Article Types in the Health Sciences-a review

Danielle Carlock

OVERVIEW• When conducting a search for evidence, there

are many types of articles you may run into.– Primary research articles– Review articles– Case studies– Others (news, editorials, etc)

• It is imperative to be able to distinguish between these different article types

PRIMARY RESEARCH ARTICLES

• Present the findings/results of a research study

• The authors of the article are the persons who conducted the research (i.e. primary)

• The article will include: why, how, what

• Typically published in scholarly journals and undergo peer review

REVIEW ARTICLES

• A critical evaluation of recent research on a topic

• Are considered secondary sources• Generally are subject to peer review,

especially in the sciences & health sciences• Three main types:– Literature reviews– Systematic reviews– Meta analyses

LITERATURE REVIEW• An overview of a topic written by an expert in the

field

• No new contributions to research; instead are summarizing the work of others

• In some ways similar to a research paper you might write in college

• Example

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW• Uses a rigorous, pre-planned process to find

and synthesis the results of many primary studies

• Involves a search of the literature using inclusion/exclusion criteria and then a systematic synthesis of the results

• Considered a high level of evidence (esp Cochrane Reviews)

• Example

META ANALYSIS

1. A systematic review is carried out 2. The results from many studies are statistically

combined in order to summarize the overall outcome.

• Example

CASE STUDIES OR CASE REPORTS

• A detailed report on one patient/case

• Draws conclusions only on one patient in one context-i.e. not generalizable

• Descriptive

• Goal is to offer new directions for research; ask new questions

• Example

COMPARISION OF ARTICLE TYPESType of article Coverage Authorship Article ITSELF is

peer reviewedArticle type appears in peer reviewed journals

Case study Describes one individual patient

Authors are reporting on their own case

Sometimes, depends on the journal

Yes

Primary research

Describes one study

Authors are reporting on their own study

Yes Yes

Review Summaries many studies

Authors are reporting on the research of others

Usually Yes

OTHER TYPES OF CONTENT IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS

• News articles• Letters• Editorials• Commentaries• Book reviews

TYPES OF ARTICLES HOW REVIEWED

Primary research (primary)

Review articles (secondary)By peers (peer review)

Editorials/commentaries (secondary)

News items (secondary)

Letters (secondary) Book reviews (secondary) Any other article which is secondary (including magazine articles)

By editor (i.e. no peer review)

NOTE: ALL OF THESE ARTICLE TYPES CAN APPEAR IN A PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL