Should I Include a Conceptual or Historical Background in My Doctoral Dissertation?

Should I Include a Conceptual or Historical Background in My Doctoral Dissertation?

Whether you should include a conceptual or historical background in your doctoral dissertation depends on your research topic, field, and institutional guidelines. In many dissertations—especially in education, psychology, and social sciences—these sections are not always mandatory, but they are often highly useful for building context and strengthening your literature review.

A well-written background section helps readers understand where your topic comes from, how it has evolved, and how key concepts are defined and connected.

What Is a Conceptual Background?

A conceptual background explains the key ideas, theories, and constructs that form the foundation of your study.

It typically includes:

• Definitions of key concepts

• Explanation of main variables

• Relationships between concepts

• Introduction of theoretical models or frameworks

Example (Conceptual Background in Education)

If your study is about student engagement, the conceptual background might explain:

• What “student engagement” means

• How motivation and participation are defined

• How engagement is measured in online learning

What Is a Historical Background?

A historical background explains how your topic has developed over time.

It typically includes:

• Key developments in the field

• Evolution of theories or practices

• Important milestones in research

• Shifts in policy, practice, or methodology

Example (Historical Background in Psychology)

If your study is about anxiety treatment, the historical background might include:

• Early psychoanalytic approaches

• Development of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Modern digital mental health interventions

Do You Always Need Both Sections?

No. Whether you include one or both depends on:

• Your university or dissertation handbook

• Your discipline (education and psychology often include them)

• The complexity of your topic

• How much context your reader needs

Some dissertations combine both into a “Background of the Study” section instead of separating them.

When You SHOULD Include a Conceptual Background

A conceptual background is especially useful when:

• Your study involves complex theories or models

• You are defining multiple key constructs

• The topic has unclear or varying definitions

• You are linking theory directly to your research design

It helps ensure clarity and consistency across your dissertation.

When You SHOULD Include a Historical Background

A historical background is helpful when:

• Your topic has evolved significantly over time

• You are studying changes in policy or practice

• Your research builds on long-standing academic debates

• Understanding the evolution of the field strengthens your argument

When You MAY NOT Need Them

You may not need a separate conceptual or historical section if:

• Your topic is narrow and well-defined

• Your literature review already includes sufficient background

• Your university format does not require it

• The information would repeat content from Chapter 2

In some cases, these sections are merged into the literature review introduction.

Where Do These Sections Usually Appear?

Depending on your structure, they may appear in:

• Chapter 1 (Introduction) as part of the background of the problem

• Chapter 2 (Literature Review) as foundational context

• A combined “Background of the Study” section

Always follow your institutional dissertation guidelines.

How to Decide What to Include

Ask yourself:

• Does my reader need background information to understand the problem?

• Are key concepts unclear without explanation?

• Would a historical timeline strengthen my argument?

• Does my literature review already cover this adequately?

If the answer is yes, include it.

Tips for Writing Strong Background Sections

• Keep it focused and relevant to your research problem

• Avoid unnecessary detail or textbook-style explanations

• Link concepts directly to your study

• Use credible, peer-reviewed sources

• Do not repeat full literature review content

• Maintain a clear academic tone

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing a long history unrelated to your study

• Repeating Chapter 2 literature review content

• Including definitions without connecting them to your research

• Making the section too broad or unfocused

• Ignoring institutional formatting guidelines

Final Thoughts on Should I Include a Conceptual or Historical Background in My Doctoral Dissertation?

Including a conceptual or historical background in your doctoral dissertation is not always mandatory, but it is often valuable when it strengthens understanding of your topic. These sections help establish context, clarify key concepts, and show how your research fits into the broader academic field.

The key is relevance—include them only when they clearly support your research problem and enhance the reader’s understanding.

If you need help with your literature review, consider dissertation editing. Learn more about us on our website.