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Do you feel overwhelmed when reading scientific papers? In this email, I’m going to show you 5 steps to read, comprehend and utilize the findings from research papers.

This technique will help you navigate the dense jargon, data and grasp the core ideas and in scientific papers:

Step 1: Skim read

Start with a skim read to grasp the big picture in the title, abstract, and introduction. Check the publishing date to ensure relevance and make a note of unfamiliar terms for further research. Check whether the journal is peer-reviewed.

Step 2: Pose questions to yourself

Ask yourself crucial questions such as the sample size and whether it is representative of the larger population. Check the study’s replicability, funding sources, and any limitations identified in the discussion section.

Step 3: Decode the author’s inquiry

Determine the question the authors aim to answer, assess if the findings are well-supported by evidence, consider their novelty, and check if they align with other research in the field.

Step 4: Interpret results

Interpret the results cautiously by examining the discussion for key issues and new findings and scrutinizing graphs and tables to ensure they make sense even without captions.

Step 5: Summarize

Summarize your thoughts and make notes to clarify your understanding, consider any questions for the authors, ponder the next steps, and discuss the paper with others.

That’s it! Don’t let scientific papers intimidate you any longer. If you need further details on this topic, BMJ has created guidelines for different types of papers here.

Note: Talking about an article in a journal club or more informal environment forces active reading, participation and recall of the material.

Good luck on your research journey, and stay tuned for my future guides!

Regards, Asad