Argument structure in sociology research papers: Analysis of the Abstract and Introduction sections

Abstract

Many types of argument claims and supports (premises) are made in a research paper. The study analyzed the types of claims and supports used in the Abstract and Introduction sections of sociology research papers, and the common argument patterns. Seventy papers were sampled from ten sociology journals with the highest impact factor in InCites Journal Citation Reports. The research papers were categorized into three types of research: Investigative research, Development and evaluation research, and Descriptive research. A coding scheme of claims and supports was developed. Sequential association rule mining was used to identify textual argument patterns. The study identified significant differences in argument profile across the three types of research papers, and differences in argument patterns. For example, Investigative research papers typically follow the basic argument pattern of (General statement or Research gap) … Research objective … Research method … Research result … (General result or Research contribution/recommendation) in the Abstract. However, Development & Evaluation research and Descriptive research Abstracts often modify the basic pattern with Concept/theory/model-related claims and Research idea/approach. Methodology contributions of the paper include the coding scheme for argument claims and supports in research papers, and the method of analyzing argument patterns. Different types of sociology research tend to follow different argument strategies. As there is substantial overlap between argument elements and rhetorical functions, the common argument patterns identified in this study suggest common rhetorical move/step patterns as well.