HOW TO WRITE CHAPTERS 1, 2 & 3 OF YOUR RESEARCH DOCUMENT - A Basic Guide to Doing Research

Elanhub

9 Aug 202121:17

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn this episode of the Ellen Hub Channel, Dr. Sarah Chideberry Joe provides a comprehensive guide to writing research proposals. She covers the importance of writing in future tense, crafting a strong introductory chapter, outlining the problem statement, and setting clear research objectives. Dr. Joe emphasizes the need for a well-structured literature review and a detailed methodology chapter. She also highlights the significance of ethical considerations and the proper use of definitions and summaries. The episode concludes with a reminder to subscribe for more educational content.

Takeaways

📚 The video is a guide on writing a research proposal, focusing on the first three chapters.
🔍 Writing a proposal is done in future tense, as it outlines the researcher's intended actions and investigations.
📖 Chapter 1, the introductory chapter, should welcome the reader and justify the importance of the research.
🌟 The background of the study in Chapter 1 sets the foundation by outlining the problem in a broader context.
📈 The statement of the problem identifies and outlines the issue being investigated, making it understandable to the average reader.
🎯 The aim, objectives, and research questions in Chapter 1 provide a clear direction and goal for the research.
📚 The significance or rationale of the study explains the benefits and contributions to the field, including original value and literature gaps.
🏛️ The scope and limitations of the study in Chapter 1 set boundaries and parameters for the research, affecting its credibility and generalizability.
🔍 Chapter 2, the literature review, is structured into an introduction, main body, and summary, discussing previous research and identifying gaps.
🔬 Chapter 3, the methodology chapter, details how the research will be conducted, including research design, population, sample size, and data analysis methods.
🏢 Ethical considerations in Chapter 3 address how the researcher will manage data and protect participants, reflecting current debates in research culture.

Q & A

What is the purpose of writing a research proposal in future tense?
-The purpose of writing a research proposal in future tense is to outline to your supervisor or university what you intend to do, investigate, and how you plan to conduct your research. It sets the stage for the research you are yet to carry out.
Why is the introductory chapter of a research document important?
-The introductory chapter is important because it welcomes the reader and provides a justification for reading the entire document. It sets the context and makes a strong case for the importance and relevance of the research, convincing the reader, supervisor, and university of its value.
What should be included in the background of the study section?
-The background of the study section should outline what you intend to do, how the problem fits into a broader context, and provide foundational information about the issue being investigated. It may also include the history or origin of the problem and its significance.
Can you provide an example of how to frame a problem in the statement of the problem section?
-An example of framing a problem is provided in the script where the researcher discusses the framing of Boko Haram in media. The problem is identified as understanding what aspects of Boko Haram are emphasized or de-emphasized in media, which shapes public knowledge and influences responses to the group.
What is the aim of the study and why is it important to clearly state it?
-The aim of the study is a clear, concise statement that indicates the overall goal or endpoint of the research. It is important to state it clearly because it provides direction and a benchmark to assess whether the research objectives have been met.
How are the objectives of a study related to the research questions?
-The objectives of a study outline the steps or methods to achieve the aim, and they are closely related to the research questions. Each objective is transformed into a question, and answering these questions helps demonstrate that the objectives have been addressed.
Why is the significance or rationale of the study section crucial in a research proposal?
-The significance or rationale section is crucial because it explains who benefits from the research and why the work is relevant and important. It also outlines how the research contributes to existing literature and fills any identified gaps.
What is the role of the scope and limitations sections in a research proposal?
-The scope section sets boundaries for the research by defining the study population, timeframe, methods, and participants. The limitations section identifies factors outside the researcher's control that may affect the study, such as timing, funding, or access to participants, which helps in understanding the research's generalizability.
Why is defining key terms in a research proposal necessary?
-Defining key terms is necessary to provide clear, operational definitions for terms that may have multiple meanings. This ensures that the reader understands the specific application of these terms within the context of the research.
What does the summary section at the end of a chapter accomplish?
-The summary section at the end of a chapter provides a recap of what has been accomplished in that chapter and points to the future direction of the research. It guides the reader by highlighting the chapter's key points and indicating what to expect in the next chapter.
How should the literature review chapter be structured in a research proposal?
-The literature review chapter should include an introduction, a main body that discusses relevant literature and identifies gaps, and a summary. The main body can be structured chronologically, thematically, or methodologically, depending on the research focus.
What is the primary focus of the methodology chapter in a research proposal?
-The methodology chapter focuses on explaining how the research will be conducted. It includes the research design, study population, sample size, data collection methods, data analysis methods, and ethical considerations.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Research Proposal Writing

Dr. Sarah Chideberry Joe introduces the topic of writing a research proposal, emphasizing the importance of future tense usage in proposals as they outline intended research activities. The speaker thanks subscribers and invites new ones to join for a variety of content including news, opinion, entertainment, and educational material. The focus then shifts to discussing the structure and components of the first three chapters of a research proposal, which include the introductory chapter, literature review, and methodology. The introductory chapter's role in justifying the research's importance is highlighted, along with the need for clarity and simplicity in writing to engage readers effectively.

05:00

🔍 Discussing the Components of Chapter One

This section delves into the specifics of the first chapter of a research proposal, detailing its various components. It discusses the significance of the background of the study, the problem statement, aims, objectives, and research questions. The paragraph underscores the need to make a strong case for the research's relevance and to demonstrate scholarship by understanding the field's major players. It also introduces the importance of stating the study's significance or rationale, explaining the benefits and original contributions to the literature. Additionally, the paragraph touches on the scope and limitations of the study, defining key terms, and summarizing the chapter to guide the reader through the document.

10:00

📝 Understanding the Literature Review Chapter

The speaker outlines the structure of the literature review chapter, which is composed of an introduction, main body, and summary. The introduction sets the stage for the chapter's purpose, while the main body discusses existing research, concepts, and their interrelations. It's crucial to demonstrate knowledge of the field, identify the research gap, and show how the proposed study will fill that gap. The paragraph also emphasizes the importance of structuring the literature review in a consistent pattern, whether chronologically, thematically, or methodologically, and concludes with the necessity of summarizing the chapter to indicate what has been accomplished and what will follow.

15:01

🛠️ Methodology Chapter Breakdown

Chapter three, the methodology chapter, is explored in this paragraph, detailing how the research will be conducted. It includes an introduction, summary, and sections on research design, study population, sample size, data analysis methods, and ethical considerations. The paragraph stresses the importance of consistency in research approach and the need to outline the steps for data collection and analysis. It also discusses the significance of ethical considerations in research, such as data management and participant protection, and concludes with a summary that recaps the chapter's content and points towards the next steps in the research process.

20:02

🎯 Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Proposal Writing

In conclusion, the speaker wraps up the discussion on the proposal document, reiterating the importance of writing in future tense to outline the intended research. The significance of each chapter is reiterated, and the speaker encourages viewers to subscribe to the Ellen Hub channel for a range of content types. Dr. Sarah Chideberry Joe signs off by expressing hope that the content has been beneficial, inviting viewers to like, comment, and subscribe for more educational content on research and other topics.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Proposal Document

A proposal document is a foundational part of academic research, outlining what the researcher intends to investigate and how they plan to do so. It's written in the future tense, as it describes the intended actions and findings. In the video, the proposal is discussed in the context of the first three chapters, emphasizing its importance in setting the stage for the research and convincing the reader of its significance.

💡Future Tense

The future tense is used in academic writing to describe actions or events that will take place. In the script, it's mentioned that the proposal should be written in the future tense because it's about the researcher's intentions and plans for the study that has yet to be conducted.

💡Introductory Chapter

The introductory chapter, also known as Chapter One, serves as the welcoming section of a research document. It provides a justification for the entire research piece, setting the stage for why the investigation is important. In the video, Dr. Chideberry Joe emphasizes the need for clarity, conciseness, and the use of simple grammar to engage the reader.

💡Background of the Study

This section of the introductory chapter provides the context and rationale for the research topic. It explains how the problem fits into a broader context, such as a global or national issue. The script uses the example of terrorism, explaining its prevalence and significance to frame the importance of studying Boko Haram.

💡Statement of the Problem

The statement of the problem section identifies and outlines the specific issue being investigated. It should be clear and understandable to the average reader, setting the stage for the research's purpose. In the script, the problem of how Boko Haram is framed in the media is presented to highlight the media's role in shaping public understanding.

💡Aim and Objectives

The aim of a study is a clear, concise statement of the overall goal, while objectives are the specific steps or questions that will be addressed to achieve that goal. In the video, Dr. Chideberry Joe illustrates this with the aim of understanding Boko Haram's media representation and the objectives that outline the steps to reach this aim.

💡Research Questions

Research questions are the questions that a study intends to answer. They are derived from the objectives and provide a clear direction for the research. In the script, these questions are used to guide the investigation into the media's framing of Boko Haram and to ensure that the study's goals are met.

💡Significance of the Study

The significance or rationale of the study explains the importance and relevance of the research. It outlines who stands to benefit from the research and how it contributes to existing literature. The script emphasizes the importance of demonstrating original value and filling a gap in knowledge.

💡Scope and Limitations

The scope of a study sets the boundaries and parameters of the research, while limitations are factors that cannot be controlled and may affect the research. In the video, setting the scope involves defining the study population and time frame, while limitations might include access to participants or data.

💡Literature Review

The literature review chapter is a critical part of a research proposal, summarizing and analyzing existing research related to the study's topic. It demonstrates the researcher's understanding of the field and identifies gaps in the literature that the study will address. In the script, the literature review is structured into an introduction, main body, and summary.

💡Methodology

The methodology chapter outlines how the research will be conducted, including the research design, data collection, and analysis methods. It's essential for demonstrating the researcher's understanding of the appropriate methods for their study. In the video, Dr. Chideberry Joe discusses the importance of consistency and ethical considerations in the methodology.

💡Ethical Considerations

Ethical considerations in research involve the principles and moral choices that guide the researcher's actions, particularly regarding data management and participant protection. In the script, ethical considerations are highlighted as an important section in the methodology chapter, emphasizing the researcher's responsibility to handle sensitive information carefully.

Highlights

Introduction to the research proposal process and its importance in academic work.

Explanation of writing a proposal in future tense to outline intended research actions.

The significance of a concise and clear introductory chapter to engage readers and justify the research.

Importance of making a strong case for the relevance and contribution of the research in Chapter 1.

Division of Chapter 1 into sections including background, problem statement, and aims.

Background section's role in providing context and demonstrating the problem's importance.

Example of situating Boko Haram within the broader context of global terrorism.

Problem statement's purpose in identifying and outlining the research issue for investigation.

Aim, objectives, and research questions as a roadmap for the research direction and goals.

The significance or rationale of the study in demonstrating the research's value and contribution to literature.

Scope and limitations of the study in setting boundaries and acknowledging uncontrollable factors.

Definition of key terms for clarity and consistent understanding throughout the research.

Summary of Chapter 1 to recap the chapter's content and preview the next chapter.

Literature review structure including introduction, main body, and summary.

Importance of identifying gaps in the literature to position the originality of the research.

Methodology chapter's role in detailing the research design, population, sample size, and data analysis.

Ethical considerations in research and the protection of data and participants.

Summary of the methodology chapter to conclude the approach and preview subsequent chapters.

Final thoughts on the proposal's future tense usage and the transition to past tense post-research.

Transcripts

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