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چکیده
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In the dynamic landscape of Applied Linguistics (AL) research, the role of secondary research is pivotal, yet its nuanced nature remains understudied. To address this gap, our study systematically analyzes 815 secondary research studies (1930–2021) sourced from top-tier AL journals and the online archives of eight major academic publishers. Guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) scoping review framework, we applied explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria to capture a broad range of diverse secondary research in AL. Using a four-dimensional framework, comprising ‘size’ (study volume), ‘time’ (longitudinal trends), ‘citation’ (impact metrics), and ‘characteristics’ (typology and process), our analysis reveals key trends in secondary research across the field. Specifically, narrative reviews declined from 11.41% (1930–2000) to 7.85% (post-2000), while meta-analyses surged from 2.33% to 12.88% in the same time frame, reflecting a broader disciplinary shift toward standardized research protocols. The findings demonstrate the discipline’s methodological maturation through meta-analytic approaches alongside author collaboration (p ≤ .001) on citation rates and scholarly influence. These patterns provide a substantive analysis of AL’s secondary research evolution and clear directions for future scholarship, particularly investigating the factors contributing to effective collaborative systematic syntheses and assessing how publication bias may shape citation trends and scholarly visibility.
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