Research Article
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Variations in the Citation Use and Perceptions in Writing the Literature Review by EFL Postgraduates

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 441 - 460, 26.11.2019
https://doi.org/10.32601/ejal.651398

Abstract










Academically, citation is pivotal
since it presents justifications for the arguments and a demonstration of the
writer’s position. Despite the increasing number of studies on citations,
little knowledge has been reported regarding the citation use and practices of
EFL students within the ESL context. Hence, the present study aimed at
investigating the extent of variation in the citation practices in the
literature review of PhD theses in Applied Linguistics and Information
Technology. The study analysed the citations qualitatively focusing mainly on
several aspects, including using types of citations, the variety of the
citations based on the type of the clauses in each citation, and the
perspectives of EFL Arab postgraduates on using citations. A purposeful
sampling was adopted in selecting the literature review of 20 PhD theses and
nine EFL Arab candidates of Applied Linguistics and Information Technology. The
results show the dominance of the integral citation in the literature review of
Applied Linguistics and Information technology. The inter-disciplinary comparison
also reported similarity in terms of the high frequency of using citations with
clauses complexes. The discourse-based interviews revealed that EFL Arab
postgraduates depended on the integral citation to highlight ideas, attract the
reader’s attention, affirm the credibility of the cited information, and refer
to the type of the information. The little available information on using
citations and the possible effect of their native language may lead EFL Arab
postgraduates to have their own strategies regarding citations use.
Consequently, EFL postgraduate students probably need explicit instructions on
the use of citations.

References

  • Borg, E. (2000). Citation practices in academic writing. In Thompson, P. (Ed.), Patterns and Perspectives. Insights into EAP Writing Practice (pp. 27-45). Reading: The University of Reading.
  • Charles, M. (2006). Phraseological patterns in reporting clauses used in citation : A corpus-based study of theses in two disciplines. English for Specific Purposes, 25, 310–331. Doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.05.003
  • Coffin, C., Curry, M. J., Goodman, S., Hewings, A., Lillis, Th.M., & Swann, J. (2003). Teaching Academic Writing. USA and Canada: Routledge.
  • Creswell, J.W. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. (3rdth Edition). USA, Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
  • Creswell, J.W. (2012). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. (4th Edition). USA, Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
  • Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research Methods in Applied Linguistics: Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methodologies. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
  • Gardner, S. (2012). Genres and registers of student report writing: An SFL perspective on texts and practices. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 11(1), 52-63. doi:10.1016/j.jeap.2011.11.002.
  • Gol, A. K., Hezareh, B. G., & Soghondikolaei, E. M. (2014). A contrastive study of rhetorical functions of citation in Iranian and international ELT scopus journals. Linguistics and Literature Studies, 2(6), 155-165. doi: 10.13189/ lls.2014.020601
  • Halliday, M. A. K., & Martin, J. R. (1993). Writing science: Literacy and discursive power. London: The Falmer Press.
  • Harwood, N. (2009). An interview-based study of the functions of citations in academic writing across two disciplines. Journal of Pragmatics, 41(3), 497–518. doi:10.1016/j.pragma.2008.06.001.
  • Hu, G., & Wang, G. (2014). Disciplinary and ethnolinguistic influences on citation in research articles. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 14, 14–28. doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2013.11.001
  • Hyland, K. (1999). Academic attribution: citation and the construction of disciplinary knowledge. Journal of Applied Linguistics, 20(3), 341-367. doi.org/10.1093/applin/20.3.341
  • Hyland, K. (2009). Writing in the disciplines: Research evidence for specificity. Taiwan International ESP Journal, 1(1), 5–22. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267817913_Writing_in_the_disciplines_Research_evidence_for_specificity
  • Jomaa, N. J., & Bidin, S. J. (2016). Roles of the cited author in citations of the literature review by EFL postgraduates. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 5(7), 213-225. doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.5n.7p.213
  • Jomaa, N. J., & Bidin, S.J. (2017). Perspective of EFL doctoral students on challenges of citations in academic writing. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction (MJLI), 14(2), 177-209. Retrieved from http://mjli.uum.edu.my/images/vol14no2dec17/177-209.pdf
  • Lancaster, Z. (2016). Using corpus results to guide the discourse-based interview: A study of one student’s awareness of stance in academic writing in philosophy. Journal of Writing Research, 8(1), 119-148. doi:10.17239/jowr-2016.08.01.04
  • Mackey, A. & Gass, S.M. (2005). Second Language Research: Methodology and Design. London: LEA.
  • Manan, N.A. and Noor, N.M. (2015). The use of integral citations in master’s degree theses. International Journal of Education and Research, 5(7), pp. 233-246. http://www.ijern.com/journal/2015/July-2015/21.pdf
  • Mansourizadeh, K., & Ahmad, U. K. (2011). Citation practices among non-native expert and novice scientific writers. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 10(3), 152– 161. doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2011.03.004
  • Maroko, G. M. (2013). Learning about author positioning in written academic discourse. Argentinian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 1(2), 47–60. https://ir- library.ku.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/123456789/8824/Learning%20%20about%20author%20positioning....pdf?sequence=3
  • Maxwell, J. (1992). Understanding and validity in qualitative research. Harvard Educational Review, 62(3), 279-300. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cirs/2331/
  • Maxwell, J.A. (2010). Using numbers in qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 16(6), 474-482. doi.org/10.1177/1077800410364740
  • Monreal, C. S., & Salom, L. G. (2011). A cross-language study on citation practice in PhD theses. International Journal of English Studies, 11(2), 53-75. file:///C:/Users/shahad/Downloads/149641-Article%20Text-559371-1-10-20120322%20(1).pdf
  • Nguyen, T. T. L., & Pramoolsook, I. (2015). Citation in Vietnamese TESOL: Analysis of master’s thesis introduction chapters. The Asian ESP Journal, 2(1), 95-118. http://asian-esp-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/AESP-Volume2-Issue1-June-2015-new.pdf#page=95
  • Nguyen, T. T. L., and Pramoolsook, I. (2016). Citations in literature review chapters of TESOL master’s theses by Vietnamese postgraduates. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 16(2), 17-32. http://www.esptodayjournal.org/pdf
  • Odell, L., Goswami, D., & Herrington, A. (1983). The discourse-based interview: A procedure for exploring the tacit knowledge of writers in nonacademic settings. In P. Mosenthal, L. Tamor, & S. A. Walmsley (Eds.). Research on writing (pp. 221–236). New York: Longman.
  • Okamura, A. (2008). Citation forms in scientific texts: similarities and differences in L1 and L2 professional writing. Nordic Journal of English Studies, 7(3), 61-81. http://ub016045.ub.gu.se/ojs/index.php/njes/article/viewFile/152/150
  • Oskueia, M. H. H., & Kuhi, D. (2014). The use of citations in academic writing: analysis of introduction sections of Iranian and native English master’s theses. Journal of Social Issues & Humanities, 2(3), 216-220.
  • Parry, S. (1998). Disciplinary differences in doctoral theses. Higher Education, 36, 273-99. doi.org/10.1023/A:1003216613001
  • Patton, M. Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Petrić, B. (2007). Rhetorical functions of citations in high- and low-rated master’s theses. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 6(3), 238–253. doi:10.1016/j.jeap.2007.09.002
  • Petrić, B., & Harwood, N. (2013). Task requirements, task representation, and self-reported citation functions: An exploratory study of a successful L2 student’s writing. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12, 110–124. doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2013.01.002
  • Rabab'ah, G., & Al-Marshadi, A. (2013). Integrative vs. non-integrative citations among native and nonnative English writers. International Education Studies, 6(7), 78-87. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1068542.pdf
  • Rowley-jolivet, E., & Carter-thomas, S. (2014). Citation Practices of Expert French Writers of English: Issues of Attribution and Stance. A.Lyda and K. Warchal (eds.), Occupying Niches: Interculturality, Cross-culturality and Aculturality in Academic Research. Second Language Learning and Teaching. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
  • Samraj, B. (2013). Form and function of citations in discussion sections of master’s theses and research articles. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12(4), 299– 310. doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2013.09.001
  • Shi, L. (2012). Rewriting and paraphrasing source texts in second language writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 21(2), 134–148. doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.03.003
  • Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Swales, J. M. (2013). Disciplinary identities: individuality and community in academic discourse, K. Hyland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2012). Book review. Journal of Second Language Writing, 22(1), 1–3. doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.09.001
  • Swales, J. M. (2014). Variation in citational practice in a corpus of student biology papers: from parenthetical plonking to intertextual storytelling. Written Communication, 31(1), 118–141. doi/full/10.1177/0741088313515166
  • Thompson, P. (2001). A pedagogically-motivated corpus-based examination of PhD theses: macrostructure, citation practices and use of modal verbs. Unpublished thesis submitted for the degree of PhD to School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, The University of Reading, UK. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.119.9129&rep=rep1&type=pdf.
  • Thompson, P. (2002). Manifesting intertextuality in the PhD theses. Revista Canaria De Estudios Ingleses, 44, 97-114. Retrieved from https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=300998
  • Thompson, P., & Tribble, C. (2001). Looking at citations: using corpora in English for academic purposes. Language Learning and Technology, 5(3), 91-105. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/44568/05_03_thompson.pdf
  • Yang, L. (2013). Evaluative functions of reporting evidentials in English research articles of Applied Linguistics. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, 3(2), 119–126. doi/10.4236/ojml.2013.32016
Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 3, 441 - 460, 26.11.2019
https://doi.org/10.32601/ejal.651398

Abstract

References

  • Borg, E. (2000). Citation practices in academic writing. In Thompson, P. (Ed.), Patterns and Perspectives. Insights into EAP Writing Practice (pp. 27-45). Reading: The University of Reading.
  • Charles, M. (2006). Phraseological patterns in reporting clauses used in citation : A corpus-based study of theses in two disciplines. English for Specific Purposes, 25, 310–331. Doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2005.05.003
  • Coffin, C., Curry, M. J., Goodman, S., Hewings, A., Lillis, Th.M., & Swann, J. (2003). Teaching Academic Writing. USA and Canada: Routledge.
  • Creswell, J.W. (2008). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. (3rdth Edition). USA, Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
  • Creswell, J.W. (2012). Educational Research: Planning, Conducting and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. (4th Edition). USA, Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
  • Dörnyei, Z. (2007). Research Methods in Applied Linguistics: Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed Methodologies. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
  • Gardner, S. (2012). Genres and registers of student report writing: An SFL perspective on texts and practices. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 11(1), 52-63. doi:10.1016/j.jeap.2011.11.002.
  • Gol, A. K., Hezareh, B. G., & Soghondikolaei, E. M. (2014). A contrastive study of rhetorical functions of citation in Iranian and international ELT scopus journals. Linguistics and Literature Studies, 2(6), 155-165. doi: 10.13189/ lls.2014.020601
  • Halliday, M. A. K., & Martin, J. R. (1993). Writing science: Literacy and discursive power. London: The Falmer Press.
  • Harwood, N. (2009). An interview-based study of the functions of citations in academic writing across two disciplines. Journal of Pragmatics, 41(3), 497–518. doi:10.1016/j.pragma.2008.06.001.
  • Hu, G., & Wang, G. (2014). Disciplinary and ethnolinguistic influences on citation in research articles. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 14, 14–28. doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2013.11.001
  • Hyland, K. (1999). Academic attribution: citation and the construction of disciplinary knowledge. Journal of Applied Linguistics, 20(3), 341-367. doi.org/10.1093/applin/20.3.341
  • Hyland, K. (2009). Writing in the disciplines: Research evidence for specificity. Taiwan International ESP Journal, 1(1), 5–22. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267817913_Writing_in_the_disciplines_Research_evidence_for_specificity
  • Jomaa, N. J., & Bidin, S. J. (2016). Roles of the cited author in citations of the literature review by EFL postgraduates. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 5(7), 213-225. doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.5n.7p.213
  • Jomaa, N. J., & Bidin, S.J. (2017). Perspective of EFL doctoral students on challenges of citations in academic writing. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction (MJLI), 14(2), 177-209. Retrieved from http://mjli.uum.edu.my/images/vol14no2dec17/177-209.pdf
  • Lancaster, Z. (2016). Using corpus results to guide the discourse-based interview: A study of one student’s awareness of stance in academic writing in philosophy. Journal of Writing Research, 8(1), 119-148. doi:10.17239/jowr-2016.08.01.04
  • Mackey, A. & Gass, S.M. (2005). Second Language Research: Methodology and Design. London: LEA.
  • Manan, N.A. and Noor, N.M. (2015). The use of integral citations in master’s degree theses. International Journal of Education and Research, 5(7), pp. 233-246. http://www.ijern.com/journal/2015/July-2015/21.pdf
  • Mansourizadeh, K., & Ahmad, U. K. (2011). Citation practices among non-native expert and novice scientific writers. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 10(3), 152– 161. doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2011.03.004
  • Maroko, G. M. (2013). Learning about author positioning in written academic discourse. Argentinian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 1(2), 47–60. https://ir- library.ku.ac.ke/bitstream/handle/123456789/8824/Learning%20%20about%20author%20positioning....pdf?sequence=3
  • Maxwell, J. (1992). Understanding and validity in qualitative research. Harvard Educational Review, 62(3), 279-300. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cirs/2331/
  • Maxwell, J.A. (2010). Using numbers in qualitative research. Qualitative Inquiry, 16(6), 474-482. doi.org/10.1177/1077800410364740
  • Monreal, C. S., & Salom, L. G. (2011). A cross-language study on citation practice in PhD theses. International Journal of English Studies, 11(2), 53-75. file:///C:/Users/shahad/Downloads/149641-Article%20Text-559371-1-10-20120322%20(1).pdf
  • Nguyen, T. T. L., & Pramoolsook, I. (2015). Citation in Vietnamese TESOL: Analysis of master’s thesis introduction chapters. The Asian ESP Journal, 2(1), 95-118. http://asian-esp-journal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/AESP-Volume2-Issue1-June-2015-new.pdf#page=95
