Sections of a typical Chapter 1
| Section | What it does |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Opens the topic and previews the chapter in a few paragraphs |
| Background of the problem | Summarizes what is known and what has changed, with current sources |
| Problem statement | States the specific problem the study addresses, with evidence that it exists |
| Purpose statement | One or two sentences on what the study will do, with what method, for whom, and where |
| Research questions or hypotheses | The exact questions the study answers; they drive Chapters 3 and 4 |
| Theoretical or conceptual framework | The theory or model that guides the study |
| Nature of the study | A short preview of the design and methods (detailed in Chapter 3) |
| Significance | Who benefits and how: practice, policy, or future research |
| Definitions of terms | Key terms defined as they are used in this study, with sources |
| Assumptions, limitations, delimitations | What you take as true, what may weaken the study, and the boundaries you chose |
| Summary | Recaps the chapter and previews Chapter 2 |
Write a strong problem statement
The problem statement is the most important paragraph in Chapter 1. It names a specific, current problem, shows evidence that it matters, and points to the gap your study fills.
Burnout is a problem for nurses.
Turnover among first-year nurses in rural hospitals remains above 25% (Author, 2024), yet little is known about how rural new graduates describe the support they receive during their first year of practice.
Align the purpose and research questions
The problem, purpose, and research questions must line up. Reviewers check this alignment first.
The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to explore how first-year nurses in rural hospitals in the Midwest describe workplace support during their first year of practice.
RQ1: How do first-year nurses in rural Midwestern hospitals describe the workplace support they receive?
- Quantitative questions name variables and a relationship or difference.
- Qualitative questions begin with "how" or "what" and explore experiences or perceptions.
- Use the same key terms in the problem, purpose, questions, and title.
Limitations vs. delimitations
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Assumption | Something you accept as true but cannot fully verify | Participants answer honestly |
| Limitation | A weakness outside your control | A small sample from one region limits generalization |
| Delimitation | A boundary you chose on purpose | Only nurses in their first year of practice were included |
Tips that save revisions
- Write Chapter 1 early, then revise it last so it matches what you actually did.
- Support every claim about the problem with recent, scholarly sources.
- Keep the method preview short; the detail belongs in Chapter 3.
- Use your program's chapter template if one exists; many schools have required headings.
Formats differ by university, program, and field. Your graduate school's thesis and dissertation manual and your committee always take priority over any general guide, including this one.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Chapter 1?
Often 10 to 25 pages in a dissertation and shorter in a master's thesis, depending on the program.
Should Chapter 1 be written in future or past tense?
Proposals usually use future tense ("this study will"). In the final version, revise to past tense ("this study examined").
Can I change my research questions later?
Small wording changes are common; larger changes usually need committee and sometimes IRB approval. Keep Chapters 1, 3, and 4 aligned whenever questions change.