How To Write A Research Paper: Introduction (Complete Tutorial)

Summary

This video script by Iakovos Theodorakopoulos, founder of Academic English, offers a step-by-step guide to writing compelling research paper introductions. It emphasizes the importance of the introduction, highlighting the research gap and the paper's novelty. The script outlines a structured approach: start with the topic's importance and key concept definition, provide a brief literature review, identify the research gap, state the study's aim, and optionally summarize the main contributions and paper structure. Examples from different fields illustrate the consistent pattern across disciplines.

Takeaways

• 📝 The introduction of a research paper is crucial as it's often the first part that reviewers and readers engage with, significantly influencing their initial impression and the paper's acceptance.
• 🔍 A well-crafted introduction should clearly highlight the research gap, the paper's contribution, and its novelty to avoid potential rejection.
• 👨‍🏫 The speaker, Mykovic, specializes in assisting PhD students and researchers in writing research papers, particularly for Scopus-indexed journals.
• 🧩 Despite differences in disciplines, the structure of an introduction is largely uniform across fields, with about 80-90% similarity.
• 📈 The introduction typically starts by presenting the importance of the research topic, which could be relevant to the academic field or society at large.
• 🔑 It's common to define key concepts early in the introduction to provide a clear understanding of the paper's focus.
• 📚 A brief literature review is essential, organized from general to specific topics, to set the stage for identifying the research gap.
• 🕳️ The research gap is the most critical element of the introduction; it articulates the need for the study and what the paper aims to contribute.
• 🎯 After establishing the gap, the paper's aim should be stated concisely, often in one or two sentences, to convey the study's purpose.
• 📑 Optional elements like summarizing the main contributions and outlining the paper's structure can be included in some disciplines or journals.
• 🔗 The script provides examples from different fields to illustrate how a structured introduction can be adapted to various research papers.

Q & A

Why is the introduction of a research paper considered so important?

The introduction is crucial because it is one of the first things that reviewers and readers will read. If it is not well-written, does not highlight the research gap, or clearly state the contribution and novelty of the paper, it is likely that the paper will be rejected.

What are the two common ways to start a research paper?

The two common ways to start a research paper are by presenting the importance of the topic and by defining the key concept.

What is the significance of stating the importance of the topic in the introduction?

Stating the importance of the topic is significant because it tells the reader why they should care about the study. It establishes the relevance of the research to the field or society.

How should the literature review be presented in the introduction?

The literature review in the introduction should be brief, identifying key topics that need to be introduced before identifying the research gap. It should be organized from general to specific topics, often referred to as an inverted pyramid approach.

Why is the research gap the most important element in the introduction?

The research gap is the most important element because it highlights the need for the study. It points out the lack of research, limitations of previous studies, or a specific problem that needs solving, which justifies the novelty and contribution of the paper.

What should be included after identifying the research gap?

After identifying the research gap, the aim of the study should be stated, which includes the research questions, objectives, or hypotheses, in a simple and concise manner.

Are there any optional elements that can be included in the introduction of a research paper?

Yes, there are two optional elements that can be included: a quick recap or summary of the results, and a presentation of the structure of the paper.

How does the introduction of a research paper in social sciences differ from that in exact sciences?

The introduction in social sciences might be shorter and more concise, while in exact sciences, it might be longer and more detailed, but both follow a similar pattern of importance of the topic, literature review, research gap, and aim of the study.

What is the purpose of defining key concepts in the introduction?

Defining key concepts in the introduction helps to establish a common understanding of the terms and concepts that are central to the research, which is essential for the reader to comprehend the study's focus and context.

How can the structure of the paper be presented in the introduction?

The structure of the paper can be presented by stating how the paper is organized, such as into sections, and briefly describing what each section is about.