How to Write a Background for a Research Paper: A Step by Step Guide

The background of a research paper is like the opening scene of a play – it sets the scene, introduces the characters and sets the context for the main event. Whether you’re writing about climate change, psychology or quantum physics the background is the foundation of your work. But how do you get this crucial section right? This step by step guide will walk you through it, with tips, examples and advice to make your background brilliant.

Expert Quote: “The background is more than just a box ticking exercise” says Dr. Emily Rogers, research professor at the University of California. “It’s where you make the case for why your research matters in the context of what’s already known. Without a good background even the most innovative research can feel out of place.”

What makes a good background?

Context

A good background introduces the broader field of study, sets the scene for your research. Imagine you’re writing a paper on renewable energy adoption in urban areas. Start with global energy trends, urbanisation and the growing focus on sustainability.

For example:
“Global energy consumption has doubled in the last 30 years, with 75% of that being in urban areas. As cities grow sustainable energy solutions are key to mitigating climate change.”

Previous Research

Your background isn’t complete without synthesising key findings from existing research. Think of this as your chance to show you’re up to speed with the field.

Example:
“Smith et al. (2020) found that solar energy adoption in urban areas could reduce emissions by 30%. But their study only looked at high income cities, leaving a gap in the middle income urban context.”

To Your Research Question

End with a smooth transition to your research question. Tie the gaps in the literature to the focus of your study.

For example:
“This paper looks at how middle income urban areas can overcome financial and logistical barriers to solar energy adoption, a gap in the literature.”

Research and Prep

Find Relevant Literature

Before you start writing get familiar with the research. Use academic databases like PubMed, JSTOR and Scopus. Search strategically using keywords and filter by recent publications for the latest info.

Search Strategy Table:

Keyword	Database	Filters
“Renewable energy”	Google Scholar	Last 5 years, Full-text PDFs
“Urban solar power”	JSTOR	Peer-reviewed, Case studies

Organise Your Notes

Create a system to categorise your findings. Use headings like “Theoretical Studies”, “Case Studies” and “Knowledge Gaps”. This will make it easier to reference your sources when you write.

Focus on the Essentials

Don’t bombard your reader with every study you’ve read. Focus on what supports your research question.

Here’s how you can break down the process of writing a good background in a step by step table:

table for clarity:

Step	Action	Example
Step 1: Start Broad and Narrow Down	Begin with a general introduction to your field, then narrow the focus to your specific research.	Broad: “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time.” Narrower: “Energy consumption in urban areas significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.” Specific: “This study investigates the potential of solar energy solutions in mid-sized urban areas.”
Step 2: Address Knowledge Gaps	Use your literature review to pinpoint the gaps in current research and emphasize why your study is needed.	“While existing studies highlight the environmental benefits of solar energy, few address the financial barriers faced by middle-income cities.”
Step 3: Position Your Research	Explain how your research will contribute to the field and fill in the gaps identified in previous studies.	“This study will explore financial models for solar energy implementation, aiming to provide affordable solutions for cities facing budget constraints.”

Step 1: Start Broad and Get Specific

• Broad Introduction: “Climate change is the biggest challenge we face today, it affects every part of the world” (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2023).
• Narrowing the Focus: “Urban areas, which account for 70% of global CO2 emissions, are now the key battleground in the fight against climate change” (Newman & Kenworthy, 2021).
• Specific Focus: “Solar energy is the solution, especially for mid-sized cities where energy demand is growing but financial resources are limited” (Brown, 2022).

Step 2: Identify the Gaps

• “Much has been written about the environmental benefits of solar power but few studies look at the financial barriers to adoption, especially for cities with limited budgets” (Gonzalez et al., 2020).
• “Existing research on solar energy adoption doesn’t look at the long term financial viability for mid-sized urban areas that don’t have the resources of major cities” (Taylor, 2019).

Step 3: Position Your Research

• “This study will fill the gap by providing financial models for middle income cities, focusing on affordable solar energy solutions that are environmentally beneficial and economically viable” (Smith & Liu, 2021).
• “By looking at the intersection of technology, finance and policy, this research will provide new knowledge on how cities can have sustainable energy systems despite limited financial resources” (Johnson, 2023).

Writing Tips for Clarity and Conciseness

Writing a good background section is not just about what you say but how you say it. Here are some tips to help you make your background clear, impactful and reader friendly.

Logical Structure

The structure of your background is key to guiding the reader through your argument and making your research easy to follow. Choose an organisational style that suits your topic and research question.

1. Chronological Structure:
For topics that involve a sequence of events over time—such as historical studies or the development of a technology—use a chronological structure. This allows you to present the topic in a linear way.

