Talking About Research Access By Taeya Boi-Doku

In a world where information is becoming more and more accessible, you can find short guides and explanation pieces for nearly every concept imaginable. In this fast paced and often confusing landscape, gaining an accurate and in-depth understanding of a new topic is difficult. Long gone are the days of going to a library and finding “the source” on a known topic. Now there are countless Google search hits on everything imaginable as well as an emergence of fast spreading non-academic information. In this new era of information, understanding how to find and understand high quality research is a skill well worth learning in order to get information about the ever changing world that surrounds us all.

A few common mistakes to avoid when reading research are to read it like a book. When reading academic papers, the reader has a lot more authority than a fiction reader. Fiction readers require context and follow a flow of dialogue; they are led through the story. Research papers are written to show in-depth knowledge on a highly specific topic, but there are also strategies to use when evaluating the evidence presented by research papers. 

1. Read the introduction closely. The abstract and the introduction usually summarizes the main arguments, and lay out what will be presented in the rest of the paper.  

2. Next, read the conclusion, which also summarizes the main arguments, but usually a bit differently. The conclusion sometimes presents recommendations as well.

3. The methods section will provide a detailed explanation of how the research was done. This gives insight into the choices that the researchers made when conducting the study. Identify:

• Who was included in the study?

• Was the study looking at a specific group of people? – i.e. women, children, people over the age of 50, people from specific communities, etc.

• Did the study participants contribute to the study design?

• What tools were used to collect data? – i.e. surveys, interviews, or observation?

As a reader of research, you are empowered to be investigative and come to your own conclusions. Sometimes news articles or blogs link to research articles, which are the original source of the claims being made. This is a good way to engage with the science that shapes our world.