https://www.aje.

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What is a research rationale?

 a set of reasons that explain why a study is necessary and important
based on its background.
 also known as the justification of the study, rationale, or thesis
statement.
 it explains that you’ve done the background reading and identified a
knowledge gap that this rationale now explains.

Note how the research background, gap, rationale, and objectives logically
blend into each other.
The authors chose to put the research aims before the rationale. This is not a
problem though. They still achieve a logical sequence. This helps the reader
follow their thinking and convinces them about their research's foundation.

Elements of a research rationale

 research rationale follows logically from the research background and
literature review/observation and leads into your study's aims and
objectives.
 helpful way to formulate a research rationale is to answer the question,
“Why is this study necessary and important?”
 Generally, that something has never been done before should not be your
only motivation. Use it only If you can give the reader valid evidence why
we should learn more about this specific phenomenon.
 A well-written introduction covers three key elements:
 What's the background to the research?
 What has been done before (information relevant to this particular
study, but NOT a literature review)?
 Research rationale
This text is part of a logical sequence of information, typically (but not
necessarily) provided in this order:

EXAMPLE:

from a study by Cataldo et al. (2021) on the impact of social media on

teenagers' lives.

Note how the research background, gap, rationale, and objectives logically
blend into each other.
The authors chose to put the research aims before the rationale. This is not a
problem though. They still achieve a logical sequence. This helps the reader
follow their thinking and convinces them about their research's foundation.

Example of a research rationale

Research question: What are the teachers' perceptions of how a sense of
European identity is developed and what underlies such perceptions?
More Tips and example in writing the Rationale (Introduction )

Visualize as an upside-down triangle by providing general background information,

narrowing to specific background research, and finally a focused research question,
hypothesis, or thesis statement (general to specific).
Step 1: Establish a Territory- This step is used to demonstrate the relevance of a chosen
topic and briefly review previous work on your chosen topic.
Step 2: Establish a Niche - This step involves identifying a gap, limitation, or
shortcoming of previous research on your topic.
Step 3: Occupy the Niche - The last step involves stepping in to fill the gap, limitation, or
shortcoming you identified in the previous step.
EXAMPLE
More Tips…
Sample 1:
Sample 2: