How many ways can research be published in the form of articles?
Original Research
Research Articles
These present original findings from experimental or analytical studies, which are done
by the authors themselves.
- This type of article typically has a lot of graphs, pictures (like Western blot)
- This type of article often follows a stand format like IMRaD.
o IMRaD is like the BME structure. Beginner been introduction. Middle
been Methods/ Results/ and Discussion. And the end is the
conclusion.
- It is a direct report of research findings, making it a primary source of
information
- This type of article is also subject to peer review. Meaning they get evaluated
by experts in the field before publication.
o What would a peer reviewer do if the finding is brand new and there
is no background information on it?
Reviewers judge how well the study was designed and argued,
not just whether it agrees with existing knowledge. For
example,
Assess the clarity and rigour of the methods:
o The method used in the paper must be clearly
explained. Research asks, “Would another
researcher be able to replicate this?" and "Are
the methods appropriate to the question being
asked?"
Evaluate the logic and reasoning
o The way the authors connect ideas, interpret
results, and build arguments must be logical
and coherent. Reviewers focus on whether the
conclusion’s logic follows from the data.
No major contradictions should appear.
Check if the hypothesis is clearly and reasonably
supported by the data, rather than being a wild guess.
Suggest further experiments if needed
Case Reports
o Case reports provide a thorough narrative of the patient’s condition, symptoms,
and treatment. It often highlights something rare, novel, or educationally
valuable.
What is the benefit of this?
Case reports can lead to the discovery of new diseases, unusual
side effects or unexpected responses to treatment.
How is it structured?
Title – Clear and descriptive.
Abstract – Summary of the key findings.
Introduction – Why the case is important.
Case Description – Patient history, symptoms, tests, diagnosis,
treatment.
Discussion – Interpretation, relevance to existing knowledge.
Conclusion – Lessons learned or clinical implications.
Case Studies
o A case study is a qualitative research method that provides a detailed and
contextualized investigation of a specific subject
Individual
Group
Community
Event
Organization
Process
o Example
If you want to understand how students deal with stress in university, you
might do a case study on one student’s daily life. By studying that one
case in detail, you can find patterns or insights that help you understand
how many students might feel or act in similar situations.
o How do they get their data?
Interviews
observation
questionnaires (survey)
Short/Brief report
o This report is a concise document that is typically under 2500 words. It focuses
on the most important aspects of the topic, it does that by summarizing key
information or findings on the specific topic.
But there are three types of brief reports,
Academic Report
o A brief report might summarize the findings of a smallscale research project in a field like psychology or
sociology
o Example:
A psychology student conducts a survey on study habits of
100 university students and writes a 5-page brief report
summarizing trends in procrastination and performance.
Scientific Report
o Brief reports can be used to share unexpected
observations or lab protocols
o Example:
A biologist observes an unexpected mutation in fruit flies
and writes a short report to inform the genetics research
community.
Business Report
o In a business setting, a brief report might summarize a key
finding from a market research study.
o Example:
A market research team prepares a 2-page report for
executives showing that 60% of surveyed customers prefer
eco-friendly packaging, with a recommendation to shift
product lines accordingly.
Review Articles
literature review
o A literature review is like a report that shows what other researchers have
already said about a topic.
It summarizes, compares, and explains what is already known, what
people agree or disagree on, and what questions still need answers.
o Why is this important?
It helps us understand the existing research and identify relevant
theories, methods, and potential sources
It can help you identifies gap in the research. It highlights area where
more research is needed.
Systematic review
o A systematic review is a carefully planned way to find and look at all the
research studies about one specific question.
o Why is this important?
It helps people know what the best research says about a topic.
Tells us which findings are most trustworthy.
It avoids bias by using a step-by-step method.
Good quality/ poor quality evidence is treated same.
It helps doctors, scientists, and decision-makers use the strongest
possible evidence.
Let's say a doctor is deciding whether to recommend a new
drug or treatment. Instead of relying on one study (which could
be flawed), they can look at a systematic review that:
o Summarizes all the best studies.
o How do they do it?
