The Role of Cohesive Devices in the Coherence of Introduction Section of Research-Based Articles in Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics (IJAL)

The objectives of this research are (1) to explain the types of cohesive devices used in the Introduction section of research articles published in the Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics (IJAL), (2) to describe how these devices organize ideas and build discourse cohesion, and (3) to identify the reasons behind the frequency of certain types of cohesive devices. This study employs a qualitative approach and genre analysis to obtain a contextual understanding of cohesive devices in research-based articles. The data consist of the Introduction sections of IJAL articles, chosen because this part introduces the topic, problem statement, research objectives, and the author’s initial arguments that shape the overall content. To analyze cohesive devices, Halliday and Hasan’s framework is applied, which classifies cohesion into grammatical and lexical types. The findings show that reference, conjunction, and reiteration are the most dominant cohesive devices in IJAL Introductions. These devices play a crucial role in constructing integrated ideas and maintaining discourse coherence through logical, thematic, and conceptual relationships. The dominance of these devices demonstrates that the authors’ selection of cohesive devices is strategic and aligned with the characteristics of the academic genre, which values clarity, consistency, and systematic argumentation. Keywords: Coherence, Cohesive Devices, Research-based Article, Introduction