Cheng, W.-N., & Khoo, C.S.G. Khoo. (2022). Information and argument patterns in the Introduction sections of sociology research papers. Iberica, 44 (December), 127-154. https://doi.org/10.17398/2340-2784.44.127

Abstract. This study analyzed the information-argument structure of the Introduction sections of sociology research papers, to identify differences across three types of sociology research: Investigative research, Development and Evaluation research, and Descriptive research. The information-argument analysis framework bears some resemblance to rhetorical structure frameworks following Swales’ CARS model, but focuses on the argumentative aspect of text and how information is used to support argument claims. The coding scheme specifies information types, subdivided into those that imply an argument claim and those that play the role of argument support. Seventy papers were sampled from ten sociology journals for analysis. Sequential association rule mining was used to identify sequential information-argument patterns. The study identified significant differences in information-argument profile across the three types of research papers, as well as differences in sequential patterns. Methodology contributions of the paper include the coding scheme for information-argument types in research papers, and the method of analyzing sequential patterns.

Extracts: A comparison of our information-argument coding scheme with extant rhetorical structure coding schemes … highlight the characteristics of our framework. The extra categories in our coding scheme include: Research issue, Research idea, Develop something new, and Novelty. These types of claims are clearly important to researchers. Our coding scheme has more refined categories for theory: Concept/theory/model–apply, Concept/theory/model–compare/relate, and Concept/theory/model–derive. The coding scheme includes the following categories as argument support: Theoretical mechanism, and Theoretical framework. It has an extensive list of categories related to literature review, including: Literature–derive/infer, Literature–highlight claim, Literature–counter argument, and Literature–difference to current research. The detailed coding scheme for information-argument types, and resources to support XML tagging and display of coded text in a Web browser have been deposited in DR-NTU (Data) (https://doi.org/10.21979/N9/LD3EBQ).

… different information and argument strategies [are] needed for different research types:
1. Investigative research papers usually argue for a research gap to justify the research objective. Research finding (particularly research contribution) is also claimed in the Introduction.
2. Development & Evaluation research papers have to argue for the novelty (idea) for the theory or method proposed. As most of these studies in sociology sought to develop a new theory or improve an old theory, it is not surprising that there were more theory-related elements. An outline of the paper structure was often found at the end of the Introduction section, suggesting that there is no standard structure for the whole paper.
3. Descriptive research papers do not have a distinctive argument strategy. However, they have more descriptive elements and contextual information. A summary of the research results is often provided. An outline of the paper structure is often provided at the end of the Introduction section.

The results of sequential pattern mining of Introduction sections indicate the following basic argument pattern in the Introduction sections: (General statement or Topic centrality) … Literature-summarize/generalize … (Research issue or Research gap or Research question) … Research objective … Research contribution/recommendation. Development & Evaluation research and Descriptive research papers may modify the basic argument pattern with Concept/theory/model-related claims. Development & Evaluation research papers often replace Research gap with Research idea/approach, whereas Descriptive research papers open with Descriptive information (especially Data context) or Context information (especially Practical background, and Historical background) …