Jan 15, 2022
7 steps: How to read research papers?
This is how I conduct research on any topic.
Isn’t it boring to read a research paper? When I first started reading research papers, I was awestruck. I couldn’t even read 1000 words because I couldn’t focus on the paper because I kept thinking, “How long is this paper?”. But I used to push myself so hard. By hook or by crook, I read it.
After reading a few papers, I discovered a method for studying these research papers more efficiently and quickly. In this article, I’ll show you how to read it in my style!
General Format of a Research Paper:
The following are the steps to take when reading research papers:
- Read the Title:
In general, the title of a research paper is about what the researchers discovered during the study. So, it is essentially a summary of the study’s conclusion. As a result, it is referred to as the study’s main conclusion. Hence, we must thoroughly comprehend the title.
2. Quickly examine the paper:
After you get a sense of the study’s conclusion from the title. Check the major headings, patterns, figures, and graphs quickly, such as “How many of those are there?” or “Which graph represents which topic?” Then, highlight the unfamiliar words and phrases. In order for you to understand the vocabulary used in the paper.
You don’t have to understand the headings completely the first time!Simply try to get an idea of it.
3. Read the Abstract:
What is abstract in a research paper? —It defines the purpose of the study and highlights the main topic of the paper. It also describes the major findings of the paper and provides an idea of the outcome. It is essentially a summary of the entire research paper.
So, comprehending the abstract will provide you with a thorough understanding of the entire research paper in no time.
4. Read the Introduction:
When you’re finished with the abstract, it’s time to move on to the introduction. How should I read this lengthy introduction?-If you are familiar with the introduction, you can skip to the last paragraph of the introduction, which will give you the basic message of the study. But,-
If you are unfamiliar with the subject, read the entire introduction section and try to grasp the gist of it.
5. Read the Result Section:
So, once you’ve completed step 4, the real work begins! Read the result word for word. Try to comprehend it in conjunction with their figures and graphs. Take notes and go over each graph and figure with the words in the result section. Finally, interpret the figures and attempt to draw your own conclusions.
Remember that the graphs and figures will help you understand the research better. So, go through this step carefully and come to your own conclusion.
6. Go to the Discussion Section:
After you’ve reached your own conclusion, read the discussions to see if you agree with theirs. Check, “Does the experiment support the conclusion?” or “Does any additional experiment need to be performed?” Finally, consider the research topic’s future aspects.
7. Finally, Read the Methods:
Reading the methods is essential if you want to run additional experiments and understand the techniques used in the study.
If you are already familiar with the techniques, you can dive deeper into the methods for conducting additional experiments on the topic in order to reach a final conclusion for yourself.
Conclusion:
These are the simple seven steps I take whenever I begin reading a research paper. It almost always works out for me! Please leave a comment if this article was useful to you. I would be delighted to hear from you.
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