WRITING CHAPTER 1: THE INTRODUCTION Our consultants assist students to focus on a specific gap in the knowledge and meet the requirements in this chapter needed to defend the choice of that gap. Chapter 1, with a highly focused review of the literature, and is normally the “prospectus” that a commiee approves before the “proposal” to start research is approved. Aſter the prospectus is approved, some of the review of literature may be moved into Chapter 2, which then becomes part of the proposal to do research. Chapter 1 Introductory Paragraph State the general field of interest in one or two paragraphs, and end with a sentence that states what study will accomplish. Background of the Problem This secon is crically important as it must contain some menon of all the subject maer in the following Chapter 2 Review of the Literature 2 and the methodology in Chapter 3. Key words should abound that will subsequently be used again in Chapter 2. The secon is a brief two to four page summary of the major findings in the field of interest that cites the most current finding in the subject area. A minimum of two to three citaons to the literature per paragraph is advisable. The paragraphs must be a summary of unresolved issues, conflicng findings, social concerns, or educaonal, naonal, or internaonal issues, and lead to the next secon, the statement of the problem. Statement of the Problem Arising from the background statement is this statement of the exact gap in the knowledge discussed in previous paragraphs that reviewed the most current literature found. A gap in the knowledge is the enre reason for the study, so state it specifically and exactly. Use the words “gap in the knowledge.” The problem statement will contain a definion of the general need for the study, and the specific problem that will be addressed. Purpose of the Study The Purpose of the Study is a statement contained within one or two paragraphs that idenfies the research design, such as qualitave, quantave, mixed methods, ethnographic, or another design. The research variables, if a quantave study, are idenfied, for instance, independent, dependent, comparisons, relaonships, or other variables. The populaon that will be used is idenfied, whether it will be randomly or purposively chosen, and the locaon of the study is summarized. Most of these