A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Chapter 1 of Research Introduction

A Step by Step Approach to Writing
Chapter 1 of Research
Introduction
by
Dr. Malathi Selvakkumar
03.08.2020 & 04.08.2020

Why is Research done?
 To contribute to developing knowledge in the
selected field
 Research is done with the intention of
increasing our understanding.
 It provides adequate information and
 Gives knowledge needed for
problem solving and making
decisions.

Why is Research done?
It enables the researcher to introduce new
ideas
It helps identify problems and appropriate
solutions in new ways
Sometimes, the researcher is able provide
new frameworks to guide thinking and action

The determinants of Research
Exploration is the starting point of research,
where the researcher begins to get familiar
with the chosen topic
Description satisfies the researcher's curiosity
and desire for improved understanding
Explanation is the point when the researcher
is able to strike a “cause-effect” relationship

Need for Research
Exploration involves familiarizing a researcher
with a topic. It satisfies the researcher's curiosity
and desire for improved understanding of the
chosen topic
Description “describes” the subject
of the research, without covering
“why” it happens, quantifiable
information for statistical analysis
Explanation attempts to answer
the "why" and "how" questions.

How to start your research?
• Organize and prioritize your available
resources
• Identify the central question that will be
explored in your research
• Research existing literature on the appropriate
database related to your topic

1.1 Introduction to the Chosen Topic
 Meaning
 Definition – from different
perspectives
 Summary of definitions
 Concept of the topic
 Link to the Company / industry chosen
 Relevance to the current day scenario

1.2 Objectives of the study
Research objectives describe in a nutshell
what the researcher is trying to achieve
through the study
 They condense the actions a researcher
wishes to achieve through the project and
offers a proper direction to the study

o General objectives state the main purpose of
the study and normally derived from the
research problem
o They are what the researcher wants to find
out in general terms
o They are lesser in number

o Specific objectives are the general objectives
broken into small and logically connected
parts
o It gives direction to the research process
o It identifies in detail the measureable terms of
the study

• Specific objectives

Suggestions
 Not more than 5, of which the
 1st will relate to the background
of the topic
 2nd may relate to the industry/
problem
 3rd and 4th will be the core
objectives / model development
 5th will be the suggestions for
improvement

1.3 Importance of / Need for the
study
Also called as the significance of the study, this
helps the researcher to perfect/upgrade, review
or contribute to the existing knowledge on the
chosen topic
Focuses on “who” will benefit
from the study
Helps to focus on stating the
contribution of the study, and its
usefulness to society

study
The researcher explains how the study is
relevant in the prevailing scenario and how it
may be put into practical use
Specifies the actual reason and the rationale
for pursuing research
Highlights the contribution of the study to
existing information

study
• How the study helps in problem solving
Tips
• Avoid writing directly how important your
topic is
• Justify the study in terms of its contribution to
practice and how important it is to the
selected profession

study
o Explain how your study will help the various
beneficiaries/ stakeholders
o Explain how appropriate and
relevant your study is
o How the researcher will suggest
measures to overcome an
unsatisfactory condition
o Specify how policy makers, practitioners and
fellow researchers will benefit from this study

1.4 Scope of the study
 It defines the aim, context and extent of the
research in terms of location, organisation and
the respondents of the study
 It explains why, how and for whom the current
study is important

1.5 Methodology – Use of Primary
and Secondary data (1.5.1)
Primary data is collected by a researcher from
first-hand sources, using methods like surveys,
interviews, or experiments
Researchers collect information
based on the specific purposes
of their study
It is very reliable because it is
collected directly from the
original source

Primary Data Collection - Techniques
Surveys and interviews using a structured
questionnaire
Individual depth interviews
Human Observation
Case studies
Focus groups

Primary Data - benefits
Authentic
Reliability is very high
Problem specific
Collected directly from
the original source
In-depth information
can be collected.
Non-response and response bias can be detected
The samples can be controlled

De-Merits of Primary Data
• It is more time-consuming
• It is expensive
• The interviewer may be
biased
• The responses may be subject to the personal bias
of the respondent
• My not be feasible in all conditions
• Low rate of return in terms of duly filled in forms

Secondary Data Collection - Sources
o Government Publications/ Statistics
o Annual Report of Companies
o Company Websites
o Trade Associations (MMA)
o Search Engines
o Articles in journals, books, newspapers and
periodicals
o Blogs

Secondary Data Collection - Merits
 Time saving and cost effective
 Helps to access data from different
sources
 Helps to identify and define the
problem better
 Helps to form a better research
design
 Insights drawn from secondary
data helps to explain and
understand responses from primary
sources

Secondary Data Collection - Demerits
Degree of accuracy lesser
Usefulness may be limited
May not be easy to locate
Chances for Information to be outdated
No real control over data quality
Data maybe inconsistent with
needs

1.5.2 Questionnaire details
 The need arises for this only if the researcher is
depending on primary data as the basic source of
data collection
 1st part relating to demographic
particulars
 2nd part relating to the core topic
 3rd part can relate to the problems
 and last part relating to suggestions on an
open/closed ended type

 Demographic variables include questions
relating to the gender, age, literacy level,
monthly/annual income, type of family,
dependants, and other questions relating to
the broad area of the selected topic
 It is always better to scale the responses, for
use of statistical tools for
analysing the collected data

o It is better to have phrased questions for the core
topic
o The same maybe used to identify
the problems too
o Open suggestions from the
respondents can also be analysed
and converted into questions based
on the pilot study
o Use of Likert scale helps the
researcher to analyse the collected data easily

Presentation of collected samples
Total No.
of
questionna
ires
Circulated Returned Not
Returned
Incomplete Final
Sample
85 68 17 5 63
The researcher can present the
details of the responses got, as in
the above table

Detailing of the questionnaire
o A good researcher attempts to present all relevant details
of the questionnaire as under:- (example)
o A structured questionnaire with two sections was drawn,
wherein the first section dealt with questions relating to the
socio-economic profile of the respondents. The second
section identified 15 retention strategies, with employer
branding as the landscape, which was scaled using a five
point Likert Scale- always, often, sometimes, rarely and
never. The strategies under consideration included –
employment encounters; good work environment;
core values and organizational culture;
training and development; growth opportunities; goodwill of
the employer; attractive compensation etc

Detailing of the questionnaire
Table showing details of the structured
questionnaire
S.No Construct Constuct
Code
Q.Nos Total
No.Of
Questions
No.fof
Questions
removed/c
changed
1 Demography DEM 1 -10 10 1
2 Organisational
Barriers
OB 11- 25 15 2
3 Work life Balance WLB 26-36 10 Nil
4 Problems PROB 37-45 9 Nil

Pilot Testing
o It is a trial collection of data that
helps determine the weakness in
the instrument and research design
o Refinement of the instrument
Is possible before final data
collection
o Helps to eliminate those
questions that have a poor
reliability value

Cronbach’s Alpha
Cronbach Alpha Value Internal Consistency Impact on the questions
>0.90 Excellent Retain
0.80 to 0.90 Very Good Retain
0.70 to 0.80 Good Retain
0.60 to 0.70 Moderate Re-phrase/ Modify
< 0.60 Poor Delete

How to present your test of reliability
in chapter 1
Table showing internal consistency/ reliability
of questions using Cronbach Alpha
S.N
o
Construct Sample
Size
(valid)
Excluded % Q.No Cronbach
Alpha value
Result
1 Organisational
Barriers
442 nil 100 28 -38 0.918 Excellent
2 Work Life
Balance
442 nil 100 60 - 71 0.921 Excellent

Selection of Sample
Sampling designs commonly used in research:-
Random Sampling
Simple
Stratified – proportionate and
dis-proportionate
Systematic
Cluster
Multi-stage

Selection of Sample
Non-random Sampling methods:-
Quota
Convenience
Judgement
Snow ball

Justification of sample size
• You may use G power 3.1.9.2 for the same
• Kindly consult with your guide for further
clarification or get the help of the statistician
Statistical tools for analysis
o With the help of the supervisor
and statistician, you may decide
on the type of analytical tools
that may be used for analysing the
collected data

Testing of Hypotheses
The researcher with the help of the guide and
the statistician should formulate the
hypotheses of the study
Hypotheses provide a link between
theories and actual practical research
It serves as a framework for drawing
conclusions in the research study

Testing of Hypotheses
• It is a tentative prediction or explanation of
the relationship between 2 or more variables
It establishes the relationship of select
demographic variables and factors related to
the core

1.6 Area of the study
Location of the study – geographical layout and
maps
Census details
Literacy levels
Infrastructural facilities
Business prospects
Banking scenario
Landmarks of Chennai
Finally link all this to your
topic

1.7 Period of the study
A few lines on how relevant is the period of the
study
Period considered for the
study is from----- to -----/
------ years
It is the time period in which
the study is pursuing research
It may be retrospective/
prospective

1.8 Limitations of the study
 The study was restricted to a limited time frame, and
could not be done exhaustively for paucity of the same.
 The responses got were subjected to personal bias of
the respondents.
 The lack of interest from the senior
level officials deterred the free
participation of the respondents.
 Lack of spontaneity from all
respondents has forced the researcher
to settle for a smaller sample size.

Chapter Scheme/ Chapterization/
Framework of the Research
Chapter Ideals with the introduction to / of the
study, covering the objectives, methodology,
significance and scope, area and period of the
study and the limitations faced by the researcher
Chapter II depicts an
extensive review of literature
on the topic and its related
areas of interest and have
been classified in accordance
to the relevant discussions

Chapter III deals with the conceptual
framework of the study and has made
an attempt to connect the dots between
the concept chosen and its relevance
to the industry
Chapter IV has done an extensive analysis of the
data collected using statistical tools and
meaningful interpretations have been drawn from
them

Chapter V has listed out all the salient findings
in the study and also made suggestions that
have practical relevance
This Chapter has been wound up with the final
conclusion of the study / outcome of the study
The researcher has also outlined the scope for
future studies in this chapter

A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Chapter 1 of Research Introduction

A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Chapter 1 of Research Introduction

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