Writing 114 (Hothem)

Scholarly journals contain more than one type of article. In one issue of a journal, such as this issue of Nature, you may find original research articles, review articles, letters to the editor, book reviews, and more. When browsing articles in databases or in paper journals, keep the following questions in mind:

• What is this piece's purpose?
• Is this an original research article?
• Does this article summarize the original research of others?
• Why is this material included in the journal?

Original research articles are based on an experiment or study.  The authors will report the purpose of the study, the research methodology, and results. This is a familiar structure for original research articles > IMRAD: introduction, methods, results, and discussion.

Example: Kim, S. L., Zeichner, S. S., Colman, A. S., Scher, H. D., Kriwet, J., Mörs, T., & Huber, M. (2020). Probing the ecology and climate of the Eocene Southern Ocean with sand tiger sharks Striatolamia macrota. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, 35(12), e2020PA003997.

Example: Fox, N. S., Veneracion, J. J., & Blois, J. L. (2020). Are geometric morphometric analyses replicable? Evaluating landmark measurement error and its impact on extant and fossil Microtus classification. Ecology and evolution, 10(7), 3260-3275.

Review articles summarize or synthesize content from earlier published research and are useful for surveying the literature on a specific research area.  Review articles can lead you to original research articles.

Example: Djeghri, N., Pondaven, P., Stibor, H., & Dawson, M. N. (2019). Review of the diversity, traits, and ecology of zooxanthellate jellyfishes. Marine Biology, 166(11), 147.

Example: Moran, E. V., Hartig, F., & Bell, D. M. (2016). Intraspecific trait variation across scales: implications for understanding global change responses. Global Change Biology, 22(1), 137-150.

Article 1: Role of soil erosion in biogeochemical cycling of essential elements: Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus

Article 2: Atlas morphology, scaling and locomotor behaviour in primates, rodents and relatives (Mammalia: Euarchontoglires)

A research letter is a shorter version of a full original research article.  Be aware that this is not the same as a letter to an editor in an academic journal.

• See a description from the JAMA Network, Geophysical Research Letters, Environmental Research Letters, FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies) Letters(limits to 4,000 words), and American Journal of Epidemiology (limits to 1,000 words).
• Example: "Tourette syndrome, obsessive compulsive behavior, and dysmorphic features ...." Click on Elsevier ScienceDirect on UC-eLinks window.
• Example:  "Biochemical Refinement Before Genetics: Chance Utility"

Letters are often written in response to articles, editorials, and other materials. They do not go through a peer-review process, but can give you insight into the scholarly conversation around a topic. They are not included in all databases, but you may find them included in some of them.

• Example: Response to "Letter to the editor: The overlap between Alexithymia and Asperger's syndrome", Fitzgerald and Bellgrove, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(4) (Letter)

Research Notes are short articles.  They may be called short reports, technical notes, case reports etc.  Be aware that some limiters in databases may also include correspondence in a Notes limiter.

• Example: "Are mitochondria inherited paternally in Ascaris?" (Research note)
• Example: "Bilateral Cleft-Lip and Palate Associated with Agenesis of the Hand and Distal Forearm"