Libraries & Cultural Resources

Research guides, guide to research and writing for the academic study of religion.

  • Topic Pyramids
  • Research Assignment Parameters
  • Thesis statement
  • Identifying Interests
  • Controversy
  • Availability of Sources

Preliminary Research

  • Developing Your Question and Thesis
  • Research Question and Thesis Statement Examples
  • Periodicals
  • Primary Sources
  • Reference Works - Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Biographies etc
  • Journal Articles
  • Primary Sources This link opens in a new window
  • Web Search Engines
  • Web Directories
  • Invisible Web
  • Does the Library hold the article I need?
  • Locating resources unavailable at U of C Library
  • Content of Databases
  • Standardized Terminology
  • Review Quiz Databases
  • Keyword Searching
  • Search Limits
  • Phrase Searching
  • Truncations and Wildcards
  • Boolean Operators
  • Proximity Operators
  • Natural Language Searching
  • Searching Basics Quiz
  • Search Overview
  • Selecting Records
  • Combing Searchers
  • General Criteria
  • Quoting in text
  • in Text Citations
  • List of References
  • Avoiding Plagiarism
  • Staying Organized
  • Links to Writing Help
  • Sources Used in Creating this Workbook

Developing a good research question is impossible without doing some preliminary research.  Preliminary research gives you background information on your topic, answering questions such as who, what, when and where.  This research will also help you determine controversies related to your topic and determine if there are enough sources available to cover the topic effectively.

 You will encounter and learn much more information than you will convey in your final paper. Background information will enrich your research paper but should not bog it down in trivia. For example, if you were doing a paper on Hildegaard of Bingen, you should know that she was born into a noble family in Germany in 1098 and entered a hermitage at the age of eight and became a Benedictine Abbess. This information will help you contextualize her work in your own mind but your research paper should not be a simple recitation of these facts. Your research question should take you beyond the common knowledge found in encyclopedias, but without that  common knowledge your research will lack a solid foundation.

What follows is a list of resources that you may find useful for doing preliminary research in the field of Religious Studies. Keep in mind the type of information that you will need based on your preliminary topic and where your topic falls in the topic pyramid. Remember that the pyramid is a continuum rather than a series of discrete stages, so your topic likely will draw on both columns for some resources.

Resources for Preliminary Research

  • << Previous: Availability of Sources
  • Next: Developing Your Question and Thesis >>
  • Last Updated: Jun 9, 2022 2:27 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.ucalgary.ca/research-and-writing-religion

Libraries & Cultural Resources

  • 403.220.8895

Elsevier QRcode Wechat

  • Manuscript Preparation

What is the Background of a Study and How Should it be Written?

  • 3 minute read
  • 739.3K views

Table of Contents

The background of a study is one of the most important components of a research paper. The quality of the background determines whether the reader will be interested in the rest of the study. Thus, to ensure that the audience is invested in reading the entire research paper, it is important to write an appealing and effective background. So, what constitutes the background of a study, and how must it be written?

What is the background of a study?

The background of a study is the first section of the paper and establishes the context underlying the research. It contains the rationale, the key problem statement, and a brief overview of research questions that are addressed in the rest of the paper. The background forms the crux of the study because it introduces an unaware audience to the research and its importance in a clear and logical manner. At times, the background may even explore whether the study builds on or refutes findings from previous studies. Any relevant information that the readers need to know before delving into the paper should be made available to them in the background.

How is a background different from the introduction?

The introduction of your research paper is presented before the background. Let’s find out what factors differentiate the background from the introduction.

  • The introduction only contains preliminary data about the research topic and does not state the purpose of the study. On the contrary, the background clarifies the importance of the study in detail.
  • The introduction provides an overview of the research topic from a broader perspective, while the background provides a detailed understanding of the topic.
  • The introduction should end with the mention of the research questions, aims, and objectives of the study. In contrast, the background follows no such format and only provides essential context to the study.

How should one write the background of a research paper?

The length and detail presented in the background varies for different research papers, depending on the complexity and novelty of the research topic. At times, a simple background suffices, even if the study is complex. Before writing and adding details in the background, take a note of these additional points:

  • Start with a strong beginning: Begin the background by defining the research topic and then identify the target audience.
  • Cover key components: Explain all theories, concepts, terms, and ideas that may feel unfamiliar to the target audience thoroughly.
  • Take note of important prerequisites: Go through the relevant literature in detail. Take notes while reading and cite the sources.
  • Maintain a balance: Make sure that the background is focused on important details, but also appeals to a broader audience.
  • Include historical data: Current issues largely originate from historical events or findings. If the research borrows information from a historical context, add relevant data in the background.
  • Explain novelty: If the research study or methodology is unique or novel, provide an explanation that helps to understand the research better.
  • Increase engagement: To make the background engaging, build a story around the central theme of the research

Avoid these mistakes while writing the background:

  • Ambiguity: Don’t be ambiguous. While writing, assume that the reader does not understand any intricate detail about your research.
  • Unrelated themes: Steer clear from topics that are not related to the key aspects of your research topic.
  • Poor organization: Do not place information without a structure. Make sure that the background reads in a chronological manner and organize the sub-sections so that it flows well.

Writing the background for a research paper should not be a daunting task. But directions to go about it can always help. At Elsevier Author Services we provide essential insights on how to write a high quality, appealing, and logically structured paper for publication, beginning with a robust background. For further queries, contact our experts now!

How to Use Tables and Figures effectively in Research Papers

How to Use Tables and Figures effectively in Research Papers

Qualities of Every Good Researcher

  • Research Process

The Top 5 Qualities of Every Good Researcher

You may also like.

Guide to Crafting Impactful Sentences

A Guide to Crafting Shorter, Impactful Sentences in Academic Writing

Write an Excellent Discussion in Your Manuscript

6 Steps to Write an Excellent Discussion in Your Manuscript

How to Write Clear Civil Engineering Papers

How to Write Clear and Crisp Civil Engineering Papers? Here are 5 Key Tips to Consider

how does background preliminary research help in defining

The Clear Path to An Impactful Paper: ②

Essentials of Writing to Communicate Research in Medicine

The Essentials of Writing to Communicate Research in Medicine

There are some recognizable elements and patterns often used for framing engaging sentences in English. Find here the sentence patterns in Academic Writing

Changing Lines: Sentence Patterns in Academic Writing

how does background preliminary research help in defining

Path to An Impactful Paper: Common Manuscript Writing Patterns and Structure

how to write the results section of a research paper

How to write the results section of a research paper

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Banner

Background Research

What is background research, tyes of background information.

  • General Sources
  • Subject Specific Sources

Background research (or pre-research) is the research that you do before you start writing your paper or working on your project. Sometimes background research happens before you've even chosen a topic. The purpose of background research is to make the research that goes into your paper or project easier and more successful.

Some reasons to do background research include:

  • Determining an appropriate scope for your research: Successful research starts with a topic or question that is appropriate to the scope of the assignment. A topic that is too broad means too much relevant information to review and distill. If your topic is too narrow, there won't be enough information to do meaningful research.
  • Understanding how your research fits in with the broader conversation surrounding the topic: What are the major points of view or areas of interest in discussions of your research topic and how does your research fit in with these? Answering this question can help you define the parts of your topic that you need to explore.
  • Establishing the value of your research : What is the impact of your research and why does it matter? How might your research clarify or change our understanding of the topic?
  • Identifying experts and other important perspectives: Are there scholars whose work you need to understand for your research to be complete? Are there points of view that you need to include or address?

Doing background research helps you choose a topic that you'll be happy with and develop a sense of what research you'll need to do in order to successfully complete your assignment. It will also help you plan your research and understand how much time you'll need to dedicate to understanding and exploring your topic.

Some types of information sources can be particularly helpful when you're doing background research. These are often primarily tertiary sources meaning that, rather than conducting original research they often summarize existing research on the topic.

Current Events Briefs Databases like CQ Researcher are focused on understanding controversial topics in current events. They provide information about the background of the issue as well as explanations of the positions of those on either side of a controversy.

