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Chart Summarizes Distinguishing Features of Primary and Secondary Literature
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WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN JUDGING AN ARTICLE
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PRIMARY LITERATURE |
SECONDARY LITERATURE |
| Peer Review |
primary literature is always peer reviewed
|
may or may not be peer reviewed
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| Title |
a brief statement of a research project, usually very technical
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may sound technical, but may sound broad or "cute"
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| Focus |
very narrow and specific
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a broader overview |
| Abstract |
usually |
not usually |
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Introduction to Topic
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yes |
yes |
| Methods Section |
yes |
not usually |
| Results Section |
yes |
not usually |
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Data in Figures and Tables
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usually |
not usually |
| Discussion Section |
yes |
the entire paper could be considered a discussion
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| Literature Cited |
always |
may or may not have |
| The Form of Publication |
usually an article in print or online journal, but may be in a book, conference report, or a report from the government or another institution
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may take any form ~ an article in a journal, an article in an "annual review" series, a report, a book, a part of a book or a website
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