San José State University Writing Center
www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
Written by Caroline Ammon
Introduction Section for Research Papers
The introduction is an important and challenging part of
any research paper as it establishes your writing style, the
quality of your research, and your credibility as a scholar.
It is your first chance to make a good impression on your
reader. The introduction gives the reader background and
context to convey the importance of your research. It
should begin by broadly introducing your topic, then
narrowing to your focused research question or hypothesis.
What is the Purpose of an Introduction Section?
The introduction should answer three important questions:
1. What am I writing about?
2. Why is it important?
3. What do I want the reader to know about it?
An introduction should establish the topic with a strong opening that grabs the reader’s attention
before giving an overview of recent research on your chosen topic. Avoid going too in-depth in
the introduction; deep dives into your topic should be saved for the body of the paper.
Background and historical context help explain to the reader why your research is important. The
type of information you share will vary by discipline. As you reach the end of the introduction,
you should begin to establish what you want the reader to know about your topic and research.
This may include your focus and scope, the problem statement, and your specific research
question(s), hypotheses, or objectives. Again, the information you choose to share here will vary
depending on your discipline. It is always a good idea to check major academic journals within
your field for examples of current best practices.
How Does an Introduction Differ from a Literature Review?
While the introduction often includes a brief overview of the important research on your topic, it
should not be overly specific when discussing the literature. Instead, it also introduces your
research question(s), purpose, objectives, or hypotheses. The literature review, however,
critically evaluates the existing research in greater detail, summarizing and synthesizing
important articles. The literature review is thorough in discussing subtopics that may be
organized chronologically, thematically, or methodologically. The literature review often comes
immediately after the introduction. Depending on the academic journal, the two can sometimes
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be combined. To learn more about the literature review, take a look at our resource on How to
Write a Literature Review.
How Do Introductions Vary Across Disciplines?
The tone, structure, and content of an introduction will vary across disciplines. The best way to
find out about introductions in your discipline is to read articles from major academic journals in
your field. However, we will briefly discuss introductions for seven broad academic disciplines,
noting how tone and content may vary.
Business
As these disciplines fall within the realm of professional and fast-paced environments, it is
important to be concise and convey information clearly. In business writing, it is crucial to
organize your writing logically, be precise, and write in active voice. Headings and subheadings
are often used to make the paper easier to read.
Education
Most educational research papers involve critical analysis of teaching methods and pedagogical
theory as they apply to real-life teaching situations. Just like most disciplines, your research
problem or thesis statement should be clearly stated.
Engineering
Engineering research papers often involve tools similar to that of business writing. Engineering
papers are often highly technical and should include a brief history of the research topic or study
being undertaken.
Health and Medicine
This discipline requires clarity, accuracy, and evidence. Introductions for medical research papers
should first broadly review relevant background information on the research topic, then narrow
to a focused research question(s), thesis statement, and study objective. It is also recommended
to keep the tone of medical research paper introductions inviting and engaging, as the remainder
of the paper will be highly technical.
Humanities
These types of research papers often allow for more creativity in writing but should still retain a
structured academic approach. The question(s) or problem(s) driving your research should be
clearly presented within the introduction, often toward the end.
Introduction Section for Research Papers, Winter 2023. 2 of 8
Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
Research papers in these disciplines demand objectivity and impartiality. The introduction should
include background information on related experiments, data sets, explanations of technical
terms, and a statement about the significance of your study.
Social Sciences
The social sciences rely heavily on existing literature and are often founded on primary and
secondary research. Most social sciences also require extensive qualitative data analysis, as well
as accuracy and honesty in presenting information. Most social science introductions follow the
same structure outlined in this resource.
How Is the Introduction Section Structured?
A good tip is to write the introduction of your research paper last so that
you have a clear idea of what you are introducing. When thinking about
the overall structure of the introduction section, it is helpful to visualize
the introduction as an upside-down triangle.
Start by broadly introducing the topic, then provide general background information, narrowing
to specific background research, and finally a focused research question, hypothesis, or thesis
statement (general to specific). Perhaps the best way to achieve this is by following the CARS
Model outlined below.
The Create a Research Space (CARS) Model
The CARS Model was established by John Swales to describe the process scholars use to give
context to their research with three progressive steps. Following these steps will result in a strong
introduction that tells the reader why your research is important.
Step 1: Establish a Territory
This step is used to demonstrate the relevance of a chosen topic and briefly review previous work
on your chosen topic. Think of this as stepping into an ongoing academic conversation on your
topic and noting the important ideas. This step is often indicated with phrases like, “In recent
years, researchers have become interested in..,” or “Recent studies have focused on…”
Step 2: Establish a Niche
This step involves identifying a gap, limitation, or shortcoming of previous research on your
topic. This demonstrates your ability to think critically as a scholar and recognize how your
research will contribute to the ongoing academic conversation in your research field. Phrases
used to indicate a niche may include, “However, these studies have failed to address…” or
“While X has been extensively studied, little research has been conducted on Y…”
Introduction Section for Research Papers, Winter 2023. 3 of 8
Step 3: Occupy the Niche
The last step involves stepping in to fill the gap, limitation, or shortcoming you identified in the
previous step. In an introduction, this will likely include your research question(s) or problem(s),
hypotheses or objectives, and a brief overview of your rationale and methodologies. Phrases to
indicate this step could include, “The purpose of this investigation is to...” or “My research
addresses the following questions…” It is usually a good idea to include a roadmap at the end of
your introduction, stating how the paper is organized and how each section connects to your
research question.
