Investigating EFL Students’ Challenges and Strategies in Research Writing: A Systematic Review : A Systematic Review = EFL 학생들의 논문 작성에서의 어려움과 전략 조사: 체계적 문헌고찰

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This systematic review examines the challenges faced by English as a Foreign Language (EFL) graduate students in thesis and dissertation writing, as well as the strategies they employ to overcome such challenges. The review systematically identified and analyzed 22 empirical and theoretical studies published between 2014 and 2023, sourced from four major academic databases: Google Scholar, Scopus, ERIC, and Academic Search Ultimate. The findings reveal that EFL graduate students experience considerable difficulties in mastering the conventions of English academic writing, particularly in areas related to grammar, rhetorical structure, and genre-specific organization. To address these difficulties, EFL students adopt various strategies, including the use of translation and grammar-checking tools, talk-writing and freewriting techniques, outlining, and seeking assistance from supervisors and peers. Critically, this review discloses an imbalanced hierarchy of challenges and strategies in terms of priority. While the academic writing skill-related challenges are the most frequently complained and reported challenge among EFL graduate students in writing research, the number of strategies to address these challenges is nearly three times less, indicating a gap for future studies to fill. Similarly, 14 studies mentioned 18 personal-psychological-emotional challenges during the research writing whereas only 2 studies provided 3 strategies to cope. Despite limitations related to the number of databases and studies included, this review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current research, identifies significant gaps and methodological constraints, and offers recommendations for future studies.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1
• 1.1 Research objectives 3
• 1.2 Research questions 4
• CHAPTER 2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 5
• 2.1 Introduction to systematic review 5
• 2.2 Prior systematic reviews on EFL students’ challenges and strategies in research writing 8
• CHAPTER 3. METHODS 16
• 3.1 Research design 16
• 3.2 Research stages 16
• 3.2.1 Devising research questions 16
• 3.2.2 Specifying the types of studies 17
• 3.2.3 Conducting a comprehensive literature search 17
• 3.2.3.1 Keywords for the literature search 18
• 3.2.3.2 Inclusion and exclusion criteria 20
• 3.2.4 Screening the results of the search 22
• 3.2.5 Appraising the included studies 27
• 3.2.5.1 Data extraction 28
• 3.2.6 Synthesizing findings 30
• CHAPTER 4. RESULTS OF SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS 32
• 4.1 Current research state 32
• 4.1.1 Settings 32
• 4.1.2 Methodological approaches used in the included studies 33
• 4.1.3 Study population 34
• 4.2 What are the challenges faced by EFL students in writing their research papers 38
• 4.2.1 Challenges related to academic writing skills 40
• 4.2.2 Challenges related to language proficiency 46
• 4.2.3 Personal, psychological, and emotional issues 49
• 4.2.4 Supervisory and support issues 52
• 4.2.5 University-related issues 53
• 4.2.6 Other notable challenges 54
• 4.3 What are the strategies used by EFL students to overcome research writing challenges 55
• 4.3.1 Strategies to overcome challenges in language proficiency 55
• 4.3.2 Strategies to overcome challenges in the process of writing research papers 58
• 4.3.3 Strategies to overcome research methodology challenges 62
• 4.3.4 Strategies for overcoming challenges in using resources/research tools 64
• 4.4 What are the limitations of included studies 65
• 4.4.1 Generalizability concerns 66
• 4.4.2 Sample size limitations 67
• 4.4.3 Methodological limitations 68
• CHAPTER 5. DISCUSSION 70
• 5.1 Critical analysis of the current state of research 74
• 5.2 Challenges faced by EFL students in writing research papers 83
• 5.3 Strategies used by EFL students to overcome research writing challenges 88
• 5.4 Limitations of the included studies 91
• CHAPTER 6. CONCLUSIONS, LIMITATIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS 94
• 6.1 Conclusion 94
• 6.2 Limitations and significance of the study 96
• 6.3 Recommendations 98
• References 100
• Appendices 110