  • Nguyen, T. T. L., and Pramoolsook, I. (2016). Citations in literature review chapters of TESOL master’s theses by Vietnamese postgraduates. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 16(2), 17-32. http://www.esptodayjournal.org/pdf
  • Odell, L., Goswami, D., & Herrington, A. (1983). The discourse-based interview: A procedure for exploring the tacit knowledge of writers in nonacademic settings. In P. Mosenthal, L. Tamor, & S. A. Walmsley (Eds.). Research on writing (pp. 221–236). New York: Longman.
  • Okamura, A. (2008). Citation forms in scientific texts: similarities and differences in L1 and L2 professional writing. Nordic Journal of English Studies, 7(3), 61-81. http://ub016045.ub.gu.se/ojs/index.php/njes/article/viewFile/152/150
  • Oskueia, M. H. H., & Kuhi, D. (2014). The use of citations in academic writing: analysis of introduction sections of Iranian and native English master’s theses. Journal of Social Issues & Humanities, 2(3), 216-220.
  • Parry, S. (1998). Disciplinary differences in doctoral theses. Higher Education, 36, 273-99. doi.org/10.1023/A:1003216613001
  • Patton, M. Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation and research methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
  • Petrić, B. (2007). Rhetorical functions of citations in high- and low-rated master’s theses. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 6(3), 238–253. doi:10.1016/j.jeap.2007.09.002
  • Petrić, B., & Harwood, N. (2013). Task requirements, task representation, and self-reported citation functions: An exploratory study of a successful L2 student’s writing. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12, 110–124. doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2013.01.002
  • Rabab'ah, G., & Al-Marshadi, A. (2013). Integrative vs. non-integrative citations among native and nonnative English writers. International Education Studies, 6(7), 78-87. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1068542.pdf
  • Rowley-jolivet, E., & Carter-thomas, S. (2014). Citation Practices of Expert French Writers of English: Issues of Attribution and Stance. A.Lyda and K. Warchal (eds.), Occupying Niches: Interculturality, Cross-culturality and Aculturality in Academic Research. Second Language Learning and Teaching. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.
  • Samraj, B. (2013). Form and function of citations in discussion sections of master’s theses and research articles. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 12(4), 299– 310. doi.org/10.1016/j.jeap.2013.09.001
  • Shi, L. (2012). Rewriting and paraphrasing source texts in second language writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 21(2), 134–148. doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.03.003
  • Swales, J. M. (1990). Genre Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Swales, J. M. (2013). Disciplinary identities: individuality and community in academic discourse, K. Hyland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2012). Book review. Journal of Second Language Writing, 22(1), 1–3. doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.09.001
  • Swales, J. M. (2014). Variation in citational practice in a corpus of student biology papers: from parenthetical plonking to intertextual storytelling. Written Communication, 31(1), 118–141. doi/full/10.1177/0741088313515166
  • Thompson, P. (2001). A pedagogically-motivated corpus-based examination of PhD theses: macrostructure, citation practices and use of modal verbs. Unpublished thesis submitted for the degree of PhD to School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, The University of Reading, UK. Retrieved from http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.119.9129&rep=rep1&type=pdf.
  • Thompson, P. (2002). Manifesting intertextuality in the PhD theses. Revista Canaria De Estudios Ingleses, 44, 97-114. Retrieved from https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=300998
  • Thompson, P., & Tribble, C. (2001). Looking at citations: using corpora in English for academic purposes. Language Learning and Technology, 5(3), 91-105. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/44568/05_03_thompson.pdf
  • Yang, L. (2013). Evaluative functions of reporting evidentials in English research articles of Applied Linguistics. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, 3(2), 119–126. doi/10.4236/ojml.2013.32016
There are 43 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Studies on Education
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Nayef Jomaa Jomaa 0000-0001-8952-5812

Siti Jamilah Bidin This is me 0000-0001-9365-5038

Publication Date November 26, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Volume: 5 Issue: 3

Cite

APA Jomaa, N. J., & Bidin, S. J. (2019). Variations in the Citation Use and Perceptions in Writing the Literature Review by EFL Postgraduates. Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 5(3), 441-460. https://doi.org/10.32601/ejal.651398