What is the purpose of Chapter One? What is the purpose of the introduction?

Introduction Leads the reader to the Problem statement. Generally not lengthy... Extensive reviews are covered in the Review of Literature.

Chapter One: Introduction The Need for the Study The Problem [The Subproblems] The Hypotheses Assumptions Delimitations Limitations Terms Significance of the Study

What is the Need for the Study? Why should the study be conducted? What has led you (from the research) to undertake the study? [Generally written in third person.]

What is the “Problem”? Clear, precise, no longer than one sentence. Generally 30 words or less. Covers the “who”, “what”, & “where”.

ie) The purpose of this descriptive study is to examine the moral reasoning among general students and student athletes, in interscholastic high schools.

Subproblems: Generally not more than 3-4 statements; Restatement of the problem implicitly and explicitly; complete researchable units. **Does not examine anything that the problem does not examine.

Examples: 1. What difference exists between interscholastic student athletes’ and general students’ moral reasoning? 2. What difference exists by gender in interscholastic student athletes’ and general students’ moral reasoning? Which is explicit? Which is implicit? Can you think of any others?

Hypotheses? “Intelligent” guesses for the purpose of assisting the researcher in directing one’s thinking toward a solution of the problem. A one to one basis with the subproblems. Written in negative (null)

Examples: 1. No difference exists between interscholastic student athletes’ and general students’ moral reasoning? 2. No difference exists by gender in interscholastic student athletes’ and general students’ moral reasoning? Why are they written in the null?

Delimitations? Puts boundaries on the investigation. To whom is the study limited? What will the study not do? What will and will not be evaluated? How will the investigation be limited? What will not be included? Listed in statement form.

Examples: Study is limited to high school age athletes and general students in four interscholastic member institutions in four different geographic regions. The inventory scores are limited to the individual’s ability to accurately and honestly respond to their thoughts and feelings. What others?

Limitations: A possible shortcoming or influence that either cannot be controlled or is the result of the delimitations imposed by the investigator.

If we delimit a study to two different grades, there is an automatic limitation with how the results represents ALL grades.

Assumptions? That which is understood or obvious to the reader or researcher of the study. What are you assuming about you populations? What are you assuming about your test? What are you assuming about yourself and others?

Examples: The HBVCI is a reliable test for measuring moral reasoning. Inferences from the DIT are valid for measuring moral reasoning. The sample is representatives of interscholastic general students and student athletes. Respondents have adequate reading comprehension to complete the HBVCI.

Terms? Purpose is to clarify terms to the layperson. Clarify unusual words. How will the words be used in this case?

Example: Oftentimes people use the words ethics and moral as synonymous; however is their purest sense they mean something a little different. Thus you need to clarify how they will be used in this particular study.

Significance of the Study? Reason for undertaking the study? What is the practical importance? Potential outcome of who, what, why? Generally short, sweet and to the point.

Should focus on such things as: * Contradictory findings * Gaps in the knowledge * Difficulty in measuring certain aspects * Practicality