Introduction
Reading a scientific paper can take time, especially if you are new to it. However, the more you read, the quicker you will become at identifying the information you need for your studies.
It is important to recognise the difference between grey literature original research and a literature review.
- Grey Literature refers to information produced by non-academic publishers. This includes government reports, doctoral dissertations and some conference papers.
- Original Research refers to a type of research that involves the collection and analysis of new data or evidence to answer a specific research question or test a hypothesis. This can also be referred to as primary research. It is characterized by the generation of new insights, findings, or theories rather than the reanalysis of existing data or the review of previously published works. Original research typically follows a systematic methodology and is often published in academic journals to contribute to the body of knowledge in a particular field.
- Secondary Research is the process of analysing and synthesising existing data, studies, or literature that have already been collected or published by other researchers. This type of research does not involve the collection of new data; instead, it relies on previously conducted studies, reports, articles, and other sources of information.
Common forms of secondary research include:
- Literature Reviews: Summarising and analysing existing research on a particular topic.
- Meta-Analyses: Statistically combining results from multiple studies to identify patterns or effects.
- Systematic Reviews: A rigorous review of existing literature to address specific research questions.
Whether you initially focus your reading on original research or literature reviews depends on the type of information you need. If you want a broad overview of a topic, start with literature reviews.
Initial Observations
It can be helpful to highlight the following aspects of an article before you begin reading. This will allow you to correlate the information with the article and assist you when citing evidence in your writing.
- Author(s): Look for their qualifications, previous work, and expertise in the field to evaluate the credibility and authority of the research.
- Year of Publication (online and in press can vary): Recent studies may offer more current data and perspectives, while older articles may provide foundational theories or historical context.
- Institutional Affiliations: Consider any potential conflicts of interest or biases related to the authors' affiliations, especially if the research is funded by organizations with specific interests.
- Publishing Journal: High-quality journals maintain strict standards for publication, which can indicate the robustness of the research methodology and findings.
Article Components
While the basic structure of an article is similar across disciplines, some components may vary. Here is a summary of the typical components of an article in the Sciences.
| Component | Summary |
|---|---|
Title | Concisely describes the main topic or findings of the research. It should be informative, and specific, and include key terms relevant to the study. |
Abstract | A brief overview of the research. It summarises the background, methods, results, and conclusions. |
Introduction | Introduces the research topic, provides background information, and states the research question or hypothesis and may include a brief literature review. |
Methods | Description of how the research was conducted and includes sub-sections such as the study design, participants, materials, procedures, and data analysis methods. |
Results/Findings | Presentation of the data from the research. This section often includes tables, charts, or other visualisations of the data. An interpretation of the data is not included in this section. |
Discussion | Interpretation of the results and an explanation of their implications, and how they relate to the research question or hypothesis and existing knowledge of the topic. The significance of the results are discussed and compared with previous research. The limitations and suggested areas for future research are often included. |
Conclusion | The authors summarise and synthesise the main findings from the research and discuss how the findings contribute to the research on this topic. |
References | List of information sources the authors consulted and cited in their article. |
In the Arts and Humanities, the discussion and conclusion often run throughout the entire article and are the main components. This section provides analysis and evaluation of the research.
Reading Strategies
Using a reading strategy when reading a research article can improve your comprehension of the topic and research, enhance retention, facilitate critical thinking, help synthesise information and connect ideas, and save time.
Some common reading strategies are summarised here.
-
Preview, Read, Review (PRR)
PRR is a simple method and may be more suitable for shorter texts or when you need a quick method to process information.
Here are the steps:
- Preview:
- Skim the Material: Look over headings, subheadings, and any highlighted or bolded terms.
- Overview: Get a general sense of the content and structure. Read the introduction and conclusion to understand the main ideas.
- Identify Purpose: Understand why you are reading the material and what you hope to gain from it.
- Read:
- Active Reading: Read the material in detail, focusing on understanding the content.
- Annotate: Take notes, highlight key points, and write down any questions or thoughts that arise.
- Engage with the Text: Think critically about what you are reading, and relate it to what you already know.
- Review:
- Summarise: Summarise the main points from what you have read.
- Recap Notes: Go over your notes and annotations.
- Reflect: Think about how the information fits into the larger context of the subject matter and how it applies to your goals.
- Preview:
-
Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review (SQ3R)
SQ3R is more comprehensive and structured method. This is useful for in-depth study and understanding of complex material.
- Survey:
- Scan the Text: Look over headings, subheadings, and any highlighted or bolded terms.
- Get the Big Picture: Read the introduction, conclusion, and any summaries to grasp the main ideas and structure.
- Question:
- Ask Questions: Turn headings and subheadings into questions. For example, “What is the main idea of this section?” or “How does this concept apply in practice?”
- Purpose-Driven Reading: Think about what you want to learn and why it’s important.
- Read:
- Detailed Reading: Read the text thoroughly to find answers to the questions you formulated.
- Annotate: Take notes, highlight key information, and write down answers to your questions as you find them.
- Recite:
- Recall Information: After reading a section, try to recall the main points and answers to your questions without looking at the text.
- Summarise Aloud: Summarise the information in your own words to reinforce understanding and retention.
- Review:
- Go Over Notes: Review your notes, summaries, and any questions and answers.
- Revisit Difficult Sections: Re-read any parts of the text that were challenging to understand.
- Reflect and Connect: Think about how the new information integrates with what you already know and how it applies to your goals or objectives.
- Survey:
Choosing a reading strategy that best fits your reading material and learning style is important. These two common strategies both promote active engagement with the text, enhancing comprehension and retention