How to Critically Read a Scientific Paper

J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2013 January-Apr; 17(1): 65–70.

Art of reading a journal commodity: Methodically and effectively

RV Subramanyam

Department of Oral Pathology, Drs Sudha and Nageswara Rao Siddhartha Found of Dental Sciences, Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Background:

Reading scientific literature is mandatory for researchers and clinicians. With an overflow of medical and dental journals, it is essential to develop a method to choose and read the right articles.

Objective:

To outline a logical and orderly approach to reading a scientific manuscript. By breaking down the chore into smaller, step-by-footstep components, one should be able to attain the skills to read a scientific article with ease.

Methods:

The reader should brainstorm past reading the title, abstract and conclusions outset. If a decision is made to read the entire commodity, the primal elements of the commodity tin be perused in a systematic way effectively and efficiently. A denoting and organized method is presented to read articles published in scientific journals.

Conclusion:

One can read and appreciate a scientific manuscript if a systematic approach is followed in a simple and logical manner.

Keywords: Manufactures, journal, reading, research, systematic

INTRODUCTION

"We are drowning in information but starved for noesis."

John Naisbitt

Information technology has become essential for the clinicians, researchers, and students to read articles from scientific journals. This is not but to continue beside of progress in the speciality concerned just also to be enlightened of current trends in providing optimum healthcare to the patients. Reading scientific literature is a must for students interested in research, for choosing their topics and carrying out their experiments. Scientific literature in that field will help one understand what has already been discovered and what questions remain unanswered and thus help in designing one'due south research project. Sackett (1981)[1] and Durbin (2009)[2] suggested various reasons why near of us read periodical articles and some of these are listed in Table 1.

Table 1

Common reasons for reading journal articles

The scientific literature is burgeoning at an exponential rate. Between 1978 and 1985, nearly 272,344 articles were published annually and listed in Medline. Between 1986 and 1993, this number reached 344,303 manufactures per twelvemonth, and betwixt 1994 and 2001, the figure has grown to 398,778 articles per year.[3] To exist updated with electric current knowledge, a physician practicing general medicine has to read 17 articles a mean solar day, 365 days a twelvemonth.[4]

In spite of the internet rapidly gaining a strong foothold as a quick source of obtaining data, reading journal articles, whether from print or electronic media, even so remains the well-nigh common style of acquiring new information for most of us.[ii] Newspaper reports or novels tin can be read in an insouciant manner, but reading research reports and scientific articles requires concentration and meticulous approach. At present, in that location are 1312 dentistry journals listed in Pubmed.[5] How can one choose an commodity, read it purposefully, finer, and systematically? The aim of this commodity is to provide an answer to this question past presenting an efficient and methodical approach to a scientific manuscript. Yet, the reader is informed that this paper is mainly intended for the amateur reader unaccustomed to scientific literature and not for the professional interested in critical appraisal of periodical articles.

TYPES OF JOURNAL ARTICLES

Different types of papers are published in medical and dental journals. One should be aware of each kind; especially, when one is looking for a specific type of an article. Tabular array 2 gives different categories of papers published in journals.

Table 2

Types of articles published in a journal

In general, scientific literature can exist primary or secondary. Reports of original inquiry class the "master literature", the "core" of scientific publications. These are the articles written to nowadays findings on new scientific discoveries or describe before piece of work to admit information technology and identify new findings in the proper perspective. "Secondary literature" includes review articles, books, editorials, practice guidelines, and other forms of publication in which original research information is reviewed.[6] An article published in a peer-reviewed journal is more valued than one which is not.

An original research article should consist of the following headings: Structured abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion (IMRAD) and may be Randomized Control Trial (RCT), Controlled Clinical Trial (CCT), Experiment, Survey, and Case-control or Cohort study. Reviews could be non-systematic (narrative) or systematic. A narrative review is a broad overview of a topic without any specific question, more or less an update, and qualitative summary. On the other hand, a systematic review typically addresses a specific question virtually a topic, details the methods past which papers were identified in the literature, uses predetermined criteria for selection of papers to exist included in the review, and qualitatively evaluates them. A meta-analysis is a type of systematic review in which numeric results of several separate studies are statistically combined to make up one's mind the issue of a specific research question.[seven–nine] Some are invited reviews, requested by the Editor, from an skillful in a detail field of written report.

A case report is a study of a single clinical example, whereas, a case series is a description of a number of such cases. Instance reports and case series are clarification of affliction (s) generally considered rare or study of heretofore unknown or unusual findings in a well-recognized condition, unique procedure, imaging technique, diagnostic test, or treatment method. Technical notes are description of new, innovative techniques, or modifications to existing procedures. A pictorial essay is a teaching article with images and legends just has express text. Commentary is a short article on an author'south personal opinion of a specific topic and could be controversial. An editorial, written by the editor of the periodical or invited, can exist perspective (almost articles published in that particular effect) or persuasive (arguing a specific point of view). Other articles published in a journal include letters to the editor, book reviews, conference proceedings and abstracts, and abstracts from other journals.[x]

WHAT TO READ IN A JOURNAL? – CHOOSING THE Correct ARTICLE

Not all enquiry articles published are excellent, and information technology is pragmatic to decide if the quality of the written report warrants reading of the manuscript. The first footstep for a reader is to choose a right article for reading, depending on one's individual requirement. The side by side step is to read the selected article methodically and efficiently.[2] A simple decision-making flowchart is depicted in [Figure ane], which helps one to determine the blazon of commodity to select. This flowchart is meant for one who has a specific intent of choosing a item type of article and not for ane who intends to scan through a journal.

Schematic flowchart of the offset step in choosing an article to read

HOW TO START READING AN ARTICLE?

"There is an art of reading, as well every bit an fine art of thinking, and an fine art of writing."

Clarence Day

At first glance, a journal article might appear intimidating for some or confusing for others with its tables and graphs. Reading a enquiry article can exist a frustrating feel, especially for the i who has not mastered the art of reading scientific literature. Just like in that location is a method to extract a molar or gear up a cavity, ane tin can likewise learn to read research manufactures by post-obit a systematic approach. Most scientific articles are organized equally follows:[2,eleven]

1. Title: Topic and data near the authors.

2. Abstract: Brief overview of the article.

3. Introduction: Background information and statement of the research hypothesis.

4. Methods: Details of how the study was conducted, procedures followed, instruments used and variables measured.

5. Results: All the data of the study along with figures, tables and/or graphs.

6. Give-and-take: The interpretation of the results and implications of the study.

7. References/Bibliography: Citations of sources from where the information was obtained.

Review articles do not usually follow the above pattern, unless they are systematic reviews or meta-analysis. The cardinal dominion is: Never start reading an article from the starting time to the end. It is better to begin by identifying the conclusions of the study by reading the title and the abstruse.[12] If the article does non have an abstract, read the conclusions or the summary at the stop of the article first. After reading the abstract or conclusions, if the reader deems information technology is interesting or useful, and then the entire commodity tin can be read [Effigy 2].

Decision-making flowchart to decide whether to read the called article or not

THE TITLE

Like the title of a pic which attracts a filmgoer, the title of the article is the ane which attracts a reader in the first place. A practiced championship will inform the potential reader a neat deal near the written report to decide whether to go ahead with the paper or dismiss information technology. Most readers prefer titles that are descriptive and self-explanatory without having to await at the entire article to know what it is all about.[2] For case, the paper entitled "Microwave processing – A approving for pathologists" gives an idea about the article in general to the reader. But there is no indication in the title whether it is a review commodity on microwave processing or an original research. If the title had been "Comparison of Microwave with Conventional Tissue Processing on quality of histological sections", even the insouciant reader would have a meliorate agreement of the content of the paper.

Abstract

Abstract helps the states determine whether nosotros should read the entire article or not. In fact, virtually journals provide abstract gratis of cost online allowing us to make up one's mind whether we demand to purchase the entire commodity. Most scientific journals at present have a structured abstruse with carve up subheadings like introduction (background or hypothesis), methods, results and conclusions making it easy for a reader to identify important parts of the study quickly.[thirteen] Moreover, there is ordinarily a restriction nearly the number of words that tin be included in an abstruse. This makes the abstract concise enough for one to read rapidly.

