Analyzing academic conventions in the fields of medicine and education
Considering that academic research articles are intended “a) to produce new knowledge and theories, and b) to solve problems” (Sampieri, Collado & Lucio, 1998; as cited in Pintos & Crimi, 2010a, p. 9), it is necessary to bear in mind that a specific framework should be carried out when dealing with these kinds of investigations. According to the established academic standards, several parts should be present when composing research papers. Introduction, literature review and method sections are ones of those parts which have to be carefully developed for the presentation of the academic work. All along this paper, introductions’ as well as literature reviews’ and method sections’ structures and layouts in the fields of education and medicine will be discussed taking into account the Create a Research Space Model (C.A.R.S.) which provides a set of organizational patterns for dealing with research articles.
Providing that introductions are aimed to attract the readers’ attention, they should be “structured in a general-specific manner, following the C.A.R.S. Model” (Swales and Feak, 1994, as cited in Pintos & Crimi, 2010b, p. 27). Besides, introductions are characterized by an organizational pattern known as moves or cycles, which allow the writes to create a research space, establish a niche and occupy the gap found in the previous stage (Swales and Feak, 1994; as cited in Pintos & Crimi, 2010b). In the analysis of an article in the field of medicine which was based on a longitudinal observation study of the dietary habits of American population and the use of web-based programs to prevent serious illnesses, the introduction clearly states the subject matter of the research work. Moore has introduced the topic in move 1 as well as creating the need to run the research when he states that,
The dietary habits of Americans are creating serious health concerns. The “obesity epidemic” is the most publicized evidence of the problem, but it is only one aspect. Studies have suggested that better dietary habits can, even with only modest weight loss, prevent or help control a number of expensive, chronic conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even some types of cancer. (Moore, 2008, para. 4)
After making reference to the literature review which stands for those studies and approaches that have dealt with dietary habits previously, the author is able to establish the niche when he expresses the reasons for his investigation in the following example “[t]here is some evidence that use of these [web-based] programs can lead to short-term weight loss, but there is little evidence that they are effective” (Moore, 2008, para. 5). By doing so, the author indicates a gap in the previous studies, which will occupy the niche in move 3 by outlining the purpose for the present work. In the last paragraph of the introduction, which has moved from general to specific structure, not only does the writer outline the aims of the study, but also announces main findings “[we] designed a web-based program, DASH for health, to improve nutrition and physical activity habits” (Moore, 2008, para. 6).
According to Swales and Feak (1994; as cited in Pintos & Crimi, 2010b), method sections follow a process paragraph principle in order to explain either how to do something or how something has happened in a logical as well as chronological sequence of events (p. 33). Considering the article on medicine, the author has developed the method section by explaining carefully and deeply the different steps that allowed the researcher to fulfill the aims. In this part of the research paper, it is possible to know about the research subjects together with the sample size and selection, the methodology for carrying out the study, the technological tool or web-based program, the procedure as well as the measures and data analysis. All the information has been presented in detail, providing explanations, examples, and even photographs which clearly portray a comprehensible panorama about investigation process.
In addition to the medical research article, a similar analysis has been carried out for an academic research in the field of education. Conversely to the first one, the collaborative learning project to teach information literacy skills to twelfth grade regular English students (Coleman, 1994), presents the introduction as well as the literature review and method section along the development of different well–defined chapters. In chapter I, it is possible to grasp the project background information, the problem and the outcome objectives in a general-specific structure characterized by the three organizational moves. In order to create a research space, the writer provides background information in Move 1, so as to “[establish] a research territory” (Pintos & Crimi, 2010b, p. 49). By doing so, the reader becomes situated in the specific scenario where the need for running the study emerges. Furthermore, the use of literature review in Move 1, allows the author to refer not only to what has been found, but also to what previous researchers have done.
Establishing the niche, which engages the audience through raising questions about the state of arts as well as expanding previous knowledge, provides the reasons for the research study (Pintos & Crimi, 2010b). In chapter 1, along the problem statement section, the researcher is able to introduce move 2 by making use of a negative opening necessary to indicate the gap. Besides, move 2 which starts as “[h]owever, the media specialist did have some concerns with the new applications of the technology available to the students” (Coleman, 1994, p. 5) indicates a link between move 1 and 3. What is more, move 2 provides further reference some pages onwards, due to a benchmark project that enhances the reader to expand his knowledge. As far as move 3 is concerned, the author states what the project research is about by accounting solutions as well as main findings.
Regarding method sections, the educational research article adheres to the principle process paragraph similar to the research study in the field of medicine. By contrast with the medical academic study, the people involved in the investigation in the field of education are identified as participants, and not as subjects. Besides, the procedure, which describes step-by-step the actions performed, is accompanied by a reference to the appendix section. As a consequence, appendixes which “… contain material that is too detailed to be presented in the body of the paper” (American Psychological Association, 2010; as cited in Pintos & Crimi, 2010b, p. 47) are labeled regarding the information gathered at the end of the research paper.
By analyzing research articles in the field of medicine and education as well as being able to identify the academic procedure for dealing with introductions, literature reviews and method sections, it has been possible to reach the following conclusions. Both works developed from a general to a specific organization following the C.A.R.S. model principles. The medical study introduction was clearly presented in a short and comprehensible manner, while the educational introduction was longer than the previous one, but easily understood by the reader. Not only did the research paper in the field of medicine but also the one in the teaching field make use of specific literature review so as to establish the research territory. Finally, the method sections, which responded to the principles of process paragraph, made reference to the research participants, materials and procedures. Consequently, it is possible to affirm that in order to produce academic pieces of writings, such as the previous research articles, writers should be able to apply specific requirements for coping with the academic demands.
References
Coleman, M. W. (1994). Using a collaborative learning project to teach information literacy skills to twelfh grade regular English students. Retrieved April 2011, from ERIC database (ED371389).
Moore, T. J. (2008). Weight, blood pressure, and dietary benefits after 12 months of a web-based nutrition education program (DASH for health): Longitudinal observational study. Journal of medical internet research. Retrieved April 2011, from
Pintos, V., & Crimi, Y. (2010). Unit 1: Defining concepts in research. Universidad CAECE, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Retrieved April 2011, from
Pintos, V., & Crimi, Y. (2010). Unit 2: The research article: Introduction, literature review and method sections. Universidad CAECE, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Retrieved April 2011, from
