How do you approach a scientific paper?
Step-by-step instructions for reading a primary research article
- Begin by reading the introduction, not the abstract.
- Identify the BIG QUESTION.
- Summarize the background in five sentences or less.
- Identify the SPECIFIC QUESTION(S)
- Identify the approach.
- Now read the methods section.
How do you contact the author of a research paper?
The other option is to contact the editor of the journal where the article was published and request them to provide you the contact details of the author. Since you have a valid reason, they will surely give you the information.
How do you effectively read a scientific paper?
The following are a few pointers to optimize your reading time.
- Step 1: Read the Abstract. The abstract will give you an overview of the key points of the paper.
- Step 2: Skip the Introduction.
- Step 3: Scan the Methods.
- Step 4: Focus on the Figures.
- Step 5: Tackle the discussion.
- Step 6: File it Away.
Can editors be authors?
While writers create texts, however, editors polish them. Some editors start their careers as writers. They work on texts created by authors or writers. An author conceptualizes, develops, and writes books (print or digital).
How to contact the corresponding author of a scientific paper?
So, if someone is listed as a corresponding author they should not mind you mailing them. The first page of a scientific paper should look like that. Sometime, an author in the list will have a footnote indicating “corresponding author”. He is the author to contact. Be polite, concise and precise in your scientific questions.
How do I get a copy of a scientific paper?
If you send by email, you will usually get a PDF of the paper Virtually all scientific papers have a “corresponding author.” The corresponding author’s affiliations (university, hospital, company, research foundation, whatever) are given, with an address. These days, an email address is given also (most of the time).
What are the guidelines for submitting a research paper?
However, we strongly recommend that you write concisely and stick to the following guidelines: The main text should be no more than 4,500 words (not including Abstract, Methods, References and figure legends) For a definitive list of which limits are mandatory please visit the submission checklist page.
What does the methodology section of a research paper tell you?
The methodology section or methods section tells you how the author (s) went about doing their research. It should let you know a) what method they used to gather data (survey, interviews, experiments, etc.), why they chose this method, and what the limitations are to this method.