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Grainger Graduate Assistant Evidence Synthesis Training

Introduction to Scholarly Resources and Publishing Lifecycle

In this week, we will be examining foundational knowledge about technical literature that is important for developing search skills.

This page discusses:

  • Scholarly publication life cycle
  • Types of technical literature
  • How to read a scholarly article
  • Components of a citation
  • Peer review process

The Scholarly Publication Lifecycle Model

Generally, life cycle models show time and change.  They may be linear or circular.  They are commonly used in academia to describe changes in biological organisms or physical structures.  In Information Science, we use life cycle models to show how information and users interact over time. 

The life cycle model of STEM information is closely tied to that of the research life cycle.  For this learning experience, we will be using the AQH Research Handbook's life cycle model.

Citation: "Research Lifecycle". (2024). APH Quality Handbook. https://aph-qualityhandbook.org/research-lifecycle/

 

The Scholarly Publication Life Cycle changes between disciplines. However, for the STEM  disciplines, the following stages are key for the use, production, and dissemination of information types:

Partners/Proposal Writing:  At this point in the lifecycle, evidence synthesis projects are conducted in order to establish the expertise of the researchers in the topic and to identify gaps in the existing literature. Many times these projects are narrative, scoping, or mapping reviews. These articles are considered to be secondary literature. They critically examine existing literature in order to synthesize the overall trends, content, or themes found. These articles establish the novelty and originality of the research being proposed.  They are foundational for research proposals for grant applications.

Process & Analyze Data: Researchers write and publish white papers, government technical reports, patents and conference proceedings at this point in the life cycle. These types of research are considered to be primary literature. They are the first published reports of the work of research and contain original research and data. This is also the phase where evidence synthesis projects such as systematic reviews and meta-analysis are conducted with the intent to reveal the consensus of multiple articles on a research question, and the statistical findings published across a group of articles.

Writing & Publication: The point in the lifecycle that people think about when they think of scholarly publication. At this point, researchers receive peer review on their research data.  After that process, scholarly journal articles are published. These works are considered to be primary literature.  They contain original research and data.

Archiving & Open Data: Researchers publish data sets, either as stand-alone works, or as supplements for scholarly journal articles. Some data sets may go through the peer review process but it is not yet the expected level of review for shared data in engineering. There is no mandate that data sets be peer reviewed.

Knowledge Utilization

At this phase (which can last years after the initial information creation), the new knowledge is used in combination with other forms of knowledge to create new works such as standards, handbooks, encyclopedias, and text books. These works are considered to be tertiary. These works synthesize knowledge, and allow access to technical literature for a generalist or practitioner audience.

The Relationship Between Time and Content

Another way to think about the scholarly communication lifecycle is to focus on how the types of content on a given topic change over the course of time.

A table showing the relationship between the type of information resource and the content that is contained.

Image source: Machi, L., & McEvoy, B. (2016). step three: search the literature : search tasks and tools. In The Literature Review: Six Steps to Success ( Third Edition ed., Vol. 0, pp. -). Corwin, https://doi.org/10.4135/9781071939031

While this table shows the general trends in changes, it is not specific to scientific and medical literature.  In STEM, listservs  bring current information, webinars can be hosted in days or weeks, conference proceedings and technical papers can appear within weeks or months, and handbooks can take years to synthesize new ideas.