Encyclopedias  Encyclopedias are ideal sources for doing background research in order build your knowledge about a topic sufficiently to identify a topic and develop a research plan.

Dictionaries Dictionaries include both general dictionaries like the Oxford English Dictionary as well as more specialized dictionaries focused on a single area. Dictionary entries are usually shorter and less detailed than encyclopedia entries and generally do not include references. However, they can be helpful when your research introduces you to concepts with which you aren't familiar.

Textbooks Your textbook is a potential source of background information, providing an explanation of the topic that prepares you to focus and dig deeper. Textbooks give a general overview of lot of information.

Statistics While you may find that it's difficult to make sense of statistics related to your topic while you're still exploring, statistics can be a powerful tool for establishing the context and importance of your research.

  • Next: General Sources >>
  • Last Updated: Nov 13, 2023 3:40 PM
  • URL: https://guides.lib.odu.edu/background
  • UConn Library
  • Research Now
  • Get Started
  • Background Research

Get Started — Background Research

  • Reading (and Understanding) Your Assignment
  • Initial Searching
  • Forming a Research Question
  • Help & Other Resources
  • Research Now Homepage

What's Happening When You Do Background Research?

When you do background research, you're exploring your general area of interest so that you can form a more focused topic. You will be making an entry into an ongoing conversation, and you have the opportunity to ask new questions and create new knowledge.

Why is this important?

Have you ever done a project that just never seemed to come together?

"I had a general idea but not a specific focus. As I was writing, I didn't know what my focus was. When I was finished, I didn't know what my focus was. My teacher says she doesn't know what my focus was. I don't think I ever acquired a focus. It was an impossible paper to write. I would just sit there and say, "I'm stuck." If I learned anything from that paper it is, you have to have a focus. You have to have something to center on. You can't just have a topic. You should have an idea when you start. I had a topic but I didn't know what I wanted to do with it. I figured that when I did my research it would focus in. But I didn't let it. I kept saying, 'this is interesting and this is interesting and I'll just smush it all together.' It didn't work out." -(Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century)

Can you relate?

Doing background research to explore your initial topic can help you to find create a focused research question . Another benefit to background searching - it's very hard to write about something if you don't know anything about it! At this point, collecting ideas to help you construct your focused topic will be very helpful. Not every idea you encounter will find its way into your final project, so don't worry about collecting very, very detailed information just yet. Wait until your project has found a focus.

While you're doing you're background research, don't be surprised if your topic changes in unexpected ways -  you're discovering more about your topic, and you're making choices based on on the new information you find. If your topic changes, that's OK!

  • Research Log

What Interests You?

Identifying what interests you in the context of your assignment can help you get started on your research project.

Some questions to consider:

Why is your project interesting/important to you? To your community? To the world?

What about your project sparks your curiosity and creativity?

Some ideas from the Reference Librarians at Gustavus Adolphus

  • Make a list of possible issues to research. Use class discussions, texts, personal interests, conversations with friends, and discussions with your teacher for ideas. Start writing them down - you'd be surprised how much faster they come once you start writing.
  • Map out the topic by finding out what others have had to say about it. This is not the time for in-depth reading, but rather for a quick scan. Many students start with a Google search, but you can also browse the shelves where books on the topic are kept and see what controversies or issues have been receiving attention. Search a database for articles on your topic area and sort out the various approaches writers have taken. Look for overviews and surveys of the topic that put the various schools of thought or approaches in context. You may start out knowing virtually nothing about your topic, but after scanning what's out there you should have several ideas worth following up.
  • Invent questions. Do two things you come across seem to offer interesting contrasts? Does one thing seem intriguingly connected to something else? Is there something about the topic that surprises you? Do you encounter anything that makes you wonder why? Do you run into something that makes you think, "no way! That can't be right." Chances are you've just uncovered a good research focus.
  • Draft a proposal for research. Sometimes a teacher will ask you for a formal written proposal. Even if it isn’t required, it can be a useful exercise. Write down what you want to do, how you plan to do it, and why it's important. You may well change your topic entirely by the time its finished, but writing down where you plan to take your research at this stage can help you clarify your thoughts and plan your next steps.

-Source: The Reference Librarians at Gustavus Adolphus College

  • The Reference Librarians at Gustavus Adolphus College

What am I looking for?

It can be very helpful to write out your thoughts as you work through the answers to these questions.

Think about what you need to know:

  • What do you already know about your topic?
  • What don't you know about your topic? What do you feel like you might need to know? 
  • What are the fundamental facts and background on your topic? What do you need to know to write knowledgeably about your topic?
  • What are the different viewpoints on your topic? You should expect to encounter diverse views on a topic.

And of course...

  • What is your assignment asking of you? 

When you are doing your research, you are not looking for one perfect source with one right answer. You're collecting and thinking critically about ideas to form a focus for your own research.

If you're having trouble answering these questions, you might find the six journalist's questions helpful in focusing your thinking:

Don't feel like you need to get bogged down in the minutiae of every source at this point!

At this point in your research, you are browsing for ideas and information to help you fill in the gaps. You're looking to develop a more focused topic. When you focus your topic you'll be able to really engage with the sources that will help you with your sources.

Not quite sure how to get started? The KWHL Tool will help you visualize your thinking, and start organizing the information you find. It will help you sort out

  • What you already know
  • What you don’t yet know about your topic
  • Where you’re looking ( how will you find it)
  • What you’ve learned

All of which will help you focus your project! (and maybe save a little time & stress, too!)

  • KWHL Chart Use this chart to help organize your project
  • KWHL Chart PDF version of the KWHL Chart to help organize your project

Take Notes while You're Searching!

As you're doing your research, take some brief notes about the sources you've found. Noting interesting ideas and items will help you remember what you've read as you put your ideas together to form a research question. It will also help you to make note of parts of your sources that you want to quote later (and find it easily while you're putting your research project together!)

  • Stop 'N Jot This tool will help you keep track of good ideas and questions as you do your preliminary research.
  • << Previous: Reading (and Understanding) Your Assignment
  • Next: Initial Searching >>
  • Last Updated: Nov 15, 2023 3:57 PM
  • URL: https://guides.lib.uconn.edu/getstarted

Creative Commons

  • USC Libraries
  • Research Guides

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper

  • Background Information
  • Purpose of Guide
  • Design Flaws to Avoid
  • Independent and Dependent Variables
  • Glossary of Research Terms
  • Reading Research Effectively
  • Narrowing a Topic Idea
  • Broadening a Topic Idea
  • Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
  • Academic Writing Style
  • Choosing a Title
  • Making an Outline
  • Paragraph Development
  • Research Process Video Series
  • Executive Summary
  • The C.A.R.S. Model
  • The Research Problem/Question
  • Theoretical Framework
  • Citation Tracking
  • Content Alert Services
  • Evaluating Sources
  • Primary Sources
  • Secondary Sources
  • Tiertiary Sources
  • Scholarly vs. Popular Publications
  • Qualitative Methods
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Insiderness
  • Using Non-Textual Elements
  • Limitations of the Study
  • Common Grammar Mistakes
  • Writing Concisely
  • Avoiding Plagiarism
  • Footnotes or Endnotes?
  • Further Readings
  • Generative AI and Writing
  • USC Libraries Tutorials and Other Guides
  • Bibliography

Background information identifies and describes the history and nature of a well-defined research problem with reference to contextualizing existing literature. The background information should indicate the root of the problem being studied, appropriate context of the problem in relation to theory, research, and/or practice , its scope, and the extent to which previous studies have successfully investigated the problem, noting, in particular, where gaps exist that your study attempts to address. Background information does not replace the literature review section of a research paper; it is intended to place the research problem within a specific context and an established plan for its solution.

Fitterling, Lori. Researching and Writing an Effective Background Section of a Research Paper. Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences; Creating a Research Paper: How to Write the Background to a Study. DurousseauElectricalInstitute.com; Background Information: Definition of Background Information. Literary Devices Definition and Examples of Literary Terms.

