How to Read & Use Scholarly Scientific Articles
Primary scientific articles can be difficult to read and understand. As burgeoning scholars it is vital that you develop reading strategies early on to help you use scientific literature. Click on the links below to learn the common structure of scientific articles and how to navigate them for efficiency and comprehension.
- Anatomy of a Scholarly ArticleCheck this tutorial from NCSU for a great visual overview of what a scholarly article will look like.
- How to Read a Scientific PaperThis tutorial from Purdue University Libraries gives you strategies on how to efficiently read a scientific paper for comprehension.
Take a dictionary with you!
When you are just getting started in a discipline, one of the most difficult things about reading the literature is understanding the language. Using scientific dictionaries and encyclopedias to look up unfamiliar terms can be hugely helpful.
Use the resources below to assist you as you read:
- WikipediaUse with caution. Great for the simple task of learning definitions and quick overviews on a topic.
Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyProvides a comprehensive survey of modern biochemistry and molecular biology. Includes definitions of terms from the fields of Bioinformatics, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Genetics, Immunology, Mathematics, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Systems Biology, and Toxicology.
Handbook of EnzymesConcise data on ~5,000 enzymes; applications in analytical, synthetic and biotechnology processes, in food industry, and for medicinal treatments.
Primary Research Articles vs. Review Articles - How can I tell the difference?
Differentiating between original primary research articles and review articles can be a bit tricky. Both types of articles are considered "scholarly" and appear in peer reviewed journals. However, it is an essential skill in the sciences to be able to differentiate between the two types of articles. Below is information to assist you in determining what type of article you are viewing.
| Article Type | Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|---|
Research Article |
Author(s) present new set of findings from original research after conducting an original experiment. Typically contains the following distinct sections:
|
Sabet, M., Tarazi, Z., Nolan, T., Parkinson, J., Rubio-Aparicio, D., Lomovskaya, O., Dudley, M. N., & Griffith, D. C. (2018). Activity of meropenem-vaborbactam in mouse models of infection due to KPC-producing carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 62(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.01446-17 |
Review Article |
Author(s) analyze and summarize existing research. Often focus on a general topic and brings together all relevant, useful articles on that topic in one article. Do not contain sections such as Methods or Results because they did not conduct original research. References within a review article can help you locate primary research articles on a topic! |
Musher, D. M., & Arasaratnam, R. J. (2022). Contributions of animal studies to the understanding of infectious diseases. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 74(10), 1872-1878. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab844 |