Reading Primary Literature

1
Reading Primary Literature

• Understanding the Presentation of Scientific
  Research Results

2
Organization of a Primary Research Paper

• Title
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgements

3
Title Includes

• Purpose of the Experiments
• System or Subject of the Experiments
• (if from a living organism, shows genus and
  species names, eg. Homo sapiens or Arabidopsis
  thaliana)

4
Abstract One Paragraph Including

• Purpose or Rationale of the Study
• Provides background
• Identifies the question or hypothesis
• Explains why the study was done
• Methodology
• Identifies the major experimental approach
• Explains how the study was done
• Results
• Summarizes the major findings
• Shows what was found
• Conclusion
• Briefly explains what the results mean
• Relates to other findings in the field of study

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Introduction Includes

• Background for the question to be studied, from
  general to more specific
• Explains what is known
• Identifies what is not yet known
• Statement of the hypothesis that will be tested
• Identifies the question that the researchers
  asked and answered
• Emphasizes how the current experiments add to
  further understanding in the field of study

6
Materials and Methods Includes

• Description of the Experimental Procedures
• Provides sufficient detail for replicating the
  method
• May refer to other published protocols
• Identification of Sources of Unique Materials

7
Results Data PresentationIncludes

• Description of the experimental outcomes, making
  reference to the data that is presented
• Introduces the order in which the data is
  presented
• May emphasize what the reader should notice about
  the data
• Tables and Figures showing the experimental
  outcomes
• Each has a caption describing its contents
• Combination of Caption Figure or Table needs to
  tell a complete story

8
Measurement of ATP Levels
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Discussion Data InterpretationIncludes

• Explanation of the Meaning and Significance of
  the Results Presented
• Clear Answer to the Question posed in
  Introduction, identifying how the experimental
  results support that answer OR
• Description of how well the data support the
  Hypothesis tested
• Description of how the data relates to and
  extends existing knowledge in the field
• Proposal for future experiments

10
Conclusion

• Briefly summarizes the significant outcomes such
  as
• whether the hypothesis was supported and why or
  why not
• any relationships observed
• future experiments proposed
• May be presented as a final paragraph in the
  discussion rather than a separate section

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References

• In the text, the name-year system is used to cite
  references
• (Rius, et al., 2008)
• APA style is used at the end of the article to
  identify reference articles
• Rius, S.P., Casati, P., Iglesias, A.A. and
  Gomez-Casati, D.F. (2008). Characterization of
  Arabidopsis Lines Deficient in GAPC-1, a
  Cytosolic NAD-Dependent Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate
  Dehydrogenase. Plant Physiology 1481655-1667.

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Acknowledgments

• Identify persons and institutions that the
  authors wish to thank, including funding agencies

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Strategies for Reading Primary Literature

• Use Title Abstract to see a broad overview
• Consider what you already know about the field
• Skim or skip the Introduction if you already have
  background for understanding the research
• Use Figures and Tables to identify the major
  findings
• Consult the Discussion to understand the
  significance the authors assign to their findings
• Delve into the Materials and Methods if needed
  for understanding the figures or as a basis for
  designing your own experiments