What Type of Online Information Source Is Shown Here? Art Journal

• Journal List
• J Oral Maxillofac Pathol
• five.17(1); Jan-Apr 2013
• PMC3687192

J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2013 Jan-April; 17(1): 65–70.

Fine art of reading a periodical article: Methodically and finer

RV Subramanyam

Department of Oral Pathology, Drs Sudha and Nageswara Rao Siddhartha Institute of Dental Sciences, Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh, Bharat

Abstract

Groundwork:

Reading scientific literature is mandatory for researchers and clinicians. With an overflow of medical and dental journals, information technology is essential to develop a method to choose and read the right manufactures.

Objective:

To outline a logical and orderly approach to reading a scientific manuscript. By breaking downward the job into smaller, footstep-past-step components, one should be able to attain the skills to read a scientific article with ease.

Methods:

The reader should brainstorm by reading the championship, abstruse and conclusions first. If a decision is made to read the entire article, the key elements of the article can be perused in a systematic fashion effectively and efficiently. A cogent and organized method is presented to read articles published in scientific journals.

Conclusion:

One tin can read and appreciate a scientific manuscript if a systematic approach is followed in a simple and logical manner.

Keywords: Articles, journal, reading, enquiry, systematic

INTRODUCTION

"We are drowning in information but starved for noesis."

John Naisbitt

It has become essential for the clinicians, researchers, and students to read articles from scientific journals. This is non only to proceed abreast of progress in the speciality concerned but also to exist aware of electric current trends in providing optimum healthcare to the patients. Reading scientific literature is a must for students interested in research, for choosing their topics and carrying out their experiments. Scientific literature in that field volition help one empathize what has already been discovered and what questions remain unanswered and thus help in designing one's enquiry projection. Sackett (1981)[ane] and Durbin (2009)[ii] suggested various reasons why almost of us read journal manufactures and some of these are listed in Table ane.

Table 1

Common reasons for reading periodical articles

The scientific literature is burgeoning at an exponential charge per unit. Between 1978 and 1985, virtually 272,344 articles were published annually and listed in Medline. Betwixt 1986 and 1993, this number reached 344,303 manufactures per year, and between 1994 and 2001, the figure has grown to 398,778 articles per year.[3] To exist updated with electric current knowledge, a md practicing full general medicine has to read 17 articles a day, 365 days a yr.[four]

In spite of the internet rapidly gaining a strong foothold as a quick source of obtaining information, reading periodical manufactures, whether from print or electronic media, still remains the most mutual way of acquiring new information for virtually of u.s..[2] Newspaper reports or novels tin be read in an insouciant way, but reading research reports and scientific articles requires concentration and meticulous approach. At present, at that place are 1312 dentistry journals listed in Pubmed.[five] How can one cull an article, read information technology purposefully, effectively, and systematically? The aim of this article is to provide an reply to this question past presenting an efficient and methodical approach to a scientific manuscript. Withal, the reader is informed that this newspaper is mainly intended for the amateur reader unaccustomed to scientific literature and not for the professional person interested in critical appraisal of journal manufactures.

TYPES OF Periodical ARTICLES

Unlike types of papers are published in medical and dental journals. One should be aware of each kind; especially, when i is looking for a specific type of an article. Table 2 gives different categories of papers published in journals.

Table 2

Types of articles published in a journal

In general, scientific literature can exist chief or secondary. Reports of original inquiry class the "main literature", the "core" of scientific publications. These are the articles written to present findings on new scientific discoveries or draw earlier piece of work to acknowledge information technology and place new findings in the proper perspective. "Secondary literature" includes review articles, books, editorials, practice guidelines, and other forms of publication in which original inquiry information is reviewed.[6] An article published in a peer-reviewed periodical is more valued than ane which is not.

An original research commodity should consist of the following headings: Structured abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion (IMRAD) and may be Randomized Command Trial (RCT), Controlled Clinical Trial (CCT), Experiment, Survey, and Case-control or Cohort study. Reviews could be not-systematic (narrative) or systematic. A narrative review is a broad overview of a topic without any specific question, more or less an update, and qualitative summary. On the other manus, a systematic review typically addresses a specific question most a topic, details the methods by which papers were identified in the literature, uses predetermined criteria for choice of papers to be included in the review, and qualitatively evaluates them. A meta-analysis is a blazon of systematic review in which numeric results of several separate studies are statistically combined to determine the outcome of a specific research question.[7–nine] Some are invited reviews, requested by the Editor, from an expert in a particular field of study.

