LESSON 5: THE VALUE OF RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF

INTEREST

The introduction
The introduction serves as a bridge to take the reader from a broad topic to a specific area of study. It
establishes the context of the research being conducted by summarizing existing knowledge and
background information on the subject, stating the purpose of the work in the form of the hypothesis,
question, or research problem, briefly outlining your justification and methodological approach,
highlighting the potential outcomes your study can reveal, and outlining the remaining elements of the
paper's structure.

Importance of good introduction

• What was I studying?
• Why was this topic important to investigate?
• What did we know about this topic before I did this study?
• How will this study advance our knowledge?
A well-written introduction is important because, quite simply, you never get a second chance to
make a good first impression. The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with
their initial impressions about the logic of your argument, your writing style, the overall quality of your
research, and, ultimately, the validity of your findings and conclusions.

I. Structure and approach

• The introduction is the broad beginning of the paper that answers three important questions for the
reader:
• What is this?
• Why am I reading it?
• What do you want me to think about / consider doing / react to?
Think of the structure of the introduction as an inverted triangle of information. Organize the
information so as to present the more general aspects of the topic early in the introduction, then
narrow toward the more specific topical information that provides context, finally arriving at your
statement of purpose and rationale and, whenever possible, the potential outcomes your study can
reveal.

II. Delimitation of the study

Delimitations refer to those characteristics that limit the scope and define the conceptual boundaries of
your study. This is determined by the conscious exclusionary and Inclusionary decisions you make about how
to investigate the research problem.
• Examples of delimitating choices would be:
 • The key aims and objectives of your study,
• The research questions that you address,
• The variables of interest [i.e., the various factors and features of the phenomenon being studied],
• The method(s) of investigation, and
• Any relevant alternative theoretical frameworks that could have been adopted.

III. The Narrative Flow

• Issues to keep in mind that will help the narrative flow in your introduction:
• Your introduction should clearly identify the subject area of interest. A simple strategy to follow is to
use key words from your title in the first few sentences of the introduction. This will help focus the
introduction on the topic at the appropriate level and ensures that you get to the primary subject
matter quickly without losing focus, or discussing information that is too general.
• Establish context by providing a brief and balanced review of the pertinent published literature that
is available on the subject. The key is to summarize for the reader what is known about the specific
research problem before you did your analysis. This part of your introduction should not represent a
comprehensive literature review but consists of a general review of the important, foundational
research literature (with citations) that lays a foundation for understanding key elements of the
research problem. See the drop-down tab for "Background Information" for types of contexts.
• Clearly state the hypothesis that you investigated. When you are first learning to write in this format it
is okay, and actually preferable, to use a past statement like, "The purpose of this study was to...." or
"We investigated three possible mechanisms to explain the...."
• Why did you choose this kind of research study or design? Provide a clear statement of the rationale
for your approach to the problem studied. This will usually follow your statement of purpose in the last
paragraph of the introduction.

IV. Engaging the reader

• The overarching goal of your introduction is to make your readers want to read your paper. The
introduction should grab your reader's attention. Strategies for doing this can be to:
1. Open with a compelling story,
2. Include a strong quotation or a vivid, perhaps unexpected anecdote,
3. Pose a provocative or thought-provoking question,
4. Describe a puzzling scenario or incongruity, or
5. Cite a stirring example or case study that illustrates why the research problem is important.
The Background of the Study
• After identifying your research topic, you must situate your research in a particular academic field. This
is when you establish the background of your study. The background of the study introduces important
facets that establish the general context where the study revolves. These may include the description
of the subjects of the study or the history involving the research.
• Let us use an example showing how to establish the background of the study. You may want to conduct
a study on the effects of traffic on your city. To establish the background of your study, you need to
discuss several aspects describing your topic. For instance, you may first provide a brief overview of the
changes in the traffic situation in your city through the years. Then, you may discuss and determine the
effects of heavy traffic on both passengers and motorists. Finally, you may explain the factors that
contribute to heavy traffic in your city. Possible factors include the increase in the number of vehicles
on the road and problems in the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.
• Another important component of the background of the study is the establishment of the research gap.
A research gap is an issue that has not been fully addressed by previous studies. Doing this helps you
show where your research stands in the academic field. Here are the four components to consider in
establishing the research gap of your paper.
• 1. The current state of the field
• Explain that the general field in which your current study is situated remains to be a significant area of
research up to the present. Point out that it continues to interest many researchers and practitioners.
• 2. The current and conventional practices in addressing the issue Discuss the current practices being
used by researchers, practitioners, or authorities within the particular field of study you are
investigating. Make sure to explain the merits of these practices and their contribution to your field of
study.
• 3. The research gap
• Explain that there are other aspects under the topic which may not have been addressed by current
practices and conventions in your field of study. It may be also possible that these established practices
have failed to provide conclusive findings in investigating your chosen topic. Additionally, you may also
state that there are very few studies that have explored the area of your current research. Make sure
that the research gap that you have identified remains relevant and has not been addressed yet;
otherwise you will fail to provide a convincing justification for conducting your research.
• The present study's contribution to addressing the research gap
• Discuss how your own study will help fill in the research gap you have identified. Filling the gap may be
in the form of a new methodology or approach, or the development of a new perspective or theory.

Writing the significance of the study

• The significance of the study can be written topically or in an enumeration format. The topical
arrangement is done in paragraphs and based on the weight of the individual contributions. It can be
also based on how you sequence your specific research questions. If you will use this format, there
should be one paragraph corresponding to each of the contributions or research questions.
 On the other hand, when using an enumeration format, the details must be arranged according to the
beneficiaries. Below are some of the parties that may benefit from your study.

• field of study (e.g., business, education)

• government agencies
• private organizations
• organization or company involved in the study
• staff, heads, and administrators of the specific organization or company
• population the participants belong to
• other researchers
• Some of the useful phrases that you can use in writing this section are as follows:
• The findings of this study will be useful to the following entities:
• This study will contribute to...
• This study will benefit the following groups or individuals: