Key Considerations in Generic Move Analysis Research (1990 to 2023): A Systematic Review

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

English Department, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

Abstract

Following Swales’ (1990) pioneering study on the generic structure of research articles (RAs) introductions, the Create-a-Research-Space (CARS) model, a plethora of move-based studies has been conducted on different sections of the RAs. Hence, the need to outline the generic field specific characteristics of the relevant body of research along with revealing the future trends of research agenda in the field inspired the authors to carry out the present systematic review. In so doing, we sought to examine 1.The research themes addressed in the retrieved studies 2. Rhetorical idiosyncrasies as well as theoretical frameworks within which the studies have been conducted, and 3.Other field specific aspects of the corpora. 190 move-based studies published between 1990 and 2023 were included in this review. The findings reveal a fast and consistent growth in move analysis research with a particular emphasis on cross-disciplinary comparison, cross-linguistic comparison, and applicability of move frameworks. The abstract and introduction sections dominated the published research. Various models were applied for the analysis of different sections of RAs. The most frequently researched fields of study were applied linguistics and language education. The inherently interpretative nature of move identification and achieving inter-coder agreement and maintaining analytical consistency were identified as the most prevalent challenges in the process of identifying and analyzing moves. This study offers important implications for further research.

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Teaching English as a Second Language Quarterly
Volume 45, Issue 4
September 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 18 May 2026
  • Revise Date: 27 August 2026
  • Accept Date: 31 August 2026

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