CONSTRUCTING
A RESEARCH ARTICLE (RA)
Robert Helán
Radomíra Bednářová
Language Centre, Masaryk University
WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL PARTS
OF A RESEARCH ARTICLE?
(think TAIMRaD)
ANSWER
THE STANDARD PATTERN IS “TAIMRaD”, i.e.
• TITLE
• ABSTRACT
• INTRODUCTION
• METHODS
• RESULTS
and
• DISCUSSION
PURPOSES OF RA SECTIONS
As the RA in English has developed over the last
hundred years or so, the four main sections
(IMRD) have become identified with four
different purposes.
What are they?
PURPOSES OF INTRODUCTIONS
1. Main purpose: to provide the rationale for
the paper (general to specific movement)
2. Secondary purpose: to attract interest in the
topic – and hence readers.
PURPOSE OF METHODS
• To describe methodology, materials/subjects,
and procedures (very specific)
PURPOSE OF RESULTS
• To describe the findings with commentary
(very specific).
PURPOSE OF DISCUSSION
• Interpret the results in a variety of ways, it
should refer to statements (hypothesis,
research questions, etc.) made in the
introduction (specific to general movement).
RA INTRODUCTIONS
EFFECTIVE INTRODUCTIONS:
• should appropriately situate the work within
the existing body of related research (how?)
• should attempt to attract the audience (why?)
ANSWER
• Related research should be mentioned VIA
CITATIONS
• Introduction should attract the readers so that
they continue reading. Thus, researchers /
authors win ACCEPTANCE and RECOGNITION
of their findings
“COMPETITION” METAPHOR
FROM ECOLOGY
“Just as plants compete for light and space, so
writers of RAs compete for acceptance and
recognition.”
What organizational pattern is, as a rule,
employed as researchers compete for readers
and research space?
ANSWER
The rhetorical pattern has become known as the
CARS model:
Create A Research Space
CLAIMING CENTRALITY
In this move, certain fixed phrases or their
variants tend to recur.
1. Can you think of any?
2. Which tense is typically used?
ANSWER
The present perfect or present simple are often
used.
TYPICAL PHRASES:
…has been extensively studied…
…there has been growing interest in…
Recent studies have focused on…
It is generally accepted that…
A major current focus in human geography is…
SUMMARIZING RESEARCH
Note that citations can occur anywhere in an
introduction…
What is the role and purpose of citations in
academic texts?
ANSWER
The role and purpose of citations:
• Acknowledging the intellectual property rights of
earlier authors
• Showing respect for previous scholars
• Giving your arguments greater authority
• Helping (promoting) your friends and colleagues
• Showing that you are a member of a particular
disciplinary community.
SELF-CITATIONS
• What’s your view on self-citations (citations to
an author’s own previously published or
presented work)?
CITATIONS AND TENSE USAGE
Which tenses are typically used in citing
statements?
ANSWER
There are three patterns:
1. PAST – researcher activity as agent
Huang (2007) investigated the causes of airport delays.
2. PRESENT PERFECT – researcher activity not as agent
The causes of airport delays have been widely
investigated (Hyon, 2004; Huang, 2007).
3. PRESENT – no reference to research activity
The causes of airport delays are complex (Hyon, 2004;
Huang, 2007)
ESTABLISHING THE GAP
OPTIONS (from stronger to weaker claims):
1. Something is wrong (COUNTER-CLAIMING)
2. Something is missing (INDICATING A GAP)
3. Something is unclear (RAISING A QUESTION)
4. Adding something (CONTINUING A
TRADITION)
LANGUAGE TO INDICATE A GAP
What language is typically used to indicate a
gap/problem/problem/criticism?
ANSWER
NON-COUNT:
However, little information…
Little attention has been paid to…
COUNT:
However, few studies…
Few investigations have been carried out…
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Explain the difference between
1. There is little research…
2. There is a little research…
3. Few investigations…
4. A few investigations…
PRESENTING WORK
• PURPOSIVE: authors indicate their main
purpose or purposes.
The aim of the present paper is to give…
• DESCRIPTIVE: authors describe the main
feature of their research
In this paper we give preliminary results for…