نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسندگان
1 گروه زبان انگلیسی، دانشکده علوم انسانی، دانشگاه یاسوج، یاسوج، ایران.
2 گروه زبان انگلیسی، دانشکده علوم انسانی، دانشگاه یاسوج
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Objective: Effective scientific articles are vital for knowledge dissemination and impact. Mastering abstract composition is crucial, not only for clarity and coherence but also for maximizing the visibility and impact of their research within the global academic community. Crucially, a well-structured and informative abstract significantly enhances an article's discoverability, readability, and ultimately, its citation potential, thereby directly influencing its bibliometric performance and contribution to the scientific body of knowledge. This research examines the move structures of abstracts in Linguistics and Persian Language and Literature. It comparatively analyzes their rhetorical conventions, exploring implications for scholarly communication and bibliometric indicators.
Methodology: In this descriptive-analytical study, a random sample of 100 article abstracts (50 from each discipline) was selected from journals specializing in Linguistics and Persian Language and Literature, covering the period from 2012 to 2022. The abstracts were content-analyzed based on Hyland's (2000) move-based model to analyze the structural steps of research abstracts, encompassing Introduction, Purpose, Method, Findings, and Conclusion sub-moves. Additionally, Hüttner's (2010) classification of moves into compulsory, core, vague, and optional types based on their frequency of occurrence is applied to further understand the rhetorical organization. These frameworks facilitate a systematic examination of abstract components and their communicative functions. To address the research questions the Chi-squared statistical test was employed. Data coding was conducted independently by two coders, achieving a Cohen’s Kappa above 0.8, ensuring high reliability. This methodological approach ensures the replicability and validity of the findings, providing a quantitative basis for interpreting the rhetorical patterns observed.
Findings: The analysis of abstract move structures revealed significant structural differences between articles in Linguistics and Persian Language and Literature. Specifically, the sequencing, frequency, and integration of rhetorical moves showed marked variation, reflecting distinct disciplinary conventions and rhetorical preferences in abstract composition. While the Introduction move was more frequently employed in Persian Language and Literature abstracts, the Purpose, Method, and Conclusion moves were considerably more prevalent in Linguistics abstracts. The Results move showed a relatively similar frequency across both disciplines. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in the frequency of the Introduction, Method, and Conclusion moves between the two fields, though not for the Purpose and Results moves. These variations, interpreted through Hüttner’s (2010) classification, underscore the differing priorities and foci authors adopt when structuring their abstracts to meet communicative goals effectively. Furthermore, the study identified diverse move patterns and sequences, indicating a degree of flexibility in rhetorical structuring and the influence of contextual factors on authorial choices. Notably, a low adherence rate to established rhetorical structural models was observed, with only 10% of Linguistics abstracts and 14% of Persian Language and Literature abstracts fully conforming to Hyland's (2000) five-move scientific model. This low conformity highlights a gap in the application of internationally recognized rhetorical structures, which are essential for enhancing abstract clarity, coherence, and ultimately, scholarly visibility. Moreover, this gap may negatively affect how these articles are indexed and perceived in global academic databases, potentially limiting their accessibility and citation impact. The findings of the present study emphasize the necessity of fostering improved awareness and training in rhetorical structuring of abstracts tailored to disciplinary norms.
Conclusion: This study underscores the critical role of the abstract as the primary gateway to an article, directly influencing its visibility and acceptance within the academic community. Our analysis revealed significant structural differences in abstracts from Linguistics and Persian Language and Literature, particularly in the Introduction, Methods, and Results sections. A notable finding was the low adherence to established structural models (e.g., Hyland's five-move structure), indicating a gap in current abstract writing practices. From a bibliometric perspective, these structural choices and the overall quality of an abstract are fundamental determinants of an article's discoverability and impact potential, extending beyond stylistic considerations. A well-crafted, discipline-appropriate abstract serves as a vital filter for researchers and indexing services, directly influencing readability, citation potential, and ultimately, the article's contribution to the scientific body of knowledge. Conversely, poorly constructed abstracts lead to reduced visibility, slower knowledge dissemination, and an underestimation of research influence. Therefore, targeted educational interventions focusing on discipline-specific abstract writing conventions are essential. This training, particularly for novice researchers, transcends mere writing skill enhancement; it empowers researchers to maximize their work's accessibility and impact, thereby contributing more effectively to scientific discourse and positively influencing bibliometric indicators. This study emphasizes the necessity of viewing abstract quality as a key component of scholarly communication, with direct implications for research evaluation and the broader bibliometric landscape.
کلیدواژهها [English]
)