Writing a good research introduction can often feel like a challenge.
Not only must your introduction set the stage for your research and convey the motivation behind your work, but it also needs to grab the reader’s attention and convince them that reading about your study is worth their time. On top of that, it lays the groundwork to ensure that readers can understand the rest of your research paper or thesis.
It can feel especially daunting because it’s often the section you start writing first—and it’s never easy to begin with a blank page.
In this post we’ll explore how you can put those fears aside and develop the skills to craft a compelling research introduction. We’ll also walk through some research introduction examples and share tips to help you avoid common mistakes.
What is a Research Introduction?
The introduction is the first major section of your research paper or thesis. Along with the abstract, it offers the reader their first glimpse into your work.
It’s where you:
- Explain the motivation for your research
- Demonstrate why it’s important
- Position your study within the broader research landscape
- State the aims of your research
- And sometimes, depending on the venue, briefly share the outcomes of your research
A strong introduction doesn’t just explain what your research is about; it shows why it matters. This includes giving readers enough background knowledge to appreciate the current research gaps.
Think of it as the beginning of a story—the part where you set the stage, introduce the problem, and convince your audience to keep reading.
How the introduction section differs in a research paper and a thesis
In the introduction section of both a paper and a thesis the introduction serves to introduce the research topic and lay the foundations to present the novelty that your work brings. However, there are a few key differences.
In research papers, the introduction usually include a brief review of the most relevant studies related to your work. Sometimes, papers will have a separate ‘Related Work’ section, but that’s not always the case. On the other hand, a thesis will always have a dedicated chapter for the literature review.
Despite these differences, the purpose remains the same: to position your work within the broader academic landscape by identifying the research problem and why it’s important. While a thesis introduction tends to be longer and more detailed (since it’s introducing a much larger body of work), a paper introduction needs to be more concise.
How to Structure Your Introduction
Writing a compelling research introduction doesn’t have to be complicated. A clear, structured approach can make it much easier.
Here’s a simple five-step approach to get you started. For each step I’ll also share a practical example of how this approach could be applied to a study on air pollution.
1. Set the Stage
Start by providing enough background so the reader understands why your research is important. Offer context by referencing relevant work conducted by other researchers.
For example, for a study on air pollution you might introduce the topic by discussing the health and environmental consequences of air pollution. You could state how efforts are needed to model, monitor, or reduce air pollution. What are some of the common techniques used to do these things?
2. Introduce Your Research Problem
Now go a bit more specific into your research area. Provide an overview of recent advances around this topic. What efforts have other researchers made? What techniques do they use?
For instance, what developments recent have been made in air pollution modelling? In what setting did they demonstrate their method? Did they introduce new techniques?
3. Highlight the Gap
Pinpoint what’s missing from the current research and how your study fills that gap.
For example, discuss limitations of existing air pollution modelling techniques, such as models that are region-specific or lack accuracy in predicting long-term trends. Maybe the methods are computationally expensive or not practical to deploy widely. Highlight any limitations, as you set yourself up to introduce your study which should aim to mitigate at least one of these limitations.
4. State Your Research Questions
Clearly outline what you aim to discover or prove. This can be posed as a hypothesis, question or set of aims.
For instance, you might investigate whether a novel technique, perhaps introduced for another domain, could be applied to address the highlighted gap.
5. Provide a Preview of the Paper
Let the reader know what to expect in the upcoming sections. Briefly mention the methods used, the datasets involved, and if appropriate for your submission venue: the key findings. Finally, tie it all back to the motivation for the work, aiming to highlight why it is important.
For example, explain that your study tested a new modelling approach on air quality data and assessed its effectiveness in different geographical regions. Provide a very quick overview of the technical results and key findings. Then mention how the modelling approach could aid efforts to monitor air quality which could itself be useful for things such as policy makers etc.
Here is a journal article I wrote several years ago which follows the structure above, split into three paragraphs:
Using Literature to Support Your Introduction
Most STEM papers include a brief literature review as part of the introduction. This helps to position your research within the existing body of work. It shows that you’re aware of what’s been done before and helps you highlight the gap your research is addressing.
If you’re feeling unsure about how to weave in the literature, don’t worry—you’re not alone! Including the right amount of literature can feel tricky, but it’s a crucial part of making your introduction convincing.
You don’t need to cite every study ever written on your topic—just focus on the most relevant ones. A good rule of thumb is to cite around 20 key papers. If there’s a recent systematic review covering your area, that’s a great resource to include for context.
The goal here is to summarise key findings, highlight gaps or limitations in existing research, and explain how your study builds on or challenges what’s already known. This helps the reader understand why your research is needed and what it aims to address.
Linking Your Introduction to Your Research Study Objectives
The content in the start and middle parts of your introduction should be selected to naturally lead into your research questions or objectives stated near the end of your introduction section.
