BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM IN A RESEARCH PAPER - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The antecedents of the problem in a research work have to do with the work done previously in relation to the object of study. The antecedents reveal the approaches that other authors have had towards the object of study.

Tamayo and Tamayo in their book The process of scientific research (2004), defines it as "a conceptual synthesis of the research or work carried out on the formulated problem."

Background information saves the investigator considerable time by assuring him that he will invest his efforts in approaching the problem from an original perspective and using proven methods.

And for the reader of the paper, it is a necessary context to understand what kind of research you are dealing with and what you can expect from your review.

Likewise, the antecedents describe the reasons why the object to be investigated deserves attention. It explains it from its roots.

It is in the background that the methodology to be used and the reasons for its choice are anticipated.

It is advisable that the antecedents be written in chronological order, so that the evolution of the investigation is clearly exposed.

What does the background of an investigation problem contain?

- Title, author and authors of the previous investigation.

- Place and date of the investigation.

- How the problem was posed at that time with its objectives and hypotheses.

- Definition of the object of study.

- Methodology used at work.

- Results obtained and conclusions reached.

With all this, the author is expected to relate his research to the works selected to appear in the background.

The amount of background that a research work must contain only depends on the requirement of the entity that is sponsoring, promoting or requiring the study.

Usually there are five antecedents to include. In order to obtain these data, in general, graduate work, press reports, monographs, essays, videos and reports are used.

Background classification

There is no consensus on how to classify the background of an investigation. However, here are three possible ways to do this:

1- According to the approach to the sources

Theoretical background

They state the name of the work and its author, followed by a summary of the relevant information along with the conclusions.

Field background

In this case, it delves into the methodology used to collect and analyze the data, as well as a comparison between its objectives and conclusions.

2- According to the geographical scope of the sources

- Nationals

- International

- Regionals

3- According to the objectives set

- General

- Specific

How to find the background of an investigation?

The answer to this question is found in the very nature of the problem studied. Ideally, the consulted sources, living or bibliographic, are closely linked to the problem to be studied.

Likewise, it is convenient to list the most authoritative sources to speak in relation to that particular object of study.

Libraries and / or digital repositories of universities or research institutes, scientific journals and official documents (from governments or multilateral institutions), should appear on that list.

In the same way, it is convenient to delimit the geographical and temporal scope of the search. Knowing if national or foreign sources will be consulted and knowing the range of dates to be located, a faster and more organized work will be done.

Of course, this implies a deep knowledge of the object of study, since it is what will indicate which geographical area and which date would be relevant for the investigation.

How to present the background of an investigation?

This depends on the need and interest of the researcher. The following is a suggested presentation structure that may be useful:

1- Introductory paragraph

They are the lines with which the antecedents begin. In these the importance and originality of the own investigation are exposed, advancing the scope of the background check that justifies it.

2- Details about previous investigations

In this section all possible information about the different previous research works is emptied.

3- Comparison between what was done and what was proposed

After showing what has been done so far, it is time to confront it directly with the purpose of the investigation that is being carried out.

In this way, it will be clear what is the real contribution of each investigation (the previous and the new), to the selected field of study.

What are the most common mistakes in the background?

Some of the most common mistakes when locating the background of an investigation are:

- Find research with a name similar to the study itself.

- Limit reading to the summary of the investigations.

- Discard investigations of the same object but from the perspective of other scientific disciplines.

- Dismissing works only because their authors are below or above the academic level of the person who is investigating.

Why is background important in an investigation?

As indicated in previous lines, the importance of reviewing the background of an investigation is that it ensures a novel approach to the problem in question.

They also allow generating a critical analysis of previous research to specify its relevance and point out its fundamental differences with the work that is being proposed.

It also provides a solid argumentative basis for the work you are starting.

References

1. Córdoba, Jesús (2007). Research background. Recovered from: mailxmail.com
2. Escalona, ​​Thais. Research background. Recovered from:learnlyx.com
3. Hernández, R. and others (1999). Investigation methodology. Mexico. Mc Graw-Hill
4. APA standards (s / f) Background of an investigation. Recovered from: normasapa.net
5. Moreno, Eliseo (2017). The background in a scientific investigation. Recovered from: tesis-investigacion-cientifica.blogspot.com
6. University of Southern California Libraries. Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper: Background Information. Recovered from: libguides.usc.edu