Article Version of Record

Reading a scientific paper for psychology and the social sciences: A critical guide

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Cordeiro, Pedro
Ortuño, Victor E. C.
Paixão, Maria Paula
Marôco, João

Abstract / Description

Aim: A critical review of a journal article is a comprehensive evaluation of the article content, formal structure and methodological approach. Success in this task requires students to develop analytic and reflexive skills as pre-requisites to identify key research question(s), relevant findings and main conclusions reached. Critical skills are also an important aspect of a student’s academic and future professional life, yet this has been a largely overlooked component of academic training. This paper aims to provide undergraduate students with a simple and straightforward set of guidelines for reading, analysing and interpreting research articles. Content, structure and common mistakes in research papers are addressed, along with the most relevant standards for review. Conclusion: With this reference guide we hope students will be able to more thoroughly analyse and critically discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a research article.

Keyword(s)

critical review scientific journal articles undergraduates theoretical study

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2015-11-27

Journal title

Psychology, Community & Health

Volume

4

Issue

3

Page numbers

114–122

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Cordeiro, P., Ortuño, V. E. C., Paixão, M. P., & Marôco, J. (2015). Reading a scientific paper for psychology and the social sciences: A critical guide. Psychology, Community & Health, 4(3), 114–122. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v4i3.136
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Cordeiro, Pedro
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Ortuño, Victor E. C.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Paixão, Maria Paula
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Marôco, João
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-12-06T06:49:10Z
  • Made available on
    2018-12-06T06:49:10Z
  • Date of first publication
    2015-11-27
  • Abstract / Description
    Aim: A critical review of a journal article is a comprehensive evaluation of the article content, formal structure and methodological approach. Success in this task requires students to develop analytic and reflexive skills as pre-requisites to identify key research question(s), relevant findings and main conclusions reached. Critical skills are also an important aspect of a student’s academic and future professional life, yet this has been a largely overlooked component of academic training. This paper aims to provide undergraduate students with a simple and straightforward set of guidelines for reading, analysing and interpreting research articles. Content, structure and common mistakes in research papers are addressed, along with the most relevant standards for review. Conclusion: With this reference guide we hope students will be able to more thoroughly analyse and critically discuss the strengths and weaknesses of a research article.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Cordeiro, P., Ortuño, V. E. C., Paixão, M. P., & Marôco, J. (2015). Reading a scientific paper for psychology and the social sciences: A critical guide. Psychology, Community & Health, 4(3), 114–122. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v4i3.136
    en_US
  • ISSN
    2182-438X
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1918
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.2284
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v4i3.136
  • Keyword(s)
    critical review
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    scientific journal articles
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    undergraduates
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    theoretical study
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Reading a scientific paper for psychology and the social sciences: A critical guide
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    3
  • Journal title
    Psychology, Community & Health
  • Page numbers
    114–122
  • Volume
    4
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record