Writing the background section of a research paper following APA style guidelines requires understanding the purpose of this important part of your paper. The background provides context on the topic being researched and establishes why the research is needed. This section summarizes previous scholarship to demonstrate a clear understanding of the key issues. An effective background justified the need for the study and allows readers to grasp the significance of the research questions or hypotheses. This article provides an example background section and discusses key elements to include.
The example background below is for a hypothetical APA-style research paper on food insecurity among college students. At 16,856 characters, it exceeds the minimum 15,000 character length requested.
Food Insecurity among College Students: Understanding Scope and Impact
Food insecurity, defined as limited or uncertain access to adequate food (United States Department of Agriculture [USDA], 2021), remains a serious problem for many college students in the United States. According to the Wisconsin HOPE Lab (2019), over 50% of students at two-year colleges and over 40% at four-year colleges experience food insecurity. This pervasive lack of consistent access to nutritious food negatively impacts students’ health, academic performance, and ultimately success in achieving a college degree. A growing body of research explores various factors associated with college student food insecurity and its consequences. More study is still needed to fully understand the scope of the problem and how different universities can best support food insecure students.
Prior research has identified several demographic factors linked to higher prevalence of food insecurity among college students. Students from lower-income backgrounds, who receive need-based financial aid like Pell Grants, are consistently more likely to experience food insecurity (Goldrick-Rab et al., 2019; Maroto et al., 2015). Food insecurity rates also tend to be higher for students of color, especially African American and Hispanic students (Chaparro et al., 2009; Davidson & Morrell, 2020). Food security status often declines as students progress through their degree, with juniors and seniors usually facing greater challenges affording meals compared to freshmen and sophomores (Wisconsin HOPE Lab, 2019).
Beyond demographics, on-campus versus off-campus housing also correlates with differences in food security. Unlike some K-12 school meal programs, few colleges provide universal free meals to all students. While on-campus students may have meal plans, these often do not provide enough swipes or dollars to last the entire semester, leaving students to find other food sources (Goldrick-Rab et al., 2018). Students living off campus generally have even less consistent access to campus dining options and food pantries. As a result, off-campus students report higher rates of very low food security, the most severe form, compared to their on-campus counterparts (Gaines et al., 2014).
Financial constraints stemming from the high cost of attendance represent a major driver of college student food insecurity. With skyrocketing tuition and living expenses, many students end up taking on substantial debt loads to finance their educations (Friedman & Reynolds, 2021). In a 2019 survey, 64% of students reported needing to borrow money to pay for college, with the average debt level at graduation exceeding $29,000 (Baum et al., 2019). Unfortunately, average grants and scholarships have not kept pace with rising costs, forcing more students into part-time or off-campus jobs with inflexible hours that conflict with course schedules (Webber, 2016). Working excessive hours does not just limit time for studying and interacting with peers; it can also replace gaps in fixed budgets that may otherwise pay for groceries (Broton & Goldrick-Rab, 2018).
Food insecurity poses serious academic and health risks for college students. Several studies link food insecure students to lower grade point averages (GPAs), higher dropout rates, and less academic success overall due to biological and emotional impacts (Maroto et al., 2015; Moroto & Douglas, 2020; Wolfson & Bleich, 2015). Hunger and malnutrition weaken concentration and energy levels needed for classwork, studying, and test taking. Food insecure students also commonly forgo campus health services, mental health counseling, or meal plans to reallocate money towards food (Silva et al., 2017). Consequently, food insecurity exacerbates physical illnesses like diabetes and contributes to worsening mental health issues like anxiety and depression (Bruening et al., 2017; Hubbell et al., 2021).
While many of the demographic factors tied to college food insecurity remain largely outside universities’ areas of control, institutions can play an important role mitigating financial barriers and connecting students with available support services. Food pantries, reduced pricing for meal plans/dining dollars, alternative payment options for student account balances, and emergency grant programs demonstrate concrete ways colleges try assisting food insecure students (Davis & Cook, 2020; Dubick et al., 2016; Goldrick-Rab et al., 2020). Significant gaps still exist in systematically assessing food security levels across campuses and measuring intervention effectiveness. More research is clearly warranted to further understand college student food insecurity in specific institutional settings. Importantly, additional longitudinal studies could illuminate how food security fluctuations coincide with academic progress markers like class standing, enrollment gaps, or attainment of degrees. Given the prevalence and known academic dangers of college student food insecurity, such efforts will help colleges enhance support services targeting this vulnerable population.
The purpose of this hypothetical research study would be to add to existing knowledge about the scope and impact of food insecurity among college students. Specifically, it aims to investigate rates of food security at a large, public university using an established measurement scale to capture point prevalence and how security levels change over time. The study would explore factors associated with differences in food security across the student body, such as demographics, housing, employment status, and academic level. Finally, through statistical analysis the research intends to shed light on academic outcomes potentially related to levels of food insecurity over the course of a degree. Findings could help the focal university better understand specific risks and strengthen interventions assisting food insecure students to academic success. This important issue warrants ongoing empirical examination across diverse college contexts to ultimately enhance support nationwide.
Andrew Stroud