Some journals do require that a manuscript contain Introduction as a heading as well as background as another heading. This clear separation make it difficult for distinguishing what information goes directly under these headings. I therefor need clarification on what constitutes Introduction and Background.
The introduction is where you define the "problem" your study was performed to address, indicate your study goals and research questions, and state why the topic of the study is significant. The background is presented as part of your literature review.
See this outline: Method Research Study Manuscript Outline
The answer may differ according to specific fields and journals in that area. My experience has been that the Introduction should be relatively short and mainly introduce the reader to the main question or topic of the paper. Whereas the Background is the information readers will need to understand the context of the research and/or the discussion. For example a recent paper we authored was about an International Archive... In the introduction we simply told the reader that this is what the subject of the paper was.... and then in the background we gave the history of archives in general and then in particular what led up to our creation of this particular archive.... Hope that helps... a good question!
Introduction is a summary of the research paper. It should be an attractive one that can grab reader to read entire paper. It is a summarize of all the contain of research paper. It should contain all the main points that you are talking in entire research paper. And it is not a big one. Just a small description.
Background:
Here it's going in deeply. Here you can describe the purpose of the research, how it's going on, what are the expectations, how is the outcome and So on . Describe introduction deeply.
Introduction is a brief summary of the topic that the paper pertains to. Background provides the context and to some extent history of research on that particular paper topic.
An introduction contains information about the research, how it starts why it is important etc. and the background will contain the critical data related to the research question. If I am wrong please correct me.
Dear Prof. Dominic Abugre,
I hope the information will help you.
With Best Wishes,
Samir G. Pandya
Introduction: comprise basic information about proposal, overview, importance, data on the current subject, etc
Background: should consist of Work carried out in relevant area, in-house R&D, literature review, etc.
With Kind Regards
Pravin
The introduction is where you define the "problem" your study was performed to address, indicate your study goals and research questions, and state why the topic of the study is significant. The background is presented as part of your literature review.
See this outline: Method Research Study Manuscript Outline
I feel, if we look at the academic documentations, there are different formats.
For example some one's "conclusion" chapter is 5-6 points but some one's its a 4-5 page. but in these two documents, the points/facts are providing in different places; for an example when a conclusion is 5-6 points, backgrounds for each point may be discussed in "discussion" chapter. but if conclusion is 4-5 pages it describes the concluding facts at the same place.
I feel this is same to the starting of the document too. you can see different words for starting chapter; introduction, prolegomena, background, summary/executive summary etc. But my point is, you should say your story in a clear manner which easies to understand to the reader.
then, if the document is provided to an institute, then follow their guideline. Otherwise follow a methods which you feel easy to you and easy to understand by readers.
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