Importance of Having Enough Background Information

Background information expands upon the key points stated in the beginning of your introduction but is not intended to be the main focus of the paper. It generally supports the question, what is the most important information the reader needs to understand before continuing to read the paper? Sufficient background information helps the reader determine if you have a basic understanding of the research problem being investigated and promotes confidence in the overall quality of your analysis and findings. This information provides the reader with the essential context needed to conceptualize the research problem and its significance before moving on to a more thorough analysis of prior research.

Forms of contextualization included in background information can include describing one or more of the following:

  • Cultural -- placed within the learned behavior of a specific group or groups of people.
  • Economic -- of or relating to systems of production and management of material wealth and/or business activities.
  • Gender -- located within the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with being self-identified as male, female, or other form of  gender expression.
  • Historical -- the time in which something takes place or was created and how the condition of time influences how you interpret it.
  • Interdisciplinary -- explanation of theories, concepts, ideas, or methodologies borrowed from other disciplines applied to the research problem rooted in a discipline other than the discipline where your paper resides.
  • Philosophical -- clarification of the essential nature of being or of phenomena as it relates to the research problem.
  • Physical/Spatial -- reflects the meaning of space around something and how that influences how it is understood.
  • Political -- concerns the environment in which something is produced indicating it's public purpose or agenda.
  • Social -- the environment of people that surrounds something's creation or intended audience, reflecting how the people associated with something use and interpret it.
  • Temporal -- reflects issues or events of, relating to, or limited by time. Concerns past, present, or future contextualization and not just a historical past.

Background information can also include summaries of important research studies . This can be a particularly important element of providing background information if an innovative or groundbreaking study about the research problem laid a foundation for further research or there was a key study that is essential to understanding your arguments. The priority is to summarize for the reader what is known about the research problem before you conduct the analysis of prior research. This is accomplished with a general summary of the foundational research literature [with citations] that document findings that inform your study's overall aims and objectives.

NOTE : Research studies cited as part of the background information of your introduction should not include very specific, lengthy explanations. This should be discussed in greater detail in your literature review section. If you find a study requiring lengthy explanation, consider moving it to the literature review section.

ANOTHER NOTE : In some cases, your paper's introduction only needs to introduce the research problem, explain its significance, and then describe a road map for how you are going to address the problem; the background information basically forms the introduction part of your literature review. That said, while providing background information is not required, including it in the introduction is a way to highlight important contextual information that could otherwise be hidden or overlooked by the reader if placed in the literature review section.

Background of the Problem Section: What do you Need to Consider? Anonymous. Harvard University; Hopkins, Will G. How to Write a Research Paper. SPORTSCIENCE, Perspectives/Research Resources. Department of Physiology and School of Physical Education, University of Otago, 1999; Green, L. H. How to Write the Background/Introduction Section. Physics 499 Powerpoint slides. University of Illinois; Woodall, W. Gill. Writing the Background and Significance Section. Senior Research Scientist and Professor of Communication. Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions. University of New Mexico.  

Structure and Writing Style

Providing background information in the introduction of a research paper serves as a bridge that links the reader to the research problem . Precisely how long and in-depth this bridge should be is largely dependent upon how much information you think the reader will need to know in order to fully understand the problem being discussed and to appreciate why the issues you are investigating are important.

From another perspective, the length and detail of background information also depends on the degree to which you need to demonstrate to your professor how much you understand the research problem. Keep this in mind because providing pertinent background information can be an effective way to demonstrate that you have a clear grasp of key issues, debates, and concepts related to your overall study.

The structure and writing style of your background information can vary depending upon the complexity of your research and/or the nature of the assignment. However, in most cases it should be limited to only one to two paragraphs in your introduction.

Given this, here are some questions to consider while writing this part of your introduction :

  • Are there concepts, terms, theories, or ideas that may be unfamiliar to the reader and, thus, require additional explanation?
  • Are there historical elements that need to be explored in order to provide needed context, to highlight specific people, issues, or events, or to lay a foundation for understanding the emergence of a current issue or event?
  • Are there theories, concepts, or ideas borrowed from other disciplines or academic traditions that may be unfamiliar to the reader and therefore require further explanation?
  • Is there a key study or small set of studies that set the stage for understanding the topic and frames why it is important to conduct further research on the topic?
  • Y our study uses a method of analysis never applied before;
  • Your study investigates a very esoteric or complex research problem;
  • Your study introduces new or unique variables that need to be taken into account ; or,
  • Your study relies upon analyzing unique texts or documents, such as, archival materials or primary documents like diaries or personal letters that do not represent the established body of source literature on the topic?

Almost all introductions to a research problem require some contextualizing, but the scope and breadth of background information varies depending on your assumption about the reader's level of prior knowledge . However, despite this assessment, background information should be brief and succinct and sets the stage for the elaboration of critical points or in-depth discussion of key issues in the literature review section of your paper.

Background of the Problem Section: What do you Need to Consider? Anonymous. Harvard University; Hopkins, Will G. How to Write a Research Paper. SPORTSCIENCE, Perspectives/Research Resources. Department of Physiology and School of Physical Education, University of Otago, 1999; Green, L. H. How to Write the Background/Introduction Section. Physics 499 Powerpoint slides. University of Illinois; Woodall, W. Gill. Writing the Background and Significance Section. Senior Research Scientist and Professor of Communication. Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions. University of New Mexico.

Writing Tip

Background Information vs. the Literature Review

Incorporating background information into the introduction is intended to provide the reader with critical information about the topic being studied, such as, highlighting and expanding upon foundational studies conducted in the past, describing important historical events that inform why and in what ways the research problem exists, defining key components of your study [concepts, people, places, phenomena] and/or placing the research problem within a particular context. Although introductory background information can often blend into the literature review portion of the paper, essential background information should not be considered a substitute for a comprehensive review and synthesis of relevant research literature.

Hart, Cris. Doing a Literature Review: Releasing the Social Science Research Imagination . Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1998.

  • << Previous: The C.A.R.S. Model
  • Next: The Research Problem/Question >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 8, 2024 1:57 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

  • Knowledge Base
  • Starting the research process

A Beginner's Guide to Starting the Research Process

Research process steps

When you have to write a thesis or dissertation , it can be hard to know where to begin, but there are some clear steps you can follow.

The research process often begins with a very broad idea for a topic you’d like to know more about. You do some preliminary research to identify a  problem . After refining your research questions , you can lay out the foundations of your research design , leading to a proposal that outlines your ideas and plans.

This article takes you through the first steps of the research process, helping you narrow down your ideas and build up a strong foundation for your research project.

Table of contents

Step 1: choose your topic, step 2: identify a problem, step 3: formulate research questions, step 4: create a research design, step 5: write a research proposal, other interesting articles.

First you have to come up with some ideas. Your thesis or dissertation topic can start out very broad. Think about the general area or field you’re interested in—maybe you already have specific research interests based on classes you’ve taken, or maybe you had to consider your topic when applying to graduate school and writing a statement of purpose .

Even if you already have a good sense of your topic, you’ll need to read widely to build background knowledge and begin narrowing down your ideas. Conduct an initial literature review to begin gathering relevant sources. As you read, take notes and try to identify problems, questions, debates, contradictions and gaps. Your aim is to narrow down from a broad area of interest to a specific niche.

Make sure to consider the practicalities: the requirements of your programme, the amount of time you have to complete the research, and how difficult it will be to access sources and data on the topic. Before moving onto the next stage, it’s a good idea to discuss the topic with your thesis supervisor.

>>Read more about narrowing down a research topic

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

So you’ve settled on a topic and found a niche—but what exactly will your research investigate, and why does it matter? To give your project focus and purpose, you have to define a research problem .

The problem might be a practical issue—for example, a process or practice that isn’t working well, an area of concern in an organization’s performance, or a difficulty faced by a specific group of people in society.

Alternatively, you might choose to investigate a theoretical problem—for example, an underexplored phenomenon or relationship, a contradiction between different models or theories, or an unresolved debate among scholars.

To put the problem in context and set your objectives, you can write a problem statement . This describes who the problem affects, why research is needed, and how your research project will contribute to solving it.

