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:Practical Research 1
Guide on how to write a qualitative research paper:

The journey of writing a research paper is both challenging

and rewarding. It begins with Chapter 1, often referred to
as the Introduction. This chapter sets the stage for your
entire paper, providing the foundation upon which your
research is built. Crafting a compelling and informative
introduction is crucial, as it captures the reader's
interest and outlines the significance of your study.

In Chapter 1, you will:

● Introduce Your Topic: Begin by presenting your

research topic. Provide background information to help
the reader understand the context and relevance of
your study.

● State the Problem: Clearly define the problem or issue

that your research addresses. Explain why it is
important and worth investigating.

● Formulate Objectives: Outline the main objectives of

your research. What do you aim to achieve? What
questions do you seek to answer?

● Significance of the Study: Discuss the potential

impact and contributions of your research. How will
your findings benefit the field or society?

● Scope and Limitations: Define the boundaries of your

study. What aspects will you focus on, and what
limitations might affect your research?

● Organization of the Paper: Provide a brief overview of

the structure of your paper. Guide the reader through
the subsequent chapters and what they can expect to
find.

As you embark on this research journey, remember that the

introduction is your opportunity to engage your readers and
lay the groundwork for a compelling and insightful research
paper. Take your time to craft this chapter with care and
precision, and let your passion for the subject shine
through.
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Chapter 1

Introduction to the Study

The first chapter is divided into five parts: first is the

Background and Theoretical Framework of the Study, second

is the Statement of the Problem, third is the Significance

of the Study, fourth is the Definition of Terms, and fifth

is the Scope and Delimitation of the Study.

The Background of the Study and Theoretical Framework

contains an explanation which identifies and describes the

nature of this study. It further provides background

information which indicates the focus of this study and the

gaps which it attempts to address. Along with this, a

conceptual framework is also included that will show the

flow of the study along with its bounds.

Statement of the Problem focuses on the area of

concern and the reason for conducting this study. Also, it

contains the specific objectives of this study.

The Significance of the Study lays down the purpose

and importance of this study. Along with the specific

contributions it can add to the teaching field.

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The Definition of Terms contains the list, in

alphabetical order, research terminologies related to this

study for the purpose of clarity and understanding.

The Delimitation of the Study shows the depth this

study is to explore. It also sets the boundaries for this

study in terms of duration, population size, the

participant, research methods, research instrument/s, etc.

Background and Theoretical Framework of the Study

In writing the Background of the Study, remember the

following:

● Be Concise and Clear: Avoid unnecessary details and

deep words. Write in a clear and concise manner to
ensure your readers understand the background and
significance of your study.

● Stay Relevant: Focus on information that directly

relates to your research problem. Avoid including
unrelated details or information that does not
contribute to understanding your study.

● Use Credible Sources: Reference reputable and relevant

sources to support your background information. This
adds credibility to your research.

● Engage the Reader: Start with an interesting fact,

quote, or anecdote to grab the reader's attention.
Make sure your introduction is engaging and
informative.

Below is an example of a Background of the Study to serve

as your reference:

Note: notice the highlighted areas of the sample provided? Those

are called citations. Those were statements taken from other
studies that can be used to strengthen your own research.
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In the field, an Araling Panlipunan teacher may be

required to teach various disciplines under the Social

Sciences such as: history, geography, economics,

contemporary issues, sociology, politics, and religion. In

each of these disciplines, The Department of Education

mandates set of non-negotiable competencies aimed at

mastering a certain knowledge or skill. These competencies

require an Araling Panlipunan teacher to have sufficient

knowledge to plan and implement effective classroom

instruction.

Complexities in the subject and the additional

workloads of Araling Panlipunan teachers, there have been

problems with the teaching of the subject as evidenced by

Joe (2021) in her study which suggests that the

implementation of the K to 12 curriculum in the JHS caused

deterioration of students’ performance in Araling

Panlipunan. In another study conducted, Alay (2021)

recommended that secondary Araling Panlipunan teachers

should focus more on academic improvement through seminars,

lectures, and further studies on their subject.