Be clear and direct when outlining your objectives. This is where you state exactly what your research aims to achieve. Make sure it ties back to the problem or gap you’ve highlighted earlier in the introduction.
It’s important to make sure there’s a logical flow between the two.
If the bulk of your introduction is all about one thing and your research objectives are about something else, it can confuse the reader. This is a sign that you need to rework the earlier parts of the section to better match the goals of your study.
Putting it into Practice: Getting a First Draft
By following these steps, you’ll create a clear and engaging introduction that sets up the rest of your paper. If you’re struggling with getting started on the introduction section, I suggest first simply drafting bullet points for each of these five steps. Still not convinced? Try setting a 5 minute timer for each subsection and don’t worry about spending any more time than this.
Bullet points are nice because they don’t take long to write down and they’re also informal – you don’t have to worry about getting them perfect. I also like this approach because you can quickly brainstorm with co-authors quite early in the writing process without getting bogged down with the exact phrasing of sentences. For now just concentrate on getting the overall ideas captured.
By initially not writing in too much depth you can ensure you’re happy with the broad story before investing time into perfecting the phrasing.
Once you have a rough outline you can flesh out each part, ensuring that your introduction flows logically and effectively.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Even experienced researchers can feel a bit stuck when it comes to writing introductions, but there are a few common mistakes that are easy to avoid.
1. Feeling like you need to write the introduction section first
It’s natural to think you should start with the introduction since it’s the first section of your paper. But actually, many researchers find it easier to draft it later—once you’ve got some results written down and the core message of the paper is more obvious. Writing the Methods first can feel more manageable since it’s more factual, like a recipe.
That said, if you feel inspired to write a rough draft of the introduction early on, go for it! Just don’t spend too much time polishing it at the start. As mentioned in the previous section, getting a rough version down is often enough, and you can always refine it once the rest of your paper is more developed.
As with all writing, really don’t worry about getting this right first time. Put a quick draft together and you can refine it with your co-authors.
2. Information overload
Don’t be tempted to put too much background information into your introduction. You want to provide enough context to set the scene, but save the detailed explanations for other sections. Later in this article I’ll share an analysis I did of 30 published research articles, but in summary most introduction sections are actually quite short, so you don’t really go into much depth.
Not sure how much detail is required? Look at other papers (or theses) in a similar research area to your own – and ideally from the same journal or conference if that’s where you’re submitting the work to. This’ll give you the best idea of how detailed the introduction sections typically are. We’ll cover this in more depth later.
Typically, you’ll want to only spend a few sentences on the most broad background information then focus in on the existing research and gaps specific to your niche research topic.
3. Not being specific
Another mistake is being too vague. Your introduction needs to clearly explain the research problem and why it matters. Leaving readers guessing about the purpose of your study is a surefire way to lose their attention.
Near the end of the introduction make sure to clearly state the aims of your research study. This can be in the form of research questions or goals. For example:
We are guided by two research questions:
RQ1: How do clinicians currently use data and decision support systems to formulate and explain decisions in intensive care?…
From a recent article I’ve been drafting. Available on arXiv here.
Sometimes you’ll then address how you answered these research questions. In doing so you’ll make sure your introduction flows smoothly into the rest of the paper. If the introduction feels disconnected from your methods, findings, or conclusions, it can easily confuse the reader.
Two Example Research Introductions
To really get a feel for what makes a strong research introduction, let’s look at two contrasting examples I’ve crafted of an introduction for a study on AI in medical diagnosis. Neither are as long as an actual introduction section but they capture the essence of what the introduction section should (or shouldn’t!) look like.
The first one is vague and lacks focus, while the second is clear and well-structured. By comparing them, you’ll see how small changes can make a big difference.
Which example do you think is more effective? Why? Try comparing your own draft to see if it resembles the clear and targeted example.
Example 1: A Vague and Unfocused Introduction
Artificial intelligence has been studied for decades. Many algorithms have been developed, and some are now used in healthcare. AI can be applied to medical diagnosis to assist doctors in identifying diseases faster. This is important because diseases are a major cause of death worldwide.
Why This Example Falls Short:
- Fails to Engage: The reader is left wondering: What specific disease is being diagnosed? What’s the limitation in current AI methods? What specific algorithms are commonly used?
- Lacks Focus and Misses the Research Gap: The introduction is too broad and doesn’t specify what the study aims to address or why it’s necessary.
Example 2: A Clear and Targeted Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise medical diagnosis by enabling faster and more accurate disease detection. While existing AI models have demonstrated success in specific areas, such as skin cancer detection [1-3] , many lack robustness when applied to less-studied conditions [4]. For example, pulmonary hypertension—a life-threatening condition that often goes undiagnosed until it is advanced—presents unique challenges for AI models due to it being uncommon and having subtle early symptoms [5, 6].
