Showing topic importance (Move 1, Step 1)

This topic will introduce you to various significance claims that help authors introduce their research topic and emphasize its importance. Learn how to draw your reader’s attention to your topic and then check your comprehension by doing self-check comprehension activities in the next tab.

In a typical Introduction to a research proposal, article or report, the first step for the writer would be to “establish the territory” (Swales, 1990) or context within which the topic of the research is situated. This means convincing the reader of the importance and relevance of the topic in question and is often done by making several types of "significance" claims: 

• by stressing the topic’s importance in the real world ("real life" claims)
• by highlighting research activity in the problem area ("advancing research" claims).

"Real life" significance claims

“Real life” significance claims help the writer show that their topic is novel, urgent, problematic, or has been recognized globally. A sure way to do this is by linking the topic to the real world’s needs (societal needs, environmental concerns, etc.) rather than the needs for advancing research in the problem area. Thus, often, no mention would be made of research activity or scholarly interest in the topic. This type of claim may be more preferable in emerging fields or areas of research where not much prior research has been done for the author to draw on.

Here are some examples of "real life" significance claims. These and all the other examples to follow contain information about the discipline in which the research study was written (e.g., Economics).

1. Ventures face an uphill battle in securing critical resources for survival and growth (Ozmel & Guler, 2015) Economics .
2. The uneven distribution of resources such as oxygen, water, food, heat and mates force many animals to travelbetween different patches to obtain them and to use some resources in the process (Samraj, 2005) Wildlife Behavior.
3. Technology opens up various potentials for language learning: access to native speakers and peer learners around the world, easy 24/7 access to instructional and authentic language learning materials and learning support, and facilitation of the construction of positive learner identities (Lai & Gu, 2011) Applied Linguistics.
4. Tropical-forest nature reserves are experiencing mounting human encroachment, raising concerns over their future viability even in remote areas (Samraj, 2005) Conservation Biology.

What do you notice about the kind of language that is used in “Real life” significance claims?

"Advancing research" significance claims   

This type of significance claims differs from the previous one in that the topic’s importance is stressed by highlighting scholarly interest and research activity in the general problem area and the topic concerned. Often, references to previous studies are provided to show the author’s familiarity with major findings (results) from existing research on the problem.

Here are some examples of "advancing research" significance claims. Note the language used to emphasize scholarly interest in the topic and how well it has been explored in other studies:

1. Authentic literacy experiences that connect to student lives are stressed in theoretical and empirical educational research (Behizadeh & Engelhard, 2014)  Applied Linguistics.
2. Research on the inherent duality of the nature of democracy has been growing at a rapid rate (Foster, Braithwaite, & Sobek, 2013) Political Science.
3. Industry membership represents a primary emphasis in management research, especially strategic management (Certo, Sirmon, & Brymer, 2010) Management.

Although there is significant variation in the ordering of Move 1 steps across different disciplines, significance claims:

• are typically found at the beginning of the Introduction section
• often start as single sentences that introduce the author’s claims about the topic’s importance (see the boldfaced sentences in the examples below)
• are often followed by a series of supporting sentences that develop and illustrate the author’s major point or argument.

What do you notice about the language that is used in "advancing research" significance claims?

“Mixed type” significance claims

In some cases, it may be difficult to draw a sharp distinction between "real life" and "advancing research" significance claims. This is because some authors may start their Introduction with general statements about the topic as a point of major social concern (e.g., with regard to healthcare, education, public policy issues, etc.) but then point to specific studies to support these statements. References to the studies will be provided in brackets (see “references” in the examples below). Thus, while stressing the “real life” urgency of the topic, the authors will also make it clear to the reader that the topic has been addressed by researchers.  

Here are some examples of the “mixed type” significance claims:  

1. The scholarly and public discussion of the role of the media during elections is heated and ongoing. In the United States, much attention has been paid to the role of political advertising in either mobilizing or demobilizing the electorate (references) (Schuck, Vliegenthart, & De Vreese, 2016) Political Science. 
2. Globalization is increasing economic, social, and political interdependencies around the world. Consequently, public relations as a discipline are more often charged with managing communication and relationships between organizations and their stakeholders on an international level (references) (Verˇciˇc  et al., 2015) International Relations.
3. For many years, consumers have been exposed to product risk statements, ranging from health warnings in tobacco advertising to financial loss disclaimers in mutual fund advertisements (references) (Cox et al., 2010) Marketing.
4. As companies expand internationally and their foreign operations become more dispersed, language differences start to affect interactions within and beyond their boundaries (references). To cope with these challenges, MNCs (Multinational corporations) have implicit or explicit language policies for corporate communication, documentation, and interaction (references) (Peltokorpi, 2015) Business.

Language for showing the importance of the topic

This section will introduce you to the typical language that is used to write about the importance of your study’s research topic. After looking at the language, complete follow-up self-check language activities targeting key vocabulary from this section. 

Significance claims often build on common phrases that emphasize the importance, urgency, and relevance of the chosen research area and problem, as in the examples below:

• The study/ concept/ issue/ problem/ effect/ question of X has (long) been viewed/ regarded as …
• Scholars have become increasingly interested in …
• Recent research has focused on X.
• There has been a need to advance the study of X.
• To date, few studies have addressed the issue of X.
• Previous research on the topic has disregarded the issue of X.
• The issue of X merits special attention.

Below are some typical phrases that appear in "advancing research" significance claims. These tend to follow three distinct patterns:

Pattern 1: Emphasizing the research topic or problem as the agent or “doer” of the action: 

As can be seen, both active and passive verb forms are quite commonly used. Note the use of verb and noun, as well as adjective and noun collocations in many of the examples.

Pattern 2: Emphasizing scholars and research studies as the agent: 

Pattern 3: Emphasizing the need/ efforts/ attempts, etc. to explore the issue at hand: 

Adjectives & adverbs

The following “negative” adjectives and adverb collocations are also quite common in Step 1 significance claims: