How to Write the Background of the Study in a Research Paper, with Examples
By Dr. Robertson Prime, Research Fellow
Updated October 21, 2026
14 min read
About 2,700 words
The background of the study is the section of your introduction that gives readers the context they need to understand your research problem. It explains what is already known about your research topic, how the issue developed and why it still needs investigation.
This guide shows you how to write the background of the study in a research paper, thesis or dissertation, with steps, a paragraph plan and weak vs strong examples.
- What it is: a clear definition, and how the background differs from the introduction and the literature review.
- How to write it: what to include, a 6-step process and how to gather sources from your library and online databases.
- Examples: weak vs strong background of the study examples, full examples and a template.
On this page
Key takeaways
- The background explains where your research problem comes from and why it matters now.
- Move from broad context to recent evidence to the specific gap.
- Keep it short: detailed analysis of studies belongs in the literature review.
- End by linking the gap to your problem statement and purpose.
What Is the Background of the Study in a Research Paper?
The background of the study in a research paper is the part of the introduction that provides context for your research problem. It shows the reader what is known, what has changed and what remains unclear.
- A plain definition: the background of a study is a concise overview of the history, current evidence and key concepts behind your research topic.
- Its purpose: to help the reader understand why the research problem exists and why your study is needed.
- Its position: it usually appears early in Chapter 1, before the problem statement, purpose and research questions.
- Its tone: factual, academic and supported by credible sources, not personal opinion.
The University of Southern California’s guide to background information advises including only the information a reader needs to grasp the importance of your research problem. Detailed discussion of prior studies belongs elsewhere.
The role of the background of the study in research
The background of the study in research does more than fill space at the start of a paper. It does essential work that the rest of the study depends on.
- It helps provide context: readers outside your specialty get the essential info they need to follow your argument.
- It gives the rationale: it explains why the problem is crucial enough to justify the time and resources you will invest to conduct the study.
- It shows your insight: a thorough, well-organized background proves you know the field before you propose something new.
- It prepares the questions: it helps you formulate research questions that your study can actually answer.
Background vs introduction, literature review and problem statement
The background of the study is often confused with nearby sections. This table shows how each one differs.
| Section | Main job | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction (Chapter 1) | Sets up the whole study | Contains the background and other sections |
| Background of the study | Gives context and history for the problem | Brief overview with key sources |
| Problem statement | Names the specific problem and gap | One to three focused paragraphs |
| Literature review | Examines prior research critically | Detailed, often a full chapter |
The importance of the background of the study
A well-written background earns the reader’s trust before you ask them to accept your research questions. Its importance shows in three ways.
- It justifies the study: by showing a real, current problem, it explains why your research matters.
- It defines the context: it introduces key concepts, settings and terms the rest of the paper relies on.
- It reveals the gap: it leads logically to what existing research has not yet answered.
What to Include in the Background of the Study
Every effective background of the study covers the same core elements, in roughly the same order. Use these as a checklist when you plan your section.
- Broad context: introduce the research topic and why it matters to society, practice or the field.
- Historical development: briefly explain how the issue emerged or changed over time.
- Current evidence: summarize recent findings, statistics from credible sources and key debates, and highlight where studies disagree.
- Key concepts: define the main terms so readers share your meaning.
- The gap: identify what is still unknown, unclear or contested.
- The link to your study: show how your research question addresses that gap and how your study will contribute to the field.
How much detail to give
The right level of detail is “enough to understand the problem, and no more”. Ask whether each paragraph helps the reader see why your study is needed.
- Include: landmark studies, recent trends and the most relevant statistics, each with a citation.
- Summarize: groups of similar studies in one sentence rather than describing each one.
- Leave out: methods critiques, in-depth theory discussions, details of your methodology and tangents unrelated to your research problem.
How to Write the Background of the Study: 6 Steps
Use this step-by-step process to write the background of the study for a thesis, dissertation or research paper. Each step builds on the one before.
- Define the topicAnd the research problem
- Gather sourcesLibrary and online
- Trace the historyHow the issue developed
- Summarize evidenceRecent findings
- Identify the gapWhat is still unknown
- Link to your studyLead into the problem
- Define your research topic and problem. Write one sentence describing the problem your study will investigate. Everything in the background should relate to this sentence.
