Research Gap Strategies in the Introduction Section of Local Journal Articles in the Field of Language Teaching and Literature

Jamaludin Jamaludin; Dian Eka Chandra Wardhana; Safnil Arsyad; Ade Hidayat

doi:10.24036/ld.v20i1.134996

Research Gap Strategies in the Introduction Section of Local Journal Articles in the Field of Language Teaching and Literature

Jamaludin Jamaludin⁽¹⁾, Dian Eka Chandra Wardhana⁽²⁾, Safnil Arsyad⁽³⁾, Ade Hidayat⁽⁴⁾,
(1) Bengkulu University

Indonesia
(2) Bengkulu University

Indonesia
(3) Bengkulu University

Indonesia
(4) Jambi University

Indonesia

Corresponding Author
Copyright (c) 2026 Lingua Didaktika: Jurnal Bahasa dan Pembelajaran Bahasa

DOI : https://doi.org/10.24036/ld.v20i1.134996

Full Text:

Language : en

Abstract

Research gap statement in the introduction section of a research article is very crucial in order to engage and attract readers to read the article further. Previous studies have found several ways of research gap employed by authors; however, these studies have not fulfilled all aspects, especially regarding the research gap strategy in the field of Indonesian Language Teaching and Literature. Therefore, this research fills this gap by describing the authors’ strategy in presenting the research gap and its linguistic features in the introduction sections of articles published in nationally accredited journals. The data were fifty articles written by Indonesian authors, randomly selected from nationally accredited journals in the field of Indonesian Language Teaching and Literature. The data were analyzed using content analysis with qualitative design. The findings of the study show that there was a tendency for Indonesian authors to present research gap in the introduction section by suggesting solution to the research problem. This strategy is addressed by using particular linguistic features, such as phrases indicating the need for further study on the topic under investigation and phrases suggesting recommendations, which emerged as the two most frequently used expressions. The implication of these findings is the development of a deeper understanding of research gap writing strategies by Indonesian new authors is beneficial before composing academic texts for scientific publication such as research articles published in journals.

Keywords

Introduction Section; Indonesian Language Teaching and Literature; Nationally Accredited Journal; Research Gap Strategy

References

Adnan, Z. (2014). Prospects of Indonesian Research Articles (RAs) Being Considered for Publication in ‘Center’ Journals: A Comparative Study of Rhetorical Patterns of RAs in Selected Humanities and Hard Science Disciplines. In Lyda, A., & Warchal, K. Occupying niches: Interculturality, cross-culturality and aculturality in academic research (pp. 79–99). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02526-1_6

Amnuai, W. (2021). A Comparison of Niche Establishments in English Research Article Introductions Published in International and Thai Journals. Discourse and Interaction, 14(2), 24–40. https://doi.org/10.5817/DI2021-2-24

Ankomah, C., & Afful, J. B. A. (2019). Establishing a Niche in Research: Rhetorical Strategies in Undergraduate and Postgraduate Writings in the Department of English, University of Cape Coast. The Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 7(3), 359–374.

Arianto, M. A., & Basthomi, Y. (2021). The authors’ research gap strategies in ELT research article introductions: Does Scopus journal quartile matter? Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 17(4), 1743–1759. https://doi.org/10.52462/jlls.127

Arianto, M. A., Saukah, A., Basthomi, Y., & Wulyani, A. N. (2021). Previous studies have several limitations …: Indonesian Doctoral Students’, Indonesian Academics’, and International Authors’ Research Gap Strategies in ELT Research Article Abstracts and Introductions. Journal of Language and Education, 7(2), 25–44. https://doi.org/10.17323/jle.2021.11735

Arono, & Arsyad, S. (2019). The Effect of Genre-Based Mentoring on Rhetorical Quality of Research Article Drafts by Indonesian Lecturers in Social Sciences and Humanities. International Journal of Instruction, 12(3), 35–50. https://doi.org/10.29333/iji.2019.1233a

Arsyad, S. (2013). A Genre-based Analysis on the Introductions of Research Articles Written by Indonesian Academics. TEFLIN, 24(2), 180–200. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.15639/teflinjournal.v24i2/180-200

Arsyad, S., & Arono. (2016). Potential problematic rhetorical style transfer from first language to foreign language: a case of Indonesian authors writing research article introductions in English. Journal of Multicultural Discourses, 11(3), 315–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/17447143.2016.1153642

Arsyad, S., Madani, Pratiwi, V. A., An-Nashir, A. A., Erviona, L., Hasiyanti, & Marjelina, O. (2023). The Rhetorical Structure and Research Gap Strategies of Journal Article Abstracts in Language-Related Fields Published in High-impact International Journals. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network, 16(1), 703–725.

Arsyad, S., & Zainil, Y. (2023). Research gap strategies in article introductions of different rank applied linguistics journals. Studies in English Language and Education, 10(1), 216–234. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v10i1.25302

del Saz Rubio, M. M. (2011). A pragmatic approach to the macro-structure and metadiscoursal features of research article introductions in the field of Agricultural Sciences. English for Specific Purposes, 30(4), 258–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2011.03.002

Drisko, J. W., & Maschi, T. (2016). Content Analysis. Oxford University Press.

Hidayat, A., Safnil, & Arono. (2023). Hard and Soft Sciences: How Both Fields Differ in Presenting Research Gaps. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(SpecialIssue), 88–94. https://doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9iSpecialIssue.6214

Keshavarz, M. H., Atai, M. R., & Berzegar, V. (2007). A Contrastive Study of Generic Organization of Research Article Introductions Written by Iranian and Non-Iranian Writers in Applied Linguistics. TELL, 1(2), 13–33.

Lim, J. M.-H. (2012). How do writers establish research niches? A genre-based investigation into management researchers’ rhetorical steps and linguistic mechanisms. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 11(3), 229–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2012.05.002

Loi, C. K. (2010). Research article introductions in Chinese and English: A comparative genre-based study. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 9(4), 267–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2010.09.004

Miles, D. A. (2017). A taxonomy of research gaps: Identifying and defining the seven research gaps. Doctoral Student Workshop: Finding Research Gaps-Research Methods and Strategies, 1–15.

Oktaviani, D., Wardhana, D. E. C., Diani, I., & Jamalludin. (2024). Writing Research Gap Strategies in Indonesian Articles Abstracts and Introductions in Accredited National Journals towards International Indexed Publications. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 7(07), 5656–5665. https://doi.org/10.47191/ijsshr/v7-i07-118

Rahman, M., Darus, S., & Amir, Z. (2017). Rhetorical Structure of Introduction in Applied Linguistics Research Articles. EDUCARE: International Journal for Educational Studies, 9(2), 69–84.

Safnil. (2013). A genre-based analysis on the introduction of research articles written by Indoensian academics. TEFLIN Journal, 24(2), 180–200.

Suryani, I., Yacob, A., & Aziz, N. H. A. (2015). “Indicating a Research Gap” in Computer Science Research Article Introductions by Non-Native English Writers. Asian Social Science, 11(28), 293–302. https://doi.org/10.5539/ass.v11n28p293

Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge University Press.

Zein, T. T., Sinar, T. S., Nurlela, N., Lubis, T., & Rosa, R. N. (2023). Theme structure in an introduction section of articles published in Indonesian national journals. Studies in English Language and Education, 10(1), 251–265. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v10i1.25181