Sample of a Quantitative Introduction with Annotations
This first sample involves quantitative data. Quantitative data is measurable (or quantifiable),
numerical data that can be counted. Carefully look over the peer-reviewed article introduction
below, paying close attention to how the information is organized. What tools does the author use
to introduce the reader to their topic? Be sure to notice the author's use of the CARS Model at the
bottom of the introduction.
[Broad Introduction to Topic] There are an estimated 1.2–5.5 million snakebites annually
around the world, with approximately 20,000–94,000 attributed annual deaths [1]. [Broad
Background Context] The annual cost burden of snakebites is significant, and worldwide
morbidity and mortality represent a neglected global public health problem [1,2]. [Narrowing
the Topic] In the United States, there are approximately 7,000–10,000 annual emergency
department visits from snakebites [3], with 32–60% from venomous species, the majority
being pit vipers [3,4], and 5–7 annual fatalities per year [3–5]. [Indicating Importance of
Research] Individual expenses from antivenom and intensive care unit stays can cost upwards
of $153,000 for a single patient [6].
[Specific Background Context] Snakes are poikilothermic animals whose activities, life
cycle, and geographic distribution are closely tied to ambient temperature [7,8], and vary as a
result of climate change [9]. [Review of Recent Studies on Focused Topic] Global climate
change’s effect on flora and fauna has been scientifically documented [10]. There is at
minimum a 99% chance that average global temperatures have significantly increased since
1950 to present times [11], and this global warming or “climate energizing” frequently results
in increased extreme weather patterns [12,13].
[Readying to Apply the CARS Model]
[Step 1: Establishing a Territory] These fluctuations of extreme weather (both drought and
high precipitation) impact human health through an increase of natural disasters such as
Introduction Section for Research Papers, Winter 2023. 4 of 8
intense heat waves, droughts, and coastal flooding [14]. Likewise, climate change in North
America is associated with changing distribution of venomous species that may lead to
increased human morbidity [12,15,16]. [Step 2: Establishing a Niche] Climate change has
been described as the greatest global threat of the twenty-first century [17], but the effect on
snakebites in North America has not been examined.
[Further Specifying the Niche] There is some evidence for increased incidence of snakebites
with warming temperatures, however interpretation is limited to Central American
meteorological patterns [9], and the current literature on snakebites in the United States
provide limited insight into this relationship [3,18]. [Step 3: Occupying the Niche] With the
recent most severe drought and precipitation seasons ever recorded in California [19], we
sought to correlate the relationship of climate trends with snakebite incidence in California
over 20 years. [Stating Research Hypothesis] The study’s primary hypothesis was that the
severity of drought would correlate with increased incidence of snakebites and could be
predicted by weather patterns.
Source: Phillips C., Lipman G., Gugelmann H, Doering K., & Lung D., “Snakebites and climate
change in California, 1997-2017,” Clinical Toxicology, 2019.
Notice the author’s use of general to specific as they guided the reader to their focused research
hypothesis. This article uses quantitative data and statistics to provide background information
and context, but it also ties in the human experience by mentioning the health impacts and cost of
snakebites. Compare this quantitative approach to the qualitative example below, observing any
similarities and differences.
Sample of a Qualitative Introduction with Annotations
This next sample involves qualitative data, which is descriptive data involving language, themes,
and ideas about the human experience. Many social sciences use this form of data, collected
using surveys, interviews, and archival material. Pay close attention to how the order of
information changes in this example, as does the overall structure.
[Broad Introduction to Topic] Indigenous peoples make up over 5% of the world’s
population, their territories comprise at least 20% of the land area of the planet, and these
lands host an estimated 80% of the world’s biodiversity (Stevens 2014). [Narrowing of the
Topic] The relationships between indigenous land tenure and biological diversity is a
challenging area of research, but several studies suggest that indigenous peoples’ place-based
values, institutions, and practices help promote biodiversity. [Indicating Importance of
Introduction Section for Research Papers, Winter 2023. 5 of 8
Research and Step 1: Establishing a Territory] Indigenous lands often support higher native
and rare species richness (Redford and Stearman 1993, Peres 1994, Arcese et al. 2014) and
lower rates of deforestation (Nolte et al. 2013, Ceddia et al. 2015). [Step 2: Establishing a
Niche] However, beyond a handful of studies looking at biodiversity and land use change, few
researchers have looked at the broader ecological outcomes of indigenous land tenure.
