Scientific Research Methods Dr. Engr.

Bien Maunahan

LECTURE NOTES - CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

THESIS document

These materials will serve as a guide for composing an excellent thesis. Chapter introducing the
subject matter. In this discussion, we shall deliberate on the seven fundamental elements that
constitute a proficient introduction chapter, as well as the critical factors that necessitate careful
attention when formulating each section. Furthermore, we shall impart a few beneficial
suggestions to assist you in refining your strategy.

This instructional material will provide a detailed review of an excellent thesis introduction
chapter, enabling you to compose your own with confidence. In order to compose an excellent
introduction chapter for your thesis, you must initially understand the chapter's purpose and
rationale. As the name indicates, the introduction chapter intends to provide the reader with an
overview of the research. To facilitate comprehension of the problem you are attempting to solve
or the inquiry you are attempting to ascertain, your introduction chapter must address four
fundamental questions.

These questions are:

1. What will you research? What will you be reaching (your research topic)?
2. Why is that important? Why is it worthwhile (your justification)?
3. What will the scope of your research be (What will you cover and what you will not)?
4. What will be the limitations of your research? Basically, what will the potential
shortcomings be?

In other words, your thesis introduction chapter must provide an overview of your planned research
and a clear foundation for it. The first chapter must explain both the what and the why of your
research. What is it all about, and why is it significant?

It is simple enough; the trick is figuring out how much detail to include. Because you will be so
close to your subject as the researcher, it will be easy to become overly involved in minor details.

While this detailed information may be interesting, your introduction chapter must be written on a
need-to-know basis; otherwise, it will become excessively lengthy and unclear. It would be
advantageous if you could achieve a balance between creating a clear picture and keeping things
brief.

Now that you know what you need to accomplish with your introduction chapter, we can get into
the specifics. While specific requirements for this chapter may vary from university to university,
the majority of academic institutions will require seven essential components.

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These are Foundational Elements: Laying the Groundwork for Research are as
follows:

1. The opening section - where you will provide a high-level overview of your
research to your reader
2. The background to the study – where you will explain the context of your
project
3. The research problem - this is where you will explain the gap that exists in
the current research
4. The general research objective (general), specific objectives, and questions
- where you will clearly state what your research will aim to achieve
5. The significance or justification - where you will explain why your research
is worth doing and the value it will provide to the community or the world
6. The limitations - this is where you will acknowledge the potential limitations
of your project and approach
7. The structural outline – a structure where you will briefly outline the structure
of your thesis to help orient the reader.

By including these seven essential ingredients in your introduction chapter, you will cover both
the WHAT and the WHY, as previously mentioned. Essentially, you will accomplish the
chapter's goal. You can also use these seven in this order as the framework for your chapter to
ensure a logical flow.

This is unnecessary, but it can help you create an engaging, easy narrative for your reader to
understand.

The Opening Section

The first and most important component of your thesis introduction chapter is an overview or
opening section; just like any other chapter, your introduction chapter should begin by providing
a brief overview of what you will be covering in the chapter. The section must engage the reader
by using clear, concise language that is easy to understand and digest. If the reader, or your
examiners, has to struggle through it, they will lose interest, making it more difficult for you to
earn points.

Writing an academic paper does not imply ignoring the fundamental principles of engaging writing
that marketers’ bloggers, and journalists employ. You are all attempting to sell an idea. Yours is a
research proposal. So, what goes into the first section? There is no set formula, but the four
foundational sentences should be included in your opening section.

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Four Fundamental Sentences of the Opening Section:

1. A sentence or two introducing the overall field of your research.

For example

“Organizational skills development entails identifying current or prospective skill gaps

within an organization and developing programs to address these gaps. According to
construction project management studies such as X, Y, and Z, developing organizational
skills is essential for project growth.”

2. A sentence introducing your specific research problem

For example,

"However, there are varying viewpoints and a general lack of research on how to
best manage skills development initiatives in highly dynamic environments where
subject knowledge is rapidly and continuously evolving, such as the website
development industry."

3. A sentence stating your research aims and objectives

For example

“This study aims to identify and evaluate skill development approaches and
strategies for highly dynamic industries where subject knowledge is constantly
changing.”

4. A sentence outlining the layout of the introduction chapter

For example

“This chapter will introduce the study by discussing the background and context,
the research problem, aims and objectives, and significance and limitations.”

This opening section of your introduction chapter should not be too long. These four sentences
should typically fit neatly into one or two paragraphs. Here, the goal is to provide a clear and
concise introduction to your research rather than a detailed explanation.

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Background to the study

After providing a high-level overview of your thesis, it is time to dig in deeply and establish the
research topic's foundation. The second component, the context of your study, focuses on this
foundation. So, what precisely is the section on the background?

This section of your introduction chapter should provide an overview of the topic area and current
contextual factors you will be researching. This could include, for example, a brief history of the
topic, recent developments in the field, important concepts, and key pieces of research; in other
words, you must provide the necessary background information in this section to provide the reader
with a solid foundational understanding of your research area.

Let us look at an example to make this a little more concrete. If we stick with the skills
development topic, as mentioned earlier, the background section will start by providing an
overview of:

1. What organizational skills development is?

2. What are the key theories and pieces of research? Outline the existing key research
regarding development approaches.
3. What is the current context, and what does this mean? It will discuss how the modern-
day context has created a new challenge for traditional skills development strategies
and approaches.

Particularly, technical knowledge in many industries is constantly and rapidly evolving, and
traditional education providers struggle to keep up with the new pace of technology. This section
should be written as if the reader is not an expert in the field. Therefore, if there is industry-specific
jargon or complicated terminology, you should briefly clarify it here. Make no assumptions about
the reader's level of knowledge in order for the remainder of your document to be comprehensible.
If your examiners do not comprehend a particular concept, they will likely be unable to ask you
questions. Therefore, always approach on the side of caution and clarify anything that is not
common knowledge.

In general, the background of the study usually spans a few paragraphs to several pages, depending
on the factors mentioned above. However, there's no strict rule regarding its length. while also
ensuring it remains concise and focused on the research problem

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Research Problem

After you have established your background and context, the next step is to articulate what is
missing from the current body of skills development research or the research problem, ingredient
number three.

Now that you have given your reader a general overview of your research topic, it is time to get
specific about the research problem you will be addressing in your thesis. Simultaneously, the
background section would have alluded to a potential research problem or even several potential
research problems. This section aims to narrow the scope of your research and highlight the
specific research problem you will address.

But you may ask, what exactly is a research problem? A research problem is an issue or question
that does not have a well-established and agreed-upon answer in existing research. In other words,
a research problem exists when a response to a question or set of questions is required. However,
there is a gap in the existing literature, or the existing research is contradictory and incoherent. So,
to present your research problem, you must first explain what is lacking in the current literature
and why this is a problem. It is usually a good idea to divide this discussion into three sections:

1. What is already known – what is well established in the literature. In other words,
what is widely agreed upon by researchers
2. What's missing in the literature? So, where is the literature gap
3. Why is this a problem? So, why is it important to fill this gap?

Let us look at an example of this structure using the skills development topic mentioned above:

Developing organizational skills is critical for employee satisfaction and company

performance (source). Several studies have investigated strategies and approaches
for managing skills development programs within organizations (source).

This paragraph explains what's already well established in the literature.

These studies, however, have traditionally concentrated on relatively slow-paced

industries where key skills and knowledge frequently do not change. This body of
theory poses a problem for businesses operating in a rapidly evolving skills
landscape, such as the website development industry, where new platforms,
languages, and best practices emerge regularly.

This paragraph explains what is missing from the literature

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As a result, existing research is insufficient for industries where essential

knowledge and skills are constantly and rapidly evolving because it assumes a slow
rate of knowledge development. As a result, industries in such environments lack
skill development strategies and approaches.

This paragraph explains why the research gap is problematic.

As you can see in the examples above, in a few lines, it has been explained.

1. The current state of research

2. The literature gaps
3. Why that gap is a problem

The Objectives and Questions

The research problem is crystal clear, laying the groundwork for your investigation. So, now that
you have clearly articulated the research problem, the next step is to state what you intend to do
about it?

In other words, the fourth ingredient will be your research goal (general objectives), specific
objectives, and questions. Now that you've identified your research problem, you can move on to
defining your research aims (general), specific objectives, and research questions. In other words,
now is the time to explain how you intend to address the research problem. So, what are you
supposed to do here? The first step is to state your research aim or aims clearly. Your thesis' general
objective or overarching purpose is the research aim (general objective). It is a high-level statement
of what you hope to accomplish. Let us take a look again at the same example, skill development.

“Given the scarcity of research on organizational skills development in fast-paced

industries, this study will identify and evaluate the skills development approaches used by
web development firms in the United Kingdom.”

As you can see in the preceding example, the research aim is clearly stated, as is the specific
context in which the research will be conducted. In other words, the web development industry in
the UK.

The research objective or objectives come next. At the same time, the research aims to cover a
broad "what," The research objectives are more practical in nature, focusing on the specific
actions you will take to achieve those aims.

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Let us look at some research-specific objectives to fit the general research objective.

Objective #1 - To identify common skills development strategies and approaches utilized

by web development companies in the UK.

Objective #2 – To evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies and approaches.

Objective #3 - To compare and contrast these strategies and approaches in terms of their
strengths and weaknesses.

As you can see from the examples, these objectives describe the specific actions and topics you
will investigate to achieve your research aims. In other words, they break down the research aims
into more specific actionable objectives.

The last step is to formulate your research questions. Your research questions bring the aims down
to earth. These are the specific questions to which your thesis will attempt to respond. They are
not soft, unclear, or conceptual; they are very specific, and you must answer them directly in your
conclusions chapter. The research questions are usually directly related to the research objectives
and may appear overly obvious at times, but they are still extremely important.

As mentioned earlier, let us look at an example of the research questions that would flow from
the research objectives.

RQ #1 What skills development strategies and approaches are currently being used by
web development companies in the UK?
RQ #2 How effective are each of these strategies and approaches?
RQ #3 What are the strengths and the weaknesses of each of these
strategies and approaches?

As you can see, the research questions are similar to the research objectives, but they are presented
in the form of questions. Throughout your thesis, these questions will be the driving force from
the literature review to the methodology. As a result, they are extremely important.

The Scope of Study

As a final note on this section, it is critical to understand the scope of your study. In other words,
what are you going to cover, and what are you not going to cover? Suppose your research’s general
and specific objectives and your research questions are too broad. You risk losing focus or
investigating a too large problem to solve in a single thesis.

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As a result, it would be advantageous to establish clear boundaries in this section of your

introduction chapter. You can restrict it to a specific industry, country, or time. You will ring-fence
your research in this manner, allowing you to investigate your topic deeply and thoroughly, which
will earn you marks.

The Significance of the Study

Now that you have defined your aim, objectives, and research questions, it is time to move on to
the next step. Now that you have determined what you will be researching, it is time to make a
compelling case for the importance and significance of your research. So, now that you've covered
the "what," it is time to get into the "why."

However, as previously discussed, by this stage, you have already briefly alluded to the importance
of your study in your background and research problem sections. However, you have not stated
explicitly how your research findings will benefit the world. So, this is your chance to clearly state
how your research will benefit industry, academia, or both. To put it another way, you must explain
how your research will make a difference and what consequences it will have.

Let us take a look at an example,

“This research will add to the body of knowledge on skill development by identifying and
evaluating skill development strategies and approaches for industries where knowledge
and skills are rapidly and constantly changing.

This will contribute to addressing the current scarcity of research in this area while also
providing real-world value to organizations operating in such volatile environments.”

As you can see in this example, the paragraph clearly explains how the research will fill a gap in
the literature and provide practical value to organizations. The section does not need to be
particularly long, but it must be persuasive. It would be beneficial if you sold the worth of your
research here so that the reader understands why dedicating an entire thesis to it is worthwhile.
The section should be your research's salesman.

So, think about how your research will make a unique contribution to the world and how the
knowledge you create will benefit both academia and industry, and then sell it in this section; once
you have done that, it is time to move on to the sixth essential ingredient of the thesis introduction:
limitations.

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The Limitations of the Research

Now that you've sold your research to the reader and hopefully captivated their interest in what's
to come in the rest of your thesis. It is now time to discuss the potential limitations of your research
briefly. You're probably wondering, "What limitations?" Your research is well-planned and well-
executed, so why would there be any limitations? There is no such thing as a perfect piece of
research. This is especially true for a thesis with a limited or non-existent budget, strict time
constraints, and limited researcher experience.

In most cases, your thesis will be your first or second formal academic research project. As a result,
it is unlikely to receive any research awards. Put another way; your research will invariably have
limitations. This is entirely understandable and expected. Even professional research has
limitations, as no piece of research is perfect, as previously stated. The key is to recognize and be
completely honest about your limits. Future researchers will be familiar with them and will be able
to improve the study's design to minimize limitations and strengthen the findings.

So, to summarize, your limitations section should demonstrate that you have considered how your
study is limited. You should consider at least the four common limitations listed below. These are:

1. Your scope, for example, perhaps your focus is very narrow and does not consider how
certain variables interact with each other.
2. Your research methodology, for example, a qualitative methodology, could be overly
subjective, or a quantitative method could be criticized for oversimplifying the
situation.
3. Your resources, such as a lack of time, money, equipment, and your own research
experience.
4. The generalizability of your findings, for example, the results from a specific industry
or country study, cannot necessarily be generalized to other sectors or countries.

It is pointless to try to conceal your research's limitations or weaknesses. The more critical your
research is, the better the examiners will see that you understand its limitations. Once you have
communicated the limitations of your thesis, this demonstrates your understanding of academic
research.

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The DELIMITATION of the Research

Delimitations, on the other hand, refer to the specific boundaries or parameters that the researcher
sets for the study. These are intentional choices made by the researcher to narrow down the focus
and scope of the research.

