How do I make sense of research articles?
Have you ever stared at a research article and felt completely lost? You’re not alone! Many students, whether they’re undergraduates or masters students, have wrestled with the challenges of understanding research papers. Thoughts like “This module is going to pull down my grades!” or “I might have to retake this!” are all common. All these sentiments of students are valid and equally challenging when they are faced with the most concerning question of ‘well how do I make sense of it’.
But it’s not just students who struggle. The general public can also find it difficult to understand research articles. Imagine someone googling the topic ‘interventions in diabetes self-management’ and finding a research article, only to struggle with the complex language used. This jargon can be overwhelming, making it hard to grasp the main points. This is a real problem because research articles often assume their readers already have a certain level of expertise. As a result, many people find it difficult to follow, even though the topic itself is important and relatable. Simplifying this kind of information can make it accessible to a much broader audience.
Understanding research is crucial for everyone. Whether you’re a student, a healthcare professional, or simply someone curious about the world around you, being able to understand evidence-backed studies opens new avenues.
This is the exact reason why I started this blog. I’ll break down complex research articles and chapters into digestible pieces, making it easier for everyone from students to the general public to understand the key findings and their implications.
So, whether you’re struggling with a research paper for your class or simply curious about health and social sciences concepts, join me on this journey of exploring the world of research, one article at a time.
Aim
A comprehensive guide for students, general public, experts (in their relevant field) or for those who are keen to understand research but have never found a resource that has spoken out to them.
Who is it for?
Have you been directed to a research paper for your studies or stumbled across one while trying to learn about an important topic, only to find the language too complicated or the concepts overwhelming? It can feel like a huge challenge to process all that dense information, especially when scientific jargon gets in the way. This makes it hard for many people to access the critical insights these papers offer. That’s why it is my aim to bridge this gap by breaking down complex scientific ideas for all, in a language as accessible and engaging as possible so that more people around the world can benefit from the valuable knowledge in research articles and chapters.
This blog is also a valuable resource for academics and experts who want to brush up the key findings and implications of research.
What research articles and book chapters does this website cover?
I primarily cover research articles and book chapters from the health and social sciences.
What kind of research methods do we cover?
I aim for all kinds of methods that are used widely in the domain of health and social sciences which could be quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis, mixed method, systematic reviews and scoping reviews.
What type of research papers do we cover?
Over time, I’ll explore and break down various types of research papers, including conceptual, analytical, experimental, survey-based, cause-and-effect studies, intervention-based research, dual-perspective analyses, empirical studies, and model-based papers. My goal is to make these different approaches easy to understand and accessible for everyone.