- Gather relevant sources. Search your library catalog and online databases for recent journal articles, government reports and books from reputable publishing outlets. Save each PDF with its full citation so you can cite accurately.
- Trace the historical context. Note when and how the issue emerged, and any policy, technology or social changes that shaped it.
- Summarize the current evidence. Describe what recent research has found, highlighting agreements and disagreements, without reviewing each study in depth.
- Identify the research gap. Determine what remains unknown, for which population or setting, and why that matters. This is where you uncover the space your study will fill.
- Link the gap to your study. Close with a sentence that leads into your problem statement, purpose and research questions.
How to write background of the study for a proposal vs a final paper
You will usually write background material twice. The study background in a proposal and in the final dissertation serve slightly different goals.
- In a proposal: the background must persuade a committee that the study is worth doing, so it focuses on the rationale and the gap.
- In the final paper: the background should also prepare readers for your findings, so revise it to frame what you discovered.
- In a journal article: space is tight, so write background in two or three dense paragraphs that move quickly to the gap.
- Across all versions: each claim should help the reader answer one question: why does this study need to exist?
Gather sources from your library and online databases
Strong background writing depends on strong sources. Gather them deliberately rather than relying on the first search results.
- Library databases: use your university library’s subject databases for peer-reviewed articles in your field.
- Official statistics: government agencies and international organizations publish reliable data you can cite.
- Recent reviews: systematic reviews give a fast overview of what is known; see our guide to systematic literature review structure.
- Reference lists: follow citations in key articles to find landmark studies.
- Record-keeping: keep notes on each source’s main finding, so you can cite and summarize accurately; a reference manager is a simple technique that will improve accuracy.
Structure and Length of an Effective Background Section
An effective background section moves like a funnel, from the general to the specific. Each paragraph should have one clear purpose, and the text should flow effectively from one paragraph to the next.
How long should the background be?
Length depends on the type of document and your program’s template. These ranges are common guidelines, not fixed rules.
- Journal article or research paper: one to three paragraphs within the introduction.
- Master’s thesis: about one to two pages.
- Doctoral dissertation: often two to four pages, depending on the complexity of the topic.
How the background relates to other sections
The background should relate closely to every section that follows it in Chapter 1. Think of it as the foundation for your argument; every later section will involve ideas you introduce here.
- To the problem statement: the gap at the end of the background becomes the focus of the problem statement.
- To the purpose: the purpose explains how your study responds to the gap; see our guide to the purpose of the study.
- To the literature review: the background previews key studies that Chapter 2 examines in depth.
Background of the Study Examples: Weak vs Strong
These background of the study examples show the difference between a section that rambles and one that builds a case. Bracketed citations mark where real sources belong; the examples are illustrative.
Opening the background
Weak
“Social media is very popular today and everyone uses it.”
Vague, uncited and exaggerated; it gives no specific context.
Strong
“Image-based social media platforms have become part of daily life for many adolescents in the United States [cite a recent national survey].”
Specific population, specific platforms and a credible source.
Presenting evidence
Weak
“Smith (2019) found X. Jones (2020) found Y. Lee (2021) found Z.”
A list of studies with no synthesis; this reads like an annotated bibliography.
Strong
“Several studies link heavier social media use with lower body image among adolescent girls [cite 2–3 studies], although findings differ by platform and measure.”
Synthesizes the evidence and notes where it disagrees.
Ending with the gap
Weak
“Therefore, more research is needed on this topic.”
Does not say what research, for whom or why.
Strong
“However, few studies have examined daily use patterns among girls aged 13–17 in U.S. public high schools, leaving schools with little evidence to guide prevention.”
Names the gap, the population and the practical consequence.
Full background of the study examples
Example: social media and body image (education and health)
Image-based social media platforms have become part of daily life for many adolescents [cite national survey]. Concern about their effect on young people’s well-being has grown, with schools and health organizations calling for better guidance [cite report].
Research suggests that heavier use is associated with poorer body image among adolescent girls [cite studies], although results vary by platform, type of activity and measure. Most studies rely on one-time estimates of use rather than daily records.
