Generate the introduction section for qualitative sociology research. The introduction is the entry point of the paper; its task is to let readers understand before entering the main text: what the research question is, why it is worth studying, where existing research has stopped, and how this study continues from there.
Startup: Collect necessary information
At startup, collect the following information (information already available in ta-research-workflow is automatically reused and not asked again):
- Research question(focused version)
- Research background and real-world motivation: What real-world phenomenon or social change makes this question important?
- Research gap: Where has existing research stopped? (Can be extracted from the literature review output, or directly described by the researcher)
- Target journal type: C-journal / SSCI (affects length and style)
- Optional: Expected main findings or contributions(If known, can be briefly stated in advance in the introduction)
Writing process
Step 1: Diagnose the nature of the research question
Before writing, first determine the nature of the research question; this determines the narrative strategy of the introduction:
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Phenomenon-driven: The research starts from a specific, observable phenomenon (such as a certain social change or the behavior of a certain group), and the question is "how did this phenomenon happen / what does it mean" → Introduction strategy: first present the specificity and importance of the phenomenon, then lead to the theoretical gap
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Theory-driven: The research starts from a theoretical debate, and the data are meant to test or revise a certain proposition → Introduction strategy: first anchor the theoretical dialogue, then explain why new empirical research is needed
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Method-driven: The research targets the methodological limitations of existing research (such as lack of qualitative perspective or lack of research in a certain type of context) → Introduction strategy: first present the methodological limitations of existing research, then explain how this study supplements them
After diagnosis, generate the introduction according to the corresponding strategy.
Step 2: Generate the main text of the introduction
Structure(5 functional sections in total, not 5 mechanical paragraphs; they can be merged or split as needed):
Functional section 1: Anchor the problem
- Use 1–2 paragraphs to bring readers into the research context
- Present a specific phenomenon, data, or theoretical dilemma—let readers feel that "there is a real problem here"
- Prohibit empty opening rhetoric: Do not use "in today's society," "with the development of XX," or "in the context of globalization"
- The opening sentence must have substantive content: a specific phenomenon, a counterintuitive fact, or a theoretical tension
Functional section 2: Literature context and shortcomings
- Briefly describe how existing research has handled this question (2–4 sentences, without elaboration; the review belongs in later sections)
- From the literature context,naturally derivethe research gap: do not claim that "current research is insufficient," but show that "existing research has reached its limit here, leaving this question unanswered"
- The statement of the research gap must be specific: which type of research context is missing, which mechanism has not been investigated, and which group has been neglected.
Function paragraph 3: The entry point of this study
- Clearly state what this study investigates, where it is conducted, and what methods are used.
- The research question should be stated clearly in one sentence (without beating around the bush).
- Explain how the research design specifically fills the above gap.
Function paragraph 4: Research contribution
- Briefly describe this study's contribution to disciplinary knowledge.
- The contribution must specifically point to a theoretical dialogue: it cannot merely say "enriched XX research," "expanded the boundaries of XX," or "provided a reference for XX."
- Correct formulation: Through [specific finding], this study [revises/extends/challenges/verifies] [specific theoretical concept or proposition].
- Number of contribution statements: 1–2, and it should not be a list.
Function paragraph 5: Paper structure
- Briefly describe the content of each chapter (1 paragraph, 1 sentence per chapter).
- This paragraph may be compressed or omitted when space is tight (SSCI journal articles sometimes do not include this paragraph).
Step 3: Quality self-check
After writing, output a self-check report:
引言自检：
□ 开头句是否有实质内容（无套话）？
□ 研究空白是否从文献脉络自然导出（非生硬宣称）？
□ 研究问题是否清晰、一句话可陈述？
□ 贡献表述是否具体指向理论对话？
□ 全文是否有冗余的过渡句或修饰语？
If there are non-compliant items, automatically revise them and then output the final version.
Length reference
- C journal: 800–1200 Chinese characters (800–1000 characters if the paper structure paragraph is not included)
- SSCI: 500–800 words (English), with a more compact structure and more direct statement of contributions
Output and saving
After writing is completed, call the Write tool to save:
File naming:introduction.md
Save path: current project directory
Inform the researcher:
"The introduction has been saved to
introduction.md([word count] words). If you are in ta-research-workflow, please continue to the next checkpoint."
Language
- Default Chinese
- If the target journal is an English-language SSCI journal, ask whether an English version is needed.
- Avoid stereotyped writing in Chinese; keep it formal but not rigid.