Common format is convenient, and sometimes publishers don’t divide text into separate sections, but if you know standard format, you can adjust.CITATION – at top; scientific vs. commercial AUTHORS – research team; 1st and last – most useful in tracking down similar studies; institutional affiliations? PUBLICATION DATES – received, accepted, published online, published print PEER REVIEW – 2 or more anonymous reviewers; scientists get credit by publishing ORIGINAL findingsABSTRACT – at top; summary of the paper; different from intro.; like the paper’s “tweet” – less than 250 words; gives study’s purpose, experimental approach, key results, conclusionsACKNOWLEDGMENTS – at end; people/institutions who’ve contributed; funding source could bias outcomesREFERENCES – at end; only those articles cited in paper; look here for further reading on topic; analyze type of sources usedEXTENDED RESEARCH TEAM – everybody else
Scientific societies vs. commercial publishers. Journals produced by scientific societies and companies can both be reliable, but it helps to know what organization is behind the journal.
Tutorial from North Carolina State University Library.