How to read a scientific paper

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How to read a scientific paper

Pilot Phys299L course Quantitative Biology and
Biophysics
Linda ZANE Linda.zane_at_nih.gov
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Parts of a paper

• - Abstract
• - Introduction
• - Materials and Methods
• - Results (and Tables Figures)
• - Discussion

Each of these sections normally contains easily
recognized conventional features
If you read with an anticipation of these
features, you will read an article more quickly
and comprehend more.
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• Start with the abstract decide if this paper is
  of interest to you.
• Introduction
• Discussion
• Results look at the figures and tables, while
  you read the text.
• Methods details if the paper is closely related
  to your research.

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• Why did the authors do the study?
• How did the authors do this study?
• What data/results emerged from the study? Am I
  able to summarize the specific findings in one or
  two sentences?

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• Why did the authors do the study?
• How did the authors do this study?
• What data/results emerged from the study?
• What is the significance of these findings?
• What is the quality of the evidence?

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• Improves recall and comprehension
• will save you hours of rereading when you write

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Template for Taking Notes on Research
Articles Easy access for later use
Complete citation. Author(s), Date of
publication, Title (book or article), Journal,
Volume , Issue , pages Key Words General
subject Specific subject Hypothesis Methodology
Result(s) Summary of key points Context (how
this article relates to other work in the field
how it ties in with key issues and findings by
others, including yourself) Important Figures
and/or Tables (brief description page
number) Cited References to follow up on (cite
those obviously related to your topic AND any
papers frequently cited by others because those
works may well prove to be essential as you
develop your own work) Other Comments