How to write the background of your study

Contents

• What Is the Background of a Study?
• Background of a Study vs. Introduction: What’s the Difference?
• Why the Background Section Matters
• What Should the Background of a Study Include?
• Structure of the Background Section: A Practical Template
• How to Write the Background of a Study: Step-by-Step
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Background of a Study: Examples
• What is the difference between Background vs. Literature Review?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Key Takeaways

What Is the Background of a Study?

The background of a study provides the contextual foundation for your research. It answers a fundamental question for any reader: Why does this research need to exist?

More specifically, a strong background section:

• Summarizes the current state of knowledge on your topic
• Identifies gaps, controversies, or unresolved questions in the existing literature
• Explains the theoretical or historical basis for your research question
• Justifies the significance and necessity of your study
• Sets up your research question and hypothesis

In the IMRAD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) commonly used in biomedical journals, the background is embedded within the introduction, typically its central section. Think of your introduction as an inverted triangle: it begins broadly with the field-level context, narrows through the background to your specific research gap, and ends with your aims and objectives.

In short: The background does not just describe what is known. It builds the logical case for why your study must be done.

Background of a Study vs. Introduction: What’s the Difference?

This is one of the most common points of confusion, especially for early-career researchers. While the two are closely related and often appear together, they serve distinct purposes.

The introduction answers what your study is about. The background answers why it matters in the context of everything that has come before.

In practice, for most biomedical manuscripts, these two sections are merged under a single “Introduction” heading, with the background forming the substantive middle section that bridges the opening general statement and the closing statement of aims.

Why the Background Section Matters

In clinical and life sciences research, stakes are high. Reviewers, editors, and funders need to be convinced quickly that your work addresses a genuine unmet need. A weak background section can:

• Lead to a desk rejection before peer review even begins
• Signal to reviewers that you haven’t mastered the literature
• Undermine confidence in your study design and methodology
• Make it harder for readers to interpret your results and discussion

By contrast, a compelling background:

• Demonstrates your mastery of the field
• Positions your work clearly within — and advancing beyond — existing knowledge
• Creates a logical pathway from “what is known” to “what your study will discover”
• Increases the likelihood of acceptance and citation

What Should the Background of a Study Include?

While the specific content will vary by discipline and research type, a robust background for a biomedical or life sciences paper should cover the following elements:

1. Broad Overview of the Research Topic

Begin with a general orientation to the field. What is the problem or phenomenon under investigation? Why is it important at a population, clinical, or scientific level? This opening signals to readers, especially those outside your immediate specialty, that your research is addressing a meaningful question.

2. Review of Relevant Existing Literature

Summarize what is already known about your topic. Prioritize review articles and landmark studies rather than listing every paper ever written on the subject. Present this chronologically where useful, to show how understanding has evolved. This is distinct from a standalone literature review in that it should be synthesized and selective, not exhaustive.

3. Identification of Gaps, Controversies, or Limitations

This is the heart of the background. What remains unknown, contested, or methodologically flawed in existing research? Identifying a clear gap in the literature is essential because it is the primary justification for your study. In medical research, this might mean:

• Conflicting findings across prior studies
• A population subgroup that has been understudied
• A biological mechanism that remains unexplained
• Limitations in the study designs used to date

4. Theoretical or Conceptual Framework

Where relevant, briefly describe the theoretical underpinning of your research. In basic sciences, this may involve describing a biological pathway or disease mechanism. In clinical research, this could involve a conceptual model of patient outcomes.

5. Rationale for the Current Study

Bring the background to a close by connecting the gap you’ve identified to what your study will do. Explain your approach and why it is appropriate to fill this gap. This sets up your research question, hypothesis, and aims in the final section of the introduction.

Structure of the Background Section: A Practical Template

Here is a structural framework to follow when writing your background:

The total background section in most journal articles runs to one to three paragraphs, Less is often more, especially in high-impact journals with tight word limits.

How to Write the Background of a Study: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Conduct a Thorough Literature Search

Before you write a single sentence of your background, you must know the field. Conduct a systematic literature search using databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Take notes on:

• The most-cited papers in your area
• The most recent findings
• Areas of agreement and disagreement
• Methodological strengths and weaknesses of prior studies

Step 2: Define the Research Gap

Identify precisely what your study will contribute that does not already exist. Be specific. A vague gap (“this topic has not been well-studied”) is far less persuasive than a precise one (“no randomized controlled trial has evaluated this intervention in pediatric populations with comorbid conditions X and Y”).

