Hello Abdulkadir – Welcome to the forum!
Although all three terms seek to explain why the study in question was undertaken and – at least to us – can be used interchangeably, we can distinguish some differences in the shades of their meaning. ‘Significance’ relates to the importance of the study; ‘justification’ (also called 'rationale') implies that some readers may not see its importance and therefore some explanation is expected; and ‘need’ is used to point out any practical difficulty or problem for which a solution is required.
As you asked for real-life examples, here is a paper that uses the word significance in its title: ‘Endometrial polyps during menopause: characterization and significance.’ The abstract shows why: “Postmenopausal endometrial polyp is a common, mostly benign entity [added emphasis]. However, the relatively high rate of concomitant endometrial hyperplasia, especially in patients receiving hormone replacement therapy, dictates a thorough histological evaluation.”
Here is a paper that uses the word justification in its title, and an excerpt from the abstract shows why. The title is ‘Menopause-related affective disorders: A justification for further study,’ and the abstract begins thus: “Despite descriptions dating back to the 19th century of menopause-related affective syndromes, researchers have been unable to characterize a specific disturbance of mood or behavior related to this period of life. Methodologic problems in earlier studies are identified, and it is suggested that further study is warranted.” Clearly, the author expected reviewers to question the need for such a study and therefore provided a justification.
Lastly, here is a paper that questions the need to sacrifice sleep for academic achievements. The paper is titled ‘Cognitive performance, sleepiness, and mood in partially sleep deprived adolescents: the need for sleep study,’ and produces evidence that “residual effects on sustained attention, speed of processing, and subjective alertness [were] observed even after 2 nights of recovery sleep.”
However, as you can see for yourself, these words in the titles could have been replaced with their synonyms without any significant changes in the intended meaning.
Hope the confusion is sorted out now. :-)
For more insights and information into these concepts on our site itself, you may refer to the following resources:
And as these are written in the Introduction section (as you have mentioned too), you may find this handbook helpful: How to write a strong introduction section that makes a great first impression
Finally, as you are probably writing a paper presently, or planning one, all the best for that!
[With inputs from Yateendra Joshi]
FAQs
'Significance' relates to the importance of the study; 'justification' (also called 'rationale') implies that some readers may not see its importance and therefore some explanation is expected; and 'need' is used to point out any practical difficulty or problem for which a solution is required.
What is the difference between significance of study and justification of study? ›
While justification explains why the study is necessary, significance highlights the value and implications of the study's outcomes. Understanding both aspects is crucial for researchers to ensure that their work is not only well-grounded but also contributes meaningfully to the existing knowledge base.
What is the difference between purpose of the study and significance of the study? ›
The research aim describes the purpose of the study. The objectives indicate how that aim will be achieved. The rationale explains why you are performing the study. The significance tells the reader how the findings affect the topic/broad field.
What is an example of justification? ›
Examples of justification in a Sentence
- He tried to present a justification for his behavior.
- There is no possible justification for what she did.
- His behavior is without justification.
Justification would be the WHY; why are you doing the research, what problem or issue have you identified and are going to explore. Also, maybe what is your hypotheses. Significance would entail reviewing the relevant literature to show the extent of this problem/issue and its consequences.
How do you explain the significance of a study? ›
To write a compelling significance statement, identify the research problem, explain why it is significant, provide evidence of its importance, and highlight its potential impact on future research, policy, or practice.
What are the justifications of a study? ›
The rationale for one's research is the justification for undertaking a given study. It states the reason(s) why a researcher chooses to focus on the topic in question, including what the significance is and what gaps the research intends to fill. In short, it is an explanation that rationalises the need for the study.
What is significant or significance of study? ›
The significance of the study is a written statement that explains why your research was needed. It's a justification of the importance of your work and impact it has on your research field, it's contribution to new knowledge and how others will benefit from it.
What is the difference between significance and purpose? ›
Purpose means a sense of core goals, aims, and direction in life. Significance is about a sense of life's inherent value and having a life worth living.
What is the difference between significance and importance in research? ›
While, according to the thesaurus, “importance” and “significance” can often be used interchangeably, in research a finding may be statistically significant but not necessarily important. Conversely, the outcomes of a study may be important, while the P value does not reach the level of statistical significance.
justification, in Christian theology, either (1) the act by which God moves a willing person from the state of sin (injustice) to the state of grace (justice), (2) the change in a person's condition moving from a state of sin to a state of righteousness, or (3) especially in Protestantism, the act of acquittal whereby ...
What are three types of justification? ›
Foundationalism – Basic beliefs justify other, non-basic beliefs. Epistemic coherentism – Beliefs are justified if they cohere with other beliefs a person holds, each belief is justified if it coheres with the overall system of beliefs. Infinitism – Beliefs are justified by infinite chains of reasons.
What is justification of sample in research? ›
An important step when designing an empirical study is to justify the sample size that will be collected. The key aim of a sample size justification for such studies is to explain how the collected data is expected to provide valuable information given the inferential goals of the researcher.
What is the difference between significance and justification? ›
'Significance' relates to the importance of the study; 'justification' (also called 'rationale') implies that some readers may not see its importance and therefore some explanation is expected; and 'need' is used to point out any practical difficulty or problem for which a solution is required.
How do you write a good significance of the study example? ›
You need to write it in the Introduction section of the paper, once you have provided the background of the study. You need to talk about why you believe the study is necessary and how it will contribute to a better understanding of the broader research area and the specific research question.
What are the significance of research with examples? ›
Research promotes truth-finding and discourages lies. It also helps provide practitioners and students in the communication and related field with relevant, comprehensive, and up-to-date information. Research provides a better understanding of the subject and helps link it with others.
What information must be included in the justification or significance of the study? ›
The significance of the study is a written statement that explains why your research was needed. It's a justification of the importance of your work and impact it has on your research field, it's contribution to new knowledge and how others will benefit from it.
What is the difference between significance and importance of the study? ›
While, according to the thesaurus, “importance” and “significance” can often be used interchangeably, in research a finding may be statistically significant but not necessarily important. Conversely, the outcomes of a study may be important, while the P value does not reach the level of statistical significance.
Is significance of the study and statement of the problem the same? ›
Problem statement: a statement that articulates an issue to be addressed/solved in a study. Significance of study: the relevance of the study to your field.
What is also referred to as the justification of the study? ›
The rationale of the study is the justification for taking on a given study. It explains the reason the study was conducted or should be conducted. This means the study rationale should explain to the reader or examiner why the study is/was necessary.