The curriculum, created by administrators and

supervisors are provided to the teachers, while the most

essential learning competencies (MELCs) along with the

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teaching standards and framework are adopted by the school

to guarantee the students receive a solid education in

Araling Panlipunan. In connection with this, Alay (2021)

suggested in a study that curriculum planners should

collaborate with individuals to create varied strategies

and methods for effective teaching that is more in line

with the pandemic era which focuses on online classes and

modular learning.

Based on the mission of the Department of Education

(DepEd), one of its goals is to raise effective citizens.

With this, how will the Araling Panlipunan teachers

articulate the purpose of Araling Panlipunan to design

effective lessons and meaningful discussions? This study

aims to understand secondary school Araling Panlipunan

teachers’ teaching experiences along with their

perspectives on the subject.

Statement of the Problem

Writing a statement of the problem involves clearly

defining the issue you're addressing. Here's a step-by-step
guide to help you craft one effectively:

● Identify the problem: Clearly describe the issue

you're addressing. Ensure it's specific and
significant.

● Background Information: Provide context to help

readers understand the problem's relevance and
importance.
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● Evidence: Support your statement with data or examples

to highlight the problem's impact or urgency.

● Consequences: Explain the implications if the problem

is not addressed. This helps to emphasize its
importance.

● Scope: Define the extent of the problem. Specify who

is affected and to what degree.

● Objective: State the purpose of your research or

project. What do you aim to achieve by solving this
problem?
Here’s a template you can follow:

This study aims to _____________________________

(insert the goal/aim of your study). Along with that, this

study also aims to _____________________________ (insert

another goal/aim of your study if you have multiple). With

the stated goals of this study, the researchers will follow

the research questions for this study:

1. State your first statement of the problem.

2. State your second statement of the problem.

3. State your third statement of the problem.

Significance of the Study

Crafting a well-written Significance of the Study section

involves demonstrating the value and impact of your
research. Here’s a structured approach to help you write it
effectively:

● Introduction: Briefly introduce the topic and its

context within your field of study.
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● Importance: Explain why your study is important.

Highlight the gaps in existing research that your
study aims to fill.

● Impact: Describe the potential impact of your

findings. Who will benefit from your study, and how?

● Practical Applications: Discuss the practical

applications of your research. How can your findings
be applied in real-world situations?

● Future Research: Suggest how your study might pave the

way for future research in your field.

Here’s a template you can follow:

This study aims to __________________________________

(briefly describe the purpose of your study). The

significance of this research lies in

__________________________________ (explain why your study

is important, the gaps it addresses, and its potential

impact). This research is expected to

__________________________________ (describe the potential

benefits and applications). Additionally, the findings may

contribute to future research by

__________________________________ (discuss potential

future research opportunities).

Moreover, the possible findings of this study may be

significant to the following: (In this part, you will

specifically enumerate the beneficiaries of your studies)

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Beneficiary no. 1. (write down the possible benefit to

the beneficiary).

Beneficiary no. 2. (write down the possible benefit to

the beneficiary).

Note: the number of possible beneficiaries may differ depending on the

study. Some may have 3, some may have 4, and others may have more than
that. See to it that you can include all the possible beneficiaries on
your paper to see the possible impact of your work.
Definition of Terms

Creating well-crafted definitions of terms is crucial in

research as it helps ensure clarity and consistency. Here's
a structured approach to defining terms effectively:

● Identify Key Terms List out all the important terms

and concepts that are central to your research. These
should include both technical terms and commonly used
words that may have specific meanings within the
context of your study.

● Use Established Definitions Where possible, use

definitions from reputable sources such as academic
journals, textbooks, or official publications. This
adds credibility to your definitions.

● Be Clear and Concise Write definitions that are

straightforward and easy to understand. Avoid using
complex language or jargon that might confuse readers.

● Contextualize Terms Provide context to explain how

each term is used within your research. This is
particularly important for terms that may have
multiple meanings or interpretations.

● Avoid Circular Definition Ensure that your definitions

do not use the term being defined as part of the
definition. This can lead to confusion and lack of
clarity.
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● Use Examples Where applicable, provide examples to

illustrate the term's meaning. This can help readers
grasp the concept more easily.