A instance report is a report of a unmarried clinical instance, whereas, a case series is a description of a number of such cases. Example reports and instance serial are description of illness (due south) generally considered rare or report of heretofore unknown or unusual findings in a well-recognized condition, unique procedure, imaging technique, diagnostic test, or handling method. Technical notes are description of new, innovative techniques, or modifications to existing procedures. A pictorial essay is a instruction article with images and legends but has limited text. Commentary is a short article on an author'southward personal opinion of a specific topic and could exist controversial. An editorial, written by the editor of the journal or invited, can be perspective (about articles published in that particular issue) or persuasive (arguing a specific bespeak of view). Other manufactures published in a journal include messages to the editor, book reviews, conference proceedings and abstracts, and abstracts from other journals.[ten]

WHAT TO READ IN A JOURNAL? – CHOOSING THE Correct Commodity

Not all research manufactures published are excellent, and it is pragmatic to determine if the quality of the report warrants reading of the manuscript. The starting time stride for a reader is to choose a right article for reading, depending on 1's private requirement. The side by side step is to read the selected article methodically and efficiently.[2] A uncomplicated decision-making flowchart is depicted in [Figure 1], which helps one to decide the type of article to select. This flowchart is meant for i who has a specific intent of choosing a particular blazon of article and not for one who intends to browse through a periodical.

Schematic flowchart of the first step in choosing an commodity to read

HOW TO Start READING AN ARTICLE?

"In that location is an art of reading, equally well as an art of thinking, and an fine art of writing."

Clarence Mean solar day

At first glance, a journal commodity might appear intimidating for some or confusing for others with its tables and graphs. Reading a research article can be a frustrating experience, peculiarly for the one who has non mastered the fine art of reading scientific literature. Only like there is a method to extract a tooth or prepare a cavity, 1 can also learn to read research articles past post-obit a systematic approach. Most scientific articles are organized as follows:[ii,11]

1. Title: Topic and information most the authors.

2. Abstract: Brief overview of the article.

3. Introduction: Background information and argument of the enquiry hypothesis.

4. Methods: Details of how the study was conducted, procedures followed, instruments used and variables measured.

5. Results: All the information of the written report along with figures, tables and/or graphs.

6. Discussion: The interpretation of the results and implications of the study.

7. References/Bibliography: Citations of sources from where the information was obtained.

Review articles do not usually follow the above pattern, unless they are systematic reviews or meta-assay. The key rule is: Never showtime reading an commodity from the beginning to the end. It is better to begin past identifying the conclusions of the study past reading the title and the abstruse.[12] If the commodity does not have an abstract, read the conclusions or the summary at the end of the article first. After reading the abstruse or conclusions, if the reader deems information technology is interesting or useful, then the entire article can be read [Figure two].

Decision-making flowchart to decide whether to read the chosen commodity or non

THE Championship

Similar the championship of a movie which attracts a filmgoer, the championship of the article is the one which attracts a reader in the offset identify. A skilful title volition inform the potential reader a not bad deal about the study to make up one's mind whether to go ahead with the paper or dismiss information technology. Most readers prefer titles that are descriptive and self-explanatory without having to look at the entire commodity to know what it is all nigh.[two] For case, the paper entitled "Microwave processing – A blessing for pathologists" gives an thought almost the commodity in general to the reader. But there is no indication in the championship whether it is a review article on microwave processing or an original research. If the title had been "Comparing of Microwave with Conventional Tissue Processing on quality of histological sections", even the insouciant reader would have a meliorate understanding of the content of the newspaper.

ABSTRACT

Abstract helps us decide whether we should read the entire article or not. In fact, most journals provide abstract free of cost online allowing u.s.a. to decide whether we need to purchase the entire commodity. Nearly scientific journals now accept a structured abstract with separate subheadings like introduction (background or hypothesis), methods, results and conclusions making it easy for a reader to identify important parts of the study quickly.[13] Moreover, there is usually a restriction about the number of words that can be included in an abstract. This makes the abstract concise plenty for one to read rapidly.