It defines what aspects of the research are included and excluded. They establish the parameters
of the study by specifying certain limitations intentionally imposed by the researcher to narrow the
scope, focus on specific variables, or set boundaries for the research.

It also helps in clearly defining the scope of the study and ensuring that the research remains
manageable and focused within defined constraints.

Limitations and Delimitations both refer to constraints or boundaries within which the
study is conducted, but they address different aspects as described above.

Differences of Limitation and Delimitation of the Study

Limitations are inherent weaknesses or constraints that affect the study's outcomes, while
delimitations are intentional choices made by the researcher to establish specific
boundaries or parameters within which the research is conducted.

Both limitations and delimitations play crucial roles in shaping and contextualizing the
research by setting constraints and defining the scope of the study.

The Structural Outline

Once you have communicated your thesis's limitations, it is time to add the structural outline's
final introduction ingredient. The structural outline is the last component after you have expressed
your research, why it is important, and what the limitations are likely to be. This section is intended
to give your reader a general idea of what to expect in terms of the structure of your thesis. This
section must summarize the purpose and contents of each chapter, including the introduction
chapter. In most cases, a sentence or two explaining what you will do in each chapter is sufficient
to orient the reader. You do not want to get too specific here. It is not a summary of your research
but rather an outline. Let us look at an example to make this more concrete.

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Structure of the Research

1. Chapter 1: Introduction
o This chapter introduces the research topic, outlines the research problem, justifies
its significance, and provides an overview of the study's objectives. It also
includes the rationale for the research and an outline of the paper's structure.
2. Chapter 2: Literature Review
o The literature review chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of existing
literature, theories, and previous studies relevant to the research topic. It
establishes the theoretical framework and context for the current study.
3. Chapter 3: Methodology
o This section outlines the research design, methodology, data collection methods,
sampling techniques, and data analysis procedures used in the study. It details
how the research questions were addressed and the reliability of the study.
4. Chapter 4: Findings and Results
o Here, the study's findings and results obtained from the research are presented. It
includes data analysis, interpretations, and discussions of the results in relation to
the research objectives.
5. Chapter 5: Discussion and Implications
o This chapter critically analyzes and discusses the findings in the context of
existing literature. It explores the implications of the study's results and their
significance in the broader context.
6. Chapter 6: Conclusion and Recommendations
o The final chapter summarizes the key findings, conclusions drawn from the study,
and provides recommendations for future research or practical applications based
on the research outcomes

You notice that the structure provided has SIX CHAPTERS,

The structure of a research document can vary based on the specific requirements of the
academic institution, the nature of the research, or the preferences of the researcher. In some
cases, especially in certain disciplines or specific research designs, a research paper may indeed
consist of a structure with five chapters without a dedicated "Discussion and Implications"
chapter.

The structure provided, including a "Discussion and Implications" chapter, is a common

approach used in many research papers, especially in fields where it's customary to present a
separate section for thoroughly discussing the significance of findings, relating them to existing
literature, and exploring their broader implications.

However, in the five-chapter structure, the discussion and implications might be addressed
differently. They could be integrated into the findings/results chapter or concluded in the final
chapter where conclusions and recommendations are presented.

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The structure and organization of a research document can vary, and it's important to follow
the prescribed format or guidelines while ensuring a comprehensive presentation of the
research findings and their implications.

JIMMA UNIVERSITY USES THE FIVE CHAPTER STRUCTURE

ALWAYS REFER TO THE FORMAT PROVIDED BY THE CONSTRUTION

ENGINERING AND MANAGEMENT CHAIR

As you can see from the example, this section is simply an outline of the chapter structure, with
each chapter receiving a short paragraph. Correctly completing the outline will help your reader
understand what to expect and reassure them that you will cover all study aspects.

As a result, the discussions cover the seven critical components of a high-quality thesis
introduction chapter.

Summary of this Lecture Notes:

On the most important points, the seven essential components of a successful thesis introduction
chapter are as follows:
1. the opening section where you give a brief high-level overview of what your research
will be about
2. the study background, where you introduce the reader to the key theoretical concepts
and terminology as well as the context of your study
3. the research problem where you explain what the problem with the current research is,
in other words, the research gap
4. the research aims, objectives, and questions where you clearly state what your
dissertation will investigate
5. the significance where you explain what value your research will provide to the world
6. the limitations where you explain what the potential shortcomings of your research
maybe
7. the structural outline where you provide a high-level overview of the structure of your
document

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Include these seven elements in your thesis introduction chapter.

You will be well on your way to creating an engaging

introduction chapter that serves as a solid

foundation for the rest of

your document.

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