● Review and Revise After drafting your definitions,

review them to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Revise as necessary to improve clarity and precision.
An example will be provided below for you to see how this
part of the research paper is written:

Academic success refers to the overarching idea or

theory of what academic success means. This might include

the achievement of educational goals, mastery of knowledge,

and skills acquired through academic activities (Hofmann,

W., Gschwendtner, S., & Csikszentmihalyi, M., 2020).

In this study, academic success specifies how the term

will be measured or identified in a particular study. It

might include measurable criteria such as:

● GWA (General Weighed Average): An average score of a

student's grades across all their courses.

● Graduation Rate: The percentage of students who

complete their educational program within a specified

time frame.

● Standardized Test Scores: Scores obtained from exams

designed to measure a student's academic ability in

various subjects.
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● Class Participation: The level of engagement and

involvement a student demonstrates in classroom

activities.

You would notice that there were two definitions provided,

the conceptual and operational definitions. The first one
is called the conceptual definition, which is the actual
definition of the word. The second definition called the
operational definition, which is how the term will be used
in this study.
Below is the format that you will follow in writing your
definition of terms:
For a better understanding of the terms used in this

study, the following were defined conceptually and

operationally:

(Input the term you need to define. Note: it should be

italicized) refers to the (input here the conceptual

definition of the term along with the cited meaning).

In this study, (Input the term you need to define.

Note: it should be italicized) refers to the (input here

the operational definition of the term, ensure that the

definition will be the one appropriate for this specific

study).

note: follow this format for each term that you need to
define.

Scope and Limitations of the Study

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The scope of the study outlines the extent of your

research. It includes details about what is covered, such
as the specific content, variables, participants, methods,
and context. Here’s a template to help you get started:
● Introduction: Briefly introduce what your study is
about.

● Content: Describe the main topics or areas that your

study addresses.

● Population/Participants: Specify the groups or

individuals who are included in your study.

● Geographical Location: Define the area where your

study is conducted.
● Time Frame: Indicate the period during which youstudy
takes place.

● Methods: Detail the methodologies you employ in your

study.

The limitations section highlights the constraints that

might affect the study's results or generalizability. It’s
important to acknowledge these limitations to provide a
transparent view of your research. Here’s a guide on
writing this section:

● Sample Size: Mention if a small or specific sample

size limits the generalizability of your findings.

● Geographical Location: Explain if the study’s location

restricts its applicability to other areas.

● Time Frame: Discuss any time-related constraints that

might impact the results.

● Methodological Constraints: Identify any limitations

in the methods used, such as biases, lack of control
groups, or data collection issues.

● External Factors: Consider any external factors that

could affect the study, such as changes in policies or
unforeseen events.
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By clearly defining the scope and acknowledging the

limitations, you provide a transparent framework for your
study that helps readers understand its context and
constraints.

This study aims to (insert the main goal of your

study). To achieve that, a (insert what research design are

you going to utilize to achieve the aim of your study) will

be utilized in this study.

The main participants of this study will be (insert

who the main participants will be in this study. You may

also include other details about them that are important in

this study).

The data needed for this study will be gathered

through an in-person interview that is based on (insert a

suitable research technique that can aid you in your data

gathering process). The participants’ responses will then

be analyzed through Thematic Analysis.

(put a description here of the location where the

study will be held.) The participants will be determined

through a simple random sampling technique.

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Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

This chapter provides literature to which the present

proposed study is related or has some similarity or

implication. This will provide the researcher sufficient

background in understanding the study.

Chapter Two is divided into (input here how many parts

this chapter will be composed of. To give you an example,

let’s say that this particular chapter will be divided into

three) : First is the (input here what the first part will

be about), second is (input here what the second part will

be about), and lastly the third part will be(input here

what the third part will be about).

First part is the (input here what the first part will

be all about. Include a short description about it).

Second part is the (input here what the second part

will be all about. Include a short description about it).

Third part is the (input here what the third part will

be all about. Include a short description about it).

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(input here the first part, should be italicized)

(insert here a detailed description about the first

part of your Review of Related Literature)

(you may include sub parts that will further explain

the main focus of this part. Do not forget to include

citations in your literature review)

(Continue the same process on the succeeding parts of

your literature Review).