A few years ago, I wrote on a wordpress site that I usually use for class materials, a text about the "logic" of the research reports section entitled "Introduction", I have been reviewing a bit and thought about sharing a translation from what I left written there and see if any ideas arise to improve or clarify.

The site where I published this, but in Spanish, was: https://metodologiaecs.wordpress.com/2016/07/16/la-introduccion-de-un-informe-de-investigacion-2/

In research methodology, the contents are adapted to the theoretical approach and the problem under study, so that each execution becomes a unique process.

In a research report, text intended to capture the result and processes developed for its production, various sections of content are presented, each one focused on particular purposes.

Among the sections, the introduction is in an interesting position, it is the first block of text in which it is expected to find the author's words regarding a topic, but its final version is written almost together with the conclusions of the work research.

Introduction Tasks

The introduction has the task or purpose of presenting the first approach to the reader, it must be broad enough to give a general idea, but precise to indicate the thematic area and the research problem, without neglecting other points to contemplate. Different sources of reference in regards to the methodology can provide very good ideas of the expected content, one of the possible listings of these may be:

• Presentation of the knowledge area, indicating the context in which the research is inserted
  Thematic work area, since the extension of an area is extremely wide

• Research problem, and the specific indication of what is the problem that is identified and a brief presentation of what characterizes it as a problem. You can also find here the statement of the general objective of the work, written in a flat and preliminary way

• Indications of the theories and currents of thought used to address the problem and fulfill the objective
  Indications of the work methodology presented

• Specification of the presentation structure of the contents of the document

Then...

As you might think, this list is short and even simple, but the order of the elements can present and allow variations (within the limits of the defensible and logically arguable) that are related to the style of each researcher, also, the extent expected of an introduction is not much, just enough to present the points and arouse the interest of the reader.

This last idea is relevant, it is written with the reader in mind, therefore the link of the ideas, the argumentation, the presentation of the elements that are necessary to address the topic and understand the point of view of the research must be taken care of . In that sense, it is good to remember a comparison that is used in these cases (also as a logic game):

The introduction is to the Report what a movie trailer is to your movie.