Introduction:
This section is an introduction to the topic and the subject. It describes the background to the research, particularly the major ideas (or theoretical perspective) from which the research is derived. The introduction explains the reasons for doing the research, and indicates why the research is important valuable or significant. It outlines the contribution that the research will make to knowledge. The introduction also outlines the aims of the research by presenting research questions or hypotheses.
Be sure to include in the introduction a clear statement of your hypothesis and how you are going to address it Throughout the introduction you should use citations from the research literature to support your study. These citations should include but not be limited to research presented in the Literature Review.
Statement of the Problem:
You should clearly state the problem that your thesis is going to address. You should also present relevant information about why this is an important problem. Describe what precisely you intend to show/argue and why (i.e., address the ever-lurking "So what?" question). Is your research problem addressing a significant social problem, or is it testing some theoretical hypothesis, such as the argument that high television viewing levels make people feel apolitical and powerless.
The issues raised ideally are timely, relevant to the problems or trends of the present time and have broad applicability. Good questions are those allowing theories to be tested or, as when two theories make opposing predictions, can be compared.
In this section you should first grab the attention and interest of your readers; and secondly introduce the problem to be studied. All assertions of feet must be documented. Be careful of any generalizations that you make. A social science research paper is not an editorial. In short a thesis statement is what you'll PROVE, it is the ARGUMENT. If is the SCOPE, it is the MAIN IDEA and the PURPOSE of your paper and that you intend to develop, prove, defend or explore with evidence and therefore has an argumentative or informational edge and must not state the obvious.
Background and Need:
You should present relevant literature that supports the need for your project. Research articles, books, educational and government statistics are just a few sources that should be used here. This section can include brief overviews of articles covered in the literature review that support the need for your project.
Rationale:
The rationale should define the larger problem being investigated. Summarize what is known about the problem, define the gap(s) in the knowledge, and state what needs to be done to address the gap(s).
Purpose of the Project:
Based on the above background information, explain the purpose of the study. Explain what you hope the study will accomplish and why you chose to do this particular study. This should be supported with citations and specific information related to the study.
Research Questions/Hypotheses:
Given the background above, you carefully state the hypotheses that will be tested in your thesis. The hypothesis is the central question being researched. It should be expressed in straight-forward terms. A good hypothesis is comparative, measurable, and falsifiable. Hypotheses are usually defined in "cause -effect" relationships. Any corollary hypotheses or secondary research questions should also be stated. Any supplemental definitions or discussion necessary to explain the hypothesis should be offered.
Underlying every theory is the issue of causality. What exactly does it mean to say that poverty "causes" crime, that cultural materialism "causes" moral decay? Just because two events historically occur simultaneously does not necessarily mean that one is influencing the other.
Hypothesis is a guide or a sign post to the researcher that keeps one on the track. The researcher tests the initial presupposition or hypothesis while working along.
• Hypothesis is formulated in such a way that it enables the researcher to test it.
• Hypothesis depicts and describes the method that follows during the study.
• Hypothesis is a kind of hunch that the researcher has about the topic.
• Hypothesis establishes the precise focus of the research study.
• Hypothesis helps decide the aims and objectives of the study.
• Hypothesis is of speculative nature, an imaginative preconception of "what might be true".
• Hypothesis is a well established research question that can be in form of a descriptive statement or a question.
