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Infographic: 5 Differences between a research paper and a review paper

5 Differences between a research paper and a review paper

Andrea Hayward

There are different types of scholarly literature . Some of these require researchers to conduct an original study, whereas others can be based on previously published research. Understanding each of these types and also how they differ from one another can be rather confusing for researchers, especially early career researchers. One of the most popular questions on our Q&A forum - What is the difference between a research paper and a review paper? - led us to conclude that of all the types of scholarly literature, researchers tend to be most perplexed by the distinction between a research paper and a review paper. This infographic explains the five main differences between these two types of scholarly papers. 

Feel free to download a PDF version of this infographic and print it out as handy reference.

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Review Paper vs. Research Paper: Main Differences

Doing a paper is difficult, so learn the difference between a review paper vs. research paper, to determine which one is ideal for you.

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A research paper and a review paper are two very specific types of papers. They have different motives, goals, and prerequisites. The elements found in research papers and review papers differ. The research paper is based on originality, therefore the paper takes into consideration the author’s original research, whereas the review paper is founded on an existing collection of knowledge. 

This article will walk you through the main differences between a review paper vs. research paper, allowing you to correctly determine which one is ideal for your work.

What is a review paper?

A review paper project tries to provide readers with an overview of an existing collection of knowledge by reviewing a book or an article and examining its content, structure, style, and statements. Reviews, such as peer reviews, can be used to examine and assess the work of other authors, rating the work by comparing it to the work of others. A review article is frequently written for a large readership, which is why it is usually brief. 

Review papers can be classified into three types:

What is a research paper?

A research paper entails writing on research that has been performed by themselves, usually something new and done mostly from scratch since it has to be original research. It incorporates the research parameters, as well as the assessment, interpretation and important findings of the research. 

Writing a research paper involves several phases and different aspects, such as: selecting a topic, developing a hypothesis, conducting research, testing the hypothesis, drawing conclusions, and publishing a paper supporting or denying the hypothesis. 

Review paper vs. Research paper

Now that you have a basic understanding of both sorts of papers, it is time to compare and contrast the main differences between review paper vs. research paper.

These are the main differences, however, there may be others:

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Difference Between Research Paper and Review Paper? 

Research-Paper

A research paper and a review paper writing are two different types of documents. They have different purposes, purposes, and requirements.  Research papers and review papers contain different information. The r esearch paper contains original research work by the author, while the review paper is based on an existing source of knowledge. 

In this blog, let’s discuss the differences between research and review paper writing . 

What are Research Papers?  

A research paper is a type of essay where the main purpose is that it should present new ideas and information to the audience. The author of the research paper must provide facts, figures, graphs, and other types of written information that can support his/her argument(s).  

Research papers can be written on any topic, but they must be connected with one or more disciplines. 

A good example is when science students write their research papers on cell division or DNA synthesis.  

What are Review Papers?  

A review paper writing aims to provide readers with an overview of an article or book by reviewing its content, structure, style, and arguments. Reviews can be used to evaluate other people’s work or to assess one’s own work by comparing it with another’s work (i.e., peer reviews). Review papers are usually shorter than research papers because they are intended for wider audiences. 

Understanding the Main Difference:  

Research papers and review papers are two different types of writing assignments you will encounter in your academic career. 

Research paper writing: The research paper is a written piece that is required to answer the question, “What do we know about this topic?” 

Review paper writing : The review paper is a written piece that is required to answer the question, “What do we not know about this topic?” 

review paper writing

More about Research Papers:  

More about Review Papers : 

Research-paper

What is a Literature Review? Is it similar to Review Papers?  

A literature review is a scholarly document that discusses the current state of knowledge on a topic. It may evaluate existing research quality and determine which works should be included in an analysis or synthesis. 

The main difference is that a literature review typically focuses on only one or two specific topics. Whereas a research paper can be more broadly focused and may include multiple sections. 

How does a Review Paper help form a Research Paper?  

A review paper is a summary of previous research on a topic. It can be either an objective or subjective analysis.  

The purpose of the review is to summarize the findings of previous research. Also to determine whether the results are valid and reliable.   

Review paper writing

This can be done by examining the research methods used in the studies and their design, measurement and statistical analysis. 

In addition to presenting information about a subject in its own right. Reviews also provide a context for future research by identifying areas that need to be addressed. Checks may be critical in identifying areas that require further investigation or discussion. They also help researchers focus their efforts on those areas that are most important to address.   

Tips for Writing Research paper and Review paper:  

A review paper has to be written. First, it includes the citations you might require while developing your research paper.  

While writing a research paper , you should inquire about every question that comes to your mind. And follow through with them appropriately. 

A review paper is not your final paper; it requires constant research and a table of contents, commonly known as the bibliography. With the help of a bibliography, you will have a clear list of items you need in-depth research. It will prevent you from getting confused and haphazard with your findings and research.  

A research paper is a piece of writing that tries to answer a specific question. A review paper is typically shorter than a research paper and focuses on one main point or idea.

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Research Paper Vs Review Paper | 50 Differences

50 Differences Between Research Article and a Review Article

I hope, this article would help you to know the differences between Research Paper and a Review Paper.

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Related Articles

Difference between Research Paper and Review Paper

Scholarly literature can be of different types. Many of them require researchers to perform an original study, whereas others are based on previously published research. Amateur researchers have quite a confusion understanding each type of scholarly literature and the difference between them.

Research Paper

When researchers partake in an original study or investigation of a unique topic, for example, a study of the prevalence of substance abuse in a specific community or geographical area, the findings of that study are presented as a research paper. The most essential component of a research paper is the analysis of the topic, evidence to support the study and the conclusion of the study. It can comprise of the answer to the reach question and may include a hypothesis, the resource requirement for the study and the method followed to reach the conclusion. The formatting of a research paper is fairly similar across all subjects and institutions, though it can vary from one region to another depending upon the pattern laid down by the publishing and educational bodies. This scholarly work is unique and bears no similarity to any other published work. Analysis of the data can vary from the use of software to authentic experiments.

Review Paper

Review papers are universal and can be focused upon a wide range of mediums, including articles in journals, books, magazines, and software. A review paper refers to the study and survey of a recently published Research paper on a specific topic or subject. For instance, climate change due to industrial waste has many scholarly Research paper. these papers can be reviewed by any other number of scholars for its merits. In order to write a review paper successfully, one needs to have knowledge of what other scholars have written on the subject and their thoughts on the subject, particularly in recent times. the reach papers act as a reference and source material for these review papers. These can be stimulating and extremely exhaustive with the intent for undertaking research by introducing challenging materials and facts. It should act as a summary of the original research paper with all its relevant literature on the topic.

Key differences between the Research paper and Review paper are given in the table below:

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Review vs. Research Articles

How can you tell if you are looking at a research paper, review paper or a systematic review  examples and article characteristics are provided below to help you figure it out., research papers.

A research article describes a study that was performed by the article’s author(s). It explains the methodology of the study, such as how data was collected and analyzed, and clarifies what the results mean. Each step of the study is reported in detail so that other researchers can repeat the experiment.

To determine if a paper is a research article, examine its wording. Research articles describe actions taken by the researcher(s) during the experimental process. Look for statements like “we tested,” “I measured,” or “we investigated.” Research articles also describe the outcomes of studies. Check for phrases like “the study found” or “the results indicate.” Next, look closely at the formatting of the article. Research papers are divided into sections that occur in a particular order: abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and references.

Let's take a closer look at this research paper by Bacon et al. published in the International Journal of Hypertension :

research1

Review Papers

Review articles do not describe original research conducted by the author(s). Instead, they give an overview of a specific subject by examining previously published studies on the topic. The author searches for and selects studies on the subject and then tries to make sense of their findings. In particular, review articles look at whether the outcomes of the chosen studies are similar, and if they are not, attempt to explain the conflicting results. By interpreting the findings of previous studies, review articles are able to present the current knowledge and understanding of a specific topic.

Since review articles summarize the research on a particular topic, students should read them for background information before consulting detailed, technical research articles. Furthermore, review articles are a useful starting point for a research project because their reference lists can be used to find additional articles on the subject.

Let's take a closer look at this review paper by Bacon et al. published in Sports Medicine :

review1

Systematic Review Papers

A systematic review is a type of review article that tries to limit the occurrence of bias. Traditional, non-systematic reviews can be biased because they do not include all of the available papers on the review’s topic; only certain studies are discussed by the author. No formal process is used to decide which articles to include in the review. Consequently, unpublished articles, older papers, works in foreign languages, manuscripts published in small journals, and studies that conflict with the author’s beliefs can be overlooked or excluded. Since traditional reviews do not have to explain the techniques used to select the studies, it can be difficult to determine if the author’s bias affected the review’s findings.

Systematic reviews were developed to address the problem of bias. Unlike traditional reviews, which cover a broad topic, systematic reviews focus on a single question, such as if a particular intervention successfully treats a medical condition. Systematic reviews then track down all of the available studies that address the question, choose some to include in the review, and critique them using predetermined criteria. The studies are found, selected, and evaluated using a formal, scientific methodology in order to minimize the effect of the author’s bias. The methodology is clearly explained in the systematic review so that readers can form opinions about the quality of the review.

