Checklist for Writing the Introduction of a Research Paper
This checklist is intended for authors who have written the introduction of their research paper and want to make sure it's doing everything it needs to do.
If you're still working on your introduction, I've also written a more detailed guide to writing an introduction section as part of my Research Writing Guide.
Download Magnum Academic Editing's 40-point Research Paper Checklist, which covers all major sections of a standard research article.
☐ Have I established that my broad research problem or topic is worth investigating?
An introduction section typically starts by identifying a significant problem and showing why it deserves attention (e.g., it’s having a negative impact on a certain group of people).
Example: According to a recent report published by the United Nations, loneliness is linked to approximately 100 deaths every hour, which translates to over 871,000 deaths annually.
☐ Have I highlighted a specific outcome or cause of the research problem?
The next few sentences of an introduction section should narrow the broad research problem down to a specific set of related causes and/or outcomes. These should be linked to at least one research objective and often serve as a study’s dependent variables.
Example: One reason that people find it difficult to make friends that has recently gained increasing scholarly attention is a phenomenon known as the liking gap.
☐ Have I identified the specific factor(s) my study examines?
These factors should be your independent variables, and they should be directly related to the outcome or cause of the research problem mentioned above.
Example: One situational factor that may affect the liking gap is self-disclosure, which is considered central to interpersonal relationship development.
☐ Have I provided a rationale for believing that this factor may be associated with those causes or outcomes?
This part of the introduction should clarify why you expect your independent variables to have an effect on the dependent variable.
Example: Research has consistently shown that self-disclosure increases listeners’ actual liking of disclosers, even if they are strangers (e.g., Collins & Miller, 1994; Sprecher et al., 2012; Sprecher et al., 2013), thus impacting the liking gap.
☐ Have I explained what previous research has already found about my factor of interest?
Before describing the knowledge gap that your study addresses, it’s important to first establish the current state of the body of knowledge.
Example: Overall, the literature indicates that self-disclosure could alter the magnitude of the liking gap by affecting actual liking, perceived liking, or both.
☐ Have I identified a specific gap in the existing literature?
It's important to clearly state what remains unknown rather than simply stating that "more research is needed."
Example: To the best of our knowledge, no study has investigated whether self-disclosure affects perceived liking.
☐ Have I established a clear link between the research gap and the research problem discussed earlier?
To avoid any chance that readers will misinterpret the purpose of your study, it’s a good idea to explicitly connect the research gap that your study addresses back to the problem established at the beginning of the introduction section.
Example: There remains a need to explore the effect of self-disclosure on disclosers’ perceived liking and, in turn, the liking gap to determine whether self-disclosure helps or hinders the formation of friendships.
☐ Have I explained specifically how my study addresses the research gap?
In other words, does the introduction contain at least one clear research objective, research question, and/or hypothesis?
Example: The aim of the current study is to investigate whether self-disclosure affects the magnitude of the liking gap following initial interactions between strangers by measuring both disclosers’ perceived liking and listeners’ actual liking.
