Literature Reviews and Scholarly Articles

Research Methods — Week 2. Key concepts from the comprehensive notes.

Primary source

The original report of a study written by the researchers who conducted it.

Secondary source

A source that summarizes, interprets, or reports research produced by others.

Peer review

Evaluation of scholarly work by experts in the same field before publication.

Title

identifies the main ideas and sometimes the study population.

Abstract

summarizes the study, theoretical frame, and major findings.

Introduction

reviews previous research and theory and presents the logic, purpose, research questions, or hypotheses.

Method

explains how the study was conducted and who participated.

Results

reports the findings; quantitative results often use statistics, while qualitative results may use themes, quotations, or textual analysis.

Discussion

interprets results in relation to the research questions and theory and often discusses implications, limitations, and future research.

References

lists the sources cited in the article.