>>Read more about defining a research problem

Next, based on the problem statement, you need to write one or more research questions . These target exactly what you want to find out. They might focus on describing, comparing, evaluating, or explaining the research problem.

A strong research question should be specific enough that you can answer it thoroughly using appropriate qualitative or quantitative research methods. It should also be complex enough to require in-depth investigation, analysis, and argument. Questions that can be answered with “yes/no” or with easily available facts are not complex enough for a thesis or dissertation.

In some types of research, at this stage you might also have to develop a conceptual framework and testable hypotheses .

>>See research question examples

The research design is a practical framework for answering your research questions. It involves making decisions about the type of data you need, the methods you’ll use to collect and analyze it, and the location and timescale of your research.

There are often many possible paths you can take to answering your questions. The decisions you make will partly be based on your priorities. For example, do you want to determine causes and effects, draw generalizable conclusions, or understand the details of a specific context?

You need to decide whether you will use primary or secondary data and qualitative or quantitative methods . You also need to determine the specific tools, procedures, and materials you’ll use to collect and analyze your data, as well as your criteria for selecting participants or sources.

>>Read more about creating a research design

The only proofreading tool specialized in correcting academic writing - try for free!

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts and by native English editors. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students.

how does background preliminary research help in defining

Try for free

Finally, after completing these steps, you are ready to complete a research proposal . The proposal outlines the context, relevance, purpose, and plan of your research.

As well as outlining the background, problem statement, and research questions, the proposal should also include a literature review that shows how your project will fit into existing work on the topic. The research design section describes your approach and explains exactly what you will do.

You might have to get the proposal approved by your supervisor before you get started, and it will guide the process of writing your thesis or dissertation.

>>Read more about writing a research proposal

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

  • Sampling methods
  • Simple random sampling
  • Stratified sampling
  • Cluster sampling
  • Likert scales
  • Reproducibility

 Statistics

  • Null hypothesis
  • Statistical power
  • Probability distribution
  • Effect size
  • Poisson distribution

Research bias

  • Optimism bias
  • Cognitive bias
  • Implicit bias
  • Hawthorne effect
  • Anchoring bias
  • Explicit bias

Is this article helpful?

Other students also liked.

  • Writing Strong Research Questions | Criteria & Examples

What Is a Research Design | Types, Guide & Examples

  • How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

More interesting articles

  • 10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project
  • How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow
  • How to Define a Research Problem | Ideas & Examples
  • How to Write a Problem Statement | Guide & Examples
  • Relevance of Your Dissertation Topic | Criteria & Tips
  • Research Objectives | Definition & Examples
  • What Is a Fishbone Diagram? | Templates & Examples
  • What Is Root Cause Analysis? | Definition & Examples

What is your plagiarism score?

Table of Contents

Collaboration, information literacy, writing process, preliminary research.

how does background preliminary research help in defining

Preliminary Research is

to early invention efforts people engage in to identify topics of interest.

Writers engage in Preliminary Research during the early stages of composing in order to identify the scope of their investigation.

Preliminary Research could involve

  • discussions with friends about ideas.
  • interviews with experts, bosses, clients, and teachers.
  • scanning a wikipedia page or Google search
  • skimming over documents to learn about the genres and research methods of particular discourse communities/community of practice.

When engaging in Preliminary Research as opposed to the sort of deep reading practices and critical relationship to evidence recommended by ACRL’s i, researchers are reading superficially.

Good writers are readers. They are collaborators. Creativity is informed by sustained thought on a topic and that thought is enriched by reading and talking about topics with knowledgeable experts.

Preliminary Research is deeply imbricated with Information Literacy , particularly Searching as a Strategic Exploration , Scholarship as a Conversation, and Research as Inquiry

If the aim of a writing project is personal reflection, then diving immediately into Drafting can make sense. Journal writing and autobiography can be a powerful way to sustain reflection and insights and set goals.

That said, if you are writing or talking about something beyond your immediate experience, you are likely to benefit from learning what other writers have thought or said about a topic.

  • Deep reading on a topic, as discussed in Scholarship as a Conversation, can empower you to identify the current thinking about a topic.
  • Deep reading can help you identify how research and scholarship on that topic have changed over time and who the thought leaders are on a topic.
  • Deep reading is crucial to distinguishing fake news from real news, valid reasoning and evidence from propaganda and salesmanship (see Authority is Constructed and Contextual ).

Yet early during Invention, you may benefit broadly rather than deeply. Shallow reading has its place as an Invention strategy. There are advantages to skimming across titles, abstracts, and articles.

The goal of Preliminary Research is not necessarily to become an authority on a specific topic so much as to identify conversation chatter: across disciplines, what are experts talking about? What are the issues facing a knowledge domain (e.g., nuclear energy, global warming, space exploration)? And, ultimately, if given a choice, what interests you the most?

Brevity - Say More with Less

Brevity - Say More with Less

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Coherence - How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Coherence - How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Diction

Flow - How to Create Flow in Writing

Inclusivity - Inclusive Language

Inclusivity - Inclusive Language

Simplicity

The Elements of Style - The DNA of Powerful Writing

Unity

Suggested Edits

  • Please select the purpose of your message. * - Corrections, Typos, or Edits Technical Support/Problems using the site Advertising with Writing Commons Copyright Issues I am contacting you about something else
  • Your full name
  • Your email address *
  • Page URL needing edits *
  • Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Other Topics:

Citation - Definition - Introduction to Citation in Academic & Professional Writing

Citation - Definition - Introduction to Citation in Academic & Professional Writing

  • Joseph M. Moxley

Explore the different ways to cite sources in academic and professional writing, including in-text (Parenthetical), numerical, and note citations.

Collaboration - What is the Role of Collaboration in Academic & Professional Writing?

Collaboration - What is the Role of Collaboration in Academic & Professional Writing?

Collaboration refers to the act of working with others or AI to solve problems, coauthor texts, and develop products and services. Collaboration is a highly prized workplace competency in academic...

Genre

Genre may reference a type of writing, art, or musical composition; socially-agreed upon expectations about how writers and speakers should respond to particular rhetorical situations; the cultural values; the epistemological assumptions...

Grammar

Grammar refers to the rules that inform how people and discourse communities use language (e.g., written or spoken English, body language, or visual language) to communicate. Learn about the rhetorical...

Information Literacy - Discerning Quality Information from Noise

Information Literacy - Discerning Quality Information from Noise

Information Literacy refers to the competencies associated with locating, evaluating, using, and archiving information. In order to thrive, much less survive in a global information economy — an economy where information functions as a...

Mindset

Mindset refers to a person or community’s way of feeling, thinking, and acting about a topic. The mindsets you hold, consciously or subconsciously, shape how you feel, think, and act–and...

Rhetoric: Exploring Its Definition and Impact on Modern Communication

Rhetoric: Exploring Its Definition and Impact on Modern Communication

Learn about rhetoric and rhetorical practices (e.g., rhetorical analysis, rhetorical reasoning,  rhetorical situation, and rhetorical stance) so that you can strategically manage how you compose and subsequently produce a text...

Style

Style, most simply, refers to how you say something as opposed to what you say. The style of your writing matters because audiences are unlikely to read your work or...

The Writing Process - Research on Composing

The Writing Process - Research on Composing

The writing process refers to everything you do in order to complete a writing project. Over the last six decades, researchers have studied and theorized about how writers go about...

Writing Studies

Writing Studies

Writing studies refers to an interdisciplinary community of scholars and researchers who study writing. Writing studies also refers to a discipline, a subject of study. Students in the U.S. may...

