RES 7106 Disciplined Inquiry I: Distinguishing Article Type

Use this tutorial to determine whether or not the article you have found is original research and if so, what type of research methods that were used for the study.

Use this workflow graphic to determine the type of research article you are evaluating. 

Image from University of Texas Arlington (UTA Library)

A review article provides an analysis of the state of research on a set of related research questions. Review articles often:

• summarize key research findings;
• reference must-read articles;
• describe current areas of agreement as well as controversies and debates;
• point out gaps in knowledge and unanswered questions;
• suggest directions for future research.

You can use a review article to get a better understanding of the existing research on a topic, to identify research questions you would like to explore, and to find relevant sources. A review article’s bibliography often contains references to research articles that have made an impact on the field and advanced understanding of a research topic.

Reading a review article can save you time and give you a more well-rounded and coherent understanding of your topic.