A research background provides the essential context that frames an academic study. It explains the topic’s relevance, reviews existing literature and identifies research gaps. As a result, it helps clarify the research problem and justifies the direction of the study.
This blog post offers a clear, practical guide to understanding and writing a research background. It defines the concept, explains its purpose and location, outlines its structure, and provides a step-by-step writing template. It also includes examples from various disciplines and highlights how editing services can enhance clarity and coherence before publication.
- What is research background?
- Why is research background important?
- Where is research background located in academic texts?
- What is the structure of research background?
- How to you write a research background? (Template)
- How long is research background?
- What is the difference between research background and introduction?
- Samples of research background
- Editing services
- Resources
What is research background?
Research background refers to the context, developments and existing knowledge that shape a research topic. It explains why the topic matters, how it connects to previous studies and what gaps or questions remain.
A strong research background does the following:
- outlines key theories, debates and findings
- identifies limitations or contradictions in current literature
- shows how the research fits into a wider academic or practical context
In sum, researchers use the background to justify their focus, define the problem and build a foundation for their research questions or hypotheses. In academic writing, a clear research background improves clarity, relevance and reader engagement.
Why is research background important?
Research background is important because it establishes the foundation for a study. It explains the significance of the topic, links it to existing knowledge and highlights unresolved issues. This context helps readers understand the purpose and direction of the research.
In addition, a strong research background helps to:
- clarify the research problem
- demonstrate understanding of key debates
- justify the study’s focus and methods
- establish the research within a broader academic context
Without a clear research background, the study may appear isolated, unfocused or redundant. A well-developed background improves coherence and justifies the research approach.
Where is research background located in academic texts?
Research background appears early in most academic texts, but its exact location depends on the type of document. In every case, it provides context, outlines existing knowledge and justifies the research focus.
Below are common placements across different academic formats:
- Research papers: In journal articles, the research background usually appears in the introduction. Authors often begin with general context, narrow down to specific studies and then identify gaps. Some papers include a dedicated subsection titled Background or Literature Review.
- Theses and dissertations: In longer works, the research background often forms an entire chapter, typically titled Background, Contextual Framework or Literature Review. This section may include historical context, theoretical foundations and key studies. It leads to the formulation of research questions or hypotheses.
- Grant proposals: In funding applications, the background appears near the beginning. It defines the problem, reviews previous work and explains the proposed project’s relevance and innovation.
- Conference papers: Due to space limits, the background is usually brief. It appears in the introduction and focuses on the most relevant prior studies and the motivation for the research.
- Academic books: In monographs or edited volumes, the background may appear in the introduction or in an early chapter. It sets the stage for the book’s overall argument or thematic focus.
What is the structure of research background?
The structure of a research background typically follows a logical progression from general a context to a specific focus. It starts with the general context and then follows with review of existing studies, identification of research gaps, justification for the study and a transition to research questions. This structure helps readers understand how the research fits within existing knowledge. A clear and effective research background usually includes the following elements:
1. General context
Begin with a broad overview of the topic. Explain its relevance in academic, social or practical terms. This sets the stage for the more focused discussion that follows.
2. Review of existing studies
Summarise key theories, debates and findings. Highlight major contributions, trends and areas of consensus or disagreement. Use this review to position the research within the field.
3. Identification of gaps or problems
Point out limitations, contradictions or unexplored areas in the current literature. Explain why these gaps matter and how they affect understanding of the topic.
4. Justification for the study
Show how the research will address the gaps or contribute new insights. Explain the significance of the approach and how it advances existing knowledge.
5. Transition to research questions or objectives
End by leading into the research aims, questions or hypotheses. This creates a smooth link between the background and the core of the study.
How to you write a research background? (Template)
To write a research background, you can use the following structured template based on key questions. Answering each question helps you build a coherent, focused and well-supported section. Use the following list as a step-by-step guide:
1. What is the broad topic of your research? Define the general area of study and explain why it is important.
2. What is the historical or disciplinary context? Briefly outline how the topic has developed and how it fits within the field.
3. What are the key theories, concepts or debates? Identify the main academic ideas or positions that inform your research.
4. What does the current literature say? Summarise major findings, trends and contributions in existing research.
5. What gaps, limitations or contradictions exist in this literature? Point out what has not been addressed, what remains unclear or where debates remain unresolved.
6. Why do these gaps matter? Explain the significance of these gaps and how they affect understanding of the topic.
7. How does your research address these gaps or problems? Describe your study’s contribution and how it builds on or challenges previous work.
8. How does your research fit into the wider academic or practical context? Clarify how your research connects to larger questions or societal issues.
9. What are the next steps in your text? Lead into your research questions, objectives or hypotheses.
How long is research background?
The length of a research background depends on the type of academic text, the complexity of the topic and the expectations of the field. However, the background should always be long enough to provide clear context and justification without becoming repetitive or unfocused.
Typical guidelines include:
- Journal articles: 1–3 paragraphs within the introduction or a short stand-alone section
- Theses and dissertations: 1–2 chapters, often 10–20 pages depending on the scope
- Research proposals: 1–2 pages, focused on context, relevance and research gaps
- Conference papers: a few concise paragraphs outlining key background points
Rather than aiming for a fixed word count, focus on clarity, coherence and relevance. A good research background gives readers what they need to understand the research problem — no more, no less.