[Specific Background Context] Indigenous peoples in Wisconsin manage forestlands and
wildlife by merging professional standards of forestry and wildlife practice with their own
culturally specific traditional ecological knowledge and land-based values. Although
commercial and ecological forestry best-practices are utilized in tribal forestry programs,
indigenous communities’ own knowledge systems and values have a strong influence. This
has often led to distinct forest and wildlife management goals, institutions, and practices
(Trosper 2007, Dockry 2012, Reo and Whyte 2012). Indigenous forestry in the United States
and Canada has several unique aspects (Bengston 2004). [Introducing Case Study] The
Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, for example, plants a diverse suite of culturally significant tree
species and favors nonchemical methods of land clearing that promote the growth of food and
medicinal plants while protecting harvesters’ health (Carroll 2015).
[Introducing Secondary Case Study] Anishnaabe of Shoal Lake in Northwestern Ontario use
succession management via landscape burning and timber harvest to promote biodiversity and
support local livelihoods (Berkes and Davidson-Hunt 2006). Indigenous forestry outside
North America includes managing sacred forest groves that promote bird diversity in Tibet
(Brandt et al. 2013) and agri-forestry practices by Yoruba in Nigeria that integrate cash crops
and trees, limiting soil erosion and increasing soil fertility (Warren and Pinkston 1998).
Indigenous Nations and nonindigenous forest and wildlife managers generally profess similar
goals typically centered around sustaining resource values and yields, biological diversity, and
ecosystem productivity despite some differences. [Occupying the Niche] Do these shared
goals lead to similar outcomes on the lands managed by these two groups? Here, we explore
that question within the specific context of northern Wisconsin where a mix of private
industrial, private nonindustrial, and county, state, and national public forestlands surround
four major “Indian reservations,” i.e., lands under jurisdiction of Indigenous Nations in the
U.S. (Fig. 1A).
[Stating Research Focus and Objectives] This study thus fits within existing literature
concerning the foundations and outcomes of indigenous forest and wildlife management. Our
focus here, however, is to quantify the ecological outcomes of forest and wildlife management
and links between the two. [Stating Research Question] That is, have the land-based values
and practices of indigenous peoples in Wisconsin led to significantly different ecological
Introduction Section for Research Papers, Winter 2023. 6 of 8
conditions on their forestlands relative to neighboring lands? [Brief Roadmap] In the
discussion, we return to the question of how differences in values and goals contribute to the
differences in outcomes we document.
Source: Waller, D., and Reo, N., “First stewards: ecological outcomes of forest and wildlife
stewardship by indigenous peoples of Wisconsin, USA,” Ecology and Society, 2018.
How did this example differ from the previous one? What writing tools did the author use, and
were they effective? Rather than an inverted triangle structure, which moves from general to
specific, this author opted for an hourglass structure, moving from broad, to specific, then back
to broad. While this introduction still follows the CARS Model, Step 3 is separated from Steps 1
and 2 with case studies and background information.
Activity: Investigate Introductions in Your Discipline
Navigate to the SJSU Library Homepage (https://library.sjsu.edu/) and sign into your account.
Click “Journals” and enter the name of a major journal in your discipline. For example, if you
study aerospace engineering, you might search for Progress in Aerospace Sciences. Open your
selected journal, and input key terms that interest you to identify three related research articles.
Examine the introductions, noting the similarities and differences. How are the introductions
organized, and what information do they convey? Are the introductions long or short?
Next, find one more reputable journal within your discipline, repeating the same process to find
three more articles. Do they follow the same structure as the previous journal? If not, what is
different? These observations will further guide you in writing strong introductions that adhere to
the standards of your academic discipline.
To take it a step further, find author guidelines for your selected journals to ensure that your
research paper will have what it takes to get published should you choose.
References
Ferguson, Jason. “Writing Across the Disciplines (for Students and Writing Assistants).”
Learning Commons.
https://www.up.edu/learningcommons/files/overview-of-writing-across-the-disciplines.pd
f. Accessed 7 January 2023.
Germanna. “Writing a Formal Research Paper in the Social Sciences.” Academic Center for
Excellence.
Introduction Section for Research Papers, Winter 2023. 7 of 8
https://germanna.edu/sites/default/files/2022-03/Writing%20a%20Formal%20Research%
20Paper%20in%20the%20Social%20Sciences.pdf. Accessed 7 January 2023.
Gray, John Ayric. “Introduction Sections: Where Are We Going and Why Should I Care?” Ame
Medical Journal Writing Corner. https://amj.amegroups.com/article/view/4738/html.
Accessed 20 January 2023.
Hamilton University. “How to Write an APA Research Paper.” Writing Resources.
https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/writing/writing-resources/how-to-write-an-a
pa-research-paper. Accessed 7 January 2023.
Storey, Lisha. “Creating a Research Space.” UMass Amherst Writing Center.
https://www.umass.edu/writing-center/creating-research-space. Accessed 13 January
2023.
UCLA Writing Center. “Writing Research Paper Introductions.”
https://uwc.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Writing-Research-Paper-Introductions.
pdf. Accessed 7 January 2023.
Yale University. “Writing a Research Paper in the Humanities.” Graduate Writing Lab.
https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/LPaul_Humanities.pdf. Accessed 12
January 2023.
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