Let's take a closer look this systematic review paper by Vigano et al. published in Lancet Oncology :

sysreview1

Finding Review and Research Papers in PubMed

Many databases have special features that allow the searcher to restrict results to articles that match specific criteria. In other words, only articles of a certain type will be displayed in the search results. These “limiters” can be useful when searching for research or review articles. PubMed has a limiter for article type, which is located on the left sidebar of the search results page. This limiter can filter the search results to show only review articles.

PubMed Article Type Filter

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What's a periodical.

A periodical or serial is a publication that is published multiple times (periodically) on a regular schedule. Scholarly journals, popular magazines, trade publications, newspapers, and newsletters are examples of periodicals. These periodicals tend to target different audiences.

How will Periodicals Help Me?

Periodicals will be helpful when you are seeking current information or more concise material than is generally found in books.

Which Periodicals should I Use for My Assignment?

The sources that you select will depend on your specific assignment. Information from your professor (perhaps on your assignment, your syllabus, or directly from the professor) will tell you what types of resources will meet the parameters of the specific project. Please make sure that you consult the appropriate resources for the task.

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Why Do I Need Scholarly (Peer-Reviewed) or Research Journals?

Scholarly or academic resources are periodical articles written by subject experts who have conducted research or experimentation in a specific field. Many are written by faculty members or other academicians, discussing topics of recent research. They are often reviewed, refereed or juried by other experts in the field. These articles often contain subject specific language or terminology,  and footnotes and/or bibliographies. The journals are normally printed on non-glossy paper.

Peer-Reviewed : articles written by scholars and reviewed by their colleagues who provide feedback and commentaries to the author prior to publication.

Refereed : Similar to peer-reviewed articles except the author doesn't necessarily know who reviewed the submitted work.

They provide you with excellent information!

What are (Popular) Magazines?

 Magazines are generally written by journalists, staff writers and guest writers and appeal to a general audience. Periodicals that are found at newsstands and grocery stores are usually newspapers or magazines.

Examples of titles of popular magazines include American Photo, Forbes, Parents, Time, Newsweek.

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What do Primary and Secondary Sources Mean to Me?

Primary sources , vary somewhat by discipline, but generally are considered to be original resources (first-hand or eyewitness accounts). They may include newspaper articles, letters, diaries, memoirs, some journals, photos, artifacts, research data, government documents,  art work, and more.

Secondary sources (second-hand accounts) evaluate, analyze and/or interpret primary sources. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics taken from primary sources.  They include newspapers, magazines, and some academic journals.

What are Trade Publications?

Trade publications are periodicals geared toward practitioners in specific fields and generally focus on a particular trade or profession. The articles are usually written by a subject specialist and rarely provide footnotes and bibliographies.

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  2. Research Paper vs. Review Paper: How to Distinguish?

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  3. Research Paper vs. Review Paper: Differences Between Research Papers and Review Papers

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COMMENTS

  1. What is the difference between a research paper and a review paper?

    A review article or review paper is based on other published articles. It does not report original research. Review articles generally

  2. 5 Differences between a research paper & review paper [Infographic]

    One of the most popular questions on our Q&A forum - What is the difference between a research paper and a review paper?

  3. Review Paper vs. Research Paper: Main Differences

    They have different motives, goals, and prerequisites. The elements found in research papers and review papers differ. The research paper is

  4. Difference Between Research Paper and Review Paper?

    They have different purposes, purposes, and requirements. Research papers and review papers contain different information. The research paper

  5. Research Paper Vs Review Paper

    A research paper is a piece of writing that reports facts, data, and other information on a specific topic. It is usually longer than a

  6. Difference between Research Paper and Review Paper

    A review paper refers to the study and survey of a recently published Research paper on a specific topic or subject.

  7. Review vs. research articles

    How can you tell if you are looking at a Research Paper, Review Paper or a Systematic Review? Examples and article characteristics are provided below to

  8. Differences Between Research Papers and Review Papers

    The differences between a research paper and a review paper in the purpose, structure, and timeframe of writing it. ... Research Paper vs.

  9. Differences in Research, Review, and Opinion Articles

    Research Articles, Reviews, and Opinion Pieces · Scholarly or research articles are written for experts in their fields. · Empirical Study: (

  10. NFS 4021 Contemporary Topics in Nutrition: Research Articles vs

    Review Article: Identifies previously published research on a topic and summarizes the information (secondary. Research