In recent years, the necessity of adopting a critical approach to scholarly research articles in academic disciplines has become increasingly significant, not only due to the fundamental role of such articles in the university context but also as a result of the growing admission of postgraduate students. The consequent rise in the number of academic research papers and the increasing specialization of scholarly journals across various fields has emerged. Although problem identification is recognized as the starting point and a core element in the evaluation of research articles, the importance of writing a well-structured problem statement—given its selective and motivational functions—is no less significant than problem detection and problem solving themselves. A general review of the problem statements in articles on mystical literature published over the past decade reveals that, in a considerable number of cases, the inclusion of sections titled “Introduction” or “Problem Statement” at the beginning of papers is largely habitual and undertaken without sufficient awareness of the function, structure, and content required of a proper problem statement. The articulation of statements without a clearly defined problem, the presence of problems without adequate articulation, and the inappropriate inclusion of other research components within the problem statement section constitute major shortcomings in the writing of problem statements in articles on mystical literature. The present study adopts a survey–analytical method, with the research population consisting of scholarly research articles published in the journal Pazhuhesh-hā-ye Adab-e ‘Erfāni (Gowhar-e Goyā) [Journal of Mystical Literature Studies] between 2014 and 2024. Data were collected through library research using a note-taking technique.
Extended Abstract
1. Introduction
Academic research articles constitute one of the most prominent manifestations of research activity within academic environments. Adopting a critical approach toward research articles within a given academic discipline and its associated journals—aimed at identifying and eliminating potential shortcomings and enhancing their scholarly quality—can contribute significantly to the qualitative development of both the discipline and its academic outlets.
Although the starting point of academic research articles is a problem-generating situation that gives rise to problem identification, the articulation of that problem, given its selective and motivational functions, represents one of the most crucial stages in the process of composing a research article. A review of problem statements in journals of mystical literature over the past decade indicates that, in a considerable number of cases, the inclusion of a section entitled “Problem Statement” at the beginning of articles has been largely habitual, while the authors’ awareness of the function, structure, and content of a proper problem statement remains limited and open to critique. Recurrent errors in the formulation of problem statements in mystical literature research over the past ten years, along with the absence of any independent academic research article works specifically devoted to analyzing the element of the “problem statement” in articles on mystical literature, constitute the primary motivations for the present study. Accordingly, the necessity and significance of this topic are self-evident and require no further justification.
To identify the existing deficiencies in the writing of problem statements in mystical literature research, the present study examines articles published in the journal Pazhuhesh-hā-ye Adab-e ‘Erfāni (Gowhar-e Goyā) [Journal of Mystical Literature Studies] from 2014 to 2024. The study seeks to answer the following research question: What are the most prominent shortcomings in problem statements found in articles published in journals of mystical literature?
 
2. Methodology
The present research employs a survey–analytical design. The research population consists of 237 scholarly articles published in the journal Pazhuhesh-hā-ye Adab-e ‘Erfāni (Gowhar-e Goyā) [Journal of Mystical Literature Studies] between 2014 and 2024, covering Volumes 8 to 18 across 27 consecutive issues (Issues 26 to 53). This journal is the only academic periodical that, since its inception, has been dedicated exclusively to the field of mystical literature, with the stated objective of promoting systematic research and enhancing foundational and specialized knowledge in this domain. Data were collected through library-based research using a note-taking method, and the data were analyzed descriptively within the text using a critical approach.
 
3. Results and Discussion
One of the most fundamental requirements of academic research articles is adherence to a specific structural framework for presenting scientific content; without such structure, research articles cannot fulfill their role in the chain of knowledge translation. However, the importance of structure is not uniform across all components of a scholarly article. Given the selective and motivational–persuasive functions of the problem statement, the need for structural rigor in this section is particularly critical. Structure in the problem statement should be regarded as an independent and productive stage in the research process, rather than merely an evaluative criterion applied during textual assessment. Consequently, adherence to structural principles in formulating the problem statement is indispensable for strengthening the communicative relationship between the article and its audience.
A structural approach to writing the problem statement conceptualizes its components as an interconnected network whose elements, through their mutual relations, play a decisive role in clarifying and articulating the content and direction of the research.
 
4. Conclusion
The most prominent shortcomings observed in the writing of problem statements in articles on mystical literature include the following:
Problem Statement without a Problem: This deficiency manifests in two components: the mere explanation of the topic in place of a genuine problem, and the production of a statement that only appears to simulate a problem. In topic-oriented articles, the problem statement often amounts to a subject explanation devoid of any actual problem, even though it may exhibit minimal structural coherence in form.
Pseudo–Problem Statements: Pseudo-problems arise from artificially constructed titles produced during the process of title fabrication rather than genuine title identification. Such constructions represent a form of contrived problem-making and typically appear in two subcategories: problems that implicitly contain their own answers, and the aggregation of multiple distinct issues into a single, ill-defined problem.
Problem without Proper Articulation: In some articles, the existence of an underlying problem cannot be denied; however, the potential problem has not been properly formulated or adequately developed. This deficiency appears in two forms: ambiguity in problem expression and negligence or excessive brevity in problem formulation, which may indicate fatigue, haste, or insufficient mastery of the problem-identification process.
Conflation of Other Research Components with the Problem Statement: The integration of other research elements into the problem statement section reflects a lack of structural competence on the part of the author and frequently results in audience confusion.