1. Begin with a Topic Overview: Start your rationale with a brief overview of the research topic within the context of your field. This sets the scene for your readers and provides a foundation for your argument.
2. State the Importance: Clarify the importance and relevance of the topic. Explain why your chosen area of study is worth researching, highlighting any real-world implications, gaps in knowledge, or significant debates in the field.
3. Identify Gaps and Problems: Point out any gaps or issues existing within the current body of research. This serves as a justification for undertaking further study and establishes the need for your project.
4. Literature Review: Briefly mention any relevant literature, studies, or research supporting the significance of the topic. This demonstrates your understanding of existing research and how your study fits within the broader context.
5. Research Questions and Hypothesis (Optional): If applicable, include a statement of the primary research question(s) or hypothesis that your study will investigate. This helps provide a specific direction for your research.
6. Contribution and Benefits: Explain the potential contributions of your research to the field. Outline how your study will add to the existing knowledge, advance existing theories, or offer practical applications.
7. Call to Action: Conclude the paragraph with a sentence that reiterates the importance of conducting the study and encourages readers to continue reading your proposal or research paper.
Here's an example of a rationale paragraph:
>Research on the impact of social media on workplace productivity has focused primarily on its negative consequences. However, evidence suggests that social media can also have positive effects on employee engagement and creativity. This study aims to explore the specific conditions under which social media positively or negatively influences workplace productivity. By investigating the moderating role of individual work styles, organizational culture, and the type of social media usage, this study will contribute to the existing literature and inform organizational strategies for harnessing social media's benefits.