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

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

Including a conceptual or historical background in a psychology doctoral dissertation is often helpful, but not always strictly required. Whether you include one—or both—depends on your research topic, your theoretical approach, and your university’s dissertation structure.

In psychology, these sections are especially useful because they help readers understand how your study fits within theories of behavior, cognition, emotion, and mental health research over time.

What Is a Conceptual Background in Psychology?

A conceptual background explains the key psychological ideas, constructs, and theories that support your study.

It typically includes:

• Definitions of psychological constructs (e.g., anxiety, resilience, cognition)

• Explanation of key variables

• Relationships between constructs

• Relevant psychological theories

• How concepts will be used in your study

Example (Psychology Conceptual Background)

If your study is about academic anxiety, the conceptual background might explain:

• What “anxiety” means in clinical and educational psychology

• How stress and coping are defined

• How cognitive appraisal theory explains emotional response

What Is a Historical Background in Psychology?

A historical background explains how a psychological topic or theory has developed over time.

It typically includes:

• Evolution of psychological theories

• Key researchers and foundational studies

• Changes in how mental health or behavior is understood

• Shifts in research methods (e.g., from behaviorism to cognitive psychology)

Example (Psychology Historical Background)

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

• Early psychoanalytic views of anxiety (Freud)

• Rise of behaviorism and conditioning theories

• Development of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Modern digital and online mental health interventions

Do You Need Both in a Psychology Dissertation?

Not always. Many psychology dissertations include:

• Only a conceptual background

• Or integrate both into the literature review (Chapter 2)

• Or include them briefly in Chapter 1

The decision depends on:

• Your topic complexity

• Your theoretical framework

• Your university guidelines

• How much historical or conceptual context is needed

When You SHOULD Include a Conceptual Background

A conceptual background is especially important when:

• Your study involves multiple psychological constructs

• You are using a specific theoretical framework (e.g., CBT, Self-Determination Theory)

• Concepts may be interpreted differently across studies

• You need to define variables clearly for measurement

Example:

In a study on anxiety and academic performance, you must clearly define:

• Anxiety (clinical vs. academic)

• Academic performance (GPA, self-reported success, etc.)

• Coping strategies

When You SHOULD Include a Historical Background

A historical background is useful when:

• Your topic has evolved significantly over time

• You are working with well-established psychological theories

• You are comparing traditional and modern approaches

• Your research builds on long-standing debates in psychology

Example:

A study on therapy methods may benefit from explaining:

• Psychoanalysis → behavior therapy → CBT → digital therapy

When You MAY NOT Need Them

You may not need a separate section if:

• Your dissertation is already highly focused and modern

• Your literature review already covers theory development

• Your university structure does not include a separate background section

• The information would duplicate Chapter 2

In many psychology dissertations, these are integrated into the literature review instead of standing alone.

Where Do These Sections Usually Appear?

Depending on structure, they may be included in:

• Chapter 1 (Introduction / Background of the Problem)

• Chapter 2 (Literature Review as foundational theory section)

• A combined “Background of the Study” section

Always follow your program’s dissertation guidelines.

How to Decide What to Include

Ask yourself:

• Will readers understand my study without this background?

• Are my psychological constructs complex or unclear?

• Does my theory require historical explanation?

• Will this strengthen my justification for the study?

If yes, including it is usually beneficial.

Tips for Writing Strong Background Sections in Psychology

• Keep it directly relevant to your research problem

• Focus on key psychological theories and constructs

• Avoid overly detailed history not tied to your study

• Use peer-reviewed psychological sources

• Clearly define all key variables

• Connect concepts to your theoretical framework

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing a long, unrelated history of psychology

• Repeating full literature review content

• Defining concepts without linking them to your study

• Overloading Chapter 1 with theory better suited for Chapter 2

• Being too broad or unfocused

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

In a psychology doctoral dissertation, a conceptual or historical background can strengthen your study by clarifying key psychological concepts and situating your research within the development of theory and practice. However, it should only be included when it adds clear value and does not duplicate the literature review.

The most important principle is relevance—include background information only when it helps explain your research problem and theoretical foundation.

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