Analysis of Peer Reviewed Journal Article Worksheet-Was the study repeated?

Analysis of Peer Reviewed Journal Article Worksheet

Purpose: Learn how to critically read and analyze peer reviewed literature in the scientific community. Your analysis will also include learning how to appropriately reference and cite materials.

Learning Outcomes:

• Critically read and identify peer reviewed literature.
• Summarize and demonstrate understanding of biological methods and techniques.

General Steps:

1. Skim the article without taking notes:
   1. Read the abstract. The abstract will tell you the major findings of the article and why they matter.
   2. Read first for the “big picture.”
   3. Note any terms or techniques you need to define.
   4. Jot down any questions or parts you don’t understand.
   5. If you are unfamiliar with any of the key concepts in the article, look them up in a textbook.
2. Re-read the article more carefully:
   1. Pay close attention to the “Materials and Methods” (please note that in some journals this section is at the very end of the paper) and “Results” sections.
   2. Ask yourself questions about the study, such as:
      1. Was the study repeated?
      2. What was the sample size? Is this representative of the larger population?

• What variables were held constant? Was there a control?

1. What factors might affect the outcome?

3. Read the “Materials and Methods” and “Results” section:
   1. Carefully examine the graphs, tables, and diagrams.
   2. Try to interpret the data first before reading the captions and details.
   3. Make sure you understand the article fully.
4. As you begin using your article:
   1. Try to describe the article in your own words first.
   2. Try to distill the article down to its “scientific essence.”
   3. Include all the key points and be accurate.
   4. A reader who has not read the original article should be able to understand your summary.
   5. Example of a well-written summary: The egg capsules of the marine snails Nucella lamellosa and lima protect developing embryos against low-salinity stress, even though the solute concentration within the capsules falls to near that of the surrounding water within about 1 h.