Few studies have examined daily use patterns among girls aged 13–17 in U.S. public high schools. This study addresses that gap. A complete study on social media use and body image among adolescent girls shows the full version.
Example: neighborhood cohesion and civic engagement (sociology)
Civic participation among young people shapes the health of local democracy [cite source]. Researchers have long argued that neighborhood social ties encourage people to take part in community life [cite landmark study].
Recent studies suggest that cohesion may matter most for adolescents, whose social worlds are largely local [cite studies]. Yet most evidence comes from suburban or rural samples, and little is known about urban adolescents. This study examines that gap; see the example study on neighborhood social cohesion and civic engagement.
Background of the study template
Copy this template and replace the highlighted parts, adding a real citation to every claim.
Template
[Topic] has become an important issue in [field or setting] because [reason, with citation]. Since [time or event], [how the issue developed, with citation]. Recent research shows that [key finding, with citations], although [disagreement or limitation]. However, little is known about [gap: population, setting or variable]. This study addresses this gap by [brief link to your purpose].
Common Mistakes and Academic Writing Tips
Most weak versions of the background of the study share the same problems. Check your draft for these before you share it with your supervisor.
Mistakes to avoid
- Starting too broadly: opening with world history or vague claims about society wastes space.
- Listing studies: describing sources one by one instead of synthesizing them.
- Missing citations: making factual claims without credible sources weakens your academic credibility.
- Writing a literature review: detailed critique of methods belongs in Chapter 2.
- No clear gap: ending without saying what remains unknown leaves the study unjustified.
Tips: give every paragraph a purpose
- Write one purpose per paragraph: context, history, evidence, gap and link.
- Use topic sentences: open each paragraph with its main point so readers can skim.
- Use transitions: words such as “however” and “as a result” show how ideas connect.
- Revise last: update the background once your results are in, so it frames what you actually found.
- Read it as an outsider: ask a peer whether the background helps them understand the problem without extra explanation.
For more on related sections, see our dissertation introduction chapter guide and the 5 Cs of writing a literature review, or return to how to write a dissertation for the full process.
Background of the Study FAQs
What is the background of the study?
The background of the study is the section of a research paper, thesis or dissertation that explains the context of your research problem. It summarizes what is already known about the topic, how the issue developed over time and what current evidence shows.
It then identifies the gap that your study addresses. The background usually appears in the introduction, before the problem statement and research questions. Its purpose is to help readers understand why the problem matters and why your research is needed, using credible, recent sources to support each claim.
How long should the background of the study be?
Length depends on the type of document and your program’s requirements. In a journal article or short research paper, the background is often one to three paragraphs within the introduction. In a master’s thesis, it is commonly one to two pages, and in a doctoral dissertation it may run to two to four pages.
These are guidelines rather than fixed rules. Focus on giving readers just enough context to understand the research problem, and move detailed discussion of individual studies into the literature review chapter instead.
What is the difference between the background and the literature review?
The background of the study gives a brief overview of the context, history and key evidence behind your research problem. The literature review, usually Chapter 2, examines prior research in depth: it compares studies, evaluates their methods and builds a detailed case for your research questions.
The background might mention a few key studies in a sentence or two, while the literature review discusses many studies at length. If you find yourself critiquing methods in the background, move that material to the literature review instead.
Where do I find sources for the background?
Start with your university library’s subject databases, which give access to peer-reviewed journal articles in your field. Add official statistics from government agencies and international organizations, and use recent review articles to see the overall state of research quickly.
Follow the reference lists of key studies to find landmark works. Avoid relying on unverified websites, and always read the original source before citing it. Keeping careful notes on each source’s main finding makes it much easier to summarize the evidence accurately when you write.
Should the background include statistics?
Yes, if they are relevant, recent and from credible sources. A well-chosen statistic can show the scale of a problem quickly, for example how many people are affected or how a trend has changed.
Every figure must be cited to its original source, such as a government report or peer-reviewed study, and you should check the number in that source rather than copying it from another paper. Use statistics sparingly: two or three strong figures are more persuasive than a long list of numbers.
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