---

Writing an engaging and effective introduction is crucial for capturing the reader's attention and setting the stage for your research. As a researcher, your introduction should succinctly present the problem, identify the knowledge gap, and create a hook that draws the reader into the significance of your study. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you achieve this using the 'Problem-Gap-Hook' approach.

Step 1: Succinctly represent the problem

Begin your introduction by clearly stating the problem your research addresses. This sets the context for your study and highlights its relevance. The problem should be significant and relatable to the field of clinical research.

Best Practices:

 Be Specific: Clearly define the problem with enough detail to convey its importance.

Use Data: Support your statement with relevant evidence and citations to emphasize the problem's magnitude.

Engage the Reader: Frame the problem in a way that resonates with your audience, making them care about finding a solution.

Avoid:

Being Vague: Avoid general statements that don’t convey the specific nature of the problem. "Sepsis is a massive problem worldwide" - this is neither specific nor engaging.

Overloading with Information: Keep it concise and focused on the core issue. Find 1 or 2 data points that are capturing, but avoid listing the entire compendium of information on the subject.

Step 2: Identify the Knowledge Gap

After establishing the problem, highlight the existing knowledge (evidence) gap. This demonstrates that while the problem is known, there are still areas that need further exploration and understanding.

Best Practices:

Review the Literature: Briefly summarize key findings from previous studies to show what is already known.

Identify the Gap: Clearly state what is missing or not well understood in the current research.

Avoid:

Listing All Gaps: Focus on the most critical gap that your research will address.

Overwhelming the Reader: Avoid detailed literature reviews; keep it brief and to the point.

 Step 3: Create the Perfect Hook

The hook connects your research to the identified gap, showing how your study will address the problem and fill the gap. This is often the hardest part of writing an excellent introduction.

Best Practices:

Be Clear: Explain how your research will contribute to solving the problem.

Highlight Novelty: Emphasize what is unique or innovative about your approach.

Avoid:

Overpromising: Set realistic expectations for what your research can achieve.

Being Too Technical: Keep it accessible to a broad audience.

Writing the perfect introduction: key take homes

An effective introduction is not just an opening statement but a strategic narrative that draws the reader into your research journey. By using the 'Problem-Gap-Hook' approach, you can craft a compelling introduction that highlights the significance of your study, identifies critical knowledge gaps, and engages the reader with a clear and promising research direction.

Remember to keep it brief, relevant, and aligned with the overall findings of your paper, ensuring that the hook you create is answered by your results or discussion. Also, the Problem-Gap-Hook that you identify in your introduction can also be highlighted in your cover letter, to help convince the editor of the relevance and impact of your manuscript.

---