What is the difference between research background and introduction?
The research background and the introduction serve related but distinct functions in academic writing. In short, the introduction outlines the research; the research background supports and justifies it. Both appear at the beginning of a text, but they differ in scope, purpose and focus.
1. Purpose
- Introduction presents the research topic, states the research problem and outlines the structure of the text. It sets the stage and engages the reader.
- Research background provides detailed context. It reviews existing knowledge, identifies gaps and justifies the need for the study.
2. Scope
- Introduction covers multiple elements briefly: topic, rationale, background, research questions and sometimes methodology.
- Research background focuses specifically on the academic context and previous work relevant to the study.
3. Placement
- In journal articles, the background often forms part of the introduction.
- In theses or dissertations, the introduction and research background usually appear in separate sections or chapters.
4. Focus
- Introduction is forward-looking. It introduces what the study will do.
- Research background is retrospective. It explains what has already been done and why further research is needed.
Samples of research background
Here are a few concise examples of research background across different fields and document types:
Research paper (public health)
Topic: Vaccine hesitancy in urban populations
Vaccine hesitancy has emerged as a significant public health challenge, especially in densely populated urban areas. Previous studies have linked hesitancy to misinformation, historical distrust in healthcare systems and perceived vaccine risks. However, most research focuses on rural or general populations, leaving a gap in understanding the specific drivers of hesitancy in urban contexts. This paper addresses that gap by examining the social and informational factors influencing vaccine attitudes among adults in London.
Thesis (literary studies)
Topic: Postcolonial identity in contemporary African fiction
Postcolonial literary criticism has long examined how African writers engage with themes of identity, nationhood and memory. Authors such as Chinua Achebe and Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o have been central to these discussions. More recent fiction, however, presents new forms of hybridity, migration and transnationalism. While scholarship has addressed these themes in isolated case studies, there remains limited comparative analysis across Anglophone and Francophone African narratives. This study explores how selected novels from Nigeria and Senegal reimagine postcolonial identity through language, structure and characterisation.
Research proposal (environmental science)
Topic: Urban green spaces and air quality
Urban green spaces play a crucial role in mitigating air pollution, yet their effectiveness varies widely depending on vegetation type, location and urban design. Current studies offer inconsistent findings and often focus on large parks rather than smaller, distributed green areas. This research proposes a comparative study of air quality data across different types of urban green spaces in Manchester, aiming to inform city planning strategies for environmental sustainability.
Conference paper (digital education)
Topic: AI tools in higher education writing support
As universities adopt AI-based writing tools, questions arise about their impact on student learning and academic integrity. While some studies suggest these tools improve writing confidence and productivity, others warn they may hinder critical thinking. Most existing research focuses on STEM fields or general usage trends, with little attention to humanities students. This paper presents findings from a pilot study at a UK university exploring how literature students use AI tools in essay preparation.
Editing services
Professional editing services — specifically proofreading and copyediting — can help improve academic texts. Each service targets different aspects of the writing to ensure clarity, precision and publication readiness.
Copyediting
- Improved structure and coherence: Copyediting enhances the logical flow of the research background by reorganising sentences or paragraphs, ensuring that the progression from general context to specific gaps is clear and effective.
- Consistent terminology and style: A copyeditor standardises key terms, formatting and referencing style in line with academic or journal-specific conventions, ensuring internal consistency.
- Clarity and tone refinement: Copyediting adjusts phrasing to improve readability and academic tone. It ensures that the research background communicates its purpose without redundancy or vague language.
- Adherence to guidelines: Copyeditors check alignment with structural, stylistic and formatting requirements of the target publication, including citation style and word limits.
Proofreading
- Correction of grammar and punctuation: Proofreaders eliminate errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, which strengthens the professionalism and accuracy of the text.
- Typographical and formatting checks: Proofreading catches inconsistencies in layout, headings, numbering and visual presentation that may distract reviewers or readers.
- Final quality control: As the last step before submission, proofreading ensures the research background — and the wider text — is free from surface errors that could undermine credibility.
Resources
Here is a selection of reliable resources useful for writing a research background across disciplines:
- Connected Papers is a visual tool for exploring related literature and identifying research gaps.
- How to Write a Thesis by Rowena Murray offers practical advice on literature reviews and contextual framing.
- PhD Life Raft podcast provides practical support for postgraduate writing, including how to develop and organise a research background.
- Purdue OWL offers general guidance on academic writing, research papers and structuring introductions.
- Research Comms podcast discusses how researchers communicate their work, including context-setting.
- ResearchGate for searching published papers to see how researchers in your field construct their background sections.
- The Craft of Research by Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams includes clear guidance on situating research within existing knowledge.
- They Say / I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein is helpful for integrating existing literature and framing scholarly conversations.
- University of Manchester Academic Phrasebank is useful for discipline-neutral phrasing in literature reviews and background writing.
- Write, Publish, and Shine offers advice for academic and literary writers on structure and clarity.
- Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks by Wendy Laura Belcher provides structured guidance for writing all sections, including the research background.
Key takeaways
In summary, the research background supports academic writing by situating the study within its scholarly context. It outlines key debates, identifies gaps and explains the rationale for the research. This post has detailed its definition, importance, structure and placement across different academic formats. It also offered practical writing guidance, real-world examples and relevant resources to support the writing process.
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