Types of Technical Literature

 
Types of Technical Information
Type Definition Primary/Secondary/Tertiary Phase of Research Life Cycle
Grant Research Proposal Extensive document describing a proposed course of study in an effort to gain funding for the project. Secondary Design, Plan & Propose
Research Protocol Description of how a research project will be conducted. Research protocols attempt to "lock in" a research project to a course of action, prevent scope creep, and prevent p-value hacking. Published on online portals for repositories. Primary Design, Plan & Propose
Evidence Synthesis (systematic review/scoping review, etc.) In-depth collection, analysis, synthesis on resources on a research question to inform best practice. Secondary Design, Plan, Set-up & Conduct
Conference Proceedings Written records of conference presentations and posters. May or may not be peer reviewed. Primary Set-up & Conduct
White Papers Initial reports of findings for projects.  Describes methodologies and findings. Primary Set-up & Conduct
Patents Description of process or procedure for which a  researcher is seeking to secure intellectual property. Highly legal language and detailed technical drawings.  Primary Set-up & Conduct/ Knowledge Utilization
Technical Reports Frequently published by organizations (government agencies/university academic departments). Describe findings and methods for specific research project, frequently at the test series level. (So one research group may publish multiple technical reports from the same research project. Primary Set-up & Conduct
Scholarly Journal Articles Formal write-ups of research projects that have gone through peer review and describe findings of the research project. They include a narrative review to situate their research within the existing literature of the discipline, a methods section, a findings section, a discussion section, and a future developments section. Primary Reporting, Review & Knowledge Utilization
Standards The consensus of experts guiding the properties, tests, procedures or other methods that shall be used to ensure compatibility across entities. These experts use all available literature while creating their standards guidance. Secondary Reporting, Review and Knowledge Utilization
Handbooks A compilation of findings on given topics. Handbooks can include statistical, properties or other data, or may focus on methods. They are frequently written with the practitioner in mind. Secondary Reporting, review and knowledge utilization
Encyclopedias A brief synthesis (more than a paragraph, but usually no more than 1-2 pages) describing a specific topic. They are generally written for a novice learner or practitioner. Tertiary Reporting, Review and Knowledge Utiliazation
Text Books A work intended to education novice learners.They contain In depth coverage of individual topics ordered in a systematic manner, along with practice problems to enhance the learning experience. Tertiary Reporting, Review and Knowledge Utilization
Industry Publications Short, pointed descriptions of topics of special interest to those working in industry. Frequently include descriptions of projects or areas of focus at individual companies, directories, buying guides and other resources likely to be helpful in a professional setting. Tertiary Reporting, Review and Knowledge Utilization
Scholarly Book In depth writing on a defined topic of interest. Features citations to the relevant literature throughout the work. Intended for academic or practitioner audience. Tertiary Reporting, Review and Knowledge Utilization

 

Reading scholarly articles

Once you have found your technical article, now you have to read it.  Scholarly articles are not intended to be read in the order they are presented on the page.  Instead, there are more efficient approaches to the literature that enable researchers to quickly determine if the article is likely to be applicable for their particular project.

Sapp-Nelson. 2024.

  • First: Read the abstract.  Is the content applicable?
  • Then: Read the Conclusion.  Are the outcomes relevant to your particular project?
  • Then: Read the Introduction and Methods.  Does the introduction have a scope that aligns with that of your project? Do the methods have application for your hypothesis?
  • Read: Topic sentences of each paragraph. Does the logical flow of the article and content seem relevant to your project?
  • If so, then: Read the remainder of the article to learn the technical details of the research conducted.

For a charismatic presentation of this content, watch "How to Read a Scholarly Article"

Understanding Citations

Example taken from: Penn State University Libraries. "Conference Proceedings" https://guides.libraries.psu.edu/c.php?g=457658&p=3144965

Deciphering a Citation Example

The Citation

Filss, M.F., Hummel, L., Effects of Low Energy Beta Emissions on the Measurement Technique and Exposition.  Proc 8th Int Conf Radioact Waste Manage Envir Remed, Bruges, Belgium, Sep 30-Oct 4, 2001, ICEM’01. Sponsored by ASME. ASME, 2002. VOL 3, pp. 1805-1812.  ISBN: 0791835901. Taboas, R.; Vanbrabant, R.; Benda, G. (editors)

What to watch for:

There are both authors and editors in this citation, as well as many abbreviations. What do they mean? Note the difference between the conference name and proceedings title. This will help you identify when you have actually found the needed item.

Sections of the citation:

Author(s) of the Paper: Filss, M. F.; Hummel, L

Title of Paper: Effects of Low Energy Beta Emissions on the Measurement Technique and Exposition 

Conference Location/Dates: Bruges, Belgium, Sep 30-Oct 4, 2001.

Conference Name: ICEM’01: the 8th International Conference on Radioactive Waste Management 

and Environmental Remediation 

Conference Sponsor(s): American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) 

Proceedings Publisher: ASME

Year of Publication: 2002 

Serial Title: PROCEEDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT AND 

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION

Abbreviated Proceedings Title: Proc 8th Int Conf Radioact Waste Manage Envir Remed, ICEM’01

Proceedings Title: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 8th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RADIOACTIVE WASTE 

MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, 2001

Volume/Page Number: VOL 3, pp. 1805-1812 

Unique Identifier: ISBN: 0791835901 

Proceedings Editor(s): Taboas, R.; Vanbrabant, R.; Benda, G. 

Peer Review

Flow Chart of Peer Review Process from Author Sbumission through editorial decisions

Citation: "Peer Review Process". 2024. biomedcentral Author Kit. https://www.biomedcentral.com/getpublished/peer-review-process

 

Different Types of Peer-Reviews

Single-Blind: Reviewer can identify authors, but authors don't know reviewers identity

Double-Blind: Neither reviewers nor authors know the others identity

Open Peer: Both authors and reviewers know the others identity

Transparent Peer: Reviewers know the author, but authors don't know unless the reviewer opts to make their identity known

Resources