Research reading
Research Paper Analysis Template
A research paper analysis template gives every article the same set of questions. That consistency makes your notes easier to compare, easier to revisit, and much more useful when you begin writing. Use the template while reading rather than trying to reconstruct the paper from memory afterward.
Capture the study at a glance
Begin with enough context to find and recognize the paper later. Include the full citation, the discipline or setting, and a one-sentence description of what the study is about.
- 1Citation: author, year, title, source, and persistent link or DOI.
- 2Context: population, setting, and topic in one sentence.
- 3Purpose: the exact research question, hypothesis, or stated aim.
Map the research design
The middle of the template should show how the authors tried to answer their question. Focus on the decisions that shape how confidently you can use the findings.
- 1Design: experiment, survey, observational study, qualitative study, review, or another approach.
- 2Sample: who or what was studied, how participants were selected, and any important exclusions.
- 3Measures and procedures: what was measured or observed, and how data were collected.
- 4Analysis: the comparison, statistical model, or interpretive process used.
Record findings without overstating them
Write the two or three findings most relevant to your work. Link each finding to a table, figure, quotation, or reported result so you can verify it quickly. Keep the authors’ result separate from your interpretation of it.
Add a limitation and a connection
The most valuable fields are often the ones that force judgment. Name a limitation that changes how you read the result, then explain where the paper belongs in your own project or literature review.
- 1Limitation: What about the design, sample, measure, or setting qualifies the conclusion?
- 2Connection: Which theme, debate, or claim in your project does this source inform?
- 3Next question: What would you need to know before relying on this paper more heavily?