The background of the investigation is the information that identifies and describes the story, as well as the nature of the problem being investigated in reference to existing literature.
Ideally, the background of the research should indicate the root of the problem being studied. A context of the problem must be provided in relation to theory, research and / or practice, and its importance.
In addition, the background should indicate the extent to which some previous studies have successfully investigated the problem.
In this way, you can report on the areas in which there are gaps and in which the current study wants to concentrate.
The background should be expanded to the key points stated at the beginning of the introduction, but should not be the main focus of the paper.
Good background should help the reader determine if the author has a basic understanding of the research problem he is investigating.
This crucial information should give the reader enough essential context to understand the research problem and its importance. It also promotes confidence in the overall quality of the analysis and the author's results.
Characteristics of the research background
The introduction of a work or thesis should provide background of the study. This includes an explanation of the research area; in this way a context can be given for the problem to be investigated.
In addition, the background should include a detailed bibliographic study in which the information that previous studies on the subject have found is explained.
Recent developments on the subject should also be discussed and some gap in the literature that has motivated the study should be identified.
It should also explain the problem in which the study tries to concentrate and give a brief summary of the history of the problem, mentioning whether it has been studied in some way in previous studies. This information precedes the research question and the purpose of the study.
Contextualization of the background
Depending on the type of problem being investigated, how to contextualize the background may include one or more of the following:
1-Cultural: located within the behavior learned from specific groups of people.
2-Economic: relating to systems of production and administration of material goods and / or business activities.
3-Gender: located within the psychological, cultural and behavioral characteristics typically associated with men and women.
4-Historical: the time in which something happened or was created and how that has an influence on its interpretation.
5-Interdisciplinary: explanation of theories, concepts, ideas or methodologies borrowed from other disciplines that are being applied to the research problem.
6-Philosophical: the clarification of the nature of a being or phenomena in the way they relate to the research problem.
7-Physical / spatial: it reflects the space around something and how that has an influence on how it is perceived.
8-Political: cares about the environment in which something is produced indicating its public agenda.
9-Social: the environment of the people that surround the creation of something or its audience, reflecting how the people around it use it and interpret it.
10-Temporal: reflects events or problems that are related or limited by time.
The background may also include summaries of important or relevant research studies.
This is particularly important if there is an essential or key study of the research problem or some key study that supports or denies the stated thesis.
Research studies cited as part of the background should not include very specific or long explanations. This should be discussed in more detail in the bibliographic background section.
Importance
Conducting prior research helps to gain familiarity with the overall context, so it is possible to find useful sources for the job more easily.
Providing sufficient background in the introduction of an investigation serves as a bridge to relate the reader to the subject of the study.
The length of the background will depend on the author: how much information do you think the reader needs to understand the subject being discussed and its importance?
Examples
Research on doctoral programs
Background
In the last two decades there has been an increase in dropout rates in doctoral programs.
The status of 'all but the thesis (ABD)' has been critical in the US education system since 1960 (Stemberg, 1981). It is estimated that about 50% or more of the students entering doctoral programs do not graduate (Bair & Hamworth, 1999; Bowen & Rudenstein, 1992).
As Bowen & Rudenstein states, 'the percentage of students who never get their PhD despite having achieved ABD status is high enough to be a cause for concern.' Many studies have been carried out to understand the reasons for abandoning these programs.
The studies of Heinrich (1991) and Meloy (1992), for example, indicate the importance in mentoring relationships. Lovitts (1996) identifies the lack of institutional support as a major contributing factor.
Although one might speculate on the skills, attitudes and knowledge required to complete a thesis, it seems that many students proceed with only a vague understanding of the thesis process.
This study seeks to understand the reason why many people enroll in doctoral programs and complete all the requirements of the course but do not complete their thesis in order to obtain the doctorate they are looking for. This is the problem in which this study seeks to concentrate.
issue
Research indicates that a large number of people in doctoral programs complete all the requirements of the course, however do not complete the research or their thesis.
For this reason, despite their significant investment in both time and money, these people never receive their doctorate and there is very little information on the reason for this phenomenon.
Research on seed Tubang Bakod used as insecticide for cockroaches
Background
Cockroaches are a common pest: they cause allergic reactions in people and damage clothing. However, according to Bato Balani for Science and Technology, Vol.14 No.2, the real danger of cockroaches is in their ability to transmit diseases and lethal organisms such as Staphylococcus and hepatitis.
People have used various tools to control the problem of cockroaches in homes; the most popular is the insecticide spray. Although many of these kill cockroaches, they also cause harm to humans.
According to bayer.co.th the active ingredients can cause coughing and chest pains. On the other hand, popular adhesives can also spread more bacteria when the body of dead cockroaches gets stuck. The cost of these insecticides is also high.
Tubang Bakod is a common plant in the Philippines. According to davesgarden.com, their seeds contain a toxic substance. This is why it can be used effectively to kill cockroaches.
issue
Together with other natural ingredients, is it possible that seeds of Tubang Bakod be used to kill cockroaches?
References
- Background of the study sample. Recovered from scribd.com
- What is the best way of stating the background of a study? (2016). Retrieved from editage.com
- What is the difference between introduction and background in research proposal? Retrieved from researchgate.net
- Introduction to your study. Recovered from sagepub.com
- Science fair project background research plan. Retrieved from sciencebuddies.org
- Organizing your social sciences research paper: background information. Retrieved from libguides.usc.edu