The abstruse tin be read in a systematic mode by answering certain fundamental questions similar what was the study about, why and how was the report conducted, the results and their inferences. The reader should brand a note of any questions that were raised while reading the abstract and exist sure that answers take been establish later reading the entire article.[12]

Reading the entire article

Once the reader has decided to read the entire article, one can begin with the introduction.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the introduction is to provide the rationale for conducting the study. This section usually starts with existing knowledge and previous inquiry of the topic under consideration. Typically, this section concludes with identification of gaps in the literature and how these gaps stimulated the researcher to design a new written report.[12] A good introduction should provide proper background for the written report. The aims and objectives are usually mentioned at the finish of the introduction. The reader should also determine whether a research hypothesis (study hypothesis) was stated and afterward check whether information technology was answered under the discussion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This department gives the technical details of how the experiments were carried out. In most of the research articles, all details are rarely included but there should be enough data to understand how the report was carried out.[12] Information about the number of subjects included in the written report and their categorization, sampling methods, the inclusion criteria (who tin can be in) and exclusion criteria (who cannot exist in) and the variables called can be derived past reading this department. The reader should get acquainted with the procedures and equipment used for data collection and find out whether they were appropriate.

RESULTS OF THE STUDY

In this section, the researchers requite details about the information collected, either in the course of figures, tables and/or graphs. Ideally, interpretation of information should not be reported in this department, though statistical analyses are presented. The reader should meticulously go through this segment of the manuscript and find out whether the results were reliable (same results over time) and valid (measure what it is supposed to measure). An important aspect is to check if all the subjects present in the beginning of the written report were accounted for at the end of the written report. If the answer is no, the reader should bank check whether any caption was provided.

Results that were statistically significant and results that were not, must be identified. I should also notice whether a correct statistical examination was employed for analysis and was the level of significance appropriate for the written report. To capeesh the pick of a statistical test, one requires an understanding of the hypothesis being tested.[14,xv] Table 3 provides a list of commonly used statistical tests used in scientific publications. Clarification and interpretation of these tests is beyond the scope of this paper. It is wise to remember the following communication: It is non but of import to know whether a difference or clan is statistically significant but likewise appreciate whether information technology is large or substantial plenty to be useful clinically.[16] In other words, what is statistically significant may not be clinically significant.

Table iii

Basic statistics usually used in scientific publications

DISCUSSION

This is the most important department of the commodity where the enquiry questions are answered and the meaning of analysis and estimation of the data are presented. Usually the study results are compared with other studies, explaining in what aspects they were different or like. Ideally, no new data should be presented under discussion and no information from other sections should be repeated.[2] In addition, this section also discusses the diverse strengths and limitations/shortcomings of the study, providing suggestions about areas that demand boosted research.

The meaning of results and their analyses, new theories or hypotheses, limitations of the written report, caption of differences and similarities with other comparable studies, and suggestions for hereafter enquiry are offered in this department. It is important to remember that the discussions are the authors' interpretations and opinions and not necessarily facts.

READING THE Decision (AGAIN !)

Though determination part had been read at the beginning, it is prudent to read it once again at the end to confirm whether what we had inferred initially is correct. If the conclusion had not made sense before, information technology may make sense after having perused through the unabridged article. Sometimes, the study conclusions are included in the discussion section and may not exist easy to locate. The questions that can be asked under various sub-headings of an original enquiry paper are presented every bit a simple questionnaire in Tabular array 4. It is causeless that one who is using this questionnaire has read and analyzed the abstract and and then decided to read the entire article. This questionnaire does not critically analyze a scientific commodity. Notwithstanding, answers to these questions provide a systematic approach to obtain a broad overview of the manuscript, particularly to a novice. If one who is new to reading articles, writing answers to these questions and taking notes will help in understanding most aspects of a research article.

Tabular array 4

Questionnaire for original enquiry articles

CONCLUSION

"Let us read with method, and propose to ourselves an end to which our studies may indicate. The apply of reading is to assist us in thinking."

Edward Gibbon

It has go mandatory to read scientific literature to be well-informed of e'er-expanding data and/or for amend diagnosis, prognosis and therapy. Since in that location is an abundance of journals and articles, information technology is critical to develop a modus operandi for achieving a rapid, purposeful, effective and useful method to read these manuscripts. A simple merely efficient and logical approach to scientific literature has been presented here for choosing manufactures and reading them systematically and effectively for a better understanding.

Footnotes

Source of Support: Nil.

Disharmonize of Involvement: None declared.

REFERENCES

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Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3687192/

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