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𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫!

Be it for advancing your knowledge, scrutinizing facts, or simply for your academic work, you need to read a scientific paper at some point. But how do you begin? The highly structured format and sophisticated info may overwhelm and confuse you initially. This article aims to make the process of reading a scientific paper, which although is lengthy, less daunting. Before we start, make sure you realize that a research paper requires a strategic approach, involving multiple readings & note-taking, and often consulting supplementary materials.

𝟭. 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴

Brush your eyes over the content for a few minutes to grasp the overview and understand the ‘skeleton’ of the paper. Look for key elements such as the title, abstract, headings, and any figures requiring analysis.

𝟮. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁

Heard otherwise? Well, contrary to the common approach, begin with the introduction rather than the abstract. The introduction provides sufficient background information and sets the stage for the research question. It helps you understand the context paper. This prevents you from unwillingly becoming biased toward the author’s interpretation of the results.

𝟯. 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Research articles are aimed at disseminating knowledge. When reading one, ask yourself: “What is the main issue this paper is trying to solve or shed light on?” This step is important for you to understand why the research was conducted in the first place.

𝟰. 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱

Summarise the background info ideally in five sentences. This aids in pinpointing the essential context: previous work in the field, its limitations, and the justification behind the current study.

𝟱. 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Determine the specific research question(s) the authors aim to answer. What is the current stance on the topic? What is to be done next? And so on. Write these down to keep your reading focused.

𝟲. 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀

Understanding the research methodologies is important to comprehend the validity and reliability of the results. In most cases, you may just need to skim through this section unless you want to replicate the methods for yourself.

𝟳. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 & 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀

The results section presents the data collected during the study. Analyze them jot down the key findings and decide whether the results answer the specific research question(s). Formulate your interpretations before reading the authors’ discussion.

𝟴. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Consider whether you agree with their conclusions. Think critically about alternative explanations and any potential weaknesses or biases in the study.

𝟵. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁

Finally, read the abstract. Check if it accurately summarizes the entire paper. The abstract should reflect the aim, methods, results, and conclusions of the study.

𝟭𝟬. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀

Well, congrats! You have read a research paper! If you are still curious about the study, use the references section as a valuable resource for further reading, which can guide you to foundational studies relevant to the topic.

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲-

As you read, keep asking yourself questions: Have I understood all the terminology? Am I focusing on the crucial parts of the article? This reflective approach deepens your understanding and helps integrate new knowledge with existing concepts. Practice makes perfect! It is the same with reading scientific articles. By following the above steps, you’ll get adept at extracting valuable insights from research papers, ultimately enhancing your scientific literacy and critical thinking.

Written By-

𝐍𝐚𝐳𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐫

Assistant Content Lead, BIIHR

B.Pharm. (Pursuing), Independent University, Bangladesh