Type

Description

Case Study

Studies an individual or small group of individuals with an unusual condition or situation. Case studies are typically clinical in scope.

Survey

Involves interviewing or administering questionnaires, or written surveys, to large numbers of people. Investigator analyzes the data obtained from surveys to learn about similarities, differences, and trends. Predictions are made about the population being studied.

Observational

Directly observing subjects' reactions, either in a laboratory (called laboratory observation) or in a natural setting (called naturalistic observation). Observational research reduces distortions sometimes found in survey research

Correlational

Correlational research attempts to determine if a relationship exists between the two variables, and the degree of that relationship.

Descriptive

Describing a group, situation or individual to gain knowledge that may be applied to other situations.

Experimental

Experimental research tests the way in which an independent variable (the factor that the scientist manipulates) affects a dependent variable (the factor that the scientist observes).

Cross-Cultural

Designed to reveal variations across different groups of people. Most cross-cultural research involves survey, direct observation, and participant observation methods of research.

Characteristics of Articles

Type

Description

Research/Empirical

Article reporting on the results of one or more studies or experiments, written by the person(s) who conducted the research. This is considered one type of primary source. Look in the title or abstract for words like study, research, measure, subjects, data, effects, survey, or statistical which might indicate empirical research.

Case Study

Detailed account of clinically important cases of common and rare conditions.

Review

Summarizes the findings of others studies or experiments; attempts to identify trends or draw broader conclusions. Scholarly in nature but not a primary source or research article, however its references to other articles will include primary sources or research articles.

Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis is a mathematical synthesis of the results of two or more primary studies that addressed the same hypothesis in the same way.

Letters or Communications

Short descriptions of important latest study or research findings which are usually considered urgent for immediate publication. Examples: breakthroughs regarding cures or treatments for previously incurable conditions, or cure for a particular outbreak of disease, like for example swine flu.

Theoretical

Containing or referring to a set of abstract principles related to a specific field of knowledge; characteristically it does not contain original empirical research or present experimental data, although it is scholarly.

Applied

Describes technique, work flow, management or human resources issue.

Professional communications, Book reviews, Letters to the Editor

Most scholarly journals publish articles that pertain to the workings of the profession but are not 'scholarly' in nature.