Introducing studies (groups)

Studies that represent specific aspects of research on the topic are often introduced as groups in an opening statement to a paragraph (can also be referred to as a topic sentence). This statement often introduces a point that will be further developed and illustrated in the parapraph using findings from the studies as the author's major evidence.

Example:

Here is an extract from a literature review in the field of economics. Italicized are passages that introduce a specific aspect of the research as addressed by a group of studies:

Can Foreign Aid Free the Press?

¹… Similarly, another strand of literature examines the ability of foreign aid to influence economic institutions. ²The main idea explored here is can aid ‘buy’ economic freedom? ³Conceptually, foreign aid may positively influence economic freedom through direct monetary transfers, conditionality, and the transfer of knowledge. ⁴However, foreign aid can degrade economic institutional quality by expanding the role of the state, promoting government over private investments, and propping up inefficient regimes.

⁵Empirical studies find conflicting evidence. ⁶Several conclude that aid does not increase economic freedom and may decrease it (Heckelman & Knack, 2009; Knack, 2001; Young & Sheehan, 2014). ⁷Bearce and Tirone (2010) show that aid has no effect on economic freedom before the 1990s but has a positive effect after the Cold War. ⁸Dreher and Rupprecht (2007) and Knedlik and Kronthaler (2007) focus on changes in economic freedom and find that International Monetary Fund involvement reduces economic freedom. ⁹Boockmann and Dreher (2003) document that the number of World Bank projects increases economic freedom. ¹⁰Dutta and Williamson (2015) attempt to shed light on this ambiguity. ¹¹They find that aid may improve economic freedom when given to wealthier, economically free, and mature democracies. ¹²This suggests that aid responds differently depending on the macroeconomic and institutional context.

Source: Dutta, N., & Williamson, C. R. (2016). Can foreign aid free the press? Journal of Institutional Economics, FirstView, 1–19. doi: 10.1017/S1744137415000557

Language for making references to studies

Introducing studies

Below are some common phrases that are often employed to introduce studies in an opening statement:

A number of studies have been found that …
A number of scholars focus on …
Previous research has shown/ revealed that …
Other empirical research suggests that …
Much of the research on X focuses (primarily) on …
Another strand of literature examines/ explores …
Several studies have delved into the question of how …
Studies examining X present some evidence that …