Featured Articles

Student engrossed in reading on her laptop, surrounded by a stack of books

Academic Writing – How to Write for the Academic Community

how does background preliminary research help in defining

Professional Writing – How to Write for the Professional World

how does background preliminary research help in defining

Authority – How to Establish Credibility in Speech & Writing

Logo for University of Central Florida Pressbooks

Chapter One: Understanding the Assignment / Types of Research Projects / Preliminary Research

Conducting Preliminary Research

We discuss the following strategies on this page:

  • The Invention Stage
  • Time Management
  • Investigate professional Organizations
  • Talk to Experts

Sometimes called “pre-research,” this is an inventive stage during which you investigate possible topics of interest. For example, once you fully understand your assignment, the next step might be to conduct some background research online. Also, talk to friends and classmates. And while it’s a good idea to try out your ideas with non-experts, the real test is to try them out with experts. If your ideas are not fully formed yet, you can ask experts to help guide you in the right direction. Undergraduate students often overlook this strategy, but it can be incredibly effective and it can lead to good research topics as well as good resources. Let’s take a closer look at some of these strategies.

  • The Invention Stage : This can be a messy process, so keep a notebook to jot down ideas and questions as they occur to you. You’ll need to develop a research question, so those notes may come in handy later. Also, think about what types of sources you’ll need to complete your project. The assignment may specify certain types, such as scholarly monographs and journal articles, but what else might you need? What about media and other primary sources? Where would you find them? Should you explore digital archives or make an appointment with an archivist?
  • Time Management : Think about time-management and set milestones. Even though pulling all-nighters is a rite of passage for college students, your stress will be greatly reduced (and  the quality of your research enhanced) if you’re not racing to finish everything at the last minute. Be sure to keep those milestones simple and achievable so you don’t get overwhelmed by unrealistic goals. We encourage you to use a planner!
  • Investigate Professional Organizations : Many famous authors have organizations dedicated to their legacy. One of these is The William Faulkner Society , which assembles lists of scholarly journals, conferences and conventions, research centers and information sources, and interdisciplinary university institutes. Many such organizations also provide scholarships for students. Look through the contents of author societies’ websites, as well as recent journals and conference proceedings, to help you generate ideas for your own research.
  • Talk to Experts : Finally, ask for help! You’re attending a large university where you’re surrounded by highly educated people. Don’t be afraid to schedule appointments and conduct interviews with them. Also, consider meeting with the subject librarian in your major to get an overview of key resources and tools available at the library.

Literacy is more than the ability to read and write simple texts; our reading and writing skills advance in stages. Scholarship requires a very high level of literacy. Remember that all writers started as beginners and that even the most accomplished scholars are still engaged in a learning process.

Taking time to work through the preliminary research process will set the foundation for everything that comes after and it will make your job easier.

  • List three things you have researched (they don’t have to be related to school projects). Discuss your experiences with any of the research you listed. Which parts did you enjoy the most? Where did you have the most difficulty? Did you find what you were looking for? How valuable was the information and the experience? Write 150-300 words. You can answer each question separately or address them together.
  • If there are any elements of your assignment that need clarification, please list them in the discussion area. After raising these items with your instructor, please include their clarifications in the discussion area.
  • What was the most important lesson you learned from this page? What point was confusing or difficult to understand?

Write your responses in a webcourse discussion page.

how does background preliminary research help in defining

A monograph is a specialist work of writing or exhibition on a single subject or an aspect of a subject, often by a single author or artist, and usually on a scholarly subject. For more information, visit: Wikipedia 

Strategies for Conducting Literary Research Copyright © 2021 by Barry Mauer & John Venecek is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

Enago Academy

What Is Background in a Research Paper?

' src=

So you have carefully written your research paper  and probably ran it through your colleagues ten to fifteen times. While there are many elements to a good research article, one of the most important elements for your readers is the background of your study.

What is Background of the Study in Research

The background of your study will provide context to the information discussed throughout the research paper . Background information may include both important and relevant studies. This is particularly important if a study either supports or refutes your thesis.

Why is Background of the Study Necessary in Research?

The background of the study discusses your problem statement, rationale, and research questions. It links  introduction to your research topic  and ensures a logical flow of ideas.  Thus, it helps readers understand your reasons for conducting the study.

Providing Background Information

The reader should be able to understand your topic and its importance. The length and detail of your background also depend on the degree to which you need to demonstrate your understanding of the topic. Paying close attention to the following questions will help you in writing background information:

  • Are there any theories, concepts, terms, and ideas that may be unfamiliar to the target audience and will require you to provide any additional explanation?
  • Any historical data that need to be shared in order to provide context on why the current issue emerged?
  • Are there any concepts that may have been borrowed from other disciplines that may be unfamiliar to the reader and need an explanation?
Related: Ready with the background and searching for more information on journal ranking? Check this infographic on the SCImago Journal Rank today!

Is the research study unique for which additional explanation is needed? For instance, you may have used a completely new method

How to Write a Background of the Study

The structure of a background study in a research paper generally follows a logical sequence to provide context, justification, and an understanding of the research problem. It includes an introduction, general background, literature review , rationale , objectives, scope and limitations , significance of the study and the research hypothesis . Following the structure can provide a comprehensive and well-organized background for your research.

Here are the steps to effectively write a background of the study.

1. Identify Your Audience:

Determine the level of expertise of your target audience. Tailor the depth and complexity of your background information accordingly.

2. Understand the Research Problem:

Define the research problem or question your study aims to address. Identify the significance of the problem within the broader context of the field.

3. Review Existing Literature:

Conduct a thorough literature review to understand what is already known in the area. Summarize key findings, theories, and concepts relevant to your research.

4. Include Historical Data:

Integrate historical data if relevant to the research, as current issues often trace back to historical events.

5. Identify Controversies and Gaps:

Note any controversies or debates within the existing literature. Identify gaps , limitations, or unanswered questions that your research can address.

6. Select Key Components:

Choose the most critical elements to include in the background based on their relevance to your research problem. Prioritize information that helps build a strong foundation for your study.

7. Craft a Logical Flow:

Organize the background information in a logical sequence. Start with general context, move to specific theories and concepts, and then focus on the specific problem.

8. Highlight the Novelty of Your Research:

Clearly explain the unique aspects or contributions of your study. Emphasize why your research is different from or builds upon existing work.

Here are some extra tips to increase the quality of your research background:

Example of a Research Background

Here is an example of a research background to help you understand better.

The above hypothetical example provides a research background, addresses the gap and highlights the potential outcome of the study; thereby aiding a better understanding of the proposed research.

What Makes the Introduction Different from the Background?

Your introduction is different from your background in a number of ways.

  • The introduction contains preliminary data about your topic that  the reader will most likely read , whereas the background clarifies the importance of the paper.
  • The background of your study discusses in depth about the topic, whereas the introduction only gives an overview.
  • The introduction should end with your research questions, aims, and objectives, whereas your background should not (except in some cases where your background is integrated into your introduction). For instance, the C.A.R.S. ( Creating a Research Space ) model, created by John Swales is based on his analysis of journal articles. This model attempts to explain and describe the organizational pattern of writing the introduction in social sciences.

Points to Note

Your background should begin with defining a topic and audience. It is important that you identify which topic you need to review and what your audience already knows about the topic. You should proceed by searching and researching the relevant literature. In this case, it is advisable to keep track of the search terms you used and the articles that you downloaded. It is helpful to use one of the research paper management systems such as Papers, Mendeley, Evernote, or Sente. Next, it is helpful to take notes while reading. Be careful when copying quotes verbatim and make sure to put them in quotation marks and cite the sources. In addition, you should keep your background focused but balanced enough so that it is relevant to a broader audience. Aside from these, your background should be critical, consistent, and logically structured.

Writing the background of your study should not be an overly daunting task. Many guides that can help you organize your thoughts as you write the background. The background of the study is the key to introduce your audience to your research topic and should be done with strong knowledge and thoughtful writing.

The background of a research paper typically ranges from one to two paragraphs, summarizing the relevant literature and context of the study. It should be concise, providing enough information to contextualize the research problem and justify the need for the study. Journal instructions about any word count limits should be kept in mind while deciding on the length of the final content.

The background of a research paper provides the context and relevant literature to understand the research problem, while the introduction also introduces the specific research topic, states the research objectives, and outlines the scope of the study. The background focuses on the broader context, whereas the introduction focuses on the specific research project and its objectives.

