It's interesting that you say you save the methods to last. I always read the methods FIRST (once I've identified that it's a paper of interest). If you don't read the methods first, then you basically have to take at face value what the authors say about their work (until you eventually read the methods). The methods let you answer questions like "are they using good controls?" "Are they using appropriate measures?" "Do the experimental manipulations jibe with their claims?" It helps me contextualize everything else they say. But I'm also in a social science - cognitive science / experimental psychology - so maybe there are differences among disciplines about where it makes sense to start.
Perhaps in drafting a dissertation it makes more sense to start at the end of other papers in order to filter out which ones you actually want to use in references and in general support of your thesis. Judging the merits and quality of the paper itself though is a different question.
I read Methods at the end and I'm in social sciences. One of the main reasons is simple. If the scope of the study I read provides any value for my current research from issues stated in either Discussion or Conclusion, I could take a look at Methods and learn anything from that section for either critiquing the study further or adding the study to the synthesis of studies in my litreview, for instance.
A huge "Thank you" for this video. I asked the question "How to read a paper" to a teacher at the university a few years ago and didn't get a satisfying answer. Your video has given me the exact information I need. This fall I'm going to be a PhD student, and your pieces of advice are a great help to me.
It would be super useful to see the spreadsheet template you mentioned in another video that you used to summarise findings based on different categories. Mainly how many categories and how much info per category, Cheers!
Hi Andy! Great video. I have a couple of questions: What is your approach to finding papers just for a reference? And how do you deal with following up on citations in a paper, do you always follow them to the "primary source" or do you cite a few papers that all talk about the same thing even if some of them cite others in turn? I find myself loosing track of what I'm reading and I have a million tabs with papers open because I'm following the references within papers.. it's a rabbit hole!
Hi. I am working on 4-5 different projects (including collaborations). It’s hard to keep track of experimental data, writings and papers, while working in the lab for most part of the day. Do you have any suggestions to help me with that?
@@DrAndyStapleton Awesome! I was just about to suggest/ask for a video about keeping track of what you've read. Some people can just keep it all in their head but I can't! Thanks for all your content 👏👏👏👏
Be aware that these tools are good but not perfect especially when the subject is rather obscure. I did a search on a paper I wrote with all three tools, and they missed a citation that Google Scholar found and none of the supposed related papers that were found were actually related to my article. So, use the tools as a help, not as a final solution.
Hello. As I'm about to do my PhD. I have a topic in mind related to prevalence of genetic disease but after some reviews I found that the community/groups in that area are understudied. So can I focus on that study? And do I have to search for similar articles related to prevalence in other community/areaas?
I’m aiming to turn in my dissertation draft in three weeks. I cannot believe I didn’t know about connected papers until just now! Your tips in this video would have saved me weeks worth of hours and too much erroneous thinking that I wasn’t cut out for this 🤦🏼♀️ Even though I’m coming across this late in my doctoral journey, it gives me renewed spirit to continue scholarly writing beyond graduation…thank you 🙏🏻
Extraction of data into a spreadsheet while you are reading the paper I think is very helpful and in this way whenever you need details of the paper you can just easily go through your speed sheet instead of reading the whole of the paper again.
when I have decided I like the title and abstract of a paper, I read the discussion. The discussion gives me an overview of the results and their meaning/implications/and how they fit in the context of the current literature, the real science of the study. i can look at the figures if I want the details.
Google has created a similar tool for multiple articles called pinpoint. Not sure which one is best yet. Lateral seems to have more functions, but pinpoint is more user-friendly.
. ok first 13 seconds 0:00-00:13 , I pulled: "reading research papers quickly and effectively, finding the right one, extracting the right info, organizing all together".. good for my resume. (I let you know did I win an interview.. hehehe)
Figuring out you shouldn't read a paper from start to finish but start reading the discussion and conclusion first feels like learning a cheat code. Same thing with learning to not write your own paper in order
@@MissOrostegui NO IT DOES NOT I HAVE TALKED TO SO MANY PHD STUDENT THEY TOLD ME THAT DOING PHD ACTUALLY MAKES YOUR SOCIAL LIFE STRONG AS YOU MEET SO MANY LIKE MINDED PEOPLE WHEN YOU ATTEND ANY CONFERENCE.
Dear Andy, thank you for all your wonderful, and above all useful, contributions, which bring us students many useful tips and open up new dimensions when using AI tools. In the future, could you also introduce an AI tool to help interpret statistical results obtained in SPSS, R, etc. .... It is usually a problem how to write text correctly in e.g. APA style etc. Thanks for all the good work, I look forward to new sequels.
It was so helpful, but based on your request, yes there is another way, Beginning with abstract, keywords, introduction, headings , beginning sentences, and conclusions. Regards.Dr Jaafar Almashaal
Thanks again, Andrew! Lots and loads of eye-openers to me in times of dealing (struggling actually) with my Literature Review. A massive thanks. Not only your delivery is keeping my focus and eyes peeled, also your top-notch beard :) I wish I had one like yours haha. Peace!
Thanks I am doing a test of Lateral io now, and wonder how can i add my zotero files to it, I had to downlad the 2 i was testing directly to my pc first! I am sure I can quickly find on PC somehow without having to download!
Hello. Thank you very much for your videos. Do you think that Obsidian can be used for the same function as connected papers/researchrabbit/litmaps ? Do you think Obsidian can be as performant as these 3 app ?
I don’t know if you can edit the video transcript, but around 1:59 point your name comes across as Andrew S Dalton. Just thought you might want to change that, if you can.
man i am so glad youtube finally threw me onto academic youtube instead of studygram youtube. i am doing my masters and looking to continue academia with a phd and as a researcher. insane helpful. thanks
Thanks a lot for your advices! You are a real storyteller. I love your videos, I'm starting my PhD and they are super helpful and you transmit it so good.