Step 3: Outline Before You Write

Create a brief outline of three to five bullet points, mapping the logical flow from broad context to specific gap. This ensures your background builds cohesively rather than reading as a disconnected list of references.

Step 4: Write Concisely and Selectively

• Prioritize review articles for broad context; save primary studies for specific claims
• Present literature thematically or chronologically, not as an annotated bibliography
• Avoid excessive jargon, especially if the journal has a broader readership
• Use the appropriate tense: present tense for established facts, past tense for specific prior studies

Step 5: Connect the Background to Your Study Aims

End the background with a clear bridge sentence that leads into your research question, hypothesis, or objectives. This transition should feel inevitable — readers should feel that of course this gap needs to be filled, and of course your study is the right way to do it.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Background of a Study: Examples

Example 1 (Clinical Research: Weak Version)

“Diabetes is a common disease. Many studies have looked at it. This study looks at a new treatment.”

Problems: No context, no synthesis of evidence, no gap identified.

Example 1 (Stronger Version)

“Type 2 diabetes affects approximately 537 million adults globally and is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity. While metformin remains the first-line pharmacological intervention, a significant subset of patients fail to achieve glycemic targets, and long-term adherence is limited by gastrointestinal side effects. Recent evidence suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists may offer superior glycemic control with improved tolerability; however, head-to-head randomized data comparing these agents in patients with pre-existing renal impairment remain limited. This trial therefore aims to…”

Why it works: Establishes burden, summarizes standard of care, identifies a specific evidence gap, and bridges to the study rationale.

Example 2 (Basic Science: Stronger Version)

“Neuroinflammation has emerged as a central mechanism in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, with microglial activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release identified as early and persistent features of disease progression. While several in vitro studies have characterized this pathway, the downstream transcriptional regulators that sustain chronic neuroinflammation in vivo remain poorly defined. This study examines the role of NF-κB signaling in microglial polarization using a transgenic mouse model of amyloidosis.”

What is the difference between Background vs. Literature Review?

These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing.

In a systematic review, the literature review is the study. In an original research paper, the literature review informs the background but is condensed significantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should the background of a study be?

For most journal articles, one to three focused paragraphs. In a thesis or dissertation, the background may be a full chapter. Always check your target journal’s author guidelines.

Should the background come before or after the introduction?

In most biomedical papers, they are integrated. The background forms the central section of the introduction. Some journals (and thesis formats) treat them as separate sections.

Can I use first person in the background?

This depends on journal style. Some journals still prefer third person or passive constructions, though this is changing. Check recent issues of your target journal. For guidance, see our article on using first person in scientific writing.

How many references should the background include?

There is no fixed rule, but aim for quality over quantity. Five to fifteen well-chosen citations, prioritizing recent reviews and landmark primary studies, are typically sufficient for a journal article background.

Is the background written before or after the rest of the paper?

Most experienced researchers write the background after completing the study and drafting the methods, results, and discussion sections. This ensures the background is precisely tailored to what the paper actually delivers.

Key Takeaways

• The background of a study provides the contextual justification for your research; it answers why your study needs to exist.
• It sits within the introduction, forming the middle section of the classic inverted-triangle structure.
• It is not a literature review: be selective, synthesized, and gap-focused.
• A strong background identifies a clear, specific gap and bridges logically to your study’s aims.
• Common mistakes include writing a citation list rather than a synthesis, omitting the gap, and failing to connect the background to your rationale.
• For medical and life sciences research specifically, a well-constructed background signals expertise to reviewers and strengthens the case for your study’s significance.

This article was originally published on November 27, 2018, and revised on May 17, 2026.

An important thing to consider is that the literature review should be organized to highlight what research has been done and point out what has been missed. There might be other studies that have tried to fill the gaps in the literature and have been unsuccessful or there might be better ways to address the gaps. Covering these points in the literature review gives the readers a perspective on the significance and the novelty of the study. This can be accomplished by comparing and contrasting previous similar studies to abreast the reader with all the knowledge about the field.  

For research papers, it is usual for the background and literature review to be combined and presented together without separate headings. For dissertations, the background and literature review may be presented as separate sections. Ultimately, it is best to check your target journal’s instructions before writing the background of your study.

For more helpful resources, check out the following:

• How to write the background to the study in a research paper?
• What comprises the background to a study in a research paper?
• INFOGRAPHIC: 6 Differences between study background and literature review
• INFOGRAPHIC: 8 Dos and 8 don’ts of writing an engaging study background