Reading Scientific Journals

Rosie Waxman
Jan 3
4 min read

Updated: Jan 22

When Odysseus set sail for Ithaca, he set forth on learning how to navigate the seas, from sirens to whirlpools to monsters. While your backlog of scientific journals to read can feel like one giant epic, it also highlights the poetic potential of interdisciplinary sciences. There are many ways that we can understand and communicate our goals and findings, and sometimes it just takes practice. However, my real question is, is anything easy worth it?

Start With the Abstract

The abstract content is a summary of the entire paper, getting down-to-business about what was discovered and why it matters. I like to begin here, as a great tool for deciding if this paper has relevance to what I'm looking for. For a productive read, one should keep in mind—what is the research question? What methods were used? What are the findings and conclusions?

Understand the Paper Structure

While there are several types of scientific literature, when reading single-study empirical research, most papers are the g-word* in format. Knowing what to expect and where is a good way to break down difficult concepts into manageable chunks. It also informs fundamental research design when creating your own study.

Introduction

background information, outlines the problem, hypothesis

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion

*Generic = the scientific equivalent of that anxiety dream where you walk into class wearing the same outfit as the mean girl or boy or nonbinary individual, leaving you feeling second-guessed among your peers

Read the Introduction

This section sets readers up for a new gem of research by first helping readers understand what we already know—especially useful for someone who might be new to the field of discussion. It also explains why the ongoing research is necessary, thus why readers should further engage with the paper. Look for the research question or hypothesis at the end of the introduction; this will help you understand the study's purpose and what it aims to address.

Skip to the Discussion

The results section can feel scary, especially if it's filled with complex statistical data. Instead, read the discussion first, where the authors explain what their results actually mean, including exploring clinical applications. This section also covers how the study's findings are different or change how we might understand past research, as well as study limitations or suggestions for future research. I like to think of it as the big picture.

Read the Results

Once you've internalized the discussion, go back to the results. You don't need to understand every statistical term to get the main points. Focus on the overall trends or significant findings. I tend to gravitate towards the figures and tables—they often summarize the data more clearly.

Read the Methods

Questioning quality methodologies to solve clinically relevant questions is a cornerstone of effective scientific and clinical practice. Consider if the sample size is large enough to draw meaningful conclusions, if the methods were appropriate for the research question and how variables were controlled. Could you replicate the study? If the methods seem unfamiliar or overwhelming, it just means you have something new to learn about, and what a privilege is that.

Check the References

The references can help you understand where this study stands in the greater scientific community. If a concept is new to you, which might happen, explore some related research. This can also be a good place to start identifying potential academic supervisors for doctoral study side eyes...

Beware of Bias and Limitations [insert_red_flag_here]

Even well-designed studies coming out of top-tier institutions have limitations, and these are usually addressed in the discussion. Some common limitations include small sample sizes or non-representative samples, uncontrolled variables or over-generalizations of the findings. The study might even just be really old. These all affect the validity of a study, and it's up to you to decide if the study meets your standards.

Throughout Your Reading: Take Notes

When reading a scientific journal, I find it helpful to translate the science talk, summarizing key points at the end of each section. This not only reinforces your understanding but also helps you refer back to the study later.

Basically...

The more you engage with scientific journals, the more comfortable you'll become reading and interpreting them, and maybe even using them to help guide your own work. Start with papers that you think you'll like so when the time comes to read something maybe… less interesting… you'll be prepared. Remember, we learn from each other, and soon your fellow researchers will become your peers. It would be a disservice to our patients and to ourselves to not be able to synthesize and apply current findings.

A Note from the Editor

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