How to Read a Research Paper?

Nov 8, 2022

Image credit: Unsplash.

Dr Tushar Chauhan

Image credit: Unsplash.

Students often fail to understand the main concept of a literature or research paper. This guide will help you to learn how to read a research paper.

Image credit: Unsplash.

Always be critical of what you think. Do not accept everything written by the author.

Image credit: Unsplash.

Be a critic

Understand what the paper is about and the bigger story behind it. Read the introduction or background.

Image credit: Unsplash.

Focus on concept

Identify the question or aim of the paper and what the author wants to prove. Simultaneously check if the aim is justified or the question is answered.

Image credit: Unsplash.

Aim of the paper

Read and take the key points and prepare a summary in a few sentences about what you understood.

Image credit: Unsplash.

Summarize the paper

Read papers similar to the one you have selected in detail and compare the work done by other authors to see what they have done.

Image credit: Unsplash.

More research

Make a list of things that have been left out and make a note of things you can do.

Image credit: Unsplash.

Note limitations

Write all the pros and cons of the paper, your theory about the paper, and what can be done to improve it.

Image credit: Unsplash.

Make your opinion

Focus on discussion and try to understand if the question is justified or not. Take a look at, if the discussion part is enough to conclude something.

Image credit: Unsplash.

Discussion

Image credit: Unsplash.

Image credit: Unsplash.

I hope you like this story. Please share it and visit our blog for more content.