Asking a clear question (e.g., "Does yoga reduce stress in adults?")
Searching through many databases for all studies related to that
question.
Choosing the best fitting studies on the question.
Reviewing the quality of those studies.
Summarizing what all the results show together.
If those best fitting studies say yoga reduces stress,
the review will likely conclude that yoga is effective.
Meta-analysis
o A meta-analysis is a mathematical way to combine the results of many
different studies on the same topic.
o Sometimes one study says a treatment works, and another says it
doesn’t.
A meta-analysis takes the data from all the studies and calculates
an average effect, which is usually more reliable.
It gives a bigger picture by using more data than any single study.
o How it works
Start with a systematic review to gather all the good studies on a
topic.
Extract the key numbers from each study (e.g., success rate, risk
level, average scores).
Use statistical formulas to combine the results.
Create charts (like forest plots) to show how strong the effect is.
Look for patterns — for example, whether the effect is stronger in
some groups than others.
o Example for meta
Question: Does taking vitamin C help prevent colds?
You find 10 good studies:
o 4 say "Yes, it helps"
o 3 say "No difference"
o 3 say "Maybe, just a little"
A meta-analysis will:
o Collect the data from all 10 studies (like the number of
people, outcomes, and measurements)
o Use statistics to combine the results
o Tell you the overall effect - for example, "Vitamin C
reduces cold risk by 12%."
Methodology Articles
o A methodology article is a research paper that explains a new method, or an
improved version of an old method, for doing research, experiments, or data
analysis.
This article acts as a “guidebook” for scientists, it is written with scientific
evidence to prove the method works well.
o What is the purpose of this article?
To introduce a new way to collect or analyze data.
To make research more accurate, faster, safer, or cheaper.
To help other researchers use the same method in their own work.
What’s Usually Included in a Methodology Article
1. Background
1. Why a new method is needed.
2. Description of the Method
1. Step-by-step explanation.
3. Validation
1. Proof that the method works well (with test results, comparisons, etc.).
4. Advantages & Limitations
1. When it works best, and what it can’t do.
5. Instructions for Use
1. So, others can try it themselves
Methodology Example (Simplified)
o Let's say a group of scientists invent a new way to test for a virus using
saliva instead of a blood sample.
o They would write a methodology article to:
Describe how the test works
Explain why it's better than older tests
Share data from real trials showing it gives accurate results
o Other researchers could then repeat this method in different places or
for different viruses.
Conference papers
o A conference paper is a written document that serves as the basis for a
presentation at a conference, symposium, or similar academic event. It's typically
a shorter, more focused version of a research paper, often used to share
preliminary findings or introduce new ideas.
It shares early findings, new ideas, or ongoing work with other experts
in the field.
o What is does a conference paper look like?
1. Title and Abstract – What the paper is about (summary).
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Introduction – What problem is being studied and why it matters.
Method – How the research was done.
Results – What was discovered (can be partial or early).
Discussion – What the results might mean.
Conclusion – Key takeaway and what comes next.
o Purpose?
They let researchers share ideas quickly
Help them test out theories
Build professional connections
Often lead to better full research articles later
Book Reviews
o A book review is a short article that describes and judges a book.
It tells readers:
What the book is about
What’s good or bad about it
Whether or not it’s worth reading
o What does the book review include?
Summary - A quick explanation of what the book covers (its topic, story,
or main idea).
Analysis - A look at how well the book is written:
Is the argument clear?
Is the research strong?
Is the writing interesting?
Strengths and Weaknesses - What the author does well and where they
could improve.
Evaluation - The reviewer's overall opinion and recommendation.
o Purpose
To help readers decide whether to read the book.
To analyze the book’s ideas or style.
To place the book in context (How does it compare to others? Is it
original?).
In academic settings, to help scholars stay up to date in their field.
o Where would you find book review?
Academic journals (for scholarly books)
Newspapers (like The New York Times Book Review)
Magazines or websites (like Kirkus Reviews, Goodreads)
University classes (students often write them as assignments)
Clinical study reports
Study protocols
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