Tutorial: How to Read and Comprehend Scientific Research Articles

Summary

This tutorial offers a strategic approach to reading scientific research articles, emphasizing the importance of understanding their structure and content. It suggests reading articles in the order of Abstract, Discussion, Introduction, Results, and Methods to quickly identify relevance and key findings. The script also highlights the need to discern main points and take effective notes, ultimately making the process of engaging with scholarly articles more efficient and insightful.

Takeaways

• 📚 Scientific articles are crucial for staying current in a discipline, offering the most up-to-date scholarly information beyond textbooks and websites.
• 🔍 Skimming is more effective than reading from start to finish for quickly identifying key findings in a scientific article.
• 📝 The recommended reading order for a scientific article is Abstract, Discussion, Introduction, Results, and Methods (A-D-I-R-M).
• 💡 After each section, evaluate the article's relevance and interest to decide whether to continue reading.
• 📘 Abstracts provide a concise overview, including the study's purpose, methodology, results, and conclusion.
• 🤔 The Discussion section offers insights into how the results support the authors' conclusions and should be critically assessed for belief and understanding.
• 🔑 Introductions set the stage by leading from general knowledge to the specific research question, providing context for the study.
• 📊 The Results section presents the key findings and data, which should be assessed for appropriateness and support of the conclusions.
• 🔬 The Methods section details the experiments, which is crucial for understanding the study's design and evaluating its validity.
• 🧐 Identifying the main points can be challenging; look for cues in the title, abstract, keywords, figure/table titles, and key sentences in the introduction.
• 📋 Effective note-taking is essential for saving time, organizing research, and facilitating quick comparisons and understanding.
• ❓ For any questions regarding scientific articles, librarians are a valuable resource for guidance and support.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of scientific articles?

The primary purpose of scientific articles is to communicate scholarly research findings among scholars and researchers within a discipline.

Why are scientific articles considered more reliable than textbooks for current information?

Scientific articles are more up-to-date with the latest research and scholarly information, unlike textbooks which may be outdated due to the time it takes to publish and distribute them.

What is the recommended order for reading a scientific article effectively?

The recommended order is Abstract, Discussion, Introduction, Results, and Methods (A-D-I-R-M), which allows for a quick assessment of the article's relevance and usefulness.

What information does the abstract of a scientific article typically contain?

The abstract typically contains the purpose or rationale of the study, the methodology, the results, and the conclusion.

How does the Discussion section of a scientific article relate to the Introduction?

The Discussion section provides a clear answer to the question posed in the Introduction and explains how the results support the conclusions drawn by the authors.

What is the role of the Introduction section in a scientific article?

The Introduction section serves to stimulate interest in the subject and to place the article within a larger context by leading readers from general knowledge to the specific research question.

What should a reader consider after reading the Results section of a scientific article?

A reader should consider whether the data collected is appropriate to answer the research question and if the data support the conclusions presented in the article.

Why might the Methods section be difficult for students to read?

The Methods section can be difficult due to the technical language and a high level of detail required for another trained scientist to repeat the experiments.

What are some indicators of the author's main points within a scientific article?

Indicators of the main points include the article's title, abstract, keywords, figure and table titles, and specific phrases like 'we hypothesize that', 'we propose', or 'we introduce'.

Why is effective note-taking important when reading scientific articles?

Effective note-taking saves time, helps clarify thoughts, organizes research, enables quick comparisons, and reduces the need for rereading articles.

What should a reader do if they have questions about reading and comprehending scientific articles?

If a reader has questions, they should contact their Librarian for further assistance and guidance.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Effective Scientific Article Reading Strategies

This paragraph introduces the importance of reading scientific articles for staying current in one's field and emphasizes that textbooks and websites are not substitutes for the latest scholarly information. It suggests a non-linear reading order: starting with the abstract, then discussion, introduction, results, and methods. This order helps quickly identify if an article is relevant. The abstract should answer if the article is worth pursuing, while the discussion validates the authors' claims. The introduction provides context and the research question, results present the findings, and methods detail the experiments. The paragraph also advises on identifying the main points and taking effective notes for better comprehension and research.

Keywords

💡Scientific Articles

Scientific articles are formal written documents that communicate the results of research studies to the scholarly community. They are a primary means for researchers to share their findings and contribute to the body of knowledge in their respective fields. In the context of the video, scientific articles are emphasized as the most current and reliable source of scholarly information, surpassing textbooks and popular sources for the latest research.

💡Skimming

Skimming is a reading technique where one quickly scans a text to get a general sense of the content without reading it in detail. The video suggests that this method is more effective than reading a scientific article from start to finish, as it allows expert researchers to identify key findings efficiently. Skimming is particularly useful for evaluating whether an article is worth a deeper read based on its abstract and discussion sections.

💡Abstract

An abstract is a brief summary at the beginning of a scientific article that encapsulates the core elements of the research: the purpose, methodology, results, and conclusion. It serves as a window into the article, allowing readers to quickly assess the relevance and value of the study. The video script highlights the importance of the abstract in the recommended reading order of scientific articles.

💡Discussion

The discussion section of a scientific article interprets the results, explains how they support the conclusions, and situates the findings within the broader context of existing research. It is crucial for understanding the implications of the study. The video emphasizes reading the discussion early to determine if the article's claims are convincing and relevant to one's research interests.

💡Introduction

The introduction section in a scientific article sets the stage by providing background information, identifying a research gap, and stating the specific research question or hypothesis. It is designed to engage the reader and establish the significance of the study. The video script notes that after reading the introduction, one should reflect on the researchers' motivations and how their work builds upon previous research.

💡Results

The results section of a scientific article presents the findings of the research in a factual and unbiased manner, often accompanied by figures and tables for clarity. It is a critical part of the article that provides the evidence needed to draw conclusions. The video script advises readers to assess whether the data is appropriate and supports the conclusions before proceeding.

💡Methods

The methods section describes the procedures and experiments conducted during the research, providing enough detail for other scientists to replicate the study. It is often challenging for students due to technical language and detailed descriptions. The video script suggests that carefully reading this section is essential for understanding the experimental design and evaluating its validity.

💡Main Points

Identifying the main points of a scientific article is key to comprehending its overall message and significance. The video script suggests looking for cues in the title, abstract, keywords, figure and table titles, and the beginning or end of the introduction. Recognizing the main points helps in distinguishing them from less relevant sub-points.

💡Note-Taking

Effective note-taking is a vital skill for managing and synthesizing information from scientific articles. It saves time and clarifies thoughts, allowing for better organization and comparison of research. The video script recommends creating a standard template for note-taking to streamline the research process and facilitate quick revisits to the material.

💡A-D-I-R-M Order

A-D-I-R-M is an acronym representing the recommended order for reading a scientific article, as outlined in the video script: Abstract, Discussion, Introduction, Results, and Methods. This order is designed to help readers quickly identify the usefulness of an article and its relevance to their research.

💡Librarian

A librarian is a professional trained in information science who can assist with research and provide guidance on finding and interpreting resources, including scientific articles. In the context of the video, the librarian is presented as a resource for those who may have questions about reading and comprehending scientific literature.

Highlights

Scientific articles are a primary means of communication among scholars and researchers.

Reading scientific articles is essential for staying current in one's discipline.

Scientific articles provide the most up-to-date scholarly information.

The tutorial outlines a method for effectively reading scientific articles.

Skimming articles is more effective than reading them from start to finish.

Articles are structured into five main sections: Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.

The recommended reading order is Abstract, Discussion, Introduction, Results, and Methods.

Abstracts contain the study's purpose, methodology, results, and conclusion.

The Discussion section provides answers and supports the conclusions with results.

Introductions stimulate interest and contextualize the article within existing knowledge.

The Results section presents the findings and key data, often in figures or tables.

The Methods section details the experiments conducted to answer the research question.

Distinguishing the main points from sub-points can be challenging.

Main points can be identified through the article's title, abstract, keywords, and figure/table titles.

Certain phrases within the article, such as 'we hypothesize' or 'we propose', indicate the main points.

Effective note-taking is crucial for saving time and clarifying thoughts.

A standard note-taking template can help organize research and facilitate comparisons.

Reading articles in A-D-I-R-M order, identifying main points, and taking notes will streamline research.

Transcripts

How to Read and Comprehend Scientific Research Articles

Scientific articles are how scholars and researchers communicate with each other.

Reading scientific articles helps you become part of the conversation of your discipline,

by learning about the research that has come before you.

Textbooks, websites, and popular sources are useful starting places for general information,

but for the most current scholarly information, there is no substitute for scientific articles.

This tutorial will discuss how to read a scientific article, how to find the main points of the

article, and how to take effective notes.

Although it seems counterintuitive, the least effective way to read a scientific article

is from start to finish.

Instead, expert researchers skim articles to identify key findings.

The structure of scientific articles is defined by several distinct sections.

Most articles, like lab reports, are divided into 5 sections: the abstract, the introduction,

the methods, the results, and the discussion.

The most effective way to read an article is in this order: Abstract, Discussion, Introduction,

Results, and Methods.

By going through articles in this order, you’ll be able to quickly find the information you

need to determine if the article will be useful.

After you read each section, ask yourself whether the article is interesting and relevant

enough to your research assignment, which will help you decide whether to continue reading

it.

Abstracts usually contain four kinds of information, the purpose or rationale of study (why they

did it), the methodology (how they did it), results (what they found), and the conclusion

(what it means).

After reading the abstract ask yourself: "is this article worth reading, or should I move

on to another one?"

The Discussion section provides a clear answer to the question posed in the Introduction

and explains how their results support their conclusions.

Once you have read this section, think about whether you understand and believe the authors’

claims.

Introductions serve two purposes: stimulating interest in the subject and putting the article

in a larger context.

Generally, introductions do this by leading readers from the general (what is already

known about the topic) to the specific (what is not yet known) to the focused question

the authors are asking.

Thus, authors describe previous work and how their work relates to it.

Before moving on to the next section ask "Why did the researchers do this study?"

and "Does the research question match up with the conclusions I read in the discussion?"

The Results section states what the authors found and key data, often shown in figures

or tables.

Before moving on to the next section ask whether the data collected is appropriate to answer

the research question and if the data support the conclusions.

The Methods section tells the reader what experiments were done to answer the question

stated in the Introduction.

Methods can be difficult to read for students because of the technical language and a level

of detail sufficient for another trained scientist to repeat the experiments.

However, you can more fully understand the design of the experiments and evaluate their

validity by reading the Methods section carefully.

While you are reading through the article also distinguish the author’s main points.

It can be difficult to distinguish between the main point and less relevant sub-points.

Key places to look for main points include the article’s title, the abstract, keywords,

the figure and table titles, and the first sentence or last couple of sentences in the

Introduction section.

Within the article some useful words to clue you in on the authors’ main points include

“we hypothesize that”, “we propose”, “we introduce”.

Another important part of reading and comprehending scientific articles is taking notes.

Effective note-taking will save you time and help you clarify your thoughts.

Creating a standard template for taking notes will help you organize your research, enable

you to make quick comparisons, and will save you time rereading articles.

Reading scientific articles is challenging, but reading them in A-D-I-R-M order, correctly

identifying the author’s main points, and taking effective notes will save you time

and make your research easier.

If you have any questions please contact your Librarian.