Example: If you’re writing about the history of climate change research, you might start with the early theories and then move on to the major scientific breakthroughs like the discovery of greenhouse gases, the development of climate models and recent findings on global warming.

Example Mistake:
“Climate change has been researched for decades. In the 1950s researchers found carbon dioxide was a greenhouse gas but the full impact wasn’t known until much later. Now climate change is a big issue.”

Better Approach:
“In the 1950s, carbon dioxide was first identified as a key greenhouse gas causing global warming. By the 1980s scientists were warning about the consequences of rising temperatures and in 1988 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established to address the growing environmental issue.”

2. Thematic Structure:
In fields like sociology, psychology or medicine a thematic structure might work better. This approach allows you to group studies or ideas into themes or categories, such as “social impacts”, “economic implications” or “scientific advancements”.

Example:
For a paper on the mental health effects of social media you could group the studies by themes like “social comparison”, “cyberbullying” and “self-esteem”, summarise the key findings in each area before moving on to your own research focus.

Example Mistake:
“Many studies have been done on the impact of social media on mental health. One looked at anxiety, another at depression and another at social comparison.”

Better Approach:
“Research on the mental health impacts of social media has focused on several areas including anxiety related to social comparison, depression linked to cyberbullying and the negative effects of constantly comparing oneself to others online (Smith, 2020; Johnson, 2019).”

Choosing the right structure helps your reader follow your argument and understand how your research fits into the bigger picture.

Avoid Jargon and Complexity

One of the biggest hurdles to clarity is jargon. If you’re writing for an audience of experts, technical terms might be necessary but if your paper is for a wider academic audience it’s best to keep it simple and plain language. Even experts will appreciate clear writing that avoids unnecessary complexity.

Pro Tip: Replace technical terms with simpler language without losing meaning. For example instead of “thermal dynamics” which will confuse a general audience say “heat energy”.

Example Mistake:
“The thermodynamic properties of greenhouse gases are key to radiative forcing in climate change.”

Better Approach:
“The heat energy absorbed by greenhouse gases is central to climate change by trapping warmth in the Earth’s atmosphere.”

By simplifying your language you’re making your research more accessible to a wider audience and increasing your work’s impact.

Citing Correctly

Proper citations not only give credit to the original authors but also add credibility to your own work. Citing accurately ensures your background is based on reputable research and prevents plagiarism accusations.

1. Follow the Required Citation Style:
Each field has its own citation style—APA, MLA, Chicago etc. Make sure you’re consistent with the one you’re using and follow its rules. This includes in-text citations, references and bibliographies.

Example Mistake:
If you’re using APA style but cite incorrectly:
“Social media addiction has been linked to depression (Smith et al., 2022).”

Better Approach (APA style):
“Research has shown social media addiction contributes to depression in adolescents (Smith et al., 2022).”

Make sure each citation is correct. A proper citation allows the reader to find the original source if they want to read more.

2. Use Citation Tools:
Tools like Zotero, EndNote and Mendeley can help you manage your references and avoid citation errors. These tools also allow you to organise your sources by theme or topic which can be really helpful when gathering literature for your background section.

Pro Tip: Always check your citations manually after using a citation tool. Although these tools are handy, errors can still occur especially in formatting.

By citing correctly you’re building trust with your reader, showing you respect the work of others and have done your research.

Common Mistakes

Too General or Too Specific

A background section that’s too broad is vague, one that’s too detailed loses the reader. Aim for balance.

Ignoring the Reader’s Perspective

Write for an audience that may not be familiar with your specific topic but knows the broader field. Don’t assume too much prior knowledge.

Examples

Example 1: Background for a Medical Study

Topic: “Gut Microbiota and Mental Health”
Background:
“Research has shown a strong link between gut health and mental wellbeing. Zhang et al. (2019) found a correlation between gut bacteria diversity and anxiety symptoms. But the mechanisms behind this are unclear. This study will explore the effect of specific gut microbiota on serotonin production.”

Example 2: Background for a Humanities Research Paper

Topic: “Social Media and Modern Political Movements”
Background:
“Social media has changed political engagement, amplifying voices and mobilising movements. The Arab Spring and #MeToo movement prove this. Despite their power, few studies examine the long term impact of social media campaigns on policy making. This research looks at the transition from online activism to legislative change.”

Conclusion and Next Steps

Writing a good background for your research paper is more than just a preliminary step—it’s an opportunity to hook your reader and set up your study. Remember to:

• Be clear.
• Cite relevant research.
• Show what’s at stake.

Don’t rush it. A good background takes time but it’s worth it when your research paper engages and informs. Now it’s your turn!