If you have opened a research article and felt overwhelmed, you are not alone. Research articles follow a standardized structure and use technical language to help researchers communicate clearly with one another. While this approach works well within scientific communities, it may feel dense or confusing to others.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a scientist to make sense of research. With the right strategies and some practice, these articles can be easier to navigate and understand. This guide will teach you key techniques to help you explore research with more confidence.
The Scientific Method
Scientific research is built on a problem-solving process called the scientific method. It’s a step-by-step approach that helps scientists explore observations, ask questions, and test ideas. While this may sound complicated, we often use this process in everyday life to understand the world around us.
The scientific method typically follows five main steps as shown in the interactive diagram below. Click on each stage to learn more.
Make an Observation
Ask a Question
Make a Hypothesis
Test the Hypothesis
Draw Conclusions
Types of Research Articles
There are different types of research articles that offer different kinds of information. Each type serves a unique role in expanding our understanding of EDS and HSD.
Type of Research Article |
Description |
Example |
| Original or Primary Research | Presents new data from experiments, clinical trials, or surveys | A clinical trial testing a new blood pressure medication in people with vEDS |
| Case Study | Documents unique symptoms, rare genetic variants, or treatment outcomes in single people or small groups | A report on a newly identified variant or symptom in someone with spEDS |
| Narrative Review | Summarizes existing research but does not introduce new experiments or data | An overview of the existing research on pain management strategies for HSD |
| Systematic Review | Uses a structured approach to analyze multiple studies to answer a specific question | An analysis of the existing research to understand the most effective physical therapy approaches for hEDS |
| Meta-analysis | Combines data from multiple studies using statistical methods to identify broader patterns | An analysis of the combined data from existing research to estimate the prevalence of different types of EDS and HSD |
Types of Research Articles
There are different types of research articles that offer different kinds of information. Each type serves a unique role in expanding our understanding of EDS and HSD.
Original or Primary Research
Presents new data from experiments, clinical trials, or surveys
Example: A clinical trial testing a new blood pressure medication in people with vEDS
Case Study
Documents unique symptoms, rare genetic variants, or treatment outcomes in single people or small groups
Example: A report on a newly identified variant or symptom in someone with spEDS
Narrative Review
Summarizes existing research but does not introduce new experiments or data
Example: An overview of the existing research on pain management strategies for HSD
Systematic Review
Uses a structured approach to analyze multiple studies to answer a specific question
Example: An analysis of the existing research to understand the most effective physical therapy approaches for hEDS
Meta-analysis
Combines data from multiple studies using statistical methods to identify broader patterns
Example: An analysis of the combined data from existing research to estimate the prevalence of different types of EDS and HSD
Research Article Structure
Most research articles follow a standard format, using headings to help readers find key information. The structure and order of sections may vary between journals.
Abstract
The abstract is a short summary (usually around 250 words) that provides a quick overview of the research question, methodology, and results. The abstract can help you decide if you want to read the full article.
Reader Takeaways
- What is this research article about?
Introduction
The introduction explains the background information about the research, leading up to why the study was done. This section outlines existing knowledge, highlights gaps, and introduces hypotheses. It may also define key terms and concepts used throughout the article.
Reader Takeaways
- What is the topic of the research study?
- What is already known about the topic?
- Why is this study important?
- What gap in the current research will the authors address with this study?
Methods
The methods explain how the researchers conducted the study. They describe who or what the researchers studied and outline the tools, equipment, and procedures used to collect and analyze the data.
Reader Takeaways
- What was measured?
- How was it measured?
Results
The results share the study’s findings objectively, without interpretation. This section often includes charts, tables, or images to visualize the results of the study.
Reader Takeaways
- What did the figures show for each experiment?
- Were there clear differences between the groups?
- Were there any unexpected results?
Discussion
In the discussion, the researchers interpret their findings and explain how the study relates to existing knowledge of the topic. The authors evaluate whether their results answer their research question and discuss the broader implications of their findings.
Reader Takeaways
- What conclusions did the authors come to?
- What assumptions might the authors be making?
- Could there be other explanations for the findings?
- Did the authors mention any weaknesses or limitations in the study?
Conclusion
The conclusion summarizes the main findings of the study and their impact within the relevant field. It may also propose future research directions or suggest how the findings could be applied outside of the research.
Reader Takeaways
- What are the key takeaways from this study?
- What could be explored in future research?
References
The references or bibliography is a list of resources that the authors used when developing their research.
Supplementary Materials/ Information
Some research articles include a supplementary materials section. These materials are not part of the main text but offer useful context or extra data from the study. This section may include additional charts, images, or notes that were excluded due to space limitations or because they were not essential for understanding the core findings of the article.
Reading an Article
Reading a research article is different from browsing a blog post or news article. You don’t have to read every article from start to finish. In many cases, the abstract, introduction, and conclusion provide a clear overview of the study’s purpose and findings.
If you only read part of a study, avoid making firm conclusions or sharing findings without context. Important details, limitations, or conflicting data may be found elsewhere in the article. Skipping sections could lead to misunderstandings or misinformation.
Your first article may take time to read, but, like any skill, it gets easier with practice. Take notes, look up unfamiliar terms, and revisit difficult sections when needed.
Get an Overview of the Study
Most people start by reading the abstract, which can give you a sense of the article’s purpose and help you decide whether to keep reading. Just remember that the abstract is only a summary and to avoid drawing firm conclusions based on this section alone.
If you’re still interested after reading the abstract, skim the introduction to understand why the research was done and what it aims to show. This information is usually found in the first and last paragraphs of the introduction.
Review Key Takeaways
Reading the conclusion can offer a well-rounded snapshot of the study’s results and impact, which is especially helpful when you’re not planning to read the full article. It often explains how the findings contribute to existing knowledge, how they might affect everyday life, and may suggest directions for future research.
Understand the Purpose
If you’d like to read the full article, the introduction provides the necessary background to understand why the study was conducted. It also introduces key concepts and terminology, so take note of any unfamiliar terms and look them up. Summarizing the introduction in your own words can also help to clarify the study’s overall aim.
Review the Results
When reviewing the results, focus on identifying the patterns rather than interpreting their meaning. To help make sense of the results, note what each experiment or comparison uncovered in your own words.
In science, figures refer to visual representations of data, such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and images, that can highlight patterns more clearly than the surrounding text. The descriptive text underneath a figure, also known as a figure legend, can explain what the lines, bars, or markers represent, making the data easier to understand.
If a section feels unclear, refer to the methods section to explain how the research was conducted. Scientific methods can be complicated, but you don’t need to understand every detail. Accessible online resources can make these concepts easier to follow.
Interpret the Findings
Once you understand the results, consider what they mean. Forming your own interpretation before reading the discussion can help you spot potential bias in the research or in your own interpretations.
The discussion connects the study’s findings to existing research and broader context. Authors often explain how their results compare to past studies, highlight implications for the field, and suggest directions for future research. The discussion might also propose updates to clinical guidelines or point to gaps in current understanding.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking means actively asking questions, identifying potential limitations, and assessing the credibility of a source. Limitations can affect how well findings apply to real-world settings. For instance, results from mouse models may not translate to humans, and treatments tested in small, specific groups might not work the same in broader, more diverse populations. Consider the study’s methods, scope, and what might be missing to judge whether the results are broadly applicable or if further research is needed.
Be cautious about extending results beyond the study’s scope. Assumptions can lead to misinformation. If the study doesn’t clearly answer your question, feels vague in its conclusions, or makes big leaps in logic, ask yourself:
- Have other studies found similar results?
- What changes to the study design could better answer your question?
- What future research might confirm or challenge the study’s findings?
Evaluating Credibility
A useful tool for evaluating information is the CRAAP test, which stands for:
Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose
It can be applied to everything from scientific articles to social media posts. That said, not all valuable research will meet every CRAAP criterion. Some sources may still offer useful insights, as long as you’re aware of their context and limitations.
Currency refers to how recent the information is.
To assess currency, consider the following:
- When was the original information published?
- Has the information been revised or updated since it was first published?
- Does your research question require the most up-to-date information, or are older sources acceptable?
In science, information changes regularly as new discoveries are made. However, clinical guidelines may take years to update. When searching for medical research, it is often best to focus on articles published within the last 10 years.
Relevance refers to how well the information relates to your question or topic.
To assess relevance, consider the following:
- Does the content directly relate to your needs?
- Who is the intended audience?
- Is the information too simple or complex?
- Have you checked other sources to see if there is a more relevant resource?
A lot of information on EDS and HSD is written for clinical or academic audiences, which can make it hard to follow. Though, if the information is relevant to your question, it may still be worth reading. Try using this guide to help navigate the content.
Authority refers to the author’s expertise on the subject.
To assess authority, consider the following:
- Who is the author or source of the information?
- What are the author’s credentials or affiliations?
- Is the author qualified to write on the topic?
- Is contact information available, such as a publisher or email address?
- Does the URL reveal anything about the author or source (examples: .com .edu .gov .org .net)?
Titles alone don’t confirm authority. For example, the title “Doctor” can refer to a doctorate in a range of subjects, including areas unrelated to medicine, like history or engineering. When assessing a source’s authority, consider the person’s field of study, professional background, and life experience.
Accuracy refers to how reliable and correct the information is.
To assess accuracy, consider the following:
- Where does the information come from?
- Is the information supported by evidence and references?
- Has the information been peer reviewed, or fact checked?
- Can you verify any of the information in another source or from personal knowledge?
- Does the language or tone seem objective and unbiased?
Accuracy goes beyond simply finding supporting evidence. Research articles are peer-reviewed for accuracy before publication in a journal.
Purpose refers to why the information exists.
To assess purpose, consider the following:
- What is the purpose of the information? Is it to inform, teach, sell, entertain, or persuade?
- Do the authors or sponsors make their intentions or purposes clear?
- Does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
- Are there political, ideological, cultural, religious, institutional, or personal biases?
When assessing purpose, consider who benefits from the findings and if the authors may be biased. Bias is a preference toward a specific result that can prevent people from being impartial.
For example, a pharmaceutical company researching its own product would benefit from sharing positive results. Commercial pressures may shape how findings are interpreted or communicated.
Peer review by impartial experts adds a layer of accountability, helping detect bias and ensuring fair presentation of results.
Sharing Research
Now that you know how to read research articles, it’s time to take the next step and share what you’ve learned!
Find a research study that interests you and share it in our research study thread on Inspire. Whether you post a summary, share your own insights, or ask questions, joining the conversation can help others engage with the research.
