Chapter 5: Designing Research - The Introduction

Importance of Introduction

What: The first passage in a journal article, dissertation, or scholarly research.

When: Sets stage for entire project (Creswell, 2014) and acts as first impression.

Why: Establish a framework for the research--identifies related research to this body of work (Wilkinson, 1991)

An Abstract for a Study

A brief summary of the contents of a study.

APA Publication Manual indicates this component as most important paragraph in a study.

Needs to be . . .

Accurate, non-evaluative, coherent, readable, and concise.

Content will vary..

In a report, a literature review,

Theory-orientated papers

Methodological papers

Major Components of an Abstract

• Issue or Problem
• Purpose of Study
• Intended collection of data
• Themes or Statistical results
• Practical Applications

Major Components of an Abstract

Major Components of an Abstract

• Issue or Problem
• Purpose of Study
• Intended collection of data
• Themes or Statistical results
• Practical Applications

Introduction types by Approach

Introduction types by Approach

• Author describes research problem best understood by exploring a concept or phenomenon.

Introduction types by Approach

• Researchers sometimes advance a theory to test, and they will incorporate substantial reviews of literature to identify research questions that need to be answered.

Introduction types by Approach

• When the emphasis is equal, the problem may be one which a need exists to both understand the relationship among variables in a situation and explore the topic in greater depth.

A Model for an Introduction

The deficiencies model of an introduction builds bridges across gaps in existing literature.

Consists of five parts . . .

1. State the research problem

2. Review studies that addressed the problem.

3. Find what is lacking in studies.

4. Advance the significance of the study for particular audiences.

5. Declare the purpose statement.

The Research Problem

The Narrative Hook

• Commands reader attention.
• Elicits emotional or attitudinal response from reader.
• Provide relevant breadcrumbs.

"Who controls the process of chief executive succession?"

"The transsexual and ethno methodological celebrity Agnes changed her identity nearly three years before undergoing sex reassignment surgery."

"There is a large body of literature that studies the cartographic line and generalization of cartographic lines."

"Since passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Higher Education Act of 1965, America's colleges and universities have struggled to increase the racial and ethnic diversity of their students and faculty members, and "affirmative action" has become the policy-of-choice to achieve that heterogeneity."

"The issue that this study addresses is the lack of women in martial arts competitions."

Importance of a Narrative Hook

Narrative Hook Mini-Lesson

• Compose 1-3 narrative hooks for the introduction to a study.
• Partner up: Determine if hooks draw readers in, create interest in the study, and presented at a relatable level.
• Share: Pick your favorite and share with the class.

Narrative Hook Mini-Lesson Reference

• Commands reader attention.
• Elicits emotional or attitudinal response from reader.
• Provide relevant breadcrumbs.

Designing the Opening Paragraph

Designing the Opening Paragraph

• Hook your readers
• Use quotations sparingly as they may cause confusion or muddled points.

Designing the Opening Paragraph

• Avoid idioms (ex. See eye to eye, Cut corners, Hot potato, Take with a grain of salt . . .)
• Numerical information for impact

Designing the Opening Paragraph

• Clearly identify research problem
• Cite references that justify need of study

Designing the Opening Paragraph

• Problem and research approach need to match
• Determine if there is a single problem or multiple involved in the proposed study.

Studies Addressing the Problem

Researchers do not want to conduct a study that replicates exactly what someone else has examined.

New studies should add to the literature or extend or retest what others have investigated.

Deficiencies in Past Literature

What do we still need to know?

Deficiencies may exist because . . .

Topics have not been explored with a particular group, sample, or population

Literature may need to be replicated or repeated to see if the same findings hold, given new people or new sites for study

Voices of underrepresented groups have not been heard in published literature

Proposal writers need to tell how their planned study will remedy or address these deficiencies.

Example 5.1 Deficiencies in Literature

Example 5.2 Deficiencies in Literature

Deficiencies in Past Literature

• Citing several deficiencies strengthens study
• Identify deficiencies in other studies
• Write about these overlooked areas
• Discuss how the study will remedy deficiencies and contribute to scholarly literature

Study Significance to An Audience

Study Significance to An Audience

• Writer creates clear rationale for importance of study
• The wider the application the better--more audiences suggests greater importance

Example 5.3 Significance of Study

Summary

• An abstract is a brief summary of a study's contents.
• The introduction is connected to the research approach.
• The deficiencies model aims to bridge gaps in existing literature.
• Hook your readers.
• Researchers do not want to conduct a study that replicates exactly what someone else has examined.
• Deficiencies in past literature fuel our research.
• Write for your target audience.