This study addresses this gap by developing a novel AI framework tailored to the early detection of pulmonary hypertension. By integrating clinical and imaging data, the proposed method aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, offering a valuable tool for clinicians and potentially improving patient outcomes.
Why This Example Works:
- Clear and Specific: Clearly identifies the problem and sets the context for why the research is important.
- Highlights the Gap: Clearly states what’s missing in current research and how the study addresses it.
- Engages the Reader: The focus on a specific problem (pulmonary hypertension) makes it more compelling and relatable. It flows naturally into the rest of the paper by linking the problem to the proposed solution.
By analysing these two examples, you can see how being clear and specific makes your introduction far more impactful. The second example not only sets up the research problem effectively but also draws the reader in by highlighting the real-world significance.
How Long Should the Introduction Section of a Paper be?
I went through 30 papers published in high quality journals across a range of different research areas from at least 10 different first authors.
The average (median) introduction length was 738 words. The shortest was 326 words long (available here), and the longest was 1669 words long (available here).
As always, check the journal’s instructions for any guidance for how long the introduction should be, and what it should include.
Not sure yet where you’ll try to publish your work? Look at where similar papers are published and speak to your co-authors, then check out that journal’s “Guide for authors” page.
Learning from Real Research Introduction Examples
One of the best ways to get better at writing research introductions is by looking at examples from published papers.
Introductions can vary significantly depending on the discipline and publication venue. So look at how other researchers structure their introductions, particularly in your field or the journal where you plan to publish.
By analysing these research introduction examples, you can gain insight into the typical structure, style, and level of detail expected. Seeing what works (and what doesn’t) can give you a great sense of how to shape your own introduction.
How to Find Real-Life Research Introduction Examples from Published Papers
Here are a few ways to find published research introduction examples:
- Find Related Papers: For starters, there are likely already some key papers you’ve identified which relate to this research topic. So start by re-reading the introduction sections for these papers. They’ll give you the closest glimpse of what you’ll be likely to want to include in your own. Also, if you’ve not already decided on the journal (or conference) you’ll be submitting your work to, these related papers will give a pretty good hint as to where could be suitable.
- Browse High-Impact Journals: You can also look at recent papers published in reputable journals within your field. High-impact journals often have well-structured introductions, so these can serve as great examples. Just be mindful that the exact structure may be specific to the journal, so unless you plan to submit your work there use these as a more broad research exercise.
- Read Systematic Reviews: These papers often include thorough introductions because they set the scene for summarising a vast amount of research. They can give you an idea of how to frame your own study within the broader context in a concise way.
- Talk to Your Supervisor or Colleagues: They might have suggestions for key papers to look at or even examples of their own published work that can guide you.
As you read through different introductions, jot down what stands out. Pay attention to how authors set the context, identify gaps, and present their research questions. Over time, you’ll build a mental model of what works well.
By actively seeking out and analysing real-life examples, you’ll develop a clearer understanding of how to craft your own research introduction. Plus, seeing a variety of approaches can help you find a style that works best for you.
Research Introduction Examples Summary
Here’s a quick recap of the key topics we’ve covered in this post:
- Set the Scene: Start by giving a clear, engaging overview of your research topic. Think of this as introducing the story behind your study.
- Provide Context: Share enough background to help readers understand why your research matters, but avoid excessive detail. Aim for a few well-chosen references that highlight the research gap.
- Identify the Research Gap: Be specific about what’s missing in current studies and how your work addresses that gap. This is your opportunity to explain why your research is needed.
- Be Clear About Objectives: Clearly state your research questions or objectives, ensuring they flow naturally from the context you’ve set.
- Start with Bullet Points: Make it easy for yourself to get started by writing down the broad story in bullet points.
- Avoid Common Mistakes: Keep your introduction focused and relevant. Don’t overwhelm readers with too much background or vague statements.
- Learn from other Research Introduction Examples: Study well-structured introductions in published papers, especially within your field. Take note of how they set up the research problem and engage the reader.
A Closing Note
Writing a great introduction is all about giving your reader a clear understanding of your research and why it matters. Whether you’re just starting your PhD journey or preparing a paper for publication, mastering the introduction is a valuable skill that will serve you throughout your academic career.
With practice, and by learning from real-life examples, you’ll be able to write introductions that not only engage your readers but also set the stage for the rest of your work.
Now that you’ve got the tools and insights, it’s time to put them into action! Start drafting your introduction, and remember—it’s completely fine to iterate and improve. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become.
Every great introduction starts as a rough draft. Keep practicing, keep refining, and soon writing introductions will feel like second nature!
For more tips on academic publishing be sure to check out my complete series on writing an academic paper.
Prefer to read it offline? The series is now available as an eBook so you can download a copy and add notes. The book is available for free to all blog subscribers and can be downloaded from the resource library.
Do you struggle with writing research introductions or does it come easily?
Please share any great research introduction examples you’ve spotted in the comments below!
