Bandit Thinkhamrop, PhD WRITING INTRODUCTION Bandit Thinkhamrop, PhD Department of Biostatistics and Demography Faculty of Public Health Khon Kaen university

Introduction Three purposes to the introduction: Introduce the reader to your field… capture the reader’s interest! Briefly present the findings of previous studies you will develop or challenge. Present the question/hypothesis your paper will address. 6

Writing the Introduction Use a funnel type of organization. Present what is the problem, what has been known and unknown, leading to the question of the study: The nature and scope of the problem Previous findings The gap of the knowledge The research question (hypothesis) Source: https://www.ctnbestpractices.org/edu/crwseries/

KEY PHRASES "little is known about...", "there is a lack of information about...", or "no research has dealt with..." this problem. Explain the consequences of the information void. Describe the need in human terms.

Key Questions to Answer Does your problem statement Demonstrate a precise understanding of the problem or need that you are attempting to solve? Clearly convey the focus of your project early in the narrative? Indicate the relationship of your project to a larger set of problems or issues and justify why your particular focus has been chosen? Establish the importance and significance of the problem? Justify why your problem should be of special interest to the reader? Demonstrate that your problem is feasible to solve? Make the reviewer want to read further? Indicate how the problem relates to your organizational goals? State the problem and outputs in terms of human needs and societal benefits?

Citations Cite if: Don’t over cite: Use most recent cite The idea came from somewhere else besides your head If direct quote (rarely do this) If paraphrased Don’t over cite: Use most recent cite Don’t overly use 1 cite Try not to go over 3 cites per point

PURPOSES (1) After reading an introduction, the reader should be able to answer most of these questions: What is the context of this problem? In what situation or environment can this problem be observed? (Background) Why is this research important? Who will benefit? Why do we need to know this? Why does this situation, method, model or piece of equipment need to be improved? (Rationale) What is it we don’t know? What is the gap in our knowledge this research will fill? What needs to be improved? (Problem Statement) Reference: http://www.ait.ac.th/education/LanguageCenter/ait-writing-services/guide-book/index.htm

PURPOSES (2) What steps will the researcher take to try and fill this gap or improve the situation? (Objectives) Is there any aspect of the problem the researcher will not discuss? Is the study limited to a specific geographical area or to only certain aspects of the situation? (Scope) Is there any factor, condition or circumstance that prevents the researcher from achieving all his/her objectives? (Limitations) In considering his/her method, model, formulation or approach, does the researcher take certain conditions, states, requirements for granted? Are there certain fundamental conditions or states the researcher takes to be true? (Assumptions) From at Writing up research online (AIT) at http://www.languages.ait.ac.th/EL21INT.HTM

Tips Draw attention at the first paragraph: 1 to 2 pages It’s important and interesting! 1 to 2 pages Most journals don’t use the section title “Introduction.” Use present tense for what is known. Use past tense when stating the research question. Repeat key terms from the title. Motivate to read in further sections It’s new and will add something to the knowledge! 7

Drafting the Things 1. Spew draft 2. Outline developed from spew 3. Draft 1 with sentences and sections 4. Draft 2: move sections around, make sure no repetition 5. Draft 3: add cites for statements in Draft 2 6. Draft 4: polish sentences 7. Give to friend for informal review 8. Draft 5: revisions from friend’s review 9. Give to professor for review 10. Revision = draft 6

COMMON PROBLEMS Too much detail, and hence too long should be short (a kind of overview, a summary of what follows) Repetition of words, phrases or ideas highlight repeated words, judge if you are overusing them, find synonyms or pronouns to replace them Unclear problem definition complete a sentence that starts, "The purpose of this study is . . . " matches the title, objectives, and methodology Poor organization must have a logical sequence that your reader can follow easily

A SCHEMA FOR INTRODUCTIONS Move 1: Establish the field by: claiming centrality (why this field of study is important), and/or moving from general to specific, and/or reviewing relevant items of previous research Move 2: Define a research problem by: indicating a gap, or raising a question , or continuing a previously developed line of inquiry , or counter-claiming (disagreeing with an existing/accepted approach) Move 3: Propose a solution by: outlining purpose/setting objectives, and/or announcing present research (methodology), and announcing principal findings (results), and indicating the structure of the research

General to specific In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of the potential impact of ???. Moreover, the traditional methods for treating ??? are expensive and can have inadequate facilities (1). This is particularly true in developing countries. This has led to the use of alternative intervention. The use of ??? is one such intervention which has received considerable attention (2).

Effective Paragraphing A few rules: Keep one thought to a sentence. Keep one idea to a paragraph. Length of paragraph should be 50–100 words. Ideas in a paragraph must be organized. The relationship between ideas must be clear. Important ideas should be emphasized. Source: https://www.ctnbestpractices.org/edu/crwseries/

Summary Before you write a scientific paper, read some. Follow a logical order. Be clear, concise, and complete. Strive for accuracy. Get to the point quickly, and stick to it. Cite only references that are relevant and necessary. Use standard abbreviations for units, and be consistent. Source: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ftproot/ssd/html/writetip.html