Analysis of Research Articles

A deep analysis into research articles

A research article illustrates an outcome of a certain investigation through which the researcher communicates new findings about a certain topic. Research articles are “composed of several parts: title, abstract, acknowledgements, introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussions, recommendations, references and appendixes (cited in Pintos & Crimi, 2011, p.27). The purpose of this paper is to compare two research articles, one in the educational field by Reupert, Hemming & Connors (2010) , and one in the medicine field by Anderson Bill ES, Winnet AR, Wojcik JR & Winnet SG (2010) and analyze their introduction, literature reviews and methods.

As far as the introduction is concerned, the writers of both articles use similar organizational patterns to introduce their papers. Three moves are clearly distinguished. Reupert, Hemming & Connors (2010) include the literature review in the first move as three different sources are mentioned  in the first paragraph. The same writers also include a shot summary before the introduction, a characteristic that differentiates this paper from the one in the medicine field. Reupert, Hemming & Connors (2010) use the present tense to review previous research:  “ …. there are lectures within universities who teach inclusive education…” (p. 120). As regards Anderson Bill ES, Winnet AR, Wojcik JR & Winnet SG´s article (2010), the present perfect tense is used in the first move to refer to what has been done “Randomized control trials of Internet-based intervention have largely been produced….” (p. 2).

 Concerning the second move, the use of negative openings or connectors is clearly seen in both papers: “Despite these potential levels of support, numerous barriers exist for students ….” (as cited in Reupert, Hemming & Connors , 2010, p. 121). “ It´s not clear, however, how such inventions, implemented over a longer period and entirely online with no face-to-face contact…. might influence behavior” (Anderson Bill ES, Winnet AR, Wojcik JR & Winnet SG , 2010, p. 2).

The last move, occupying the niche, is used by researchers of both fields to outline their purposes. Purposive and descriptive statements are included:  “this study will explore….” “ In this study we investigate….” (cited in Reupert, Hemming & Connors , 2010, p. 121); “The purpose of the current study was to …..” (Anderson Bill ES, Winnet AR, Wojcik JR & Winnet SG , 2010, p. 3). The researchers of the article on the educational field use the heading                              “ Research Goal” to describe the present study using the past tense.

As far as the Methods section is concerned,  the heading is properly centered and some differences as regards organization can be found in the articles. Even though the researchers of both articles organize the section under different headings, Reupert, Hemming & Connors  (2010) include a “theoretical framework” where they specify the method employed by the use of past passive. “Within an interpretative research paradigm, a qualitative approach to data collection was employed” (Reupert, Hemming & Connors , 2010, p.123). Concerning the materials used, they are more clearly detailed in the article about education “semi-structured interviews were conducted “ (Reupert, Hemming & Connors , 2010, p. 123). The headings, except from the word Methods, are typed at the left margin.

Taking the “Recruitment and Participants” section into account, the researchers of both articles describe details with sample size and selection “The total number of participants as nine” (Reupert, Hemming & Connors , 2010, p.123) “..of 665 randomly assigned participants, 199 quickly withdrew…” (Anderson Bill ES, Winnet AR, Wojcik JR & Winnet SG , 2010, p.3).

The procedures are described differently in both research articles. In the educational article the procedures are specified under two different headings: ”Interviews” and “Data Analysis”. In the article about medicine the procedure is even more detailed under headings such as “The WB-GTH Intervention “Measures” “PA and Body Weight” and “Statistical Analysis”. As regards verb tenses, Reupert, Hemming & Connors (2010) use the past passive “Potential participants were invited…” (p.123). Anderson Bill ES, Winnet AR, Wojcik JR & Winnet SG (2010) use the past simple “participants logged in…” (p. 3). A similarity can be found in both articles as the researchers make the method section feel slow paced and they use repeated terminology related to the specific field. The words “education” and “teaching” are constantly repeated in the article about education and “Internet Users” “Dietary Habits”and “Physical Activity” are read many times in the article about medicine.

After a deep analysis into the research articles of the two different fields, more similarities than differences can be found. The papers are organized in such a way that provokes an impact on the readers, attracting their attention. “Just as plants compete for light and space, so writers of RPs compete for acceptance and recognition”.(Swales and Feak, 1994, p.174 as cited in Pintos and Crimi ,2010, p. 27).