Writing Research Background
Research background is a context for your research and is a brief outline of the most important studies that have been conducted up-to-date presented in a chronological order. It is the outline of historical developments in the research area that led to your specific research problem. Research background part in introduction chapter can be also headed ‘Background of the Study.” Research background should also include a brief discussion of major theories and models related to the research problem.
Specifically, when writing research background you can discuss major theories and models related to your research problem in a chronological order to outline historical developments in the research area. In discussing the background of your study, you also need to demonstrate how your research relates to what has been done so far in the research area.
Research background is written after the literature review. Therefore, literature review has to be the first and the longest stage in the research process, even before the formulation of research aims and objectives, right after the selection of the research area. Once the research area is selected, the literature review is commenced in order to identify gaps in the research area. Research aims and objectives need to be closely associated with the elimination of this gap in the literature.
Literature review has to be the first and the longest stage in the research process
The main difference between background of the study and literature review is that the former only provides general information about what has been done so far in the research area, whereas the latter elaborates and critically reviews previous works. The table below illustrates differences between research background and literature review:
| Feature | Research Background | Literature Review |
| Purpose | Provides context and establishes significance of research question | Critically evaluates and synthesizes existing knowledge |
| Scope | General overview of the topic | Specific to the research question |
| Focus | Key concepts, theories, and past research | Relevant research studies, gaps in literature, justification for further research |
| Position in research paper | Introduction section | Separate section or part of introduction |
| Length | Shorter | Longer |
Main differences between research background and literature review
Let’s suppose your research topic is ‘An investigation into the effectiveness of charismatic leadership style in promoting ethical behavior in restaurant industry in Canada’. The research background for this topic would include the discussion of significance of this topic and a brief discussion of key concepts and theories in the research area. Specifically, you would need to discuss classification of leadership styles, functions of leadership, emotional intelligence, Path-Goal Theory, Leadership Continuum Theory, Fiedler’s Theory of leadership, The Great Man Theory.
Furthermore, you will need to briefly cover in your research normative theories such as utilitarianism, deontology, virtues ethics; descriptive theories such as moral psychology, behavioral ethics, and organizational ethics as well as, meta-ethical theories such as moral realism, moral anti-realism, non-cognitivism.
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