Q: Does the background of the study include the author's motivation to research the topic?
In background of the study, should I include what has motivated me to do this research?
The background of a study forms the first part of the Introduction and sets the topic in context. Typically, a well-written background should do the following:
- Introduce the broad area of research leading up to the topic
- Briefly summarize previous research to accentuate progress in the field
- Identify gaps in knowledge that remain unaddressed
- Justify why these gaps need to be addressed
- Summarize what the current study aims to achieve
Thus, one of the main elements that need to be addressed in the study background is why you conducted the study, that is, the rationale or justification for the study. This should include a description of the problem that exists, how you found out that this problem exists and needs to be addressed and what you aim to achieve by addressing the problem. These might, to some extent, include your motivation to study the topic, but the motivation should not be the focus. You should rather focus on the need to conduct the study and the significance of what the study aims to achieve.
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