A journal article is a written work shorter in length than a book, focusing on highly specific topics regarding recent research in a particular field. Journal articles are authored by professionals in the respective field and are intended for audiences within the same domain. Journals consist of collections of articles published regularly throughout the year, available in both print and online formats.
Below is an example of the cover of a popular journal article. The cover typically displays the volume and issue number of the journal, indicating the publication time and theme of the articles.
Based on the volume and journal number, there is typically a list of related journal articles sharing a similar theme, as follows.
Next, following is an example of the first page for a journal article.
Most scholarly articles typically consist of several main segments: abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and references. While these segments are commonly labeled, occasionally the introduction (and occasionally the abstract) may lack explicit labeling. Additionally, alternative titles such as “summary” for abstract, “materials and methods” for methods, and “conclusions” for discussion might be used. Some journals might include supplementary sections like “key words” after the abstract, and “acknowledgments” after the discussion. Furthermore, some journals may further divide these sections into subsections with descriptive headings, but the overall structure comprising the six main segments remains widely standardized.
The introduction serves to provide necessary contextual background for understanding the rationale behind conducting the described experiment. It entails a review of previous research pertinent to the topic, citing significant prior studies that contribute to the unresolved inquiries addressed by the experiment. Moreover, the introduction should systematically outline the research objectives, delineating the specific questions to be investigated through the experiments. Each question raised in the introduction should correspond to points discussed in the conclusion section of the paper, ensuring a coherent flow of inquiry and resolution.
While it’s often emphasized that every paper must present a clearly stated hypothesis, this isn’t always applicable. If the experiment is designed to test a specific hypothesis through manipulation, it should be explicitly stated. Conversely, if the experiment is primarily exploratory, descriptive, or aimed at measurement, imposing a fabricated hypothesis is unwarranted. Citations should be judiciously employed throughout the introduction, indicating the authors’ familiarity with prior work in the field and providing avenues for further exploration by readers. They also enable readers to independently verify or refute previous findings cited in the paper.
The introduction should avoid excessive dwelling on background information, as its purpose is to orient the reader to the research rather than serve as a comprehensive literature review (which is the role of a review paper). Instead, it should offer sufficient context for understanding the research questions and the rationale behind the hypotheses. A concise explanation of relevant theory is often adequate. It’s advisable to write this section in past or present tense, avoiding future tense.
“Do not get lost in reviewing background information. Remember that the Introduction is meant to introduce the reader to your research, not summarize and evaluate all past literature on the subject (which is the purpose of a review paper). Many of the other studies you may be tempted to discuss in your Introduction are better saved for the Discussion, where they become a powerful tool for comparing and interpreting your results. Include only enough background information to allow your reader to understand why you are asking the questions you are and why your hyptheses are reasonable ones. Often, a brief explanation of the theory involved is sufficient. …
Write this section in the past or present tense, never in the future. “ (Steingraber et al. 1985)
The introduction section follows the format as follows.
1. General background : provide an overview of the broad scientific domain within which your project is situated, emphasizing the current state of knowledge regarding that system.
2. Specific background : Narrow down to the sub-area that your paper will be addressing, and again highlight the extent of our understanding in this sub-area.
3. Knowledge Gap : . Following the exposition of existing knowledge, elucidate the areas of uncertainty, particularly concentrating on the inquiry that has inspired your endeavor. The preceding sections should lay the groundwork for this question, making it a natural progression based on the general and specific background information provided.
4. “Here we show…” : Concisely outline your methods and results. You may choose to conclude this section with a brief mention of the implications or novelty of your findings, although this is not obligatory as these aspects will be further explored in the discussion section.
Below is an example of the Introduction that I have created.
Information media such as communication systems and data storage memory are not entirely reliable in practice, as these systems may experience disruptions that alter the original data intended to be transferred from one source to another. Coding theory addresses methods for detecting errors in data and techniques for rectifying errors to retrieve the actual data. Coding is typically defined as either source coding or channel coding. Source coding involves transforming the initial message into suitable codes for transmission through a channel. An example of source coding is the American Standard Code for Information (ASCII), which converts each character into a byte of 8 bits. Additionally, the concept of channel coding aims to restore the source-coded message by introducing various techniques to detect and even improve errors to obtain the original message (Huffman and Pless, 2010).
In practice, to correct errors in the code and restore it to its original form, it is often necessary to understand the composition of components within a code. For instance, the terminology “weight enumerator” is introduced, representing a polynomial that indicates the number of zero or non-zero elements in a code. In reality, the number of elements to be considered extends beyond just zero and non-zero elements, encompassing various types of components in the code. Thus, the concept of Jacobi polynomial is introduced as one representation to discern the components of elements in a code. Jacobi polynomials are a well-known generalization of weight enumerators introduced by M. Ozeki for codes as an analogy to the Jacobi form (A. Bonnecaze). Jacobi polynomials are constructed for various conditions, leading to several types such as complete joint Jacobi polynomial, average Jacobi polynomial, average complete joint Jacobi polynomial, Jacobi polynomial associated with one or more reference vectors, and can further expand for different conditions (Chakraboty and Miezaki, 2021).
