How to Write the Introduction of a Research Article?

There are different ways to write the Introduction or research background section of a research project proposal, a research report, or a journal article. In this section, we set the scene and introduce our research to the readers.

I have developed the following guidelines for young, early-career researchers working with me and attempting for the first time to write such a section by themselves. I divide such a section into five sub-sections, as listed below, starting with Context. You don’t need to actually give sub-heading for each sub-section; it is only to help you to map your thoughts and content in a logical manner. You may need to write one or more paragraphs for each sub-section, as needed. In some cases, two smaller sub-sections may merge, as the writing flow demands.

Since 2020, the research team I work with at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) has published 15 social science articles broadly following these guidelines. Most of the first authors of these papers are first-time first authors. So, these guidelines seems to be helpful!

While writing the Introduction, your respective discipline may demand a particular structure; your supervisor or institution may prefer a different style. But, don’t worry. There is no harm reading additional things, like the following guideline. It will help you to rethink what you are doing (as you write an Introduction), how you are doing it, and why you are doing it. This and other guidelines may help you in the beginning of your academic writing career, before you develop your own writing style!

Please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this article page: What do you think about these guidelines; do you have a different way to write your Introductions. Tell us your thoughts and experiences.

A Brief Guide to Write the Introduction Section of a Journal Article

1) Context:

1. Based on the keywords of your research topic or research title, you need to set the scene of your research.
2. Here you describe those keywords, which could be concepts, approaches, ideas, situations, communities, etc.
3. The context should be written based on global and national literature. But, don’t focus too much on your research’s geographical area. Rather show the bigger picture.
4. This section will help the readers to understand in which context your proposed research is set.

2) Present knowledge:

1. Here you will describe what we already know about different core issues of the research topic.
2. Here you need to show the relationships/connections among those issues too.
3. Here geographical location could be focused to capture specific present knowledge. Also see point 4c below.
4. This part will be written based on a short review of global/national literature.
5. A note of caution: you might have already done a thorough literature review as a part of your research proposal development, and there is a separate section on it, especially if you are converting your thesis into a journal article. But, in a journal article, you cannot include your whole literature review. Many journals even don’t allow you to include a separate Literature Review section in your manuscript. Therefore, only important, relevant part of that literature review can be included in your journal paper. We also need to follow the word limit imposed by the journal publisher.

3) Knowledge gap:

1. Based on the present knowledge, you now need to write what specific aspects we don't know about the research topic, but we strongly believe we need to know them.
2. The gap could be an understudied geography, unexplored group of people, missing connection between two aspects, unknown causal relationship, etc.
3. This sub-section may continue with the following sub-section.

4) Importance of filling in the knowledge gap:

1. Here you write, what good or positive thing will happen, if we know the above unknown or fill in the knowledge gap.
2. Or, what bad or negative thing might happen, if we don't know the above unknown.
3. Here, if applicable, you also need to discuss, why we have selected a particular geographical area to conduct research, i.e. the importance of the location or its people. This may, however, naturally come under above point 2c; then write it there.

5) What we are going to do about it:

1. This part will essentially describe the overall scope of this research.
2. What are we going to do, where, when, how, etc. – very briefly. It can be paraphrased research objective and question.
3. This will be followed by research objective and research questions sub-sections of your article.

It is pertinent to mention that, while writing an Introduction, we often follow a funnel structure — starting with broader concepts then gradually narrowing it down to specific ideas. Here, I have tried to add some specific items that may help you to structure your Introduction better. Those of you who are interested to learn more, here are some relevant resources available on the Rising Scholars website to encourage you to write an effective Introduction section:

• Introduction sections: where are we going and why should I care?
• Facilitation Kit: Writing a Journal Article Reporting Research
• 7 tips for writing an introduction to a paper

Thumbnail image: Illustration by Art Attack on Unsplash