introduction 31

Getting Started

In this assignment, you will learn about the eight elements of the introduction of a research study. The introduction establishes the focus of the study.

The eight elements of the introduction include:

1. The introduction, which introduces the problem and then transitions into the problem statement
2. The background of the problem, which provides some historical information about the problem
3. The theoretical framework, which identities a theory in relation to the problem
4. The significance of the problem, which specifies why it is important to conduct the study
5. The definition of terms section, which defines ambiguous terms in the study, making it easier for people to read
6. The assumptions, which are facts in the study assumed to be true, but that are not verified
7. The limitations of the study, which are the weaknesses in the study
8. The delimitations, which establish the boundaries of the study – what or who is included and what or who is excluded from the study

Upon successful completion of this assignment, you will be able to:

• Develop the introduction chapter to your problem.

Resources

• Textbook: Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences
• File: Introduction to the Problem_Descriptive Study.pdf
• File: Introduction to the Problem_Experimental Study.pdf
• File: Introduction to the Problem_Qualitative Study.pdf

Background Information

As you begin to write your research paper, you need to begin with an introduction to the problem. You want to think about this as a four-step process. First, you want to generally discuss the problem of the study. Then, you want to narrow down the topic by providing some supporting data. The third step is to offer some supporting details. Finally, you transition into the problem statement.

For example, if you are interested in conducting a qualitative study identifying the perceptions of victims of domestic violence about access to services provided in their community, you would:

• Define domestic violence.
• Provide some relevant statistic of domestic violence.
• Discuss some services necessary for those affected by domestic violence.
• Transition into the problem statement.

Background of the Problem

What has already been done in relation to your problem? That’s what you want to consider when thinking about the background of the problem. In other words, you want to discuss information from an historical perspective.

When considering the domestic violence study, the background of the problem could include a discussion of the grassroots activism during the 1970s, to the development of women’s shelters, to the passage of legislation in the early 1990s.

Theoretical Framework

Theories are developed with the intent to explain, predict, or understand a specific phenomenon. Additionally, theories can challenge and extend the existing knowledge within the limits of the assumptions.

The theoretical framework is the structure that holds or supports a theory of a research study. Moreover, the theoretical framework introduces and describes the theory that explains why the research problem under study exists.

For example, with the qualitative study identifying the perceptions of victims of domestic violence about access to services provided in their community, it is theorized that an interdisciplinary approach to helping victims of domestic violence is best. Therefore, the theoretical framework for this study would be the multi-sectoral framework of services.

Significance of the Study

Why is it so important to conduct this study? This is what you want to consider when thinking about the significance of the study. Specifically, you want to consider the constituents that this study affects.

In our study on the perceptions of victims of domestic violence, certainly one constituent would be the participants. A qualitative study offers the participants an opportunity to express their current and unmet needs. Another constituent would be social workers. Conducting this study is beneficial for social workers, because it offers first-hand information from prospective clients regarding the services or gaps in services and provides social workers with information needed to advocate for any necessary changes. Finally, this information would be beneficial for administrators of various agencies. With this information, they can implement new services or policies and procedures to better enhance practice.

Definition of Terms

The definition of terms section is used to identify and define any ambiguous content in the study. The goal is to help readers fully understand the content of your study. Although the terms might be familiar to the researcher, the goal is to assist other readers who might not be as familiar with the content.

Some important terms in our domestic violence study would include:

• Battering
• Domestic Violence
• Emotional Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Violence
• Women’s Shelter

When defining the terms in the paper, list them alphabetically.

Assumptions

As a social researcher, you will find that you will make assumptions about your study. In other words, you will assume things to be true, when you may not be able to verify the accuracy. However, it is not enough to simply state the assumptions, the researcher must justify how the assumption is true. More specifically, if the researcher states that he or she assumes that the respondent will understand the question asked, the researcher must justify this by indicating that the questions for the study will be written in a manner that the participants can understand.

Although each research study will be different there are some commonly seen assumptions. The goal of the researcher is to identify the assumptions specific to their own study.

Limitations

As researchers, we want to believe that our study is perfect. Unfortunately, this is never the case. All research studies have limitations or weaknesses. This is one of the main reasons why as researchers we do not use the words “prove” or “disprove” with respect to our findings.

As with assumptions, the limitations of each study will also be different. However, there are some commonly seen limitations. Again, the goal of the researcher is to identify the limitations specific to his/her own study.

Delimitations

With delimitations, researchers set the boundaries of their research project. Delimitations address how the study will be narrowed in scope. As a researcher, you cannot interview or survey everyone, there are time limits on how long a study should continue, and often the study is tailored to a specific group. Each study will have its own delimitations and the goal of the researcher is to identify delimitations as they pertain to that study.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. In your textbook Writing Empirical Research Reports: A Basic Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences, review:
   1. Chapter 7, “Writing Definitions” (pp. 63–71)
   2. Chapter 8, “Writing Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations” (pp. 73–78)
3. Review the following files:
   1. Introduction to the Problem_Descriptive Study.pdf
   2. Introduction to the Problem_Experimental Study.pdf
   3. Introduction to the Problem_Qualitative Study.pdf
4. Take the problem statement for your study that you developed in Workshop Three and write a draft of your study’s introduction. Include all of the eight elements:
   1. Introduction (two to three paragraphs)
   2. Background of the Problem (minimum of three paragraphs)
   3. Theoretical Framework (two to three paragraphs)
   4. Significance of the Study (at least three reasons why this study is significant)
   5. Definition of Terms (five to ten definitions)
   6. Assumptions (at least three assumptions)
   7. Limitations (at least three limitations)
   8. Delimitations (at least three delimitations)
5. Be sure to follow APA format and style. Include a cover page, in-text citations, and a reference page.

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