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.

1. Writing the First Chapter of Your Research
An Overview of Chapter 1
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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.

8. Sample

9. Sample

10. Sample

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.

14. Sample

15. Sample

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.

19. Sample

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.

23. Sample

24. Sample

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).