If you or someone you love suffers from a phobia, you may be interested in learning all you can about the disorder. Phobias are relatively common, and a lot of research is being performed.
Research papers are written in a specific format. Learning to read a research article is not difficult. It is just a matter of understanding the basic construction of a report. Here is the general format.
Here's How:
Abstract: The abstract normally appears first in the report. It is a brief summary of the research and results. You may be able to get everything you need out of the abstract, but reading further will help to clarify the information.
Introduction: This is a short section that presents the basics of the research: who, what, when, where and why. The introduction also discusses similar articles that have been written in the past, making it a great source of additional information.
Methods: The methods section is the heart of the article. This section gives details about the people who were studied and how the study was performed. The methods section is usually written in detailed, technical language and may include terms that are unfamiliar.
Results: This section gives details on exactly what the researchers found. This section is also highly technical and generally contains a great deal of jargon. Skim this section for the highlights.
Discussion: The final section of the research report sums up the previous three sections. It is generally more detailed than the abstract, but less technical than the methods and results sections. The discussion typically ends with a final analysis of the results and suggestions for further research that could be performed.
Tips:
Unless you are planning your own study, you can skip a lot of the details in the methods and results sections. Most of the basic information is in the abstract, introduction and discussion.
Pay attention to the size of the tested group. Statistically, a small group is meaningless.
Read critically. There is good research and bad research. Don't believe everything you read.
Always talk to your health care provider. Never start or stop a treatment plan based solely on a report you read.
