2.7 C - Lecture 2 – What do get from scientific articles? – Huib Tabbers – April 2022
Why read scientific articles?
Scientists’ Claim:
- Evidence: the data supports the scientific claim, is something true or not.
- Justification: the rationale or reasoning why each type of evidence warrants the scientific claim. The
have to justify why a question is relevant, how it relates to previous research, why their setup makes
sense and what their conclusion means.
- Peer review: the articles are being checked by peers (fellow scientists).
- Up to date: keeping science up to date by justifying the relevance and relation to previous research.
1. Monographs or general reviews
What do we know about…?
Like the chapters of handbook. Published in reviews. Gives overview of what is known about the
different topics written by experts.
2. Single studies
What do our data tell us about…?
These studies have researched and collected and provide data. Published in specific journals (e.g.
journal of affective disorders). Research question and hypotheses are important. Does the
measurement make sense?
a) Interventional studies: what is the effect of intervention…?
b) Correlational studies: what is the relation between… and …?
3. Reviews of evidence
What do the combined data from multiple studies tell us about…?
These studies do not provide data themselves, they throw together diff studies. Published in review
journals.
a) Systematic review: looks at evidence and then weigh in on it: what can we conclude on the effect
of…?
b) Meta-analysis: also calculates: what is the average effect of…?
Why read scientific articles?
Scientists’ Claim:
- Evidence: the data supports the scientific claim, is something true or not.
- Justification: the rationale or reasoning why each type of evidence warrants the scientific claim. The
have to justify why a question is relevant, how it relates to previous research, why their setup makes
sense and what their conclusion means.
- Peer review: the articles are being checked by peers (fellow scientists).
- Up to date: keeping science up to date by justifying the relevance and relation to previous research.
1. Monographs or general reviews
What do we know about…?
Like the chapters of handbook. Published in reviews. Gives overview of what is known about the
different topics written by experts.
2. Single studies
What do our data tell us about…?
These studies have researched and collected and provide data. Published in specific journals (e.g.
journal of affective disorders). Research question and hypotheses are important. Does the
measurement make sense?
a) Interventional studies: what is the effect of intervention…?
b) Correlational studies: what is the relation between… and …?
3. Reviews of evidence
What do the combined data from multiple studies tell us about…?
These studies do not provide data themselves, they throw together diff studies. Published in review
journals.
a) Systematic review: looks at evidence and then weigh in on it: what can we conclude on the effect
of…?
b) Meta-analysis: also calculates: what is the average effect of…?
