9/15/2021 How to (seriously) read a scientific paper | Science | AAAS

How to (seriously) read a scientific paper

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Adam Ruben's tongue-in-cheek column about the common difficulties and frustrations of reading a scientif
among Science Careers readers. Many of you have come to us asking for more (and more serious) advice o
scientific literature, so we've asked a dozen scientists at different career stages and in a broad range of field
it is clear that reading scientific papers becomes easier with experience, the stumbling blocks are real, and i
and apply the techniques that work best for them. The responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.

How do you approach reading a paper?

I start by reading the abstract. Then, I skim the introduction and flip through the article to look at the figure
prominent one or two figures, and I really make sure I understand what's going on in them. Then, I read the
have done that will I go back into the technical details to clarify any questions I might have.
- Jesse Shanahan, master's candidate in astronomy at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut
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Should I need more detail, I access any provided data repositories or supplemental information.

Then, if the authors' research is similar to my own, I see if their relevant data match our findings or if there
are, I think about what could be causing them. Additionally, I think about what would happen in our model
they did and what we could learn from that. Sometimes, it is also important to pay attention to why the auth
experiment in a certain way. Did the authors use an obscure test instead of a routine assay, and why would t
- Jeremy C. Borniger, doctoral candidate in neuroscience at Ohio State University, Columbus

I always start with title and abstract. That tells me whether or not it's an article I'm interested in and whethe
it—both scientifically and linguistically. I then read the introduction so that I can understand the question b
figures and tables so I can get a feel for the data. I then read the discussion to get an idea of how the paper f
knowledge.

I pay attention to acknowledgement of limitations and proper inference of data. Some people stretch their c
can be a red flag for me. I also put on my epidemiologist hat so that I can try to make sure the study design
hypotheses being examined.

As I go deeper into the argument framing, figures, and discussion, I also think about which pieces are excit
biologically or logically relevant, and which ones are most supported by the literature. I also consider whic
hypotheses and research questions.
- Kevin Boehnke, doctoral candidate in environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan, Ann A

My reading strategy depends on the paper. Sometimes I start by skimming through to see how much might
applicable to my current topic, I'll read the paper closely, apart from the introduction that is probably alread
figure out if there are particular places or figures that I need to pay close attention to, and then I go and read
results and discussion.

I also check if there are references that I may be interested in. Sometimes I am curious to see who in the fie
been referenced, to see whether the authors are choosing to ignore certain aspects of the research. I often fin
actually offer the most curious and interesting results, especially if the results relate to parts of the field tha
they are unclear or unhelpful to their interpretation of the overall story.
- Gary McDowell, postdoctoral fellow in developmental biology at Tufts University in Medford, Massachus
College

When reading papers, it helps me to have a writing task so that I am being an active reader instead of lettin
text only to forget everything I just read. So for example, when I read for background information, I will sa
article about a specific topic in a Word document. I'll write comments along the way about new ideas2/5I got
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9/15/2021 How to (seriously) read a scientific paper | Science | AAAS

What I choose to read is based on relation to my research areas and things that are generating lots of interes
driving the way we do psychology, or science more widely, in new directions. Most often, what I am trying
methodology, experimental design, and statistical analysis. And so for me, the most important section is fir
and second what they found (results).

It can also be interesting to understand why the authors thought they were doing the study (introduction) an
(discussion). When it is an area that I know a lot about, I don't usually care much about these sections beca
theoretical predilections and one of many ways to think about the method and results. But when it is an are
read these closely because then I learn a lot about the assumptions and explanatory approaches in that area
- Brian Nosek, professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia and executive direct
in Charlottesville

First I read very fast: The point of the first reading is simply to see whether the paper is interesting for me.
slower and with more attention to detail.