When writing the background for a study, start by providing a brief overview of the research topic and its significance in the field. Then, highlight the gaps in existing knowledge or unresolved issues that the study aims to address. Finally, summarize the key findings from relevant literature to establish the context and rationale for conducting the research, emphasizing the need and importance of the study within the broader academic landscape.

The background in a research paper is crucial as it sets the stage for the study by providing essential context and rationale. It helps readers understand the significance of the research problem and its relevance in the broader field. By presenting relevant literature and highlighting gaps, the background justifies the need for the study, building a strong foundation for the research and enhancing its credibility.

' src=

The presentation very informative

' src=

It is really educative. I love the workshop. It really motivated me into writing my first paper for publication.

' src=

an interesting clue here, thanks.

thanks for the answers.

Good and interesting explanation. Thanks

Thank you for good presentation.

' src=

Hi Adam, we are glad to know that you found our article beneficial

The background of the study is the key to introduce your audience to YOUR research topic.

Awesome. Exactly what i was looking forwards to 😉

Hi Maryam, we are glad to know that you found our resource useful.

my understanding of ‘Background of study’ has been elevated.

Hi Peter, we are glad to know that our article has helped you get a better understanding of the background in a research paper.

thanks to give advanced information

Hi Shimelis, we are glad to know that you found the information in our article beneficial.

When i was studying it is very much hard for me to conduct a research study and know the background because my teacher in practical research is having a research so i make it now so that i will done my research

Very informative……….Thank you.

The confusion i had before, regarding an introduction and background to a research work is now a thing of the past. Thank you so much.

Thanks for your help…

Thanks for your kind information about the background of a research paper.

Thanks for the answer

Very informative. I liked even more when the difference between background and introduction was given. I am looking forward to learning more from this site. I am in Botswana

Hello, I am Benoît from Central African Republic. Right now I am writing down my research paper in order to get my master degree in British Literature. Thank you very much for posting all this information about the background of the study. I really appreciate. Thanks!

The write up is quite good, detailed and informative. Thanks a lot. The article has certainly enhanced my understanding of the topic.

Rate this article Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

how does background preliminary research help in defining

Enago Academy's Most Popular

manuscript writing with AI

  • AI in Academia
  • Infographic
  • Manuscripts & Grants
  • Reporting Research
  • Trending Now

Can AI Tools Prepare a Research Manuscript From Scratch? — A comprehensive guide

As technology continues to advance, the question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) tools can prepare…

difference between abstract and introduction

Abstract Vs. Introduction — Do you know the difference?

Ross wants to publish his research. Feeling positive about his research outcomes, he begins to…

how does background preliminary research help in defining

  • Old Webinars
  • Webinar Mobile App

Demystifying Research Methodology With Field Experts

Choosing research methodology Research design and methodology Evidence-based research approach How RAxter can assist researchers

Best Research Methodology

  • Manuscript Preparation
  • Publishing Research

How to Choose Best Research Methodology for Your Study

Successful research conduction requires proper planning and execution. While there are multiple reasons and aspects…

Methods and Methodology

Top 5 Key Differences Between Methods and Methodology

While burning the midnight oil during literature review, most researchers do not realize that the…

How to Draft the Acknowledgment Section of a Manuscript

Discussion Vs. Conclusion: Know the Difference Before Drafting Manuscripts

how does background preliminary research help in defining

Sign-up to read more

Subscribe for free to get unrestricted access to all our resources on research writing and academic publishing including:

  • 2000+ blog articles
  • 50+ Webinars
  • 10+ Expert podcasts
  • 50+ Infographics
  • 10+ Checklists
  • Research Guides

We hate spam too. We promise to protect your privacy and never spam you.

I am looking for Editing/ Proofreading services for my manuscript Tentative date of next journal submission:

how does background preliminary research help in defining

According to you, how can AI writing tools improve academic writing accuracy?

Library hours information is not available as JavaScript is disabled in your browser.

The State University of New York at Fredonia

Getting Started with Research @ Reed Library: Preliminary Research

Preliminary research.

  • Types of Sources
  • Search Strategies
  • Evaluating Sources
  • Chicago / Turabian
  • Other Styles

Table of Contents

  • Citing Sources

Getting Started & Organized

  • The Cornell Note-taking System
  • Getting Started with Research Module
  • Guide for Time Management (UofGuelph)
  • Wandering Path to Research Handout
  • Zotero Reference Management

Very Short Introductions

"Very Short Introductions"

Explore the full collection  or those available online !

Icon with a magnifying glass over a piece of paper

It is always a good idea to do some preliminary research, or background research, to help familiarize yourself with a new topic. Reference works, such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, almanacs, etc., are great places to start. The resources provided here are just a sampling and not an exhaustive list of resources you could consult.

Reference Works

Use these as alternatives to Wikipedia:

  • Britannica Academic This link opens in a new window Articles from the Encyclopedia Britannica for college students.
  • Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window A database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.
  • MasterFILE Premier This link opens in a new window This multidisciplinary database provides full text for general reference publications, primary source documents, and an image collection of over 453,000 photos, maps, and flags.
  • Oxford Reference This link opens in a new window Includes nearly 300 language and subject reference works from the Oxford Companions and Oxford Dictionaries series, plus the Visual English Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, and Encyclopedia of Mammals .
  • Salem Reference This link opens in a new window Online encyclopedias and other reference works for health, history, literature, and science.
  • Opposing Viewpoints in Context This link opens in a new window Full text articles on social issues. Includes topic overviews, primary sources, statistics, photographs, and podcasts.
  • Points of View Reference Center This link opens in a new window A full-text database designed to provide students with a series of essays that present multiple sides of a current issue.

more reference works databases...

General Databases

  • Academic OneFile This link opens in a new window A source for peer-reviewed, full-text articles from the world's leading journals and reference sources. Has extensive coverage of the physical sciences, technology, medicine, social sciences, the arts, theology, literature, and more.
  • Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new window Find information on almost any topic. Contains the full text of over 4,450 magazines, journals and newspapers, and indexing for many more, with coverage dates back to 1975 for many publications.
  • Google Scholar This link opens in a new window Watch our 30-second video on syncing Google Scholar to retrieve items available through Reed Library .
  • JSTOR This link opens in a new window Provides a comprehensive backfile of major scholarly journals in the arts and sciences, business, ecology, language, literature, and music.

See full database list...

Wikipedia: An Overview

  • Using Wikipedia
  • Who Edits Wikipedia?

Wikipedia is one of the most popular reference websites online, with millions of visitors every month. There are more than 19 million articles and 82.000 active contributors.

Cover Art

  • << Previous: Welcome
  • Next: Types of Sources >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 5, 2024 8:31 AM
  • URL: https://fredonia.libguides.com/gettingstarted

Daniel A. Reed Library • The State University of New York at Fredonia • 280 Central Ave., Fredonia, NY 14063 • 716-673-3184 • Fax: 716-673-3185 • [email protected] FB: @ReedLibrary Insta: @SUNYFredLibrary   X: @SUNYFredLibrary

Accessibility Statement: Reed Library is dedicated to making information accessible for everyone. If you notice an accessibility issue within this guide, please contact Katelynn Telford

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike logo

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

  • We're Hiring!
  • Help Center

paper cover thumbnail

Role of Preliminary Research in the Research Process

Profile image of Sonika  Jain, PhD

This article is meant primarily for early researchers and students of humanities especially media to guide them in their qualitative research. Submitting a research report/dissertation/thesis/term paper involves a plethora of interconnected processes which run parallel to each other but at times one process becomes dominant depending on the research stage. The entire research process can be divided into four overlapping stages, which are: preliminary research, data collection, data interpretation and analysis, and data presentation. The article focuses upon the preliminary research i.e. the first and foremost stage, which is often overlooked by early researchers. Up until now, to my knowledge, authors writing about conducting research concentrated on the main processes but ignored seeming integral points, for instance, the idea generation step which precedes what Roger D. Wimmer and Joseph R. Dominick call 'selecting a research topic' (2006:26). The writer of the article has attempted to weave together all the interlinked steps involved, which are otherwise either not elaborated or writers tend to focus on a certain perspective and certain steps more than others. Even when writers offer explanations, these are seen as research procedures rather than as steps involved in preliminary stage.

Related Papers

Fred Ntedika Mvumbi

A thesis/Dissertation, as one piece of work, should be a text that addresses the issues of the community; all divisions and sub-divisions ought to be interconnected and interrelated to become a process leading to one goal. Thus, the text has threefold dimension. The first is that few people know the underlying principle of a research; that is the wisdom behind the idea, the efforts and the pains of carrying out a research in a particular field of knowledge. The second is a request to students to fall in love and to have passion for the kind of study they want to undertake; this increases the motivation and disposes them to go extra miles for comprehensive and immense discovery where understanding, application and generation of new knowledge take place. The third reason, which is equally important, maybe the most important in writing this text, concerns the organization of the report; in this case the presentation of a thesis/dissertation. Students should be more and more motivated to carry out research in various fields of knowledge, particularly when they have means; and postgraduate students should be increasingly encouraged to take part in research initiatives, for this helps to find new meanings of life.

how does background preliminary research help in defining

YOUSSEF IDAMMI

This is a basic introduction to the methodology of research, or specifically: an introduction to ‘how to conduct your end-of-term monograph’. Obviously stated, this course is addressed to undergraduate students of university, simply because this is the category of students who are required to submit an end-of-term monograph! Please understand, that, this is not an academic research paper, it is just a humble attempt to simplify things to my colleagues – yes, I am just an undergraduate student same as you, for now – far away from the very complicated academic norm that apparently some lecturers like to embrace. The course is based on the syllabus and lectures of the professor Zakaria Jamaati ([email protected]), Department of English Language and Culture, Faculty of Languages, Arts and Humanities, Ait Melloul, Morocco.

George Belliveau

CENTRAL ASIAN JOURNAL OF LITERATURE, PHILOSOPHY AND CULTURE

Urvashi Kaushal

Research Process and Stages in Social Sciences

yavuz ercan Gul

In this study, it is aimed to provide detailed information about the process of scientific research in social sciences, especially for graduate students who are new to scientific research. For this purpose, the processes of determining the research topic, writing the research problem, literature review in scientific research are discussed. The starting point of the research is the idea that it will provide convenience to those who are new to the scientific research process. Determining the topic in scientific research and producing new and original ideas about that topic depends on the analytical thinking skills of the researcher. After determining the subject, t h e r e are important steps that the researcher should pay attention to in the process of defining the problem. Because the research problem starts with the interest in the subject and is at the centre of the research. Asking the right questions helps the researcher to find the right answer. Another important step that should be considered in scientific research is the review of the literature. Because the introduction of the new depends on a good knowledge of the old. For this reason, it is not right to start the research without scanning the literature correctly.

Ntibaziyaremye Alexis

Dr Sunarsih

Catherine N . Mwai

khadidja Hammoudi

British journal of community nursing

Keith Meadows

The development of the research question for a study can be where a lot of research fails. Without a well-defined and specific research question or hypothesis, findings from the research are unlikely to tell us very much. Developing a tightly focused research question or hypothesis defines how and what data is collected and analysed and provides a context for the results. This article, the second in a series of six, focuses on the process of developing a research question or hypothesis from the initial idea through to the final research question, using examples to illustrate the key principles. Approaches to reviewing the literature, including hand searching and the use of electronic sources, are described together with their different strengths and weaknesses. An overview of the deductive and inductive approaches to research are described, as well as the underlying rationale of the null hypothesis and one and two-tailed tests. Finally, issues around the feasibility of the study, in...

RELATED PAPERS

International Journal of Cancer

Manuel Zorzi

George Rajna

Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology

Markus Waldeck-Weiermair

Journal of History Culture and Art Research

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

Marius Fieschi

Open Enerige

Revista peruana de medicina experimental y salud pública

Juan Aparco Aparco

Journal of Autoimmune Disorders

Sonu Kumar Mishra

Abhijat Abhyankar

ELLITE: Journal of English Language, Literature, and Teaching

Dyah Kusumastuti

Jurnal Life Science: Jurnal Pendidikan dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam

Putri Ulvia Hikmatul Fadila

The Journal of Physical Chemistry

nicola pepe

Przegląd Sejmowy

Lidia Michalska-Bracha

MRS Proceedings

Paul D Bacsich

Revista Letras Raras

Geicilayne Pelayes

Acta Physica Polonica A

Petar Matavulj

Outlooks on Pest Management

Ken PALLETT

Acta horticulturae

Mohsen Farzaneh

Academic Quarter | Akademisk kvarter

RELATED TOPICS

  •   We're Hiring!
  •   Help Center
  • Find new research papers in:
  • Health Sciences
  • Earth Sciences
  • Cognitive Science
  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Academia ©2024

Module 4: Research

Preliminary research strategies, learning outcomes.

Evaluate preliminary research strategies

As we have discussed, all research is based upon your research question. Having a well-defined and scoped question is essential to a good research strategy. If your question is not specific enough, or if it lacks boundaries (i.e., it is not well-scoped), your subsequent strategy will be difficult to maintain.

Steely Library discusses developing a good research question in the video below:

The Human Fund

Let’s return to Martha’s case. We can recall that her research question was,

“Is The Human Fund’s work helping homeless families in downtown Chicago?”

If we first break her question down into its sub-parts, developing a research strategy will be much easier. Her question asks,

  • Is The Human Fund’s work — i.e., what The Human Fund does — its actions
  • helping — i.e., we must define “helping” in relation to…
  • …the homeless families…
  • …in downtown Chicago?

From her question, we know that we will need sources that,

  • Outline The Human Fund’s activities
  • Define how charities and government help the homeless in their cities
  • Help to define and understand “homeless”
  • Are geographically bound to downtown Chicago

With the above in mind, any secondary source that does not specifically address a part of the question above—and how it is broken down—will be off topic or out of scope.

We will also recall that Martha conducted background reading (i.e., secondary source reading) before determining the type of primary source material (i.e., fieldwork and interviews with the homeless) she would use. This can be confusing; when we research, we do background or secondary source reading before determining what primary source material might still be needed. You will not typically see a research process that advocates doing primary source research when there is already secondary source material available on a given topic because it is not efficient. It is also important to note that if secondary source material sufficiently addresses your research question, consider this to be a win; this means that the much slower and much more elaborate primary source research process is no longer required. Your report will be that much faster to compile. If Martha, for example, had recent accounts of interviews with homeless people in downtown Chicago about The Human Fund’s work, she would not need to conduct her own interviews.

practice questions

Contribute.

Improve this page Learn More

  • Preliminary Research Strategies. Authored by : Freedom Learning Group. Provided by : Lumen Learning. License : CC BY: Attribution
  • Developing a Research Question. Authored by : Steely Library NKU. Located at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWLYCYeCFak . License : All Rights Reserved . License Terms : Standard YouTube License

Footer Logo Lumen Waymaker

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

After selecting the general topic, read one or two articles from current encyclopedia and determine three or four elements that additional research will pique your interest. Then, reflect on your personal interests related to the topic, and choose the area of focus that is most interesting and thought-provoking. If the topic is interesting, you will easily stimulate your peers to learn from your research.

This step is called preliminary research , and is important to develop a focus on the topic. In addition to refining your topic, this step is important to gain some background or foundational information, in preparation for the in-depth conversations with experts on the topic. For example, if you were to attend a conference on your topic about post-traumatic stress syndrome for veterans that served in Afghanistan, most attendees would be familiar with the major issues, and the presenters would share the material assuming the audience has that level of understanding. It is a comparable situation for anyone researching a topic on an advanced level. The professional publications recommended for college-level research assume the audience has a foundation of information on the topic, and presents the content with that foundation.

As researchers, students need to have an adequate level of understanding of those common knowledge elements. Most encyclopedia articles contain the “common knowledge” material on the topic at hand, and professional literature is written assuming the audience has acquired that foundation. With this preparation, students can converse with experts on the topic, reading and responding to the information. Also, many times a student discovers an interesting topic presented in class, and college texts may be used for preliminary research as well.

One common problem for many students doing research is that their topic is too general. For example, a student might want to explore learning styles. The encyclopedia article may describe several learning styles, but a researcher might learn quickly that this topic is too general. The student should make a list of elements to narrow down the topic and make it more manageable. For example, how do certain learning styles work better for different subjects in school? How do different personality elements contribute to the student’s learning style? What teaching style(s) work best for a specific learning style for math? How should an instructor adjust his/her teaching style present material to reach more learning styles? The more specific research questions often have at least three elements, based on “who,” “what,” “where,” “why,” and “when”.

Another common problem develops when students want to research a new issue, especially a recently developed health concern. For example, a student that wants to research a cure for COVID19, might be very frustrated because the research is so recent and very little has been published. In the encyclopedia articles, look for what professionals have learned, and choose research questions that focus on how/why it works, explore how researchers were able to verify the success of a program, or another exploratory question.

Talk with other classmates and instructor about your topic and develop a specific research question to explore through your research. Does your research question need research to explore and explain an issue of interest to you?

Let the Research Begin: Preliminary Research

Bridging the Gap: A Guide to College-Level Research Copyright © 2021 by Catherine J Gray is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

how does background preliminary research help in defining

Snapsolve any problem by taking a picture. Try it in the Numerade app?

IMAGES

  1. Preliminary Research Strategies

    how does background preliminary research help in defining

  2. How does background preliminary research help in defining a research topic?

    how does background preliminary research help in defining

  3. Preliminary Research Steps

    how does background preliminary research help in defining

  4. Typical Preliminary Research Proposal

    how does background preliminary research help in defining

  5. PPT

    how does background preliminary research help in defining

  6. Defining a Research Question and Doing Background Research

    how does background preliminary research help in defining

VIDEO

  1. Choosing a Research Topic

  2. Mastering Research: Choosing a Winning Dissertation or Thesis Topic

  3. Finding HIGH-Impact Research Topics

  4. 😱 How to Remove Background from image ll online background remover in one click ll

  5. WHAT IS RESEARCH?

  6. Describes background of research

COMMENTS

  1. Preliminary Research

    Preliminary research gives you background information on your topic, answering questions such as who, what, when and where. This research will also help you determine controversies related to your topic and determine if there are enough sources available to cover the topic effectively.

  2. What is the Background of a Study and How Should it be Written?

    The background of a study is the first section of the paper and establishes the context underlying the research. It contains the rationale, the key problem statement, and a brief overview of research questions that are addressed in the rest of the paper.

  3. About Background Research

    Background research (or pre-research) is the research that you do before you start writing your paper or working on your project. Sometimes background research happens before you've even chosen a topic. The purpose of background research is to make the research that goes into your paper or project easier and more successful.

  4. Conducting Preliminary Research

    Sometimes called "pre-research," Preliminary Research is an inventive stage in which you investigate possible topics of interest. For example, once you fully understand your assignment, the next step might be to conduct some background research online, or talk to friends and classmates.

  5. Get Started

    Doing background research to explore your initial topic can help you to find create a focused research question. Another benefit to background searching - it's very hard to write about something if you don't know anything about it! At this point, collecting ideas to help you construct your focused topic will be very helpful.

  6. Background Information

    Incorporating background information into the introduction is intended to provide the reader with critical information about the topic being studied, such as, highlighting and expanding upon foundational studies conducted in the past, describing important historical events that inform why and in what ways the research problem exists, defining ...

  7. Preliminary Research Strategies

    A good research process should go through these steps: Decide on the topic. Narrow the topic in order to narrow search parameters. Create a question that your research will address. Generate sub-questions from your main question. Determine what kind of sources are best for your argument. Create a bibliography as you gather and reference sources.

  8. A Beginner's Guide to Starting the Research Process

    Step 4: Create a research design. The research design is a practical framework for answering your research questions. It involves making decisions about the type of data you need, the methods you'll use to collect and analyze it, and the location and timescale of your research. There are often many possible paths you can take to answering ...

  9. Preliminary Research

    Preliminary Research is to early invention efforts people engage in to identify topics of interest. Writers engage in Preliminary Research during the early stages of composing in order to identify the scope of their investigation. Preliminary Research could involve discussions with friends about ideas.interviews with experts, bosses, clients, and teachers.scanning a wikipedia page or Google

  10. Conducting Preliminary Research

    Conducting Preliminary Research. We discuss the following strategies on this page: The Invention Stage. Time Management. Investigate professional Organizations. Talk to Experts. Sometimes called "pre-research," this is an inventive stage during which you investigate possible topics of interest. For example, once you fully understand your ...

  11. Preliminary Research

    The goal of preliminary research is to refine and focus your research question. The following strategies can help you do so: Skim a variety of sources. Works cited lists can help find scholarly treatments. As you read, list subtopics that fall under the heading of your main topic. For each subtopic, think of one or more possible research questions.

  12. What Is Background in a Research Paper?

    1. Identify Your Audience: Determine the level of expertise of your target audience. Tailor the depth and complexity of your background information accordingly. 2. Understand the Research Problem: Define the research problem or question your study aims to address. Identify the significance of the problem within the broader context of the field.

  13. Preliminary Research

    Preliminary Research. It is always a good idea to do some preliminary research, or background research, to help familiarize yourself with a new topic. Reference works, such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, almanacs, etc., are great places to start. The resources provided here are just a sampling and not an exhaustive list of resources ...

  14. Role of Preliminary Research in the Research Process

    The entire research process can be divided into four overlapping stages, which are: preliminary research, data collection, data interpretation and analysis, and data presentation. The article focuses upon the preliminary research i.e. the first and foremost stage, which is often overlooked by early researchers.

  15. Preliminary Research Strategies

    Evaluate preliminary research strategies. As we have discussed, all research is based upon your research question. Having a well-defined and scoped question is essential to a good research strategy. If your question is not specific enough, or if it lacks boundaries (i.e., it is not well-scoped), your subsequent strategy will be difficult to ...

  16. Preliminary Research: The Investigation

    This step is called preliminary research, and is important to develop a focus on the topic. In addition to refining your topic, this step is important to gain some background or foundational information, in preparation for the in-depth conversations with experts on the topic. For example, if you were to attend a conference on your topic about ...

  17. How does background/ preliminary research help in defining a research

    Building a Theoretical Framework: Background research can help in building a theoretical framework for the research. It can help in identifying the theories and concepts that are relevant to the topic and how they can be used to analyze the data. Answer 7. Enhancing Credibility: Lastly, preliminary research can enhance the credibility of the ...

  18. Answered: 1. How does background/ preliminary…

    How does background/ preliminary research help in defining a research topic? 2. What is your understanding of refining the research question? Expert Solution Trending now This is a popular solution! Step by step Solved in 2 steps SEE SOLUTION Check out a sample Q&A here Similar questions

  19. How does background/preliminary research help in defining a research

    Background/preliminary research help in defining a research topic: We get knowledge of the issue by doing background research. Recognizing whatever has been accomplished diminishes the need for repetition. It will be easier to design and plan what to do if you know how others have overcome comparable problems.

  20. How does background preliminary research help in defining a research topic?

    The purpose of preliminary research. Nội dung chính Show. The reading you do in the beginning of a research process has two important, specific purposes: 1. It helps you to narrow your topic by finding out how much information is out there and, therefore, what is do-able within the page-limits you have been assigned. 2.

  21. Quora

    We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us.

  22. how does background or prelimitary research help in defining a research

    how does background or prelimitary research help in defining a research topic ?? The purpose of preliminary research It helps you to narrow your topic by finding out how much information is out there and, therefore, what is do-able within the page-limits you have been assigned. 2.

  23. How does background/preliminary research help in defining a research

    Background/ preliminary research is an essential step in defining a research topic, regardless of the subject or grade level. It helps students gain a better understanding of the subject area and identify gaps in knowledge that can be explored further.