Abstract
This manuscript is based on the contents of the SNS project "#kenkyu aruaru (common pitfalls in research)", conducted from May 6, 2023, to May 4, 2024, as part of the activities of the Seminar Committee and Public Relations Committee of the Japanese Association of Exercise Epidemiology. Here, we present a collection of examples of common pitfalls made when writing the Introduction section and explain how to avoid them. In the IMRaD (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion) structure of scientific research papers, the Introduction section is the paper’s premise. If the content of the Introduction section is not sufficient to explain the significance of research, the subsequent sections on Methods, Results, and Discussion will not be evaluated. The Introduction section must cover the past (research background), present (knowledge gaps, motivation, and ideas), and future (the significance of the research) of the research theme. Only when these contents are sufficiently addressed can reviewers and readers understand the rationale of the study. There is no single correct way to write a paper, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. While high-quality research is not always achievable, high-quality writing can always be achieved regardless of the quality of the research.