If the paper is vital to my research—and if it is theoretical—I would reinvent the paper. In such cases, I onl
work out everything else on my own, not looking into the paper. Sometimes this is a painfully slow process
authors not writing clearly enough, omitting essential points and dwelling on superfluous nonsense. Someti
- Ulf Leonhardt, professor of physics at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel

I nearly always read the abstract first and only continue on to the paper if the abstract indicates that the pap
the topic of the paper is one I know well, I generally skim the introduction, reading its last paragraph to ma
being addressed in the paper. Then I look at the figures and tables, either read or skim the results, and lastly

If the topic is not one I know well, I usually read the introduction much more carefully so that the study is p
skim the figures and tables and read the results.
- Charles W. Fox, professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington

It is important to realize that shortcuts have to be taken when reading papers so that there is time left to get
writing, conducting research, attending meetings, teaching, and grading papers. Starting as a Ph.D. student,
conclusions and methods of academic journal articles and chapters rather than entire books.
- Rima Wilkes, professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver

As editor-in-chief of Science, I have to read and comprehend papers outside of my field all the time. Gener
editors' summaries, which are meant for someone like me: a science generalist who is interested in everythi
field. Next, I check to see if someone wrote a News article on the paper. Third, I check to see if there is a P
main goal of a Perspective is to broaden the message of the paper, but often the authors do a great job
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9/15/2021 How to (seriously) read a scientific paper | Science | AAAS

I will typically pause immediately to look up things I don't understand. The rest of the reading may not mak
phrase or jargon. This can backfire a bit, though, as I often go down never-ending rabbit holes after looking
influences Y. … So what's Y? etc…). This can be sort of fun as you learn how everything is connected, but
pull your attention away from the task at hand.

Sometimes, all the jargon in a paper can cloud the whole point of the experiments in the first place. In such
"What question were the authors trying to answer?" Then you can determine whether they succeeded or fai
- Borniger

It depends on how much the non-understandable bits prevent me from following the main ideas. I usually d
details in all the sections the first time I read a paper. If non-understandable parts appear important for my r
even contact the lead author directly. Going back to the original references to get all the background inform
can be limited and collaborations and personal contacts can be much more efficient in solving specific prob
- Tubiana

Sometimes, you can just read through a paper and any terms you're not familiar with will become clearer by
then stopping and seeking additional information is usually the way to go. I do a quick Google search on th
If it is a very dense article, sometimes it will require a few read-throughs before it all starts to make sense.
- Gray

The question I ask myself is, "Do I need to understand what that means in order to get what I need from thi
research areas well outside of my expertise, and I often don't need more than superficial knowledge of the s
anything with the paper unless I don't understand that depth, then I do more background research.
- Nosek

Lately, I have had to read a number of papers outside my area of expertise with a lot of unfamiliar jargon. I
extract the information I need from the results or figures and tables. In other cases, I use Google searches to
paper or read the cited references to better understand the points being made. Occasionally, papers are so in
that I don't bother reading them.
- Fox

Do you ever feel overwhelmed reading papers, and how do you deal with

All the time. If the paper is relevant to a problem I am trying to solve, you can be sure that there are key thi
understand. That confusion is not a threat; it is an opportunity. I am ignorant; I need to become less ignoran

Simultaneously, some papers are written terribly and are not worth the effort. Someone else has surely
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through collaborations?
- Tubiana

If I feel the paper is very important to what I'm doing, I'll leave it a while and go back to it again a couple o
overwhelming, then I have to leave it aside, unless someone among the colleagues I have contacted has bee
- McDowell

Do you have any other tips you'd like to share?

If there is a seminal paper I want to thoroughly understand, I find some way to give a journal club-style pre
particular paper and answering questions is the best way for me to learn the material.

Also, get a good reference manager. Mendeley helps me do my research, read literature, and write papers.
- Colucci

At the beginning, new academic readers find it slow because they have no frame of reference for what they
use reading as a system of creating a mental library, and after a few years, it becomes easy to slot papers on
can quickly skim a paper to know its contribution.
- Wilkes

Be patient. Don't be afraid or ashamed to use Wikipedia or other, more lay-audience sources like blog posts
many, many questions. If you can't get a clear understanding of the paper, talk with people in your circle. If
really important to understand the concepts, email the authors.
- Boehnke

Don't hesitate to talk to more experienced scientists. You will be doing THEM a favor by having them expl
what a complex paper means. All scientists need more experience translating complex concepts into comm
- McNutt

If at all possible, read often. Try to keep a bibliography file with a summary of the article, any important po
with citation information. Pay attention to different ways of structuring an article, and pay attention to diffe
help you develop a style that is effective and also unique.
- Shanahan

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