Research 101: How to Read a Scientific Paper

1. Research 101: How to Read a Paper
Harold Gamero

2. Which types of papers exist?
Original
research
Review article Other types
• Quantitative research
(experiments, surveys)
• Qualitative research
(interviews, observation)
• Case reports
• Conference reports
(proceedings)
• Systematic literature
reviews
• Meta-analysis
• Meta-synthesis
• Meta-research
• Notes
• Conceptual papers
• Replies to other
• Editorial letters
• Methodological
• Epistemological
• Etc.

3. References
Metadata
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Methods
Limitations & future research
Introduction
Structure of a Paper
• Title
• Authors
• Journal
• Abstract
• Keywords
• Problem
• Theory(s)
• Model(s)
• Hypothesis
• Design
• Sample
• Instruments
• Procedures
• Tables or graphs
• All findings
• Relevance of
results
• Contrast with
previous research
• Important results
• Response on
hypotheses
• Opportunities
for future
projects

4. References
Metadata
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Methods
Limitations & future research
Introduction
Original
research
Literature
review
Structures of a Paper
Metadata
Introduction
Literature
review
Conclusions
References
Conclusions
Limitations & future research
Other types
References
Metadata
Introduction
Body
Conclusions

5. References
Metadata
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Methods
Limitations & future research
Introduction
References
Metadata
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Methods
Limitations & future research
Introduction
Original
research
Meta analysis
Structures of a Paper
Other types
References
Metadata
Introduction
Body
Conclusions

6. • Linear reading is not efficient.
• Papers are complex.
• Avoid losing time in the wrong papers.
Gives a general idea about
the paper
3-pass reading approach
First pass
Second pass
Third pass
Grasp of the paper’s
content
Understand the paper in
depth

7. • Carefully read the title, abstract, and
keywords
• Read the titles (section and sub-section
headings).
• Identify the concepts in figures, tables and
diagrams
• Read the conclusions
1st Pass
Answer the 5 Cs
Category: What type of paper is this?
Context: Which theoretical bases were
used to analyze the problem?
Correctness: Do the assumptions
appear to be valid?
Contributions: What are the paper’s
main contributions?
Clarity: Is the paper well written?

8. Metadata

9. Abstract

10. You can now choose to:
(a) Set the paper aside (not to read it)
(b) Return to the paper later (after
reading background material)
(c) Go on to the third pass
• Read the introduction and identify the
research problem or Qs
• Identify key concepts, such as variables and
Units of analysis
• Read the hypothesis and the theory behind
2nd Pass

11. 3th Pass
• Verify that the same variables are mentioned along the document (hypothesis, graphs,
results and conclusions).
• Understand the methods used.
• Check whether the conclusions are correctly drawn from the results or the statistical
analysis.
• Check the references for ground or seminal papers.

12. References
Metadata
Results
Discussion
Conclusions
Methods
Limitations & future research
Introduction
How to evaluate the paper
• Are the elements clearly identified?
• The summary is complete?
• Accurate keywords?
• Does it come from a reliable journal?
• Reasonable assumptions?
• Is a theoretical approach explained?
• Are the hypotheses theoretically
supported?
• Was everything measured as it
should?
• Are the findings well explained?
• Are the procedures transparent?
• Can the process be replicated?
• Does it mention what is to be
measured?
• Does it explain where and how will
this elements be measured?
• Is the methodology clear?
• Does it answer to the hypotheses or
questions?
• Are they correctly derived from the
results?

13. Thank you.
Harold Gamero