Background Information

Definition
Background information identifies and describes the history and nature of a well-defined research problem with
reference to the existing literature. The background information should indicate the root of the problem being
studied, its scope, and the extent to which previous studies have successfully investigated the problem, noting, in
particular, where gaps exist that your study attempts to address. Introductory background information differs from
a literature review in that it places the research problem in proper context rather than provide a thorough
examining pertinent literature.
Importance of Having Enough Background Information
Background information expands upon the key points stated in your introduction but is not intended to be the
main focus of the paper. Sufficient background information helps your reader determine if you have a basic
understanding of the research problem being investigated and promotes confidence in the overall quality of your
analysis and findings. This information provides the reader with the essential context needed to understand the
research problem and its significance.
Depending on the problem being studied, forms of contextualization may include one or more of the following:
 Cultural -- placed within the learned behavior of specific groups of people.
 Economic -- of or relating to systems of production and management of material wealth and/or business
activities.
 Gender -- located within the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with being
male or female.
 Historical -- the time in which something takes place or was created and how that influences how you
interpret it.
 Philosophical -- clarification of the essential nature of being or of phenomena as it relates to the research
problem.
 Physical/Spatial -- reflects the space around something and how that influences how you see it.
 Political -- concerns the environment in which something is produced indicating it's public purpose or
agenda.
 Social -- the environment of people that surrounds something's creation or intended audience, reflecting
how the people around something use and interpret it.
 Temporal -- reflects issues or events of, relating to, or limited by time.
Background information can also include summaries of important, relevant research studies. The key is to
summarize for the reader what is known about the specific research problem before you conducted your analysis.
This is accomplished with a general review of the foundational research literature (with citations) that report
findings that inform your study's aims and objectives.
NOTE: Research studies cited as part of the background information of your introduction should not include very
specific, lengthy explanations. This should be discussed in greater detail in your literature review section.
Structure and Writing Style
Providing background information in the Introduction of a research paper serves as a bridge that links the reader
to the topic of your study. But precisely how long and in-depth this bridge should be is largely dependent upon
how much information you think the reader will need to know in order to fully understand the topic being
discussed and to appreciate why the issues you are investigating are important.
From another perspective, the length and detail of background information also depends on the degree to which
you need to demonstrate to your professor how much you understand the research problem. Keep this in mind
because providing pertinent background information can be an effective way to demonstrate that you have a clear
grasp of key issues and concepts underpinning your overall study. Don't try to show off, though! And, avoid stating
the obvious.
Given that the structure and writing style of your background information can vary depending upon the complexity
of your research and/or the nature of the assignment, here are some questions to consider while writing this part
of your introduction:
1. Are there concepts, terms, theories, or ideas that may be unfamiliar to the reader and, thus, require
additional explanation?
2. Are there historical elements that need to be explored in order to provide needed context, to highlight
specific people, issues, or events, or to lay a foundation for understanding the emergence of a current
issue or event?
3. Are there theories, concepts, or ideas borrowed from other disciplines or academic traditions that may be
unfamiliar to the reader?
4. Is the research study unusual in a way that requires additional explanation, such as, 1) your study uses a
method of analysis never applied before; 2) your study investigates a very esoteric or complex research
problem; or, 3) your study relies upon analyzing unique texts or documents, such as archival materials or
primary documents like diaries or personal letters, that do not represent the established body of source
literature on the topic.
Almost all introductions to a research problem require some contextualizing, but the scope and breadth of
background information varies depending on your assumption about the reader's level of prior knowledge.
Despite this assessment, however, background information should be brief and succinct; save any elaboration of
critical points or in-depth discussion of key issues for the literature review section of your paper.