Tips for Reading Scientific Research Reports

Not all science or research is created equal. Some research is likely to hold more weight than other research. Researchers and academics often recognize quality research readily, while others — even other professionals such as doctors and clinicians — may struggle with understanding the value of any given journal article.

The intent of this article is to provide some basic tips on reading research reports. I will assume you already have at a least a basic understanding of different methods and statistical procedures used in analyzing research data. (In order to maximize the benefits of reading a research report it is important to have at least a basic understanding of research methods and statistics.)