LESSON 52 - RESEARCH PROPOSAL: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY & STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

LESSON 52 - RESEARCH PROPOSAL: BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY & STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

by Prof. Lydia Wambugu

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Science — General & History GPResearch and information: generalGPSResearch methods
🎙 Prof. Lydia Wambugu 👥 29K 📅 August 23, 2021 ⏱ 16 min 👁 58K 📄 tutorial 🧭 2026-08-17
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

research proposalbackground to the studystatement of the problemknowledge gapsocial need

Summary

This lesson from the ‘Research Methods Class’ series focuses on the first two sections of Chapter One of a research proposal: Background to the Study and Statement of the Problem. The instructor, Prof. Lydia Wambugu, begins by outlining the 12 sections typically found in Chapter One, noting variations across disciplines. She then explains that the Background to the Study provides a historical overview of the phenomenon under investigation, aiming to capture the reader’s interest and establish the relevance of the research. It should review literature from global, regional, and local perspectives, using current sources (less than 10 years old) unless classical. The Statement of the Problem is then detailed as having three critical paragraphs: the statement of social need, the statement of knowledge gap, and the statement of the main research question or researcher’s intuition. The social need paragraph should be based on data from government or institutional sources. The knowledge gap is identified by examining methods, context, variables, conflicting findings, or omitted groups in previous studies, and must be justified. The final paragraph uses ’therefore’ to introduce the main research question. The instructor emphasizes that the Statement of the Problem should be concise, ideally half a page to one page, and should not repeat the background. The lesson concludes with a preview of the next sections: Purpose and Objectives of the Study.

223 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides valuable, practical guidance for students writing research proposals, particularly in social sciences. It clearly distinguishes between the Background and the Statement of the Problem, a common source of confusion. The argumentation is logical and structured, breaking down complex concepts into manageable parts. The instructor uses examples to illustrate points, such as comparing distance learning and on-campus students, which aids understanding. However, the video lacks explicit citations to academic literature, relying instead on general principles. The advice is prescriptive and may not account for all disciplinary variations, but it offers a solid foundation. The emphasis on using data for the social need and identifying knowledge gaps through specific criteria is particularly useful.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The video demonstrates scientific rigor in its structured approach to teaching research proposal writing. It provides clear definitions and logical steps, which are consistent with standard research methodology texts. However, it does not cite specific sources or references, which limits its scholarly depth. The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on the first two sections of Chapter One. The instructor’s credentials as a professor lend credibility, but the lack of external citations means the information is based on her expertise rather than verifiable sources. The description includes links to the instructor’s courses and social media, but these are promotional rather than academic references.

232 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on the first two sections of a research proposal's chapter one.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The content is a structured academic tutorial by a professor, providing clear definitions and practical guidance. It is based on established research methodology principles, though it lacks explicit citations to external sources.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Research Methods Course — Mentioned as the full course available on the website
  • IBM SPSS Course — Mentioned as an additional course offered
  • Research Methods Class YouTube Channel — Link to subscribe to the channel

Concurring Sources

  • Research Methods: The Basics — A standard textbook that covers research proposal writing, aligning with the video's content.

Contribution & Novelties

This video offers a clear, step-by-step guide to writing the Background and Statement of the Problem sections of a research proposal, which is valuable for students. It demystifies the process of identifying a knowledge gap by providing specific criteria. The instructor’s emphasis on using data for the social need and the concise nature of the statement is practical. However, the content is not novel; it aligns with standard research methodology teachings. The video’s contribution lies in its pedagogical clarity.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Research proposal — Provides an overview of research proposals, including structure and purpose.
  • Literature review — Explains the process of reviewing literature, which is central to the background section.
  • Research question — Discusses the formulation of research questions, relevant to the statement of the problem.

129 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quantity and quality of information, with moderate technical level. This indicates a well-structured tutorial that is accessible to beginners but may lack depth for advanced researchers.

Reliability 8/10