your findings.

Presenting a crystal clear thesis structure

A fantastic thesis introduction helps the reader to understand the structure and logic of your whole thesis. This is probably the easiest part to write in a thesis introduction. However, this part can be best written at the very end, once everything else is ready.

A reading guide is an essential part in a thesis introduction! Usually, the reading guide can be found toward the end of the introductory chapter.

The reading guide basically tells the reader what to expect in the chapters to come.

In a longer thesis, such as a PhD thesis, it can be smart to provide a summary of each chapter to come. Think of a paragraph for each chapter, almost in the form of an abstract.

For shorter theses, which also have a shorter introduction, this step is not necessary.

Especially for longer theses, it tends to be a good idea to design a simple figure that illustrates the structure of your thesis. It helps the reader to better grasp the logic of your thesis.

Master Academia

Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.

Subscribe and receive Master Academia's quarterly newsletter.

The most useful academic social networking sites for PhD students

10 reasons not to do a master's degree, related articles.

5 inspiring PhD thesis acknowledgement examples

PhD thesis types: Monograph and collection of articles

Dealing with conflicting feedback from different supervisors

Minimalist writing for a better thesis