The abstract can be read in a systematic fashion past answering sure fundamental questions like what was the study about, why and how was the report conducted, the results and their inferences. The reader should make a note of whatsoever questions that were raised while reading the abstract and exist sure that answers have been establish after reading the entire article.[12]

Reading the entire article

One time the reader has decided to read the entire article, one can begin with the introduction.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the introduction is to provide the rationale for conducting the report. This department normally starts with existing knowledge and previous research of the topic under consideration. Typically, this section concludes with identification of gaps in the literature and how these gaps stimulated the researcher to pattern a new report.[12] A good introduction should provide proper background for the study. The aims and objectives are usually mentioned at the terminate of the introduction. The reader should as well determine whether a research hypothesis (study hypothesis) was stated and later check whether it was answered under the discussion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This section gives the technical details of how the experiments were carried out. In most of the inquiry manufactures, all details are rarely included but there should be enough information to understand how the study was carried out.[12] Information about the number of subjects included in the study and their categorization, sampling methods, the inclusion criteria (who tin be in) and exclusion criteria (who cannot be in) and the variables chosen can be derived by reading this department. The reader should get acquainted with the procedures and equipment used for information drove and find out whether they were appropriate.

RESULTS OF THE STUDY

In this section, the researchers give details about the data collected, either in the form of figures, tables and/or graphs. Ideally, estimation of data should not be reported in this department, though statistical analyses are presented. The reader should meticulously get through this segment of the manuscript and find out whether the results were reliable (same results over time) and valid (measure out what it is supposed to measure). An important aspect is to check if all the subjects present in the beginning of the study were accounted for at the terminate of the study. If the answer is no, the reader should bank check whether any explanation was provided.

Results that were statistically significant and results that were non, must exist identified. 1 should besides observe whether a correct statistical test was employed for analysis and was the level of significance advisable for the study. To appreciate the choice of a statistical test, one requires an agreement of the hypothesis being tested.[14,fifteen] Tabular array three provides a listing of commonly used statistical tests used in scientific publications. Description and interpretation of these tests is beyond the scope of this paper. Information technology is wise to remember the following communication: It is non only important to know whether a difference or association is statistically significant but too appreciate whether information technology is large or substantial plenty to be useful clinically.[16] In other words, what is statistically pregnant may not be clinically significant.

Table three

Bones statistics ordinarily used in scientific publications

Give-and-take

This is the well-nigh important section of the article where the research questions are answered and the meaning of analysis and estimation of the data are presented. Normally the study results are compared with other studies, explaining in what aspects they were different or similar. Ideally, no new information should be presented nether give-and-take and no information from other sections should exist repeated.[two] In addition, this section besides discusses the various strengths and limitations/shortcomings of the study, providing suggestions about areas that demand boosted research.

The pregnant of results and their analyses, new theories or hypotheses, limitations of the study, explanation of differences and similarities with other comparable studies, and suggestions for future inquiry are offered in this section. It is important to call up that the discussions are the authors' interpretations and opinions and not necessarily facts.

READING THE Determination (AGAIN !)

Though decision function had been read at the showtime, information technology is prudent to read it again at the stop to confirm whether what we had inferred initially is correct. If the conclusion had not made sense earlier, it may make sense later having perused through the entire article. Sometimes, the study conclusions are included in the discussion section and may not exist easy to locate. The questions that can be asked under various sub-headings of an original inquiry paper are presented as a simple questionnaire in Table 4. Information technology is causeless that ane who is using this questionnaire has read and analyzed the abstract and then decided to read the entire article. This questionnaire does not critically clarify a scientific commodity. However, answers to these questions provide a systematic approach to obtain a wide overview of the manuscript, peculiarly to a novice. If 1 who is new to reading articles, writing answers to these questions and taking notes will help in understanding most aspects of a research commodity.

Table 4

Questionnaire for original research articles

CONCLUSION

"Permit u.s.a. read with method, and propose to ourselves an finish to which our studies may indicate. The use of reading is to assist us in thinking."

Edward Gibbon

It has become mandatory to read scientific literature to be well-informed of ever-expanding information and/or for better diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Since at that place is an affluence of journals and articles, it is critical to develop a modus operandi for achieving a rapid, purposeful, effective and useful method to read these manuscripts. A simple but efficient and logical approach to scientific literature has been presented here for choosing articles and reading them systematically and effectively for a amend understanding.

Footnotes

Source of Back up: Nil.

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

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Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3687192/

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