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How to Read a Scientific Paper 3 u! s! Y& A% e9 w {! c5 \0 Q
Five Helpful Questions
$ D5 z b9 x8 ~# i% V1. WHY did they do this set of experiments? ) {( X5 ~1 s0 ]+ Q/ Q9 l
A. What are the authors trying to settle, prove or demolish?
( \5 J+ N" o! @/ g" GB. How did this issue come up?
; D' ~# C6 |# ~" ~8 V6 mC. Why is it worth the effort to settle this issue?
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2. HOW were the experiments actually done?
F7 b6 W' A. n& `, PA. What number or quantity was actually measured?
+ x( ]. S( U6 R0 j/ c$ g I; NB. How was the number in A obtained, i.e. what did they actually do? A flow diagram of 1 ~) {( \# ~" X# h9 [0 p4 d$ M
their procedure is usually helpful.
- \, l' s; w) H) F2 b3 _C. What numbers are really wanted, i.e., must be calculated? 0 k1 a2 }+ z) |* O/ R
D. What information is necessary to calculate the numbers in C, and where did they get
' N8 j2 Q& k4 B1 b: Ythis information (from a table, experimental control, or “common knowledge?’). / L6 j$ {9 S5 g" e0 I9 O' Z
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3. WHAT are the results? 9 L8 q" m9 [- z: Y8 x8 w$ m' u
What is the translation into English of the data in their figures, tables and/or pictures? " N) H( Q* j3 `6 Q# e: a5 _
The additional Q “How do you actually calculate the numbers wanted in C?’ is implicit in the
4 K" i: i. i$ {3 V/ ]' T9 ~one. You may want to make this into a separate, explicit Q (2E). * H: F( D+ M0 ^4 F# o! Y
(This is really a translation of the conclusions and not the results.) For now overlook the
& s! M2 Y! y7 @% w& @- ^6 G( kdistinction between the results and the (obvious) conclusions in the answer to this question 7 S' J* y9 o7 z& k
because we have found that it is not worthwhile to stress this issue at the beginning of the
& s: C; c/ ~- y6 r" T% U: Zterm while the students are still struggling with Q 1 and 2. Q 4, which is specifically
' K' {& q% Z" \designed to emphasize this issue is introduced as soon as the students learn how to answer
: {. E4 h$ t/ WQ 1-3. 2 l8 T2 M G6 E3 }' b0 h
4. WHAT can conclude from the results? (Assume for the time being, that you can take the
+ H! q2 o8 ?9 v: r% @results at face value – in other words, assume they did both the experiments and
% q4 c0 u) s* `5 G' f# mcalculations correctly. Whether or not they really “did it right” is Q5.). 7 {. S$ V7 \" |% c0 g# C
A. Do the results support the stated conclusion or interpretation of the authors?
4 D( b. l: r! c/ e U0 SB. Do the results prove the stated conclusion, i.e., do they rule out any of the stated or 7 }; w9 R8 u: I( N
unstated alternatives? To check this point considers what the figures and tables would ; A+ q: ^0 O. N, J, z9 H9 H1 d
look like if an alternative interpretation were correct. Could you really tell the difference?
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7 g. D9 \2 p1 R+ Q( j+ V* ?5. (WHETHER) Did they do everything correctly?
0 a+ d) k& Z' ~+ H, D% e. z+ mA. Could anything be wrong with their experimental methods?
% T4 r2 J- o! }4 QB. Could anything be wrong with their theoretical methods? ! A: c% f# {+ R# B) h9 y/ u
(Did they use the right formulas, make reasonable assumptions, etc.?)
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发表于 2011-8-4 09:30
发表于 2011-8-5 22:51
