The Quality of Scientific Discourse and Its Role in Advancing Sustainable Development: A Content Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the linguistic and stylistic problems in scientific discourse and examine their impact on research quality, knowledge production, and their relationship with sustainable development. The study adopted a descriptive-analytical approach supported by qualitative content analysis. A total of 47 research papers published in the special issue of Al-Farooq Journal of Science, released as part of the proceedings of the 2026 International Scientific Symposium on Green Education, were analyzed. A structured content analysis checklist was employed to assess indicators related to linguistic problems, stylistic problems, the quality of scientific discourse, knowledge production, and the integration of sustainable development concepts. The findings revealed a high level of compliance with key scholarly standards, including clarity of the research problem, accuracy of referencing, soundness of conclusions, and the use of recent literature. However, recurring weaknesses were identified, particularly literal translation of technical terminology, verbosity and redundancy, insufficient critical analysis, and limited innovation in developing scientific models. The study concludes that strengthening scientific discourse skills constitutes a strategic pathway for improving research quality, fostering the knowledge economy, and advancing sustainable development in Arab universities.