The Introduction

Definition
The introduction serves the purpose of leading the reader from a general subject area to a
particular field of research. It establishes the context of the research being conducted by
summarizing current understanding and background information about the topic, stating the
purpose of the work in the form of the hypothesis, question, or research problem, briefly
explaining your rationale, methodological approach, highlighting the potential outcomes your
study can reveal, and describing the remaining structure of the paper.

Importance of a Good Introduction

Think of the introduction as a mental road map that must answer for the reader these four
questions:

 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. A vague, disorganized, or error-filled introduction will create a negative impression,
whereas, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your readers off thinking
highly of your analytical skills, your writing style, and your research approach.

Structure and Writing Style

I. Structure and Approach

The introduction is the broad beginning of the paper that answers three important
questions for the reader:

1. What is this?
2. Why am I reading it?
3. 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.

These are general phases associated with writing an introduction:

1. Establish an area to research by:

 Highlighting the importance of the topic, and/or

 Making general statements about the topic, and/or
 Presenting an overview on current research on the subject.

2. Identify a research niche by:

 Opposing an existing assumption, and/or

 Revealing a gap in existing research, and/or
 Formulating a research question or problem, and/or
 Continuing a disciplinary tradition.

3. Place your research within the research niche by:

 Stating the intent of your study,

 Outlining the key characteristics of your study,
 Describing important results, and
 Giving a brief overview of the structure of the paper.

NOTE: Even though the introduction is the first main section of a research paper, it is often
useful to finish the introduction very late in the writing process because the structure of the
paper, the reporting and analysis of results, and the conclusion will have been completed and it
ensures that your introduction matches the overall structure of your paper.

II. Delimitations 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. In other words, not only
should you tell the reader what it is you are studying and why, but you must also acknowledge
why you rejected alternative approaches that could have been used to examine the research
problem.

Obviously, the first limiting step was the choice of research problem itself. However, implicit are
other, related problems that could have been chosen but were rejected. These should be noted in
the conclusion of your introduction.

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.

Review each of these decisions. You need to not only clearly establish what you intend to
accomplish, but to also include a declaration of what the study does not intend to cover. In the
latter case, your exclusionary decisions should be based upon criteria stated as, "not interesting";
"not directly relevant"; “too problematic because..."; "not feasible," and the like. Make this
reasoning explicit!

NOTE: Delimitations refer to the initial choices made about the broader, overall design of your
study and should not be confused with documenting the limitiations of your study discovered
after the research has been completed.

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 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 include:

1. Opening with a compelling story,

2. Including a strong quotation or a vivid, perhaps unexpected anecdote,
3. Posing a provocative or thought-provoking question,
4. Including a puzzling scenario or incongruity, or
5. Citing a stirring example or case study that illustrates why the research problem is
important.

NOTE: Only choose one strategy for engaging your readers; avoid giving